College of William and Mary Top Questions

Best thing - smallish, friendly, a really good school I'd change parking - you can't park anywhere during football games. Students who have to live here should get parking priority over people coming out to see the game. Size is just right - you can always meet new people, but there are also lots of familiar faces. They either say "Oh wow, that's a really good school," or "Oh, where is that?" I spend a lot of time in Jones and Tucker, my room, and making Wawa runs. I try to avoid Swem. I like the practice rooms in Ewell too. The UC terrace is nice. Yeah, what college town. Though, you can really make your own fun... and there are lots of restaurants. Gosh - Gene Nichol. I think there's a fair amount of school pride. Traditions can become traditions instantly (Blowout is hardly an ancient tradition). Nothing particular - I always get warm fuzzies when I sing the Alma Mater, and sometimes just walking along on campus i think "It's really beautiful here, and I get to claim it," as sappy as that may be. The one football game I attended that we won was pretty sweet. I got to see Glen Close one time, that was cool. Oh yeah, and the Queen. Complaints - no parking, NO PARKING, terrible allergy season, too much work, nothing to do

I think by far one of the best things about William and Mary is the love the people involved have for this school. Faculty, staff, and students all seem to really care not only about how their lives are improved by being here, but about the College's future. I also really love that all of my classes have been taught by my professor, with the occasional exception of a lab. I do wish we had the money to fund renovation projects more often and that there was more parking on campus. I think the size of our student body is perfect. When I tell people from near Virginia that I go to William and Mary many comment that it is a good school and that I must be smart; when talking to someone from a completely different area, however, the comment I receive the most is: "Is that a Catholic school?" due to the nature of the name. I spend the majority of my time either in my on campus housing, in classrooms, the Daily Grind, or outside on the UC terrace whenever possible. There is a decided lack of a college town atmosphere in Williamsburg, it seems to be more of a "retirement town" with way too many pancake houses and very few night life options. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the failure of the Board of Visitors to renew Gene Nichol's contract and his subsequent resignation. I have a feeling that the white supremacist speaker that is due on campus next week will be an issue as well. I think that William and Mary students do take pride in their alma mater, but I feel it is done in a subtle manner. You won't see many people decked out in green and gold camping out before a game, but when something happens to the school and its members, such as the Gene Nichol controversy, there is an outpouring of voices about our school. I think one of the most unusual things about William and Mary is despite the large amount of civic activism the students have, as well as the amount of volunteer work we do for the community, we have a very poor "green" system. You would think that with as much as we care about other issues, we'd want a greener campus too. I will always remember yule log ceremonies, Gene Nichol's resignation, and quite a few personal memories from my time here. The complaints often seen involve lack of new buildings and parking, that the cobblestone is hard to walk on, and that the UC food is UC food.

Best thing is the Greene Leafe cafe. I'd change the town, williamsburg can be quite stuffy and unfriendly to students. Size is just right. People are impressed when they hear I went to WM. I spend most of my time at my frat house. "What college town". Administration is poor and does not listen to students. Biggest controversy - firing of Gene Nichol, college president. There is minimal school pride.

The big picture thatis william and mary is that it is a very elitist university in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a community that doesn't like the students but needs the economy that the college brings. Without this college Williamsburg would be a poor, dead town. Even so the surrounding community thinks less than nothing of the students. Students here have very little say in how their college is run, while the wealthy conservative alumni dictate what is allowed here and how things will be run. There is nothing to do in Williamsburg and nothing origional about it. The local historically preseved museum "colonial williamsburg" is a historic smokescreen of lies. It propogates the myth of this countries colonial foundings without dealing with the actualities of slavery, tobacco, or native americans and instead presenting an idealized portrait of drum and fife marches and patriotism that borders on racism. Some professors here are good and passionate about thier work, but they usually don't stay, as they are recognized for their merits and paid better elsewhere. Apart from the library, the academic buildings and dorm rooms are deteriorating, but new parking garages and a chemistry addition are being built. Overall I am dissapointed in my college experience here, and I fell like it has made me into a cynical, bitter person.

William and Mary is a good, mid-sized school, with just enough people that you're always meeting someone new but small enough that you run into people you know frequently. The city of Williamsburg is interesting because most of the town is either college property or colonial buildings. There's a slight divide between conservative and liberal ideologies on campus, with a struggle between increased freedom and stricter moral conduct. Too many times it seems like administration members seem interested in busting kids for drinking than doing something productive, but that doesn't mean that everyone who drinks gets in trouble. Don't come to W&M if you're looking for strong varsity athletics. There are a good many student organizations. Also, no matter what you're looking for in terms of a social life, its probably available at W&M. Those that don't have people to hang out with are those that aren't looking. The only real pride that exists is to say we're better than UVA. Which we are.

I built a urinal out of my dorm window and I always get angry texts from people saying "Stop urinating." I will continue to piss.

People in America tend to know of William and Mary, and be fairly impressed that we go there, but outside of the states, we don't have much name recognition. We're not Yale or Harvard, but people know it's a good school. The size of the school is pretty good, small enough to always know someone in the bar, but large enough to meet new people even in your senior year. Definitely "what college town," although it's getting better, with new shops and restaurants aimed more towards students. Controversy: google gene nichol, and read until your eyes bleed. We definitely have a lot of Tribe pride, even when we perhaps shouldn't (ie our football team).

The size. Despite the countless criticisms William and Mary, as well as its students, have received for as long as it has existed, the size of the College continues to not only rank as the very best feature of the school, but its also a source of envy for thousands of students attending other colleges and universities across the country. To know FOR A FACT that your class size will not surpass 25 students is absolutely marvelous. While other young adults around the nation struggle to enroll in the most popular classes their respective schools offer - note: a good percentage of said students are seniors and have conseuqently been forced to prolong their undergraduate education all for the sake of getting the chance to enter a specific class or two to fulfill the required number of credits for graduating - William and Mary students, conversely, constantly have the chance to explore whatever they desire, and perhaps more importantly, whenever they desire. The fact is, students at the College are in the unique and very valuable position of being able to truly acquaint themselves with their professors, advisors, and deans. As a result, they have a much stronger likelihood of creating and fostering significant life-long connections, which have proven to go a long way in terms of both professional and personal advacement.

The administration is determined to ruin the fun of the students by starting programs like the Alcohol Task Force. Mark Constantine is a disease that converts campuses to "dry campuses" then moves on. The rules are ridiculous (no kegs on campus??!!) for a college, people get in trouble for more petty things than I could have dreamed of.

I think the size of W&M is just right and I would not change it. My favorite thing about W&M was the freedom I had to explore any area in academia, art, and nature that excited me and run with it. My college experience did not turn out like I thought it would. It was way better than I could have imagined. One thing I would change is parking services. They are evil. My favorite parts of campus are old campus, then path between the sunken gardens and the crim dell, and the woods. Not much of a college town, although the town as a whole has more to offer students than it did in the past, unfortunately at the expense of many acres of wooded land. I like the administration for the most part, except for Dean Volp. She is also evil. I am torn over the controversy surrounding Gene Nichol (the biggest recent controversy), because I like him tremendously as a person and as a representative of the students, faculty, and staff. However, there is always money to consider, and he didn't have much luck with that. W&M is unusual in that it is one of the finest schools in the nation, but lacks in environmental friendliness. Williamsburg is also unusual in that it is not a college town and rather is geared towards tourists, and the retired.

The best thing about William and Mary can be summed up by three days of the year. Blowout1 Blowout2 and Campus Golf. The rest of the time it is a pretty sad place. I would change a million things about the school, the social scene is insane, there is nowhere to go to see good music (Meridian gets an A for effort but fails in size, booze, atmosphere, etc), there are only two bars worth going to, the athletes think they own the town (even though we suck at sports). Williamsburg is some sort of a college town/tourist trap/police state combination in which your best bet is to find a cool house off campus and never leave it.

The best thing about WM is that when you graduate you will never have to come back. I would change too many things to list. People react with with a token "wow you must be smart" but they are really telling themselves you must be a big nerd loser. I spend most of my time on campus in class and then immediately get off of campus. Definetly a "what college town" For a "liberal" school the administration is extremely conservative and cares nothing for its students. There could not even be school pride if we wanted it because all of our sports teams are pathetic and anyone that doesnt go to WM and watches them play cant help but laugh.

When you sign up as a William and Mary student you are giving your life, heart, soul to a family. We are a very tight family. I wish we could be a little tighter. I wish we could be a bit more sturdy against the outside attacks that occur so frequently. Our school is small but like an exclusive group. I was once at a dinner party with doctors and lawyers in Atlanta and I mentioned my affiliation with the College and received nothing but praise and admiration. People know us. We are important. I spend a lot of time in the Swem Media Center. Swem Library is an interesting place to hang out. The Greene Leafe is where we all drink. The City of Williamsburg is filled with people who are not interested in us. The administration is a large bureaucracy filled with generally nice and capable people, though not always there to help you. Our campus has been flooded with controversy lately. Over our 300+ year history we haven't spent many years without something going on all over campus. School pride we have but need more of. Students complain of lack of night life. Frankly, if you know how to party you don't need clubs.

William and Mary is demanding academically. You will actually learn and put in a fair amount of work and will probably get smarter. This is where the benefits of the college end. If you like partying, prepare to not find any, and then get hassled by the holier-than-thou big-brother gestapo police force, who are bitter old farts who think a good time is causing a problem where there is none. Enjoy seeing none of the beautiful girls that attend other colleges. If you are lucky you can convince yourself that the library is cool. By the time you are a spring-semester freshman you know everyone who is outgoing or likes to have fun, and get used to only hanging out with them. I honestly believe that Williamsburg is the most stagnant, depressing, anti-student hive of boredom in the country. Believe the stereotypes, save yourself the grief.

The best thing about William & Mary is that it isn't UVA. Other than that it has a number of problems. It is too small and there is a very limited social scene, because of the demographics of Williamsburg. My friends laugh at me when I talk about William & Mary. The school pride here is impressive, but you can't help but think the students take pride for the sake of taking pride--not because there are many things about this school that they enjoy and appreciate.

The best thing? The students are intelligent, open, and involved. You can talk to anyone if you just try a little bit. I would change the amount of power the state has in making decisions about the College. The school is the perfect size! When I tell people I go to William and Mary, they think that all I do is work. That's not true, although I do work very hard. I spend most of my time on campus at the Daily Grind. Williamsburg is not a great college town, but none of us are willing to spend money anyway, so what does it matter? The administration tries their hardest. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be reminded of our presence, though. We should work with them, not against them. The unusual thing about William and Mary is, well, everything. There are not too many small elite southern public liberal arts schools! I will always remember seeing the student movements after President Nichol's contract wasn't renewed. We are very active when we want to be, and much more reasonable than many people give us credit for. Don't piss us off - we won't take it sitting down! The most frequent student complaints have to do with nightlife and other students. To that I say: get off your ass and do something about it! Go find your own fun. Do what you love and you'll find people who love it too!

William and Mary's size is just right, large enough so that I meet new people constantly but small enough so that I will, without fail, run into a least a few people I know on campus on my way to class. I much prefer this size university to a larger one, I've studied at a university with 20,000+ students and you only "run into" people you know once in a blue moon. I spend most of my time on campus in the library, gym or on Old Campus--if you want a true residential college experience, William and Mary can offer it (especially if you take liberal arts classes instead of sciences). Old Campus is the most beautiful part of campus with trees lining red brick academic buildings , anchored by the Sunken Gardens in the center and flanked by the Christopher Wren building, where classes are still held. The new rec center is going to be a huge selling point in the admission office's prospective student literature..and for good reason! The new Rec Sports center has tons of equipment, is pleasing to the eye and a much needed upgrade to the William and Mary campus--people love it. The general student opinion of the administration has really declined recently, especially with the removal of our president Gene Nichol. He had the overwhelming support of students and staff, but his contract as president was not renewed after the Wren Cross controversy, which greatly upset most William and Mary students.

William and Mary has an awesome atmosphere. More about that specifically in the later questions. I'd bring the stress down a little, and add a couple fun things in walking distance. School is just the right size- always meeting new people, and when you do you'll see them again. often mutual friends. People are usually impressed in state, haven't heard of it out of state. Some think it's an Ivy or a Catholic school. few know it's public!!!! One of my mom's friends said, "oh, so she didn't get into UVA?" and my mom gave her a talking-to. (i did get in, btw.) i spend a lot of time in my hall. im a freshman, so many of my friends are there. i relax in my room and study in the lounge. its easy when its all right there. we have a cute college few blocks of stores. i dont have a car, but havent heard that there's a ton to do anyways. i dont really mind, i knew what i was getting into when i chose to come here. i really dont know much about the administration, though lots of my peers at least claim extensive knowledge of their inner workings. i believe that they like the students care about the school but naturally sometimes arrive at different conclusions on what is best. i definitely like that they email us with news and updates, so it's not all the rumor chain. hmm- must have been the Gene Nichol thing! though that's largely died down over spring break. yes!!!!! not about sports exactly, but virtually everyone here loves the school : ) William and Mary is unusual- the kids are quirky and i love it. we have a private school feel with public school tuition. we have a bunch of super-gifted kids who help each other rather than compete. everyone here has talents and passions, and much of it is not academic. there is also a huge culture of community service, which is a good thing to rub off on your friends. move-in day and orientation. the upperclassmen were positively delighted to see us, and say hi whenever they saw us, and help us carry our stuff up the stairs in 90 degree weather, and answer all our questions. it was a great start to what's been a great experience. some students complain about the boring town, the tough coursework with non-inflated GPAs, and the fact that grad school pass us over (that last one may be unfounded, i don't know).

The best thing about William and Mary is the value per dollar. It is the highest ranked small, public liberal arts school in the nation so if you live in-state and you want a liberal arts education on a budget it's a no-brainer. The teachers are well qualified and the degrees are well respected. If there were one thing I could change, it'd be the lack of nightlife. The only place to drink is the delis, which is always packed and extremely loud. There's nowhere to dance, and the police hand out noise violations like candy to people who throw house parties next to old neighbors (of whom there is no shortage in Williamsburg). When I tell people I go to William and Mary the two responses I typically get are "oh you must be really smart" and "oh that's thoroughly uninteresting, I've never heard of your football team." I spend most of my time on campus either at one of the local coffee shops or doing extracurriculars. There is no shortage of student activities, from meditation club to the student hip hop organization. Williamsburg is definitely not a college town; it's run by and for old people. It's got an overwhelming amount of history though, which is great if you're a history buff. Jamestown is right next door, we have re-enactors all over the place, and the college is the second oldest in the country after Harvard. The William and Mary administration is fairly effective in terms of financial management. We have a minuscule endowment and government funding gets cut every year, yet the school continues to climb in rankings. However, they do have pretty conservative leanings and are getting stricter with drug and alcohol violations. It's not uncommon for students to be expelled for possession of marijuana. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the non-renewal of the College's president, who was tremendously popular amongst students and faculty. There were protests, strikes, sit-ins, the works. Many people believe he was not renewed because of his many liberal policies, which the conservative alumni and administration did not approve of. These questions are too numerous and the lack of word count limits makes answering them frustratingly time consuming. I'm done here.

Best thing about W & M- such a welcoming community where everyone is so friendly and everyone feels included One thing I'd change- better athletic teams Size is great- 5,000 is not too big but not too small (see familiar faces but also meet new people all the time) When I tell people that I go to W & M they usually say "Wow that's a great school!", "Wow, that's a really tough school to get into", "Williamsburg is such a nice area", "William and Mary is such a pretty campus" I spend most of my time on campus at my sorority house, in the caf, at the rec center, or in the dorm Although the people of Williamsburg aren't too fond of the college community, the town itself is a great environment with lots of restaurants and such nearby. Colonial Williamsburg is really cute and has a bunch of nice shops and places to eat. New Town and other shopping centers are within a 10 minutes drive and provide anything you could possibly be looking for. We've had some recent changes in administration so that is up in the air right now. The biggest recent controversy on campus was in regards to the President's resignation after the Board of Visitor's decision to cancel the renewal of the president's contract (explanation of situation can be found on the internet). There is a lot of Tribe Pride. The alma mater is sung at almost every event, and football and other sporting events are always packed with students. Although the feathers were removed from the logo, people can always be found sporting the feathers as well as green and gold. One experience that I will always remember was initiation into my sorority. Greek life has been a huge part of my college experience, and is for many students on campus. However, there are many that choose not to be involved in the Greek community and they still have a wonderful college experience here. The most frequent student complaints are about the restrictions on who gets cars and where cars can be parked, but that is more a problem with the Williamsburg community than the college itself.