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Chartered in 1693, William & Mary is one of the nation's first and most selective public universities, seeking to bring its extremely rigorous, interdisciplinary academics to curious, accomplished students who want to learn beyond a textbook. Hands-on research is a fundamental aspect of a William & Mary education for humanities, STEM, and computational field majors alike, and "the administration supports student involvement" at every level. That's not just a matter of studying abroad, which 55 percent of students take the school up on (in over 55 countries), but also doing faculty-student research and having the opportunity for authorship and conference presentations. Students can "mix and match so many different aspects of majors to customize and find the perfect fit for yourself" and the end goal seems to be not just for picking up specific course material, but learning "how to study and learn more efficiently."

Professors are "happy to work with students" and welcome the chance for collaboration, which means they "tend to be very excited at the chance to get to know as many students as possible, even for the large lecture classes." They match the passion levels found in the classroom, and "love when students attend office hours to dive deeper into the subject." Teachers also "go above and beyond to find interesting guest speakers and create really interesting courses" that bring the material to life, such as in the way history professors use the surrounding landmarks "to provide students with a tangible experience of history."

Hailing from all over the country and world, this group of unique individuals "has very diverse passions," but they're all "extremely motivated to perform and excel in their given field." This energy, of students who are all "excited about their involvements, however niche their interests may be," bubbles over into the social fabric of the school, where most everyone is "open to being friends with anyone," students and faculty included. "I had a professor take care of my fish over a break," shares one undergrad. As for the campus's size, it is "large enough that you can meet someone new each day, but small enough that you'll likely run into a friend every day on campus." In true Goldilocks fashion, this "really intimate and positive campus" is just right.

There are "so many different clubs and activities," including pre-professional organizations, community service-oriented activities, and club sports, and the 6,900 undergraduates see these as opportunities to "spend so much of their time on making others' experiences better." The school hosts guest lectures each semester that "are tailored to a majority of students' interests and are done by experts in their fields," and since William & Mary is filled with "lots of people who take their studies seriously" but remain committed to their social lives, "people often gather in the library to do homework together and to talk as they do it." Regular old pleasures such as "meeting with friends for meals, working out, doing homework, baking, and reading for fun" help students relax, and "many people spend lots of times outdoors, on the trails or on the Sunken Garden." Nearby Colonial Williamsburg "is a fun place to explore and get lunch with your friends," and students also head to Richmond or the beach, both are just a short drive away.