<p>Considering the atmosphere, surrounding area, professors, price, reputation, other students--everything, which would you choose?
Boston College
OR
William & Mary</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>If you want a city, BC obviously beats W & M, even though it’s more suburban than urban. There’s a T station on campus, and you can be in one of the best cities in the US for college students in half an hour. Williamsburg is nice (though some kids find it intensely dull), but there’s no question Boston offers more social, cultural, sports, artistic, etc. opportunities. If you want to save money - well, W & M is still less expensive, even for applicants paying OOS tuition. COA is more than $50K at BC, and a hair under $40K at W & M.</p>
<p>The student academic profile is almost identical, as far as standardized testing goes. 1870/2140 mid-50th percentile at BC, and 1870/2160 at W & M. Faculty is one of W & M’s top strengths, and I’m sure the same is true at BC. Can’t speak about the students at BC, but W & M has a nice diversity of interests and viewpoints among its student body, which is sometimes referred to as quirky.</p>
<p>Maybe it comes down to the expense - can you afford BC? They have only one merit scholarship program (Presidential Scholars), and it’s highly selective. But they have better finaid for those with demonstrated need. W & M has a merit program, too (Murray Scholars), which is even smaller than BC’s, and doesn’t cover as many expenses. W & M reserves almost all of its finaid for VA students.</p>
<p>And it might also come down to the major you want to pursue. W & M is strong in history, especially early American history, as well as International Relations and Government. And other areas, too, though I don’t know which ones! Hoping a W & M student will add to this …</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I’m really actually torn but leaning towards W&M. Both are great schools, like you said, and urban enough for me. 
The price part is really the big issue.
Thanks again!</p>
<p>BC is almost twice the size of W&M too. Climate is different. They both lost to Harvard in basketball this year, but W&M played them closer. BC has ACC sports, W&M does not. W&M campus feels like a private northeast school, small with a lot of history.</p>