dudedad

Regarding UMW, it's a small state LAC that seems downright tiny. Not a lot going on either. When I toured with my D a few years ago there was an poster for a Guster concert...at U of Richmond.

pats4life2003

at richmond? really??
I'm talkin about public schools not all the rich kids at U of R...
it costs 50 grand a year when there are 3 or 4 better public schools in the state of virginia

pedsox

Here is how it goes

William and Mary
UVA (OK, no flack, I just happen to go to William and Mary!!)

Virginia Tech
JMU
Mary Washington

Dal

The list above is correct based upon average accepted Northern Virginian students' stats, except UVA and William and Mary are switched =P

if you were to add George Mason and University of Richmond into the list (since someone in the tread mentioned them), it'd go

UVA
University of Richmond
William and Mary
Virginia Tech
JMU
Mary Washington
George Mason

again this is JUST based upon stats of accepted Northern Virginian students.

swish14

W&M has higher test scores and lower admit rate than UVirginia.

Washington & Lee
William & Mary
UVirginia
URichmond
Va Tech
Mary Washington
James Madison

Dal

I didn't go by admit rate, I went by average stats of those accepted. In Northern Virginia, William and Mary gets students with lower stats then University of Virginia based upon a large sampling.

The average William and Mary accepted student has a 3.9 and roughly a 1350 SAT score. The average University of Virginia student has a 4.0 average and roughly a 1360 SAT score. The difference is very small, but still higher for University of Virginia. This is based from over 160 students. Really there isn't much difference at all.

Also at least in Northern Virginia, college place quotas on each school. This means they will only accept the top x applicants at your school. If a lot of students want to go to William and Mary, its easier to get into UVA. If a majority want UVA, then its easier to get into William and Mary. I know at my school, UVA is the top choice. Therefore the average William and Mary student from my school went there as their second choice.

KandKsmom

I think it is so interesting to read the opinions that different people have after they visit prospective schools. The opinions can be as different as night and day! That is why I feel it is so important for these high school students to actually set foot on the campuses and not go by what others think of them.

pats4life, I hope you get into UVA because that seems like it is the place you want to go the most. I disagree with you about VT, though, and hope that people reading this thread do their homework about its admissions criteria and visit it to see the campus (which we think is breathtakingly beautiful ) for themselves. First of all, the comment:

"it's a joke university..we call it a safety school and everyone knows that around here...

Around here (our part of Va), VT has been the top choice for applications from the last three graduating senior classes (that fact is from our guidance dept.) with JMU coming right in behind at #2. It is far from being considered a "safety". Our brightest graduates matriculate there. Really, with the numbers of graduating kids this June, not many colleges can be considered a "safe" thing, but with these numbers, I don't see how you can call it a "joke university" or a safety:

(from VT's website)

Fall 2007 Freshman Offers at a Glance
Average GPA: 3.82
Mid-50% GPA*: 3.57–4.04

Average SAT: 1229

I think we are so fortunate in VA to have such great schools; they all have their strengths and qualities that appeal to different people in different ways. Good luck with your admittance.

doctorb

Dal-

Wow! you used approximate numbers from a whole 160 people!? You should get the Nobel prize for statistics. Swish is right, W&M has a lower admit rate and higher test scores based on THOUSANDS of applicants and it has been this way for years.

Of course it is a purely academic arguement since the spread is miniscule. Both are great schools that have different missions and strengths/weaknesses. The state is lucky to have arguably the best research public school and the best small, LAC, public school in America. People should decide on the two schools based on numerous other issues. Some kids are great for W&M and would hate UVa and vice versa. Nevertheless your math is supsect and conclusions are in error.

swish14

Nice response. As Dean J consistently states there is no quota for any school or region of the state. This is just a NOVA urban myth b/c they cant believe anyone in Danville or Petersburg could possibly be as smart as they are.

Dal

Yes, because your guesstimate must be more accurate then any actual data someone could possibly use. You haven't even stated where you are getting your information.

Admit rate means ABSOLUTELY nothing, because it does not matter how many apply. There are only so many slots in each school. If more apply to William and Mary, good for them. Doesn't mean they have better students overall.

The reason I only used the 160 was because it was right in front of me and I didn't care enough to look them up further. I just looked at the common data set for both schools and its a whole 10 points difference at the 75th percentile. Yes, I'm sure thats enough of a reason to act like you did, a whole 10 points at the 75th percentile. You caught me, didn't you! Also William and Mary didn't released their writing scores, and UVA didn't released the ACT scores. So even that data is inconclusive because its possible the UVA students averaged one whole question on the writing portion of the SAT more then the William and Mary kids. Its also possible this is just a difference in rounding.

Deans also say that there is no stats difference between northern Virginian students and southern Virginian students, but sadly if someone looks into it there is a noticeable difference. If they were to say there was a difference there would be all sorts of drama over it. Just because they say its such a way, does not make it any less or more a possibility. How else are they supposed to ensure they have geographic diversity within their own state?

Sure, go ahead and say I'm wrong. I don't care. Honestly. I'm not even considering going to school in state anymore so it doesn't affect me at all.

swish14

Petulance incarnate.

pats4life2003

Kmom-----those stats are 100% off course for UVA and William and Mary and Virginia Tech
anyone who thinks that Tech's average GPA and SAT's scores are that high are crazy....

pats4life2003

My list goes....w/ and w/o privates
UVa
William and Mary
Mary Washington
JMU
Piedmont Virginia Community College----haha not really, but that's how I feel
Tech

UVa
William and Mary
Washington and Lee
Richmond University
Mary Washington
JMU
Tech

KandKsmom

Call me crazy then .....I just cut and pasted from their website the stats from last year's incoming freshmen.....

Great academics, great kids, great school spirit...VT is the whole package and is a tremendous Virginia university. Again, I really, really hope you get into UVA! Good luck.

pats4life2003

thanks for the good luck!! I appreciate...but there isn't too much going on at Virginia Tech! It's basically in the middle of no where and yes they are a good school compared to other schools in the nation, but not better than UVA, William and Mary, Richmond, Mary Washington, or JMU...