Choosing W&M

How did you search for colleges as a high school student? Perhaps you spoke with a guidance counselor, picked up brochures at a college fair, bought a guide at a bookstore or went to each school’s website. While counselors are still a key source of information for many, 26% of high school students surveyed by EAB in 2025 reported using an artificial intelligence-based tool, such as ChatGPT or a chatbot on a college’s website, as part of their college-search process. Apps like Niche are gaining prominence, with W&M receiving an A+ overall grade in 2026.

Students also find William & Mary on best-of lists, such as in Forbes’ “15 Top Colleges for Launching Your Career.” William & Mary is ranked as a top 10 public university for internships by The Princeton Review (2025) and No. 2 for best undergraduate teaching at a public school by U.S. News & World Report (2026), among other accolades.

Below, we asked three students to share in their own words how they found William & Mary in their college search and why they chose to attend the Alma Mater of the Nation. Learn more about applying to William & Mary at wm.edu/admission.

LINWOOD BAILEY ’29

“I’m a first-year student at William & Mary from Charlottesville, Virginia, who is pursuing a degree in computer science. Last year, I had narrowed down my options for college to two choices: William & Mary and Virginia Tech. When deciding, I went to the W&M’s Day for Admitted Students (DFAS) and met a ton of other really nice and super intelligent prospective students, including my current roommate. The computer science presentation that weekend shared statistics that compared W&M to other schools and called out Virginia Tech specifically. I thought that this was quite comical, and those statistics, alongside the friendly faces, heavily weighed the balance toward W&M. The piece that broke the camel’s back (in W&M’s favor) was the amazing city of Williamsburg. Not even mentioning the uniqueness of Colonial Williamsburg or the hubbub on DoG Street, I’m a huge roller coaster fan, so living so close to Busch Gardens has been a big treat (by bus, it takes only 15-20 minutes to get there!).”

DARIUS MCCALLUM ’27

“I am a junior at William & Mary from Hampton, Virginia, in the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue marine science. When I told my parents about this dream, they did everything they could to help me achieve it. Their support created an environment where my interest in marine science could grow, and it became clear that I wanted to study it in college.

Because of this, my college search was very focused. I only applied to schools with marine science programs, which included four Virginia institutions. Initially, I applied to all of them except William & Mary because I was told they would heavily consider junior-year grades. Since I caught COVID-19 during my junior year, I worried my grades would hurt my chances and decided not to apply.

However, a staff member at my high school whom I was close with encouraged me to apply anyway, so I did. One night, I woke up and checked my email for admission decisions. When I saw William & Mary’s name pop up, I assumed it was a rejection, but when I opened it, I realized I had been accepted. My whole family encouraged me to commit, and doing so has been the best decision I’ve ever made. At William & Mary, I’ve been able to grow, find community and reach heights I never imagined.” Darius is a Stravitz Scholar. Read more about this transformative program that includes full tuition support: www.vims.edu/academics/wm_undergrad/major.

CLARA CAVAZOS ’27

“Going into the college search process, I didn’t really have any criteria other than a school that was outside of my home state of Texas. I was craving something entirely different from what I was used to. I knew there was so much value in bursting the bubble I was in to branch out and absorb new perspectives. Only while thinking about potential areas of study — geology and Japanese studies — did I narrow down my choices. Initially, William & Mary was way off my radar, I hadn’t even heard of the name before. But my mom was practically begging for me to look into it, so I obliged. Upon a deeper dive, it rapidly turned into my No. 1 pick. Not only did it have the subjects I wanted, but there were so many options for majors, minors and courses. There was even the added bonus of William & Mary being nearly 1,500 miles from my home, my version of the perfect escape.

When I arrived on campus, I had the welcome surprise that every single person at the school craved the same desire for perspective, insight and experiences that I did. People here are so utterly passionate about what they do, whether it’s a club, research, sport, job — anything — and they are always willing to share their experiences. This makes for such invigorating conversations and academic/social interactions, because everyone here is so saturated with diverse perspectives. It’s great that I can have this community, this sense of home, because that’s really special. That really makes you feel like William & Mary is a place you can thrive. Learning at William & Mary is not just limited to the classroom. People here love to grow more than anything.”