College of William and Mary Top Questions

When white people go away to college, they tend to study what are knowns as the Arts. This includes actual Art, English, History, Classics, and Philosophy. These can of course be broken down further into Film, Womyn’s Studies (yes the spelling is correct), Communications, Gender Studies, and so forth. It is important to note that a high percentage of white people also get degrees in Political Science, which is pretty much like arts, and only seems to have the word “science” in it to make white people feel better about themselves. These degrees enable white people to spend four yeas of their lives reading books, writing papers and feeling great about themselves. It is a known fact that Arts students firmly believe that they are doing you/society a favor by not getting a job and reading Proust. They use this to protest for reduced tuition, more money for the arts, and special reduced student rates on things like bus passes. But what about the white people who study Science, Engineering or Business? Unless they become doctors, they essentially lose white person status (and can only be regained by working at a non-profit). So why would white people spend all that time studying and working to get into college if they are just going to read books that they might have read in their free time? Because white people have it made. They can take that degree and easily parlay it into a non profit job, an art gallery job, or work in publishing. If the pay is low, no problem, their parents will happily help out with rent until they magically start making six figures or non-magically turn 40. White people can also take that degree and go to graduate school (future post) and eventually become a professor or adjunct professor where they will still require parental support. If they are REALLY ambitious and need to make money, they can take that degree and go to Law School. But the real reason white people need these degrees is so that they can sound smart at parties. Of course it trickles down to making connections, getting hired, knowing rich people, and so forth. But ultimately it all begins by saying “reading Henry James was the most rewarding part of undergrad.” Using this to your advantage can be very difficult as attempts to talk about the books they skimmed while hungover can expose you. It is best to say that you were a first generation college student and your parents demanded that you study math, chemistry, economics or computer science. You had to read Joyce on your own.

Generally, W&M consists of white students

That we're super awkward. And do a lot of work.

Study too much, don't have any fun

People either seem to think that William and Mary is ridiculously hard-core and geeky, or a lame "state school" (esp. people who aren't from VA for the mid-atlantic)

We're smart but we don't like to party.

The biggest stereotype is that we're socially awkward nerds. Unless you're in Greek Life in which case you take on all the stereotypes of your sorority or fraternity.

We're awkward and we have no night life.

The socially awkward kids, study so much they drive themselves to suicide, nothing to do at W&M, there are a lot of gay students, they are ugly, not a party school

overworked and undersexed; girls are cows

One that I've heard is that there are "too many" gay people, here.

William & Mary students are stereotypically pretty nerdy - they do all of their homework on time, anything less than an A is a disappointment, and they're disappointed that Swem (our library) isn't open past 6 on Fridays and Saturdays. Further, the W&M student is always over-committed and over-involved.

Awkward, nerdy, where fun comes to die, very preppy, and everyone lives in Swem the library

"One of the highest suicide rates in the country" William & Mary students are socially awkward and don't know how to put down the books and have a good time. "W&M--where your best hasn't been good enough since 1693"

William and Mary has the stereotype of being a very smart, but very nerdy school. In line with that, the students are thought to be very intelligent and hard-working, but oftentimes overly so. Grades are thought to be of the utmost importance, while social skills are left undeveloped. Though William and Mary is one of the nation's most prestigious schools, the students are often modest and down-to-earth. The most common stereotype is that students here are awkward.

That we study all the time and are obsessed with grades.

They are awkward. REALLY AWKWARD. And nerdy. A lot. They are rich and preppy and look down their nose at you. Everyone is trying to be busier and more involved than everyone else. Everyone is in a frat/sorority. Everyone is gay. Everyone is ugly.

Hard-working, to the point that they don't have fun. Suicidal, uber-liberal, gays.

Book worms lacking social skills. Artsy kids.

Nerdy Ugly wealthy