William & Mary College has a profound historical heritage and outstanding academic status. The following is a detailed introduction to it:

History:

Founding background: The college was founded in 1693 by a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II of England. It is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, second only to Harvard University. It was originally established to provide higher education to the people of the Virginia colony, including courses in philosophy, language, art and science.

Important events in its development: From 1695 to 1699, the Sir Christopher Wren Building was completed, which is the oldest existing teaching building in the United States; in 1776, the United States declared independence and the college broke away from the British royal family; in 1779, alumnus Thomas Jefferson established the honor system, which was the first in the United States; in 1906, the school became a public university; in 1918, female students were allowed to enroll; in 1967, the school was officially incorporated into the American university system.

Academic status:

Public Ivy: It is one of the famous "Public Ivy" schools, enjoying a high reputation, known for its elite education, and providing students with high-quality educational resources.

Academic ranking: It performs well in major world university rankings, but due to the relatively few subject settings, it is affected to a certain extent in the overall ranking. For example, in 2024, the school ranked 601-800 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 901-950 in the 2024QS World University Rankings, and 624 in the 2024U.S. News World University Rankings.

Professional settings:

Rich disciplines: There are five colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Marine Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Business Administration, and the School of Law. The majors cover a wide range of fields, including arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, education, law and other fields. Most of them have strong scientific research and academic strength and can award master's and doctoral degrees.

Advantageous majors: History, politics, international relations, law and other majors have strong strength and influence, and the marine science major is also relatively prominent. Its marine science college is one of the largest marine science centers in the United States, focusing on coastal and estuarine science.

Campus culture:

Campus environment: Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the United States, the campus has beautiful scenery, historic buildings and modern teaching facilities. The campus has the picturesque Matoaka Lake and the College Forest Scenic Area. The ancient campus has been restored to the appearance of the 18th century, full of a strong historical atmosphere.

Traditional activities: It has unique campus traditions and cultural activities, such as related activities of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. The society is a national honor organization for outstanding students in American universities founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary.

Famous alumni: The school has cultivated many outstanding talents and has close ties with the founding fathers of the United States. It is called the "American Alma Mater". The first president of the United States, George Washington, obtained a surveyor's license at the College of William and Mary, and three other American presidents, Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler and James Monroe, received undergraduate education at the school.