William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
William & Mary is the second oldest college in the nation and attracts attention for its research initiatives and talented student body. Students at William & Mary are well-rounded individuals that are committed to both academic achievement and service to others.
Get to know William & Mary
College Highlights
FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE INITIATIVES
The First Year Experience (FYE) at William & Mary is made up of four components called “Essential Initiatives.” Each of the Essential Initiatives is considered an integral part of both the FYE and the undergraduate experience as a whole.
- Making a Tribe Choice—Be Upstanding!: The first essential initiative involves intervention. William & Mary functions as one body, comprised of individuals. The University calls upon students to speak up and intervene if another student is faced with an unhealthy situation. By observing this step of the FYE, students come together as a community of learners and supporters.
- Community Values and Responsibilities: The second program is an extension of the first. After orientation, members of the Honor and Student Conduct Council put on a series of sketches that outline some of the social challenges freshman face. Students are given tips on how to avoid said dangers.
- Tribe Unity: In this initiative, students from diverse backgrounds share their experiences and perspective with incoming freshman.
- Healthful Relationships: The final installment is a recap of the all the programs. William & Mary students share tips on how to maintain healthy relationships, reduce sexual abuse, and give support to survivors of abuse.
FRESHMAN SEMINAR REQUIREMENT
Every student is required to take and pass a freshman seminar. In fact, students cannot declare a major until they have fulfilled this requirement. Freshman seminars introduce students to college-level academics. Through a discussion-intensive curriculum, freshman gain skills in critical thinking, writing, and higher level conceptualization. These skills create a solid foundation for a successful undergraduate experience.
COLL 400: THE CAPSTONE
The last step of the Arts & Sciences undergraduate program is the capstone experience. A capstone is a project that allows a student to turn independent inquiry into original work. Individuals typically complete their capstone during their senior year, and the subject of the work is most often related to a student’s major. By the end of a capstone experience, W&M wants students to be able to answer the following question: “What is a liberal arts education?”
STUDY ABROAD
Study abroad is the experience of a lifetime. Students that go abroad gain cross-cultural communication skills as well as an appreciation for another country’s customs and language. William & Mary has several great abroad programs, a handful of which are directed by or connected to faculty members within the Department of Modern Languages. Below are a few of the current programs available:
Summer Program in Beijing: The summer program in Beijing is worth 12 credits and lasts 6 weeks. Students enrolled in the program take courses in Chinese language, literature, and culture. Aside from classes, students go on tours of rural and urban China and even have the chance to participate in a martial arts class. Interested students must have one year’s experience in Mandarin in order to apply.
Exchange Program with L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Lille, France: French majors and minors with an interest in social sciences are invited to apply to the French exchange program. Participants of the program take courses in economics, French politics, and sociology.
Summer Program in Florence, Italy: The summer Italian program lasts for a month and is worth 8 credits. Students enrolled in the program live with host families and take a course on Italian language. Not only to participants get to enjoy the culture-rich city of Florence, but they also take part in weekend excursions to destinations like Cinque Terre and Venice. There is no prerequisite for participation.
Semester Program is La Plata, Argentina: The Argentina program is a full-immersion experience. Students live with host families and take classes at the public university. The program offers a unique opportunity to intern with the Comisiòn Provincial por la Memoria. The internship is related to human rights education.
- The full list of programs is as follows:
- Semester Program in Beijing, China
- Summer Program in Montpelier, France
- Exchange Program at Kanazawa University in Japan
- Exchange Program at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan
- Akita International University Exchange
- Summer Program is Càdiz, Spain
- Semester Program is Sevilla, Spain
- Summer Program is St. Petersburg, Russia
CLASS SIZE
The number of sections of each class size.
2-9: 163 | 10-19: 314 | 20-29: 214
30-39: 195 | 40-49: 83 | 50-99: 44 | 100+: 29
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Non-U.S. Citizen: 5%
Hispanic/Latinx: 9%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 6%
White, non-Hispanic: 59%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 10%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 6%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 4%
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
All students will take a variety of courses that cross all disciplines. This is to ensure that each student graduates as a well-rounded, intelligent, capable individual. The seven areas for courses include:
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- World Cultures and History
- Literature and History of the Arts
- Creative and Performing Arts
- Philosophical, Religious, and Social Thought
Other Requirements Include:
Foreign Language: All students must demonstrate competency in a foreign language at the 202 level.
Digital Information Literacy Requirement: Students must take and pass a course that outlines the foundations of digital literacy.
Lower Division Writing: Students must complete a lower division writing course. This is typically accomplished through a “W” freshman seminar or by taking Writing 101.
Major Writing Requirement: All W&M students are required to take writing within their major. Each department has specific rules for writing, so requirements may be different between majors.
Major Computing Requirement: Finally, students must take and pass a computing requirement within their major.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
College Partnership for Kids
College Partnership for Kids (CPK) is a volunteer effort that connects W&M students to local public schools. CPK allows W&M to work with local students, both one-on-one and in a group. The exchange is meant to improve confidence and self-esteem among children. There are 325 W&M students currently working with CPK, and the University logs nearly 500 hours of work per week.
Project Phoenix
Project Phoenix, also known as ProPho is a tutoring and mentoring service. The program allows W&M students to work with students from Berkeley and Toano middle schools. Volunteers work Tuesdays and Wednesdays and lead mentoring activities that take place on select Saturdays. The activities generally focus on one of five areas: community engagement, career exploration, culture education, health/fitness, and life skills.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
Joint degree program with University of St. Andrews
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 99%
Undergraduates: 68%
Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Apartments for single students
Special housing for students with disabilities
Special housing for international students
Fraternity/sorority housing
Theme housing
- International Studies hall, Eco-House, Community Scholars House, Africana House, Multicultural Unit, and 8 language houses (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish).
COHEN CAREER CENTER
The Cohen Career Center is the go-to resource for all things career and internship related. Students are invited to stop by and take advantage of all the center has to offer. Some of the resources include interview and resume tips, help finding an internship, and advice about career decisions.
LOCAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Local internships allow students to gain hands on experience while still attending school. Students involved in this program typically work 7-10 hours a week. William & Mary has developed internships with several different organizations in the Williamsburg area, and there are positions available across most disciplines. Before students can apply to positions, they must attend an orientation session to gather all of the necessary information.
Admission
ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Rigor of secondary school record | Class rank | Academic GPA | Standardized test scores
Application Essay | Recommendation(s) | Extracurricular activities | Talent/ability
Character/personal qualities | State residency | Volunteer work | Work experience
Considered
Interview | First generation | Alumni/ae relation | Geographical residence
Racial/ethnic status | Level of applicant’s interest
FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Composite
25th Percentile: | 75th Percentile:
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 690 | 75th Percentile: 750
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 670 | 75th Percentile: 770
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 31 | 75th Percentile: 34
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 28 | 75th Percentile: 33
ACT English
25th Percentile: 32 | 75th Percentile: 35
Tuition & Cost
Tuition (in-state): $17,434
Tuition (out-of-state): $40,089
Fees: $6,536
Room: $8,288
Board: $5,246
Contact William & Mary
Contact Admissions
www.wm.edu/admission
(757) 221-4223
admission@wm.edu
Campus Location
200 Stadium Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 221-4000
Visit William & Mary Online