If you’re reading this, you’re most likely wondering if your child has what it takes to get into the College of William & Mary. We’re going to dive into that. But first let’s look at what makes the College of William & Mary a unique school. 

About the College of William & Mary

The College of William & Mary is the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States, just after Harvard. It was founded in 1693 by a royal charter from King William III & Queen Mary II, and it’s now a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Though public, it operates more like a small liberal-arts college within a research university. With just under 7,000 undergrads, it offers small classes and close faculty contact. For these reasons, it’s often dubbed a “public Ivy.” 

The acceptance rate for the College of William & Mary Class of 2029 was 36.69%. That means getting in will require strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). 

The College of William & Mary Admissions Requirements

Obviously, GPA, standardized testing scores, and extracurricular achievements are the key components of a successful application to the College of William & Mary and to any school. That being said, what do these components actually look like for Irvine admits? Without further ado, let’s dive in!

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into the College of William & Mary?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the College of William & Mary Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of the College of William & Mary Class of 2029
4.0	88.9%
3.75-3.99	7.2%
3.5-3.74	3.0%
3.25-3.49	0.8%
3.0-3.24	0.1%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into the College of William & Mary?

The average SAT score for the College of William & Mary Class of 2029 was a 1450 and the average ACT score was 33. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into the College of William & Mary?

While the College of William & Mary does not officially list any minimum course requirements to be considered for admissions, we at Ivy Coach know that highly selective colleges like the College of William & Mary want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does the College of William & Mary Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means the College of William & Mary is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the field hockey team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. The College of William & Mary would much rather accept a nationally ranked debate champ than a kid who spent an hour or two on debate a week because he spent the rest forgetting Shakespeare lines and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

The College of William & Mary Application Requirements

The College of William & Mary accepts the Common App. In addition, they require a letter of recommendation from your guidance counselor, and will accept an optional two more from teachers. (We at Ivy Coach would strongly advise that applicants send those additional two recommendations.) Finally, they ask applicants to submit 300-word responses to two of the following questions: 

• Are there any particular communities that are important to you, and how do you see yourself being a part of our community?
• Share more about a personal academic interest or career goal.
• How has your family, culture and/or background shaped your lived experience?
• What led to your interest in William & Mary?
• Tell us about a challenge or adversity you’ve experienced and how that has impacted you as an individual.
• If we visited your town, what would you want to show us?

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For the College of William & Mary? 

College of William & Mary applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does the College of William & Mary Require An Interview? 

The College of William & Mary offers interviews with current students. They say only 20% of applicants take advantage of this opportunity. 

What Are the College of William & Mary’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications to the College of William & Mary are due Nov. 1. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due Jan. 5. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into the College of William & Mary 

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into the College of William & Mary, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into the College of William & Mary, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.