What a friend would tell you
What W&M is looking for
William & Mary wants intellectually serious students who chose it over flashier options. Be ready to explain why you want a public university with a small-college feel, not just an affordable alternative to the Ivies. Specific references to undergraduate research, the pre-law pipeline, or particular professors carry weight. Virginia residency is a significant advantage; out-of-state admits face a much tougher bar.
What students wish they'd known
Williamsburg is a tourist town, not a college town. Colonial Williamsburg is charming for a visit but gets old fast when you live there. The 'tweed' culture (intense studying, competitive GPA anxiety) earns it the nickname 'the Ivy of the South' in ways that include grade stress. Greek life (24%) is present but not dominant, leaving a social gap that the school hasn't fully filled. Limited diversity compared to peer institutions.
W&M might be a fit if...
- You want a public Ivy with undergraduate focus and Colonial-era campus charm at a fraction of private school tuition
- You're pre-law, pre-med, or government-focused and want close faculty mentorship inside a research university
- You're comfortable in a small Southern town where campus life and academics are the center of everything
W&M Admissions Strategy
1.4x
Early Decision Advantage
Early Decision admits at 1.4x the RD rate. The trade: ED is binding. Apply only if you'd say yes on the spot.
Early Decision: the numbers
W&M's Early Decision acceptance rate is 50% vs 36% RD. ED is binding. If you are admitted, you are committing to enroll. This signals strong commitment and gives a meaningful admissions advantage.
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 5
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 5
Test Policy
Test-optional
You choose whether to send scores. A strong score helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Not Tracked
Not tracked. Skip the info-session circuit and put those hours into the application itself.
Interview
Not offered
Yield Rate
27%
Only 27% of admits choose to enroll. The waitlist moves more than you'd think; if you land on it, make your interest loud.
Want the strongest possible application to W&M, plus better odds and merit offers everywhere else you apply?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at W&M
$50,000 (out-of-state)
Sticker Price
$11,000
In-State Tuition
$4,000
Avg Merit Aid
Need-blind: Yes (in-state); Limited (out-of-state). Meets need: Yes (in-state); Limited (out-of-state). 60% receive financial aid.
What you get for it: W&M spends about $20,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, well above the $15K national average.
What W&M Graduates Get
$62,000
Avg Starting Salary
92%
Employed or in Grad School
84%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (89%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
W&M Campus & Culture
The Campus
William & Mary's historic campus spans 1,200 acres in Williamsburg, Virginia, with the Sir Christopher Wren Building (1695) as the oldest college building still in use in the United States. The original Colonial-era campus flows directly into Colonial Williamsburg's restored 18th-century streets. Red-brick Georgian buildings, the Sunken Garden (a terraced lawn flanked by academic halls), and the Crim Dell Bridge define the landscape. New Town and Merchants Square provide walkable dining and shopping.
The Social Scene
Colonial Williamsburg location means historic setting; balanced academics-social life; strong honors community
W&M Traditions & Trivia
Wren Building Walk
On the first day of classes, the president leads new students through the historic Wren Building to cheers and high-fives, then everyone gathers on the lawn for a picnic dinner.
Holly Burning
Before finals, the president reads "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in a Santa suit, then students file into the Great Hall and toss a sprig of holly into a fire, burning their stress.
Senior Bell
After their last class, graduating seniors ring the bell in the Wren Building, and the bell tolls all week long as the class finishes up, one by one.
Academics at W&M
What W&M is known for
Colonial heritage, honor code, government studies, balanced academics
Most popular majors at W&M
Standout programs
Government/political science, business, English, pre-med, economics
How the curriculum works
Strong liberal arts core; government school distinctive; research encouraged
Recommended high school courses
4 English, 4 Math, 3+ Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language
Notable W&M Alumni
Thomas Jefferson
Third President, William & Mary class of 1762
Jon Stewart
Attended William & Mary before becoming the voice of political satire on The Daily Show
Robert Gates
Former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, William & Mary class of 1965
Glenn Close
Oscar-nominated actress, William & Mary class of 1974
James Monroe
Fifth President, attended William & Mary
If you like W&M, also consider
University of Virginia
Fellow Virginia public Ivy with larger scale and Charlottesville's college town
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Comparable public-Ivy prestige with stronger social scene
Georgetown University
D.C. location with similar government/policy strength, private
Dartmouth College
Small Ivy with comparable undergraduate focus, New Hampshire
Wake Forest University
Southern private alternative with comparable academics and Winston-Salem setting