<p>My son is trying to decide between the two. Any thoughts? He is attracted to the smaller size at Dickinson and the opportunity to play sports, but is impressed with reputation and prestige of William & Mary. Thanks.</p>
<p>Is money a factor?</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>William and May has small class sizes. And sports that are competitive but not so that one can't walk on and make a team. Also, intramural sports are big at W&M.. Daughter is hoping to play on a coed soccer team.</p>
<p>i thought i wanted a school of similar size to dickenson until like march, when i found that i would like to have the diversity that those extra 3 thousand students bring. both schools are amazing, but i feel like WM has more prestige and although much older, is a school on the rise. Their biz school will be completed in 2009, and they just got some new magnet thign they explained on the tour that is attracting some great scientific research for undergrads, not to mention jamestown is so close as well. The way i see it, a lot of these resources are not there at some small schools. I dont know particulars about dickinson but look at their alums-- what have they done? their profs-- what have they done? at wm the answers to these questions are household names. that is another plus. but you cant exactly choose wrong between these two--- it comes down to personal fit. and as for sports it seems liek almost eveyrone plays club or intermurral if they arent varsity athletes.</p>
<p>lots of people at W&M play sports. The varsity teams are definitely competitive, and as someone else mentioned, tons of people play IM and Club sports. And there are always people throwing frisbees, from people who are terrible, to the club teams, and everything in between.</p>
<p>W&M classes are pretty small, I guess with the exception of intro science/econ/psych courses. It's big enough that you don't run out of people to meet, but you can still feel like you know a large part of campus.</p>
<p>My son is a sophomore at William & Mary & my daughter transferred from Dickinson to TCNJ, where she currently is a junior. In my opinion W&M is far & away a better school in all respects than Dickinson. Academics, reputation, location, campus beauty, weather, & grad school admittance rates are better at W&M. W&M is by no means a large school, while Dickinson is fairly small although class sizes are about the same.
My daughter applied ED to Dickinson & ran x-country. While Dickinson is a fine school, she realized half way thru freshman year it wasn't for her & decided to transfer. Money was not a factor, nor was deciding on W&M as we are out of state with-out aid. Good luck to your son with either school.</p>
<p>I've met kids who attend Dickinson and love it. And W&M students love it there, too. It depends on what you're personally looking for in the college experience. Dickinson is in a more rural area/small town. W&M is right by Colonial Williamsburg - very historic/touristy. You might want to check on modes of transportation if you need to get home. Amtrak runs near W&M; I don't know about transportation from Dickinson... Good luck!</p>
<p>I was also accepted to Dickinson
I'm choosing W&M over it, and other schools, for many reasons
First I know I can get an amazing education there, and I won't be ignored because I'm undergraduate. The class-sizes are small, but the school isn't tiny. I don't want to go to a college that is smaller than my high school. There is greater diversity at W&M. The students as a whole seem to be welcoming, smart, involved, motivated ( without being crazy) and pretty laid back. The professors I've talked to and heard about all seem to actual care about students. And I could basically just see myself spending the next four years there.
I also would have the opportunity to play a sport if i went to one of the D III schools I got into. ( I talked to a few different coaches etc.) it was hard for me to give that idea up but I plan to play on the club team, more competitive than intramurals, which actually plays other D I schools in the area.
Of course, W&M isn't the right answer for everyone, but it is for me.</p>