I applied for International Relations to the joint program. Anyone else apply for anything? Does anyone know the acceptance rate lmao
The international relations program is the most competitive to get into out of all the joint degree program majors. Approcximately 350-400 students apply to the joint degree program per year and approximately half of those are applicants to the international relations major. I applied to the program three years ago and was admitted for the international relations major, but eventually chose not to attend because I ended up liking W&M so much I could not imagine spending 2 years elsewhere
I applied to Economics, and when I talked to the head lady she mentioned that around 20ish people are admitted, give or take
I know that for the overall program, they usually aim to enroll around 20 students each year, around 5 students per major category, and it has been a bit over the estimated number in the past. With the new majors in film and media studies and classical studies, it is only expected to increase. What would be interesting to know, however, is whether they extend acceptances to more than the expected enrollment, like they do with regular admissons, or whether extend acceptances to the expected enrollment, and if they do not enroll, extend it to people off the waitlist.
Do you mind if I ask what your stats are? I know they rely heavily on the essay, but I would like to know if I should bother getting my hopes up
@kmags59 without a full thingy
33 ACT
1440 SAT
Top 10%
Very Good Essay
ROTC 4 Years high ranking
Good Recs
Don’t do it.
Current Junior, haven’t met a single kid that actually liked this program. You stay your freshman year and just as your getting settled, you go off to St. Andrews, which is in Scotland and therefore boring. Spend 2 years there just to come back for Senior year, and having to socially start over. You’re all better off just studying abroad at Oxford Junior year than to do this.
-Cheers
@olivier34343 Im not even in it yet and itf its as hard as it is said to be I prob wont be accepted. I do hope to be accepted to base W and M however so studying abroad is a possibility
@olivier34343 Scotland is boring? Far from it, especially when compared to colonial Williamsburg. St Andrews is gorgeous and you can easily get to Edinburgh.
As for spending your Junior Year at Oxford, I definitely would NOT recommend that. You’ll be an outsider and treated like one. Oxford faculty and students look down on American “JYA” students who they view as simply coming for the “experience”. I attended Oxford as a postgrad and JYAs were the object of endless jokes.
@jkgreen27 For what it is worth, St Andrew’s IR program is world famous. Fantastic faculty. IR really isn’t something W&M is known for. Just be aware that the Joint Program costs a fortune, but then again if you are OOS, W&M won’t give you much aid either.
Everyone I know that did not drop from the St. Andrews program says that, hands down, St. Andrews was a more fun time. Even though the town is similar in size to Williamsburg, there are more restaurants, bars, and clubs, and the student body is generally more outgoing and fun. Grades in the UK are almost entirely end-of-year assessments, so kids aren’t constantly in the library like they are at W&M. There’s a reason almost everyone in the program is American and starts at W&M – no one applying to St. Andrew’s regularly would be foolish enough to spend two relatively agonizing years in Williamsburg.
Don’t think the school releases any information about the admissions stats, but I know most people in the program my year, and they are all average compared to the rest of the student body. I don’t think a lot of people apply to the program (totally speculative) and a lot rides on your essays.
@AtTheRate One thing is for certain: St Andrew’s setting is spectacular. Many of the rooms overlook the sea and I wonder how anyone manages to study. And the social scene is great (and unlike W&M, you don’t need fake IDs).
One thing to be aware of: St Andrews, like other British universities, considers you an adult. Attendance in lectures and seminars is never taken and you need to be disciplined. Exams at the end of the year are also a mixed blessing: if you aren’t disciplined and do not study, you will find the exams very taxing. It’s “all or nothing” when it comes to British exams.