William and Mary Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

In this article, you will come to know about the William and Mary Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements. But first, we learn about this college in brief. 

The College of William and Mary is the country’s second-oldest institution of higher education, founded in 1693 by the King and Queen of England. Today, William & Mary is regarded as one of the best schools in the country, and it is one of the top 15 public universities in the United States. 

College of William and Mary – Overview

While William & Mary is still legally regarded as a college, this is a misnomer because the university has developed tremendously throughout the ages. It is a research institution with more than 45 undergraduate programs and more than 40 graduate and professional degree programs to select from.

Social sciences (24 per cent), biological and biomedical sciences (10 per cent), and business, management, marketing, and associated support services (ten per cent) were the most popular majors for the class of 2020.

Because William & Mary is a public college, Virginia residents can benefit from a low-cost, high-quality education. In-state residents paid about $31,000 in tuition and room and board for the 2021-22 academic year, while out-of-state residents spent $53,000. 

William & Mary offers three merit scholarships to students with proven academic talent, as well as many other scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, to help students pay for their education. Students can also apply for federal work-study positions and alternative student jobs.

The Common Application is accepted, and each application is evaluated at least twice by university personnel. High school transcripts, a letter of recommendation from their school counselor, and a mid-year school report form are all required documents for prospective students. To be eligible for in-state tuition, Virginia residents must also fill out additional papers.

Although William and Mary SAT scores or ACT scores are not required, applicants are welcome to submit them if they like. Thirty-nine per cent of applicants for the class of 2025 did not submit their test scores. The SAT middle 50 per cent ranged from 1360 to 1520 out of 1600 among those who did reveal their scores. For that class, the middle 50% ACT score ranged from 31 to 34 on a scale of 36.

William and Mary Acceptance Rate

It’s difficult to get into William & Mary, and it’s just becoming harder. The institution got 17,475 applications for the class of 2025, a record number, and the first time it has received more than 15,000 applications. William & Mary accepted only 6,466 of the 17,475 applicants, giving the school a 37 per cent acceptance rate (44 per cent for in-state applicants and 31 per cent for out-of-state applicants). 

Early decision (ED) admissions are available at William & Mary, and the class of 2025 received 1,184 ED applications. With 545 students accepted through ED, the university has a 46 per cent early decision acceptance rate. Every year, the College of William & Mary issues acceptance letters to about 40% of students who apply. Around 28% of students who were admitted chose to enrol. 

GPA Requirements at William and Mary College

Based on sample GPA data obtained and applied, the mean GPA range for accepted students at William & Mary is anticipated to be around 3.75 – 3.96. The class of 2025 at William & Mary has an average high school GPA of 4.28, with 86.29 per cent graduating with a 4.0.

SAT and ACT Requirements at William and Mary

Average ACT/SAT Scores of William and Mary Applicants (Fall 2020) 

Section Scores on the SAT

• 660 – 740: Critical reading 
• 660 – 770: Math

The total score should be in the range of 1320 to 1510 

Section Scores on the ACT

• 31-35: English 
• 27-33: Math

The total ACT score should be in the range of 30 to 34. 

Class Rank Requirements at William and Mary 

The class of 2025 at William & Mary had 77 per cent of its members graduate in the top tenth of their high school class. Ninety-six per cent of those who graduated were in the top quarter of their class.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into William & Mary 

1. Maintain a 4.28 GPA while taking the most difficult classes available

GPA, class rank and course rigor are all extremely essential to William & Mary’s admissions. The Academic Index is a metric used by highly selective schools like William & Mary to help with admissions decisions. The Academic Index is a single figure that represents your whole academic performance. It might assist you in figuring out if you meet the college’s academic requirements and how seriously to take your application.

2. Aim for an SAT score of 1490 and an ACT score of 34

Any score in the middle of 50% is acceptable for William and Mary admissions, but the higher you score in the range, the more competitive your application will be. When it comes to admissions, William & Mary considers test results essential. 

William & Mary super scores—that is, they take the greatest math and verbal/critical reading scores from any SAT/ACT exam—and encourage candidates to take the SAT/ACT two to three times to optimize their test scores.

3. Develop one or two Tier 1-2 extracurricular activities

Almost every applicant to William & Mary has an outstanding academic record, and extracurricular activities are a great way to stand out. However, not all extracurricular activities are created equal, and some carry more weight than others. The ‘four tiers of extracurriculars’ are a helpful guide to understanding how colleges prioritize your extracurricular activities: 

Tier 1 is allocated for exceptionally rare activities that indicate great performance or leadership. For example, in a subject like athletics or music, winning a prominent national award or obtaining national notoriety. Activities such as winning a regional award or receiving state-level distinction in athletics or music go under Tier 2. These actions show excellent leadership and accomplishments, but they lack the distinction and uniqueness of Tier 1 activities. 

Tier 3 activities draw attention to your interests outside of the classroom, but they lack the clout of the higher tiers. A leadership or HOD position in a well-known club or participating in sports are examples.

Extracurricular activities in Tier 4 are the most common and have the least impact on admissions. Participating in a club, playing in a band or orchestra, and participating in sports are all examples. This tier isn’t usually the most crucial, William & Mary considers work experience and voluntary activities (both of which are popular in this tier) to be extremely relevant in admissions decisions.

4. Compose Interesting Essays 

In addition to extracurricular activities, essays are another way to stand out in a field crowded with academic all-stars. There is only one essay requirement for William & Mary admissions, and it is optional (except for applicants to the St. Andrews Joint Degree Program).

If you’re serious about getting into William & Mary, you’ll want to take advantage of this opportunity, create an engaging essay, and stand out. “What makes you unique?” is the central question of the William and Mary supplemental essay. A strong essay demonstrates your character, which William & Mary considers an important factor to be considered for admissions.

5. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are extremely significant in the admissions process at William & Mary, which requires a counselor letter and accepts an optional instructor recommendation. Although sending a teacher’s letter of reference is not necessary at William & Mary, it is a good idea to include one in your application if you are serious about getting in. 

A teacher who taught you in a core academic class during your junior or senior year and can testify to your academic aptitude and classroom performance is a good guideline for who to seek for your reference.

6. Apply Early Action/Early Decision

There is two Early Decision (ED) admissions processes at William & Mary: ED I and ED II. Both are binding, and you are committing to attending William & Mary if accepted by applying through them. 

Early Decision applications increase your chances of acceptance to William & Mary, with a 37 per cent overall acceptance rate and a 46 per cent early decision acceptance rate. It’s crucial to remember that (ED) isn’t appropriate for everyone. Because of its contractual character, it should only be used by applicants who have a strong preference for William & Mary. 

Furthermore, because applying to ED does not allow you to compare financial aid packages from other institutions, it is best suited to those who can afford to attend the school regardless of their financial assistance package. So, after going through the William and Mary acceptance rate, GPA, SAT, and other admission requirements, you can prepare for the exams accordingly.