Since we're talking colleges, anyone have any experience with William and Mary?

[Virginia Dawn]

If your child has attended what was his/her experience like, especially regarding atmosphere and academics.

[Gwen in VA]

Yup -- we live about a mile away, and ds is at a caulculus 2 class right now.

It is supposedly a "nerdy" school, though there are lots of fraternities and sororities, and they definitely have a social life involving tuxedos and formal gowns -- we see them walking around town!

W&M certainly has a good reputation, and for VA residents it is quite cheap. It is a public school, so it definitely has classes with LARGE sections (ds's microecon class had 120 students) but the profs are quite responsive.

If you have any specific questions, ask away. I may or may not be able to answer, but I can give it a try!

[Linda in NM]

Unless I'm mistaken, SWB is still faculty there...

[mcconnellboys]

And she attended school there, too, I believe. And isn't her husband also on the faculty?

Regena

[Virginia Dawn]

Yup -- we live about a mile away, and ds is at a caulculus 2 class right now.

It is supposedly a "nerdy" school, though there are lots of fraternities and sororities, and they definitely have a social life involving tuxedos and formal gowns -- we see them walking around town!

W&M certainly has a good reputation, and for VA residents it is quite cheap. It is a public school, so it definitely has classes with LARGE sections (ds's microecon class had 120 students) but the profs are quite responsive.

If you have any specific questions, ask away. I may or may not be able to answer, but I can give it a try!

Is your ds living at the school? What is dorm life like? Are the students "stuck up?" Is he glad he chose William and Mary? How much has the recent unpleasantness affected the students? Does there seem to be any prejudice against Christians? Does your ds seem to have any trouble handling the work load? I'll probably have more questions, but that's a start.

[Jane in NC]

My son hs said that he is interested in attending W&M for one reason: to study medieval history with Philip Daileader. The kid who I thought would always be a biologist or engineer has fallen under the spell of Professor Daileader via the Teaching Company!

Earlier in the day I was chatting with some friends who retired here from the DC area. A comment was made that W&M has one of the highest student suicide rates in the country! Off to the web I went and found a denial of this legend.

http://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2006/feature_5.shtml

But isn't it interesting that such a rumor started and was sustained?

Jane

[GraceinMD]

Well, I went there, but my experience from a million years ago probably isn't too relevant! (However, the Cheese Shop STILL makes the best sandwich around :001_smile:.)

There was a very active InterVarsity chapter when I was there, and many other Christian groups, too. I feel that I "blossomed" in many ways during my 4 yrs there -- it was a fabulous experience all around!

There were many sororities and fraternities, but I didn't miss out on anything that I thought was important by NOT joining a sorority. Apart from Christian groups, most of my socializing was with others in the Music Dept (Chorus and Choir (are there any other Kwah alums out there?!)), and those are my fondest memories.

I don't know what departments are considered strong anymore - I figure that things like that might have changed a lot in the past 26 years.

[Gwen in VA]

Grace -- I LOVE the Cheese Shop too!

[GraceinMD]

...but you LIVE THERE - wah! I think I'm jealous!