Spring Pathway Option for Waitlisted Freshmen
William & Mary will offer students on our freshman waitlist a pathway to spring admission if they meet the requirements specified below while completing one full-time semester at an accredited community or junior college (including but not limited to, Richard Bland College or a Virginia Community College), or selecting an academic study abroad opportunity with Verto Education.
Beginning around mid-May of each year, waitlisted freshman students remaining on the waitlist will need to fulfill the following requirements by the stated deadlines to qualify for spring admission to William & Mary:
- Submit the pathway intent form by June 15 (the form is located on the Waitlist Tab of your W&M Application Status Portal).
- Submit your official final high school transcript including your date of graduation by July 15. Students must demonstrate continued strong academic standing.
- Complete at least 12 transferable credits (full-time semester) in the fall from an accredited community/junior college or Verto Education. Attendance at a four-year institution is not an approved option for this spring pathway.
- Earn at least a 3.0 GPA with no individual grade below a C- for the fall semester.
- For students who have completed the spring pathway intent form, our office will follow up with a form to re-open your freshman application in August, and will be due by September 15.
- In October, you will be required to send (transfer@wm.edu) or upload your grade progress by completing the Mid-Term Report or using a screenshot of your online learning portal (such as your Canvas or Blackboard dashboard) by October 28.
- Official offers of admission to William & Mary will be sent around mid-November. All offers of admission are contingent on continued strong academic standing.
- Send us an official college transcript from your fall college as soon as your fall grades are posted, and no later than January 5.
- Continue to meet high standards of personal and academic conduct. Please complete the student/applicant portion of the College Report and then forward it to your institution's Registrar or Dean of Students to complete the college official portion and return it to us (email or upload to the portal) by January 5.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is eligible to pursue the spring pathway program?
Any freshman/first-year applicant that was given a waitlist decision and remains on the waitlist. This option will be available for students to pursue after May 1 (Freshman Regular Decision admission offers are released around April 1 of each year). This program is not available for (waitlisted) transfer students.
Do I also need to complete a Common Application for Transfer this Fall to pursue this program?
Students do not need to submit a new Common Application. Acceptances will be made quickly upon receipt of mid-semester grades and they will be conditional pending final grades. We will reactivate the application you submitted as a freshman applicant.
Is housing guaranteed for students pursuing this program?
Yes, on-campus housing will be guaranteed for all spring pathway students (however this is on a space-available basis and we cannot guarantee it will be in freshmen housing or with freshmen roommate(s). A housing application will be completed by students pursuing this program in December (please refer to Tribe Guide Checklist) with assignments made in January by Residence Life.
Am I still eligible for Financial Aid in the spring?
Yes, we encourage students to complete the FAFSA & CSS Profile reflecting W&M for the upcoming academic year by November 1 for need-based financial aid consideration. There are no merit scholarships available for spring pathway students.
Are there any minimum age requirements?
There are no minimum age requirements for the community/junior college pathway. Studying Abroad with Verto does require participants to be 18 years of age by June 1 to participate in the approved locations in England, Italy, or Spain.
If I complete the intent form, am I obligated to attend W&M in the Spring?
No, the intent form is non-binding.
Is there a way for me to check which courses are transferable?
Yes, we encourage students to use our Tribe Transfer Tool. The Tribe Transfer Tool is an online database of transfer information. It includes courses that have been reviewed for credit for incoming students from U.S. institutions. It is not an exhaustive database. Generally, lower-level general education courses in the areas of math, English, sciences, and humanities with a grade of C (2.0) or better are transferable. Remedial coursework does not transfer to William & Mary.
We also offer course equivalencies guides specific to Richard Bland College, as well as any Virginia Community College System (VCCS) institution.
To view how the Verto courses transfer to William & Mary, please visit our page on Verto Course Equivalencies.
Who should I contact for more information about this program?
Should you have any questions regarding the community or junior college pathway program please contact us at transfer@wm.edu.
Who should I contact regarding the Verto Academic Semester Abroad guaranteed admission pathway?
After decisions are released on April 1, additional information can be found on the Verto Education website, and questions may be directed to globalstudyprogram@vertoeducation.org. Waitlisted students interested in Verto can inquire and apply directly to Verto Education here.
As an international student, can I participate in this program?
This program is open to international students, however, please note that due to the quick turnaround time from decisions to the start of the spring semester, it may be difficult or not feasible to complete the requirements for certain visas (such as an F-1) in time for spring orientation and enrollment.
