While the COVID-19 pandemic may make for an unusual start to their university experience, the Class of 2024 joins a long tradition of freshmen bringing a new array of accomplishments, experiences and talents to William & Mary each fall.
The freshman class will include 1,559 students selected from a pool of 14,202 applicants. Additionally, W&M will welcome 202 new transfer students this fall. Both freshmen and transfer students will move in Aug. 12-14, and undergraduate classes will begin Aug. 19.
“This entering class of students faced a year that unfolded with challenges unlike we’ve ever experienced, and forced them to navigate through an incredibly difficult conclusion to their college search and final year of high school,” said Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Tim Wolfe.
“Those of us who read their applications and worked with them throughout the year were already inspired by their talents, experiences and achievements. It is even more impressive, though, when you consider their accomplishments within the context of the ongoing pandemic.”
The freshman class is academically accomplished, with a SAT middle 50th percentile of 1300-1490 and an ACT composite score middle 50th percentile of 30-34. Additionally, 77% of the freshmen graduated in the top 10% of their class.
The Class of 2024 is also diverse, hailing from locations around the country and the world. Students of color make up 32% of the class and international students make up 5%. Ten percent of the class is first-generation students.
The freshmen are also diverse in their experiences and achievements. Some of the new students include a person who won an amateur disc golf world championship as a 10-year-old, a trick golf-shot video viral sensation, a U.S. junior national team short track speed skater, a competitive Scrabble player who placed in the top 10 at the National School Scrabble Championship, a person who has written five books, a nationally recognized food allergy advocate and a nationally ranked archer who participated on the USA Archery National Junior Dream Team.
“COVID-19 won’t define them as individuals or shape the entirety of their W&M experience,” Wolfe said. “However, it has highlighted a sense of resiliency and commitment to the community — two traits I believe will ensure the Class of 2024 will make a significant, positive impact on the William & Mary community and beyond.”
Erin Zagursky is the associate director of university news at William & Mary.
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