<p>I’m in a bit of a predicament CC friends. With only a few days left until deposits are due, I’m torn between William and Mary and SMU. I’m a female from Texas planning to major in marketing.</p>
<p>William and Mary has been my “dream school” for the last year. Being an out of state female, I feel unbelievably fortunate to have been accepted. When I went, it just seemed like it fit. I would go in with little AP/IB credit, but I would be exempt from some Freshmen level courses. I have received a $15,000 grant, but my parents income will be significantly higher next year, so I know it would not be renewed for that amount. I would have to wait to be accepted at Mason School of Business. I am also hesitant because I want to go back to Texas after I finish school, and I do not know if many people in Texas would look at a degree from the College of William and Mary with the same esteem people on the East Coast would.</p>
<p>Southern Methodist University is much closer to my home and cheaper to fly to and from. They are more expensive, but have compensated with scholarships and grants. I’ve been admitted to the BBA Scholars Program and LINK program at Cox School of Business, so I could possibly go directly into their MBA program after receiving my BBA. I would start with between 15 and 24 hours of credit and be able to start some business classes in the fall. </p>
<p>After scholarships, grants, work study, what my parents can reasonably pay, etc, I’m looking to have to make up about $6,000-$7,000 dollars at SMU between working this summer and loans. William and Mary would be about $11,000-$12,000. These loans would be mine, not my parents. I’ve always been very frugal, so the practical side of me says SMU, but I’m afraid of having some regrets if I don’t give William and Mary a try.</p>
<p>I know the decision is mine, but I would love to hear advice from anyone, especially people who are/have been in a similar predicament.</p>
<p>Culturally I’d say that these two schools are pretty different and will appeal to different types, but LOL, W&M is not a far superior choice in comparison to SMU’s Cox. Cox is very, very good and very plugged in to major employers in the Texan economy and beyond. There are a lot of very talented kids coming out of there. For the study of business and if you plan to return to Texas after graduation, SMU is probably the better choice.</p>
<p>However, I really like W&M and want to post in favor of that school and the new experiences that it can provide you. IMO, going to a new environment from Texas is a good thing. Texans can have a little bit of a narrow window and, while Williamsburg is hardly a sophisticated place, you are likely to benefit from what you’ll experience there. </p>
<p>W&M is a highly respected college and IMO perhaps the top undergraduate public college in the USA, so you won’t be giving anything up by going there. You might have to do some educatin’ about W&M should you attempt to re-enter the Texas world after graduation, but you’ll have a quality name and degree to talk about.</p>
<p>. . . but on the East Coast, you’ll be assumed to have attended one of the top universities in the nation. UVA might be “Mr. Jefferson’s university”, but it’s a knock-off of the original - W&M is Mr. Jefferson’s alma mater.</p>
<p>I agree with everything you said haukette. I would say the atmosphere of William and Mary appeals to me more than SMU. I see William and Mary as more of a fit than SMU, but I think I would still be happy at SMU. I’m just concerned with William and Mary financially and with the distance. I would love to do some educatin’ in Texas but I live in area pretty far away from Houston, Dallas, Austin,etc., with a population of about 200,000, so most people I know have either never heard of William and Mary or only know about it because they toured it on an eighth grade trip to D.C.</p>
<p>This is years ago, but a close friend was accepted at W&M and SMU, went to SMU (followed a boy), hated SMU and transferred to W&M as a junior and loved it. (Boyfriend also hated SMU and transferred out as well for different reasons.)</p>
<p>There is no comparison between these schools academically. W&M>>>>>SMU. SMU is meaningful mostly in the Dallas area. W&M is one of the nation’s premier colleges. The fact that no one in Texas has heard of it means nothing. Go to W&M and expand your horizons.</p>
<p>Do yourself a favour and choose W+M… Its a great institution which, I think, is unlike any other top US public university. It has a rich history as well! Can’t go wrong with W+M.</p>