The professors at W&M are definitely great, some more so than others but you can find a phenomenal professor in any department, or for any type of class (if you take the time to look). In general, they make themselves very available outside of class time to talk, are engaging and passionate about their subject and are recognised experts in their field, outside of the university. In a lot of cases, you can even do research with the professors, even as an undergraduate. A few of my friends looked into it and had no problem finding a professor to work with, in a field they were interested in. This is especially true for science majors, because W&M has no graduate science program, so you aren't competing with grad students to do work with the professors.
Learning comes from more than the professors though. W&M is a community of very intelligent and driven students. The other students impress you with your knowledge and challenge you to try harder. It's cliche, but you really do learn from your peers.
W&M also provides ample opportunities to learn/ gain experience outside of the college. Study abroad is HIGHLY advertised and encouraged (and has very strong programs), and the career center is a fantastic resource for finding jobs/ internships while studying, during the summer, or after graduation.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
As I mentioned, the community here is great. Students are competitive, but in a positive way that encourages you to work harder; I have not encountered anyone that tries to out-compete by sabotaging others' work.
The campus is beautiful. That's all I really need to say about it.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I am out of state, so tuition is incredibly expensive and the college is pretty stingy when it comes to financial aid. I am certain that I could not get the experience I'm having at W&M for cheaper, though, and I know that the experience will eventually be worth the extra costs and work. For the time being though, the high price is a big worry, and one that I probably wouldn't have at most other universities in the country.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
for people who are accepted:
Attend Admitted Students Day . It was what convinced me about William and Mary- I hadn't been too impressed on the tours or other visits, but they had really good programs at their admitted students day and they gave me a much better understanding of what William and Mary is really like.
for people who decide to go:
Visit the Cohen Career Center your freshman year and definitely sign up for the various listservs that the Center offers. Make an appointment to get advice on your resume, or to look in to possible internship/ job opportunities, even if you aren't interested in applying for any yet. Make yourself known there and start that relationship with them, because they'll end up offering you opportunities you might not have known to even look for otherwise.
Be thoughtful when answering the questions about the dorm you'll live in. Your freshman hall is really what makes the difference between a good freshman year and an invaluable freshman year.
Buy a cider mug from the Bake Shop on dog (duke of Gloucester) street in January. For $11 you get free cider, soda, coffee, ice cream (possibly more...) for an entire year, so if you buy it in January you'll have it for two semesters instead of one.
Orientation is not at all what college is actually like, but bear with the sleep deprivation and awkward mixers because it definitely keeps you from being homesick and will prove to have been a worthwhile experience by the end of the week.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students at William and Mary are called twamps (typical William and Mary person). I'm not entirely sure how to best describe what that means, but definitely intelligent and driven (as I mentioned before), but also pretty dorky (in the best way possible). I've met some of the funniest and smartest people here, but none of them take themselves too seriously. If you've got quirks and like to laugh, you should fit in fine.
The professors at W&M are definitely great, some more so than others but you can find a phenomenal professor in any department, or for any type of class (if you take the time to look). In general, they make themselves very available outside of class time to talk, are engaging and passionate about their subject and are recognised experts in their field, outside of the university. In a lot of cases, you can even do research with the professors, even as an undergraduate. A few of my friends looked into it and had no problem finding a professor to work with, in a field they were interested in. This is especially true for science majors, because W&M has no graduate science program, so you aren't competing with grad students to do work with the professors. Learning comes from more than the professors though. W&M is a community of very intelligent and driven students. The other students impress you with your knowledge and challenge you to try harder. It's cliche, but you really do learn from your peers. W&M also provides ample opportunities to learn/ gain experience outside of the college. Study abroad is HIGHLY advertised and encouraged (and has very strong programs), and the career center is a fantastic resource for finding jobs/ internships while studying, during the summer, or after graduation.
As I mentioned, the community here is great. Students are competitive, but in a positive way that encourages you to work harder; I have not encountered anyone that tries to out-compete by sabotaging others' work. The campus is beautiful. That's all I really need to say about it.
I am out of state, so tuition is incredibly expensive and the college is pretty stingy when it comes to financial aid. I am certain that I could not get the experience I'm having at W&M for cheaper, though, and I know that the experience will eventually be worth the extra costs and work. For the time being though, the high price is a big worry, and one that I probably wouldn't have at most other universities in the country.
for people who are accepted: Attend Admitted Students Day . It was what convinced me about William and Mary- I hadn't been too impressed on the tours or other visits, but they had really good programs at their admitted students day and they gave me a much better understanding of what William and Mary is really like. for people who decide to go: Visit the Cohen Career Center your freshman year and definitely sign up for the various listservs that the Center offers. Make an appointment to get advice on your resume, or to look in to possible internship/ job opportunities, even if you aren't interested in applying for any yet. Make yourself known there and start that relationship with them, because they'll end up offering you opportunities you might not have known to even look for otherwise. Be thoughtful when answering the questions about the dorm you'll live in. Your freshman hall is really what makes the difference between a good freshman year and an invaluable freshman year. Buy a cider mug from the Bake Shop on dog (duke of Gloucester) street in January. For $11 you get free cider, soda, coffee, ice cream (possibly more...) for an entire year, so if you buy it in January you'll have it for two semesters instead of one. Orientation is not at all what college is actually like, but bear with the sleep deprivation and awkward mixers because it definitely keeps you from being homesick and will prove to have been a worthwhile experience by the end of the week.
Students at William and Mary are called twamps (typical William and Mary person). I'm not entirely sure how to best describe what that means, but definitely intelligent and driven (as I mentioned before), but also pretty dorky (in the best way possible). I've met some of the funniest and smartest people here, but none of them take themselves too seriously. If you've got quirks and like to laugh, you should fit in fine.