William & Mary School of Education

I enjoyed my time at William and Mary very much overall, particularly in 2007 and 2008. It was a very relaxed and quiet environment, not at all like the big city environment of many colleges and universities, which is important for me as I have always been very introverted and cannot stand noise and distractions.

The college is located just across the street from Colonial Williamsburg, and many of the buildings look like they could have been built in colonial times. There is a pond called the Crim... Read More Dell which is very aesthetically appealing, although unfortunately it is not good for swimming as it is populated with snapping turtles. There is also a nearby lake, which I went ziplining over once as part of a class called adventure games. There were sometimes concerts at a small nearby house which was used as a student-operated coffee shop, and I remember going to a metal concert in the basement of one of the main buildings. It was probably the nicest environment I have ever been in, in terms of both the infrastructure and the human aspect, and if I had a time machine I would surely choose to go back to 2007.

While there, I was a member of several student organizations which I enjoyed very much, as they provided a way to interact with other students in a low-pressure environment, far preferable to the noisy and confused affairs known as "parties." I particularly enjoyed the juggling club. The people I knew were mostly very intelligent, but not aggressive or worldly. I met several very high-quality people who I stayed in touch with for some time after graduating.

I cannot say for sure that the college is still very similar today, but from what I remember, I would highly recommend it.

It is very rare that I feel regret about the past, but joining W&M's online program in school counseling was one of the worst decisions I have ever made. There are far more affordable options, but I thought that the university's reputation warrants paying more. Huge mistake. Very few professors are trying to teach. Most classes are "taught" by adjuncts (and I use the word teach very liberally here). Teaching really only involves watching a few poor quality videos (some of which are from YouTube),... Read More read a textbook, and write a paper, on which you receive nearly zero feedback. I haven't done a poll but a huge number of students are unhappy and would transfer if not for the money already spent. After nearly 2 years in the program, I am certain that only a couple of faculty member would even recognize my name - asking anyone for a recommendation letter, for example, would be impossible. The faculty really tries to spend as little time as possible on this program, seeing it as a quick and easy pay check. I will qualify that there have been a couple of professors who were outstanding, but they are truly an exception. Course reviews are never addressed and nothing changes. Suddenly, mid-program, the school of education raised tuition by 25% (!) citing inflation. They can and will do this arbitrarily. While this may sound like a rant it is not. I am simply hoping to prevent others from making the mistake that I have made. I was choosing between several programs and made the worst choice imaginable.

The College of William and Mary has given me an incredible undergraduate degree with a BS in Kinesiology and minor in Chemistry. My undergraduate education set me up to be very competitive while applying for graduate schools, resulting in admission offers from multiple graduate schools. The College of William and Marys small class size allows the professors to be accessible outside of the classroom while also making it possible to do research as an undergraduate that would not be available at the... Read More undergraduate level at a larger university.

The College of William & Mary is academically challenging and you will be up many late nights studying. The stellar professors expect a lot but they are willing to help so please reach out to them. My major was Biology and the freshman classes were extremely difficult and weeded out a lot of students. The classes beyond freshman year were tough but more manageable. The campus is gorgeous, the buildings beautiful, and it is a very walk able campus. The student body is not racially or culturally diverse,... Read More however there are diverse student organizations, talents, and interests. The student body does have amazing camaraderie. The College has a high job placement rate after graduation and their Career Services Office is very supportive. Be prepared for expensive tuition with low rate of students receiving grants or scholarships. The dorms are older and do not have AC and housing is not guaranteed your senior year. Most upper level students get apartments. Socially there is not much to do in Williamsburg other than a couple of bars, Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Amusement Park.

The education that I received from The College of William and Mary thoroughly prepared me for life after college. The curriculum was top notch and the liberal arts approach gives you a very wide spread approach towards academics exposing you to many subjects along the way. After deciding on a path the departments have outstanding knowledge to help guide any student down the path they desire into a lucrative field fully prepared for any profession. Not only did William and Mary prepare me with academics,... Read More it helped me learn how I needed to budget school work with friends and activities. The college isn't just about learning a lot of material, it helps shape the person that you will become down the road. While the late studying and cramming are seen in the present, the later results show what William and Mary truly teaches you

For incoming freshman, don't ever hesitate to ask for help, especially from your professors or advisers. Remember that it is not a competition. Focus on your education, your journey, and work hard. The school is great, and academically challenging. However, it is what you make it. There's a lot of flexibility when it comes to courses for your major and designing your own major. Ask other students, especially upperclassmen what they've done. I self designed my own public health program, and with the... Read More guidance of my adviser and classmates, I tailored the program to my interests, and it was the best decision I could have made.