About

See what students say:

Academics

This “Public Ivy” in Williamsburg, Virginia is the nation’s second-oldest institution of higher education and one of the most selective public universities in the nation. Due to the rigorous curriculum (Phi Beta Kappa was founded here), everyone who joins the campus community, nicknamed the Tribe, is “academic and quick and dynamic.” Across campus all students “can identify a tangible way William & Mary [has] made them a better version of themselves.” Because the student body is very intelligent, “there is a certain competitive culture on campus” in which students are “very driven and determined to do well, which makes classes challenging in a good way.” William & Mary “does a great job networking their students with alumni,” which include such past and present reputable names as “Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, [and] Jon Stewart.” The Cohen Career Center “does a great job placing students” at internships and full-time work, and the school has “a powerful reputation” that “allows employers and graduate schools to feel comfortable with W&M student’s abilities to perform in a real job situation.”

Professors “love teaching here” and “even in the very few 100+ classes at W&M... [they] still try their very best to know your name,” even taking photos to help them remember. The much more prevalent small class sizes help students bounce their ideas and opinions off not just the professor, but also off each other, and “minute interactions with professors and other students inspire and encourage students.” “Sure, anyone can learn information from a textbook, but my professors have brought information to life and made an effort to get to know me as a person,” says a student. The academic experience here “is shaped by your interests and is not limited to class itself.” The resources available to students are undeniable, and “no matter what you want to do (even if that is creating your very own professional career field),” professors and staff are available “to help you succeed and find meaning in your work.”

Student Body

The community is “extremely close knit and supportive,” and “everyone has something, usually obscure, that they’re extremely passionate about,” which everyone else “is really excited to hear about.” Students can be “pretty nerdy,” and the phrase TWAMP (Typical William & Mary Person) gets used “whenever someone does something nerdy like drop a Star Wars reference or talk about how long they’ve spent studying.” These “quirky, fun” people are “inspiring in their choice to challenge themselves every day” and help make the W&M experience all about “learning not just for grades or jobs but [for] developing and satisfying your curiosity.” “When we stress ‘One Tribe, One Family,’ we aren’t just doing it for the postcards,” says one student.

Campus Life

William & Mary is a school where “you can map your interests across the board through multiple venues.” Everyone stays pretty busy juggling academics, but most people are “pretty involved” with the more than 450 clubs on campus, which range from “the Quidditch team to the Exotic Cheese club.” There is “always something going on,” and campus life often involves guest speakers, who have in the past included the Dalai Lama and Condoleezza Rice. Students make their own fun during the day, from “frisbee with friends in the Sunken Gardens or [going] for a Cider Walk in Colonial Williamsburg.” Then, at night, there are “tons of events” hosted by organizations, from Screen on the Green to “more interactive activities like Zombie Apocalypse during Halloween weekend where students volunteer to be zombies.” Students are “constantly seen in neighboring Colonial Williamsburg at the famous Cheese Shop,” as well as across the pond: Almost half of all students study abroad at some point in their academic careers.

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Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Kate Perry
Sr Assistant Dean of Admissions

Address
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795

Phone
757-221-4223

Email
admission@wm.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Wren Building (oldest academic building)
Sunken Garden
Sadler Center
Swem Library
Kaplan Arena
Muscarelle Museum of Art is another favorite location on campus

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Colonial Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Amusement Park
Water Country USA
Jamestown Settlement
Outlet Shopping Centers/Pottery Factory
Richmond (state capital) and Virginia Beach are about one hour from campus.

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
M-F
8:30-5
757-221-4223

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 2 hours

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
10:00AM, 2:30PM

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
Other

Contact Email Address for Visit
tribeathletics.com

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Arrangements
Other

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Several airports serve the Williamsburg area: Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News is a 30-minute drive from campus; Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk is a 60-minute drive from campus; Byrd International Airport in Richmond is a 60-minute drive from campus. Amtrak train service is also available to Williamsburg.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From the Richmond Airport and points west: Take Interstate 64 East; Exit 234 to the right (199 East); Travel 8 miles, then turn left onto Jamestown Road for another 1.7 miles and Undergraduate Admission Office is located on right side of street. From Norfolk Airport, Newport News Airport, and other points east: Take Interstate 64 West; Use Exit 242-A (199 West); Travel 5.2 miles and turn right onto Jamestown Road for another 1.7 miles.

Local Accommodations
William & Mary is adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg. The town's restoration organization runs a number of lodging facilities, all of which are within 5 minutes of William and Mary. Colonial Williamsburg has a variety of lodging options with various price ranges (www.history.org; 1-800-HISTORY). Of these, the least expensive is the Governor's Inn (506 N. Henry St.). There are several bed-and-breakfasts near campus, which can be previewed at: www.bandbwilliamsburg.com. The closest hotel to campus is the Williamsburg Hospitality House (757-229-4020). There are many places to stay in the Williamsburg area. You can view a complete listing of lodging options from the Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association (www.gowilliamsburg.com).
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Admissions

Applicants: 14,644
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average HS GPA: 4.24






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