Chartered on 8 February 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II of England, William and Mary is the second-oldest higher education institution in America and the first to become a university. William & Mary was named the Alma Mater of the Country because of her strong connections to the founding fathers of America. George Washington, a 17-year-old, obtained his surveyor's license from W&M and would return as his first American chancellor. Thomas Jefferson got his undergraduate degree here as did the presidents John Tyler and James Monroe.
W&M is renowned for the first U.S. institution with a Royal Charter, the first Greek-letter society (Phi Beta Kappa, established in 1776), the first student honor code, the first college to become a university, and the first law school in America. College is a powerhouse in the academic world. The four-year undergraduate program is an immersive intellectual transformation between students and the faculty.
Students participate in a wide variety of human knowledge across hundreds of departments and programs from biology to ... Read more
Chartered on 8 February 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II of England, William and Mary is the second-oldest higher education institution in America and the first to become a university. William & Mary was named the Alma Mater of the Country because of her strong connections to the founding fathers of America. George Washington, a 17-year-old, obtained his surveyor's license from W&M and would return as his first American chancellor. Thomas Jefferson got his undergraduate degree here as did the presidents John Tyler and James Monroe.
W&M is renowned for the first U.S. institution with a Royal Charter, the first Greek-letter society (Phi Beta Kappa, established in 1776), the first student honor code, the first college to become a university, and the first law school in America. College is a powerhouse in the academic world. The four-year undergraduate program is an immersive intellectual transformation between students and the faculty.
Students participate in a wide variety of human knowledge across hundreds of departments and programs from biology to Elizabeth poetry to algorithms. Graduate programs are offered in a number of fields, such as arts & sciences, business, law, marine science education, etc. W&M also provides a variety of online and hybrid programs delivered in a customized style by the award-winning faculty. Faculty members are acknowledged experts in their fields and are passionately committed educators.
They recognize that first-hand information, original research, and a first-person cross-cultural outlook have the power to turn the ordinary class into an unforgettable experience. With more than 450 campus clubs and groups to choose from, remaining involved and engaged at W&M is not an afterthought, it is a way of life. There are over two hundred special interest clubs motivated by political participation, religious faith, ethnic and cultural pride, environmental conservation, and constant geekery from quiz bowl to heavy metal ping pong. Athletics is a source of pride for William & Mary.
The college earned conference titles and graduated scholar-athletes at a pace higher than any other public university in the nation. Across the university, 85 percent of undergraduates participate in an athletic or recreation program. In addition to its 23 Division I sports teams, W&M has a vibrant sports club and intramural scene, a multi-million dollar student fitness center, and a lot of outdoor activity opportunities. The students of William & Mary have never encountered a stage they didn't like.
In reality, the first theatre in America was built in Williamsburg in 1716, and 20 years later, a group of William & Mary students performed the first student play in the colonies. Whether it's a night of comedy improvisation, setting up a new show at Muscarelle or Andrews Gallery, or watching a friend's fusion dance team compete, W&M students and faculty are immersed in inexperience. The Sir Christopher Wren Building in William & Mary is the oldest college building still standing in the United States. The Wren Building was built between 1695 and 1700 .
There are some financial awards given to William and Mary students with proven scholastic ability, William and Mary's college offer three merit-based scholarships (William & Mary Scholars, Monroe Scholars, 1693 Scholars) each is handled through the Admission Office.
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