William & Mary Comprehensive Transfer Student Guide

Institutional History and Campus Geography

• Establishment and Legacy: William & Mary is the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in $1693$ via a Royal Charter. It was founded shortly after Harvard. The university recently celebrated its $330^{\text{th}}$ birthday.
• Geographic Location: The campus is located in the southeastern portion of Virginia, characterized as coastal Virginia.
• Campus Layout and Accessibility:     - The campus is renowned for its green spaces, beautiful landscaping, and historical significance.     - Walkability: Most academic buildings and campus facilities are accessible within a $15$ to $20$-minute walk from one side to another.     - The Sunken Garden: A central, large green area surrounded by various academic buildings where students often congregate.     - The Wren Building: A historic structure shown in promotional materials that serves as the centerpiece for major campus traditions.
• New Facilities: To accommodate growth, the university recently constructed its fourth Integrated Science Center to provide additional lab space and offices for students and faculty. Other major facilities include the Mason School of Business and the School of Education.
• Visiting the Campus: The university offers daily tours from Monday through Friday. Alternative options include self-guided tours and virtual tours available via the university's presentation links.

Distinguished Campus Traditions

• Convocation: This is the primary welcoming ceremony for all new students, including freshmen and transfer students. It occurs on the first day of classes in late August.     - Procession: Students gather in front of the Wren Building to hear a welcoming speech from President Catherine Rowe.     - The Symbolic Walk: New students walk through the Wren Building. This act is mirrored during graduation when students walk back through the building in the opposite direction while ringing the Ren bell.     - Community Reception: Upon exiting the building, students are greeted by thousands of current students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local community members. The atmosphere includes the pep band, cheerleaders, signs (e.g., "Transfers Belong"), and even family pets.
• Transfer Student Integration: The transfer community at William & Mary is described as exceptionally strong and valued. The university emphasizes a culture of "who comes here, belongs here."
• Atmosphere and Friendliness: W&M is ranked as one of the "happiest campuses." This ranking is based on observations of student friendliness, such as students greeting guests or helping lost visitors find buildings like the Swem Library.

Academic Philosophies and Requirements

• Liberal Arts Approach: The university follows a liberal arts and sciences model characterized by significant flexibility and interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Admission by Major: William & Mary does not admit students by major. All students are admitted as undeclared to provide time for exploration.
• Declaring a Major:     - Standard Timeline: Students usually declare by the end of their sophomore year or the end of the first semester of their junior year.     - Transfer Timeline: Junior transfer students declare by the end of their first complete semester at the university. Freshman or sophomore transfers have until their junior year to decide.
• Academic Combinations: There are over $110$ possible combinations of majors and minors. Approximately $50 \%+$ of students engage in double majoring, a major/minor combination, or self-directed interdisciplinary studies involving multiple faculty advisors.
• The "COLL" (College Curriculum): The general education requirement consists of approximately $40$ credits out of the $120$ total credits required for graduation.     - Structure: The degree is roughly split into thirds: $40$ credits of general electives, $40$ credits of the COLL curriculum, and $40$ credits of major requirements.     - COLL Domains: Categories include Math and Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Culture Society Individual (CSI), Arts Letters Values (ALV), and Lab Sciences.     - Transfer Credit for COLL: Students from Virginia Community Colleges can use specific guides to see which courses satisfy these domains.
• Foreign Language Proficiency: This is a graduation requirement, not an admission requirement.     - Satisfaction Methods: Completing level $4$ of a single language in high school OR completing through the intermediate part $2$ (fourth semester) of a foreign language in college.     - Modern Languages: The university offers eight modern languages for students who need to fulfill this on campus.

Major Fields of Study and Career Tracks

• Popular Majors: Key programs include Business, International Relations, Government (Public Policy), History (supported by proximity to Colonial Williamsburg), Education, Psychology, Biology, and Computer Science.
• Professional Tracks:     - Pre-med: A strong program that prepares students for medical school admission.     - Pre-law: Supported by the oldest law school in the country located on campus.
• New Academic Offerings: A new School of Computer and Data Science has been established, featuring a new minor in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Future developments include biotech and bioengineering opportunities.
• Career Support: The Cohen Career Center provides lifelong access for alums. Services include headshots, resume building, interview prep, and access to an extensive global network and database.

Institutional Statistics and Retention

• Student Body Size: Approximately $7,000$ undergraduate students and $2,500$ graduate students.
• Diversity: Students represent all $50$ U.S. states and over $60$ different countries.
• Retention and Graduation Rates:     - Retention: Over $95 \%+$ of students (including transfers) return after their first year.     - Graduation: Approximately $91 \%+$ of students graduate within their intended timeline (two to four years for transfers).
• Academic Support: Features a $13:1$ student-to-faculty ratio. Resources include a dedicated general academic advising office, faculty advisors, tutoring programs, and writing centers.
• Mental Health and Wellness: During finals week, the university provides "Swem corgis" and pet therapy, meditation/yoga rooms in the student recreational center, and art therapy sessions.

Specialized and Competitive Programs

• Mason School of Business:     - Application: Requires a separate application after admission to W&M.     - Pre-requisites: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and Calculus (applied or higher level).     - Timeline: Students must attend at least one full semester at W&M before applying.
• Coastal and Marine Sciences (VIMS):     - Partnership: Operates with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, located $20$ minutes away on the Chesapeake Bay.     - Resources: Features a research vessel and immense research opportunities.     - Financial Aid: A generous scholarship currently offers full tuition and fees for the two years spent in this major (junior and senior years).     - Admission: Students must have strong backgrounds in lab sciences (Bio, Chem, Physics) and Calculus.
• School of Education: Requires a separate application post-admission, but maintains a nearly $100 \%+$ acceptance rate for those committed to K-12 teaching.

Study Abroad and Global Centers

• Participation: W&M is the number one public institution in the nation for study abroad participation, with roughly $80 \%+$ of students participating. Transfers are explicitly encouraged to go.
• Management: The Reeves Global Education Center matches students with opportunities ranging from two-week sessions to full semesters.
• Examples of Faculty-Led Programs:     - Ecuador: Sustainable farming (popular with Integrative Conservation students).     - Spain: A month-long trek along El Camino.     - Specialized Research: Trips to Antarctica and New Caledonia.
• Washington DC Center: Located in the city with housing available. Popular for internships and courses in Public Policy, International Relations, Business, and History.

Transfer Application Path and Requirements

• Platform: The Common Application for Transfer is used. Search for "William & Mary" using an ampersand (&) rather than the word "and."
• Test Optional: The university is indefinitely test-optional. Very few transfer applicants (less than $10$ per cycle) submit SAT/ACT scores.
• Fee Waivers: Available for first-generation students, veterans, VCCS/Richard Bland students, and those who attend National Transfer Student Week events.
• GPA Expectations:     - Competitive: Ideally a $3.5$ cumulative GPA or higher.     - Guaranteed: $3.4$ GPA for VCCS and Richard Bland students.     - General Floor: Most admitted students fall between a $3.25$ and $4.0$ GPA range.
• Credit Volume: Students with less than $24$ post-high school credits (excluding AP/Dual Enrollment) must submit high school transcripts for evaluation.
• Recommended Coursework: Admission committees look for a variety of general education courses, including at least one Math, one Lab Science, and several Social Sciences/Humanities.
• Personal Statements: Students should write one or two paragraphs on "Why W&M" and "Community Involvement."
• Midterm Report: Currently enrolled students must provide grade estimates or screenshots of their Canvas/Blackboard dashboards to confirm they are maintaining their academic performance.
• College Report Form: A one-page form documenting good academic and disciplinary standing. This is only required for students who have deposited, not for the initial application.

Admission Timelines

• Spring Entry:     - Applications Open: August 1.     - Deadline: October 1.     - Decisions Released: Mid-November (approx. November 15).     - Deposit Deadline: December 15.
• Fall Entry:     - Applications Open: December.     - Deadline: March 1.     - Decisions Released: Early May (historically May 1 to May 3).     - Deposit Deadline: May 15.
• Financial Aid: Applicants must submit the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. W&M meets $100 \%+$ of demonstrated need for Virginia residents.

Campus Life and Housing

• Housing: Transfers are not required to live on campus, but are welcome to do so. Three new residence halls opened in October. About half of the upperclassmen population lives on campus.
• Clubs: Over $475$ to $500$ student organizations are active.     - Examples: A cappella (nearly a dozen groups), Cheese Club, Chess Club, NERF Club (convening on the Sunken Garden), Hammock Club, and political organizations.
• Greek Life: Approximately $30 \%+$ of the student body participates in Greek life, which focuses heavily on service projects.

Questions and Discussion

• Q: Do transfers have to take COLL 100/150 classes?     - A: Junior transfers usually have COLL 100 waived. All transfers must take a COLL 150 (writing-intensive) and a COLL 200. Michael suggests taking a COLL 150 in your intended major to count toward major requirements.
• Q: Will optional letters of recommendation help?     - A: They can be helpful if they are personal. Avoid generic "I support this student" letters. Choose instructors who can speak to your improvement, office hour attendance, or specific contributions to class dialogue.
• Q: Is community service important for transfers?     - A: Yes, the committee values students who take an active seat in their education. Mentioning community service or campus club involvement in your essay helps prove you will be an engaged member of the community.
• Q: Can a four-year student submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)?     - A: No, LOIs are specifically for Virginia Community College and Richard Bland students to trigger the guaranteed admission pathway. Four-year transfers should just reach out to Dean Monica Penier directly for a Zoom meeting.
• Q: Does transferring impact double majoring?     - A: No. W&M requires transfers to complete a minimum of $60$ credits at the university. Because $40$ credits of the degree are electives, there is usually ample room to fit a second major into that block.
• Q: Will I need a syllabus for transfer credit?     - A: Sometimes the registrar may request a syllabus to ensure a course properly aligns with a COLL domain or major requirement.
• Q: Who are the key contacts mentioned?     - A: Monica Penier (Dean of Transfer Admission) and Michael Compton (Transfer Ambassador). Michael will be studying in Dublin, Ireland, in Summer 2024 but remains a contact for the student perspective.