Anna Arnsberger
Murray 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Washington DC (Woodrow Wilson HS)
Areas of Interest
History, Economics and Public Policy
Why W&M
I first saw William & Mary as a freshman in high school. My parents had craftily roped our family into spending spring break taking my older sister on college visits and I was mentally prepared to spend the next few days completely bored. But rather than put me to sleep, the tour of William & Mary piqued my interest in a way none of the others did. While there were many specific aspects of William & Mary that appealed to me—its size, its campus, its proximity to men in breeches and tricorns—I attributed much of my excitement to the fact that this was my first college visit ever, and didn’t let myself get too attached. I catalogued William & Mary in the back of my mind as a nice school where I’d likely be happy, and didn’t think much about it for the next couple of years.
It wasn’t until senior year, after I began hearing back from colleges, did I realize just how perfect of a fit W&M was for me. Though I never had a clear idea of what I would end up studying, I knew that I wanted my college years to be a time to explore all of my various academic interests. William & Mary’s collaborative liberal arts education combined with unparalleled opportunities for research and study abroad made it an ideal place for me to pursue the highest level of education. And after deciding W&M worked so well on paper, the Finalist Weekend sealed the deal. Meeting all the scholars, I was immediately drawn in by their camaraderie and shared love of learning. I knew that in this vibrant, tight-knit, unabashedly-nerdy community, I would thrive.
W&M Activities
- Flat Hat
- Editor-in-Chief, News Editor
- Club Field Hockey
- Innocence Club
- 2022 IIC Conservation Research Program
- WMFIRE
- Merrimac Mentors
High School Activities
- Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon Newspaper
- Varsity Field Hockey Captain
- Human Rights Club
- Common Ground Club
- Varsity Swim Team
- Teacher’s Assistant for Middle School History class
- Field Hockey Camp Counselor for SJK Field Hockey
Awards / Distinctions
- National Honor Society
- AP Scholar with Distinction
