<p>I have a sophomore at UVA majoring in physics and french and a freshman at WM undecided on a major but pursuing a pre-med curriculum. Each was accepted at both schools. The soph chose UVA because he wanted a total college experience that included Div I athletics and a vibrant social life. The frosh is more introverted/intellectual and chose WM because he liked the students he met there and felt more comfortable on a smaller campus. Both like their respective schools so far, although the frosh obviously has been there a short time.</p>
<p>Some anecdotal observations: (1) class scheduling-UVA wins here as soph has never had a problem getting a class he wanted, while frosh got closed out of several classes including intermediate french and biology; (2) advising-score one for WM as the pre-med adviser has already met with frosh twice and sent myriad e-mails during the summer while at UVA soph’s adviser has been available when called upon but not proactive; (3) teaching–too early to tell at WM, but last year soph had a bad experience with a visiting linear algebra prof from the Israel Institute of Technology who spoke with a very heavy accent and appears to have taught a class well beyond the intro version (one plus for UVA, that prof was not invited back); the other profs at UVA have been excellent; (4) research–too early to tell with WM, but UVA physics prof doing research at the CERN in Switzerland has been very helpful in working with the study abroad office to set up an internship there for soph (would likely be first semester of junior year); and (5) housing-a draw-both got triples in old dormitories but a slight advantage for UVA because they adjusted the housing fees downward while WM did not do so; also both schools did a nice job pairing them with roommates having similar interests.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for the replies! and thank you for your opinions muckdogs07 the reason I want to apply early decision is because I’m not sure I could get in regular decision because I have a 4.4 gpa but my SATs are lacking. I love the academic environment of William and mary and I want small classes and study abroad and I’m not willing to sacrifice the small classes. When I visited UVA I loved it but the students were kind of bland with a mundane attitude (however it was late November so maybe people were all studying for exams). Whereas at William and Mary everyone seemed super excited and happy to be there (however I’ve only visited in the spring and scene students at football games). The people at William and Mary I’ve talked to all seem to shake the stigma of the nerdy type that studies all day and that excites me but the UVA athletic scene is just something to behold. I’m sure at William and Mary I could find students that love sports as much as I, but w&m just doesn’t have that ACC mentality.</p>
<p>You are exactly correct. W&M does not have that ACC mentality. It has an Ivy/Patriot/Nescac mentality. You would never have fake classes at W&M like at UNorth Carolina. Thank God.</p>
<p>I actually decided on William and Mary and was admitted through their early decision cycle. It was tough considering I visited UNC earlier and absolutely loved it but it came down to what felt right; W&M just felt like the place to be, much more so than UVA.</p>
<p>Don’t be too quick to tout the Ivy and Patriot Leagues. I know several athletes, present and recent past, in both of those leagues who were academic exceptions and would not have been admitted to even much less selective universities on their academic record alone. They had lots of help to pass their classes, including liaisons who “worked with” the professors on their grades. The problems may not be as great as those in the big athletic conferences, and they certainly aren’t talked about, but they are there as well.</p>
<p>My number one NCAA reform would be to get rid of academic exceptions in admissions for athletes. My number two (and probably more important one) would be to suspend all college football programs for at least a few years, if not permanently, and start from scratch with real student-athletes.</p>
<p>betweenthetrees – You couldn’t have gone wrong with any of those schools, and it sounds like you made the right decision for you. William & Mary is a wonderful place. Best wishes!</p>
<p>Well W&M athletics aren’t that bad! Just not as in your face as giant state schools, and I’ve accepted that. But WM football is playoffs almost every year, soccer goes to the tourney a lot, and basketball is getting better. I like it that the athletes at WM have to be just as studious as those of us not playing a varsity sport. I have no doubt I made the right choice. William and Mary students I know (and a few I don’t know), called me/messaged me to welcome me to the “Tribe family,” so I know I made a great choice.</p>