College of William & Mary: Off the Record - College Prowler (College Prowler: College of William & Mary Off the Record)

Introduction from the Author

William & Mary is a small, beautifully challenging college. People across the country recognize W&M as a top-notch university, and I agree wholeheartedly. William & Mary has academic programs unparalleled by most other public institutions, supported by caring, student-focused faculty, many of whom are the leaders in their fields. W&M is the perfect size for a close community of students, and everyone seems to be very involved in clubs and organizations. At the same time, itÂ’s just big enough to offer a wide variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities.

William & Mary is soaked to the bone in history. It is the second-oldest college in the United States, brought into being by a royal charter in 1693. The campus is nestled right next to Colonial Williamsburg, a restored colonial town complete with interpreters portraying everyone from Thomas Jefferson to colonial-era dairymaids. Thomas Jefferson himself attended William & Mary and helped with the development of the collegeÂ’s Honor Code while he served as president of the College. The historic campus is a sea of ivy-covered brick buildings and walks that becomes exceptionally radiant in the fall and spring when the vegetation adds color and texture to campus.

Even with its historical feel, W&M offers rigorous, up-to-date academic programs in a variety of fields. Every one of them is difficult—there are almost no “easy” classes at W&M, and some would call the workload insane. It’s worth the challenge. Although classes are tough and work-intensive, I, like many W&M students, feel an undying affection for my college. It is not a perfect institution in many ways, but the faculty, staff, and students are always trying to fix the flaws, one by one.

I visited William & Mary while in the heat of my college search. It was a warm, breezy fall day, and I was there with a thousand or so other prospective students. The campus was stunning, the tour guides were interesting, and the professors seemed not only to be brilliant, but also to care deeply about teaching. I decided William & Mary was the place for me that day. Luckily, my instincts steered my in the right direction. I hope that this book will tell you what itÂ’s really like to be a student at William & Mary, with its upsides as well as its downsides.

Camille Thompson, Author
College of William & Mary