Enrolling Transfer Students
Congratulations! The application process can be long and stressful, but now it's over and you're in! We look forward to welcoming you to William & Mary as one of our students. Here are your next steps.
It is very likely that W&M isn't the only place where you have applied. If we have accepted you into our ranks, it's likely that other schools have, too. While we think that W&M is your obvious choice, we understand that it can be difficult to choose between several options. There are several steps you can take to help make that decision.
Activate Your W&M Account
You should activate your W&M account. This will give you your W&M Username and a password you can use to check your financial aid award package and pay your enrollment deposit.
Once we confirm receipt of your deposit, you can activate your W&M email account. Other offices will use your W&M email address to communicate with you. You will get information about transferring credit, orientation, registering for classes and getting ready for campus life before you arrive on campus.
Transferring Credits
We know that understanding how your coursework from your previous institution(s) will transfer to William & Mary is important to you. While there is no limit to the number of courses that may be transferred, William & Mary requires that at least 60-semester credits, including a minimum of 15 credits in the concentration, be earned in residence at the university in Williamsburg.
The Office of the University Registrar will complete transfer credit evaluations after a student is admitted to the university. We do not evaluate transfer credits before a student is admitted. Most credit evaluations will be completed after students submit an enrollment deposit. Study Abroad coursework will be evaluated through the Global Education Office located in the Reves Center for International Studies.
After activating your W&M Account, your preliminary evaluation will be available online. Log into your account at myW&M, select the "Admissions" tab and then "Preliminary Transfer Credit." Here you will be able to view an unofficial preliminary evaluation of your transfer credit. Please note, courses that are not eligible for credit will not appear here. Some of your coursework may require submission of a syllabus for further review — this will be communicated to you upon your deposit by the Transfer Services Coordinator. If you have any questions about your evaluation or materials that may be needed for further review, please email the Transfer Services Coordinator.
Advising and Course Registration
Peer advisors with the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs will reach out to all enrolling transfer students. They will help you with the required mini-course, College Studies. This course will introduce you to the registration process. You will also complete the New Student Inventory. The information you provide will help us assign you a pre-major advisor who will help you through your initial course registration at W&M. In the meantime, you may check the availability of courses online. You also should become familiar with our curriculum requirements for transfer students.
Admission to a Major
All students are admitted as undeclared and do not transfer with a major; it must be officially declared through the Office of the University Registrar after enrolling at William & Mary and reaching junior status. The School of Business and the School of Education have a separate application process once students have been admitted to William & Mary.
Deferring Your Admission
Transfer students who have submitted a deposit are eligible to defer their admission on an individual basis. Students interested in a semester deferral should contact the transfer office with a written request to transfer@wm.edu. Transfer students approved for deferral are not permitted to take additional college coursework during their deferral period. Students intending to take additional coursework would need to withdraw their application but are welcome to reapply for a future semester. Please note, Spring Pathway transfer students are not eligible for a deferral.
