College of William and Mary Top Questions

My answer might be more negative than most, because I have not had a good experience here so far. But most everyone I talk to here loves it. With that said, in my opinion, the education here is great if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or some kind of scientist, but not if you truly enjoy just learning. I have yet to have a discussion I have enjoyed (and I have taken "seminar" classes). The professors do not seem to respect your opinion or thoughts, and just want to you memorize and agree with whatever they say. If you offer a different opinion or thought, you get shut down and the professors quickly try to prove that you are wrong. (Again, I might just be unlucky in the classes that I've taken). If you like history, you will love this school! Colonial Williamsburg is right next to campus, and all the buildings are old and filled with history. I like the school's size. It is large enough that you can have a personal life that everyone doesn't know about, but small enough that your classes aren't huge. Sports are usually a joke here. Especially when it comes to football! I would personally suggest just removing the football team. I've met plenty of seniors that have never been to a game. In general, the school does not even pretend to care about the team. Last year they won 2 games the entire season. The school has a really great name, and I think there are plenty of people here for that reason. Saying you went to W&M can open up a lot of doors.

Good

I really like William and Mary, and I am so glad I decided to come here. I could not imagine going anywhere else. One thing I always tell people is that it is the perfect size. It's big enough that I could never know everyone, yet small enough that I see people that I know as I walk around campus. It's always cool when I tell people that I go to William and Mary, because they always respond that it is such a great school for academics. I definitely agree. The students here are very proud of their school. Rarely do I walk through campus and not see at least every other person wearing some sort of William and Mary clothes. One of my favorite things about this campus is how beautiful it is. There are trees everywhere and that combined with the old buildings makes it look idyllic, especially on sunny days.

As I struggle through the heavy courseload at William and Mary, I find myself still managing to have a good time, largely due in part to the friends I have made so far in my college career. At William and Mary, the student body is relatively small (approximately 5800 undergraduates), but is diverse in such a way that everyone is able to find their niche within the school. William and Mary prides itself on the sense of community that it establishes through the diverse population it manages to draw each year. Since it is a public school in the state of Virginia, most students hail Virginia (specifically Northern Virginia, affectionately dubbed NoVa) as home; however, the backgrounds and interests of students is overwhelmingly unique. As William and Mary's reputation and outreach to international students, in particular in Asian countries, the diversity of the student body will only continue to increase. Because the student body is small enough to interact with in a meaningful way on campus, but large enough to find individuals who share my interests, the relationships I have established have been the best part about my time at the College. After returning home for holidays and talking with friends, family, and strangers about my experiences at William and Mary, nearly everyone has a relative or close friend that went to there; "wonderful school" is a typical phrase I hear when telling people I attend William and Mary. But once back on campus, I spend much of my time in the library (fulfilling the typical W&M student stereotype) or at the gym. Many of my friends enjoy using the gym facilities as much as I do, and it's always great to catch up and stay in shape at the same time. William and Mary is located in the City of Williamsburg, which is a well-known colonial-era tourist attraction, a fact that sort of loses its excitement after about the first week of freshman year. Aside from the colonial section of Williamsburg, there isn't much in the way of nightlife, which is one of the largest student complaints upon arriving to William and Mary. However, other students and myself still manage to find fun things to do on campus. There are often campus-run events on the weekends (such as movie-showings and live entertainment), as well as just hanging out with friends or catching a movie in New Town, a shopping center a short car or bus ride away from campus. The school administration is somewhat strict, especially in their rulings of student misdeeds, but is fair. William and Mary has the oldest honor code in the country, something that all faculty and students take seriously. The undergraduate honor council handles issues of cheating, lying, etc., and the fact that it is student-run (and elected!) provides more fair rulings for students with the additional perspective of a student presiding, even if not always lenient. Despite this sense of community around a commonly shared desire to uphold the honor code (created by a William and Mary alumnus, Thomas Jefferson), there tends to not be a great sense of school pride. William and Mary's athletic teams are not often good, which detracts from the positive environment of the College, but the students often will rally together for traditions, some of which include the Yule Log ceremony (lighting of a fire in Wren Chapel, the oldest academic building still in use in the US) and Opening Convocation for the new freshman class. One of the most memorable experiences I have had at W&M was walking through the Wren Chapel after reciting the honor code pledge and then into the bright summer sun to see all of the student body standing outside, congratulating me (as a freshman) and welcoming me to William and Mary. The sea of clapping hands and smiling faces directed at a freshman (not usually a welcome status in high school) is something that I always remember.

The College of William & Mary is an excellent school on a beautiful campus. Known for being a good school, admittance is competitive, and for those who get in, the classes are known for being extremely difficult. Because of the time that must be put into classes, the library is probably one of the most popular places on campus, especially during mid-term or final times, where there is not an empty desk to be found. Located in Historic Williamsburg, VA, the area is beautiful, but students accurately complain that there is nothing to do near the campus. The only "nightlife" in the city is found in the three bars that are located on a single corner directly across from campus. The school administration, however, does try to host many events throughout the year which gives students the opportunity to socialize and around 1/3 of students are involved in Greek life.

Best thing about W&M: The students. Friendly, intelligent, talkative, these are the people you want to know. One thing I'd change: There's always construction somewhere. Necessary, but annoying Too large, too small, or just right? Just right, college wise. Town wise it's a bit small. How people react when I tell them I go to W&M: They're impressed. We're a big name, especially for a school without that great of an athletic department Where I spend most of my time on campus: The Daily Grind, our on-campus coffee shop College town, or "what college town?: Definitely what college town? Colonial Williamsburg is right outside our door, and the rest of town may appreciate our business, but we are definitely not their target audience. My opinion of W&M's administration?: Fair, if harsh. W&M has a strict honor code and code of conduct, and the school enforces those rules, as the students expect them to. You can have fun on campus, but break our rules and there will be consequences. The biggest recent controversy on campus: The Living Wages Coalition and their attempt to raise awareness about wage issues... and the collective student body's decision to ignore and/or ridicule them for being activists for the sake of activism rather than for a legitimate cause. School pride: Tribe Pride is huge on campus. Unique to us, it's more often about our school's academic accomplishments rather than athletic ones, but our teams inspire Tribe Pride as well. We know when our teams are good, and we cheer them on regardless. Something unusual about W&M: Built in 1693, it's the second oldest college in the country. Also, it's actually a university, but we thought 'College of William & Mary' sounded cooler :) One experience I'll always remember: Jumping the wall... again... and again. We have a tradition called the triathlon, the three parts of which are jumping the Governor's palace wall, swimming the Crim Dell, and streaking the Sunken Garden. One of those I've done repeatedly, one just once and never again, and one is yet to come... Student complaints: The food could use some improvement, and parking is terrible. Also, SO MUCH READING.

With about 6,000 undergrad students, this school is, for the most part, the right size for me. During the fall semester, I sometimes find myself wishing that it was 25 or 30,000 strong and that we had a nationally ranked football program, but we still have a prestigious program for Division IAA. Otherwise, the school is the perfect size because it's big enough so as to provide you with plenty of opportunities both academically and socially, but not so big as to overwhelm me. I've always wondered what it would be like to go to a school like Florida that is 50,000 students where I hear they take some introductory courses online and where you can meet someone freshman year and never run into them again in four years. Students sometimes give Williamsburg a bad rap, and it is somewhat deserved. One of the biggest student complaints is not with the school or administration but with the city, particularly in reference to off-campus students. The city has a "three-person rule" which prevents more than three unrelated people from living in the same house. It is often disputed and often violated, and makes it a hassle for students who find larger off-campus houses to live in. As far as the night life/ social scene, students choose between fraternities and other off-campus parties and the bars. There are currently three bars that students frequent and while that doesn't seem like a lot, I like it because it provides enough space and choice but also allows you to run into people there that you weren't planning on seeing. There are at least two and maybe three others being built right now, and the school and town seem to actually be making some efforts at improving this aspect, which is certainly a positive. One of the most redeeming aspects of telling people I go to this school is the opinion they immediately have. I say William and Mary and it is without fail followed by either "that's a great/outstanding/terrific school" or "wow you must be really smart." The former is true, and I have no problem letting people believe the latter even if it may not be totally accurate.

With about 6,000 undergrad students, this school is, for the most part, the right size for me. During the fall semester, I sometimes find myself wishing that it was 25 or 30,000 strong and that we had a nationally ranked football program, but we still have a prestigious program for Division IAA. Otherwise, the school is the perfect size because it's big enough so as to provide you with plenty of opportunities both academically and socially, but not so big as to overwhelm me. I've always wondered what it would be like to go to a school like Florida that is 50,000 students where I hear they take some introductory courses online and where you can meet someone freshman year and never run into them again in four years.

I don't like it. too small. They don't know what I am talking about.