We're Smart
Don't let our looks fool you. There are big brains under all that beauty.
William & Mary consistently attracts the most exceptionally talented high school seniors from across Virginia and around the world. This year, more than 11,600 applicants fought for 1,380 spots in William & Mary’s class of 2012. Take a look at the numbers for this year’s freshmen:
- 79 percent of new students who provided high-school rank graduated in top 10 percent of their class
- the middle 50th percentile on SAT was 1260-1430
But what really sets W&M students apart is a passion for learning. There are no one-dimensional eggheads around here. (Though there are enough smart alecs for us to anticipate some crack about eggs being three dimensional.) Chemistry majors write poetry for the literary magazine, business majors volunteer in soup kitchens, and football players star in Shakespeare. It’s all part of the proud intellectual culture at W&M, extending from the classroom to the dorm room and everywhere in between.
Yes, we work hard. But that’s because we’re working on things that we love. Our professors—hands down the most committed and engaged in the country—inspire us to go one step further, to challenge conventional wisdom and uncover new truths.
What’s the result? We have the highest Fulbright acceptance rate of all top research universities (50 W&M students and alumni have won Fulbrights since 2000). Our graduates get into medical school at twice the national average. And William & Mary sends more alumni per capita into the Peace Corps than any other research university.
Learn more about our 36 undergraduate academic programs and our unparalleled commitment to original research.
