Bot – Short for Botetourt complex
Caf – Commons dining hall
GGV – Green and Gold Village
ISC – Integrated Science Center
The Rec – The Campus Recreation Center
AMP – Alma Mater Productions
Sunky g – Sunken Garden
DOG street – Duke of Gloucester Street
OA – Orientation Aide
PBK – Phi Beta Kappa Hall
CW – Colonial Williamsburg
FDOC – First day of classes
LDOC – Last day of classes
CLC – Campus Living Center
TWAMP – Typical William & Mary Student
STEP – Student Transition Engagement Programs
By far the best use for dining dollars, Chick-Fil-A is a crowd favorite for quick and tasty meals. Located on Richmond Road, it’s not only a convenient location, but also a pretty cheap alternative to dining hall dinners!
Food trucks are a great use for dining dollars because of their variety. Find burritos, smash burgers, seafood, and more which are perfect lunch or dinner options different from what you’ll find in the dining halls. Ben & Jerry’s truck occasionally stops by too for a nice ice cream treat!
Bake Shop is another student favorite for fresh pastries, lattes, and bagels. Great choices for brunch and snacks!
It’s hard to find a place that sells smoothie bowls around here, but luckily Town Center Cold Pressed sells both smoothies and smoothie bowls that can be purchased using dining dollars! They also sell oatmeal bowls which are a perfect fall treat.
A recent addition to the dining dollars menu are Williamsburg Farmers Market tokens! Each Saturday that the farmers market runs, students can purchase $1 or $5 tokens to use at participating booths in the farmers market!
During your four years at William & Mary, you’ll be required to take a variety of COLL classes. COLL classes are included in the curriculum to explore new concepts/ideas and also deepen your knowledge on topics specific to your major! Each COLL corresponds to a different academic discipline and mode of teaching.
COLL 100 and COL 150– The first set of COLL classes taken by first year students are intended for students to branch out and explore new broad topics they’re interested in learning about. COL 100 classes are focused around creative presentation of big ideas. COL 100 usually consists of projects that go beyond writing essays. COL 150 classes are focused around readings and expanding writing skills on more narrow topics.
EX. COLL 100 from Fall 2024 – Big Ideas in Applied Science: Renaissance in 3D
COLL 150 from Fall 2024 – Philosophy of Technology
COLL 200 – Taken in your second year, COL 200 are a bit different from other COLLs since you are required to take a COLL class in each of the three knowledge domains: Arts, Letter, and Values (ALV), Natural World and Quantitative Reasoning (NQR), and Culture, Society, and the Individual (CSI).
Ex. COLL 200 ALV from Fall 2024: History of Jazz
COLL 200 CSI from Fall 2024: German Fairy Tales
COLL NQR from Fall 2024: Intro to Integrative Conservation
COLL 300 – COLL 300 classes are taken in your third or fourth year. COLL 300 is designed to broaden your knowledge about the world outside of your direct experience and can be taken on campus, domestically, or internationally through study abroad.
Ex. COLL 300 from Fall 2024: Indian Ocean Soundings
COLL 350 – COLL 350 classes are taken in your third or fourth year. They explore themes of culture and social identity and are centered around meaningful discussions and critical analysis.
Ex. COLL 350 from Fall 2024: Black Playwrights, Then & Now
COLL 400 – COL 400 classes are taken in your final year. This capstone class helps collect your knowledge from other COLL classes and apply them to your major. COLL 400 classes can be completed through independent research, upper-level seminars, and honors projects usually within your declared major.
Ex. COLL 400 from Fall 2024: Advanced Seminar in Biology: Bird Song
This past year I had the wonderful opportunity to assist grad student Ali Grossweiner in her polarization study. In this experiment, focal birds (Zebra Finches) are conditioned to associate water with reward in order to test preference for polarization. There were three steps to the experiment: acclimation, training, and testing. I had the opportunity to assist with all three steps and eventually conducted training and testing independently. On these training days I would set up the equipment, conduct two trials for each bird, handle the birds into and out of the box, conduct cleanup and birdcare after the training was completed. Then I would insert the results of training into our polarization study spreadsheet.
Assisting in this study, I learned more about the steps of developing and conducting research, polarization, bird behavior, and how to handle birds. Getting to help out in all stages of the research process made me appreciate how much goes into developing a research question and the planning required for each step after. In terms of avian experience, I also learned more about how to anticipate what actions a bird might take from observing their behavior, which was helpful during training as well as handling them in and out of the box. It was especially intriguing to witness the success of conditioning throughout the weeks they were trained. Watching them go from randomly flying around to looking at the water bowls and being more calculated with which perch they chose in such a short amount of time.
Spending this spring formally conducting research with birds has also sparked my interest in learning more about the birds local to this area. I’ll often use the Merlin Bird ID sound ID to try to match different vocalizations to birds when walking around outside. It was truly a pleasure getting to be involved in a hands-on research opportunity and I hope to continue expanding my avian knowledge and experience in the future! The extent of research opportunities at William & Mary is truly expansive. Whether you’re a STEM or a humanities major, if you’re interested in gaining real world experience, you’re bound to find an opportunity!
Earlier this spring, William & Mary began action on the proposal for a marine science major. The university currently offers a marine science minor, but this new offering will expand the opportunities in both curriculum and research, and study-abroad opportunities.Even more exciting, this program will be the first public undergraduate marine science degree in Virginia!
In conjunction with William & Mary’s School of Marine Science and The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), this program proposes a marine science immersion semester at VIMS. This would allow for experiential learning through various research and internships during students’ junior year. While not officially approved yet, it is hoped to have the program introduced in the fall of 2025. This new major will be a stepping stone to increasing marine science offerings in higher education.
Read more about it here: https://news.wm.edu/2024/05/03/wm-pursues-bachelors-in-marine-science/
Contrary to the belief of most college students, coffee and energy drinks are not the best way to boost brain performance. Check out these healthy and delicious foods that have been proven to help increase memory, concentration, and energy:
Blueberries: Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and have been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. They can also reduce inflammation in the brain!
Salmon: Fatty fish like salmon are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which play a vital role in promoting new brain cell formation.
Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that help improve blood flow to your brain. It also can stimulate the release of endorphins to release stress!
Oranges: Oranges contain lots of vitamin C which supports the production of neurotransmitters which are essential for communication between brain cells. Vitamin C in these fresh fruits also helps boost your immune system!
Nuts: Nuts are a great snack filled with healthy fats, protein, and vitamins!
Avocados: Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats which help maintain blood flow to the brain. They are also rich in potassium which supports nerve function!
Bananas: Bananas are a super quick and easy snack filled with lots of nutrients including vitamin B6 and potassium! These nutrients help regulate mood and enhance concentration.
April 27 – Spring Concert
This year’s spring concert presented by AMP & Student Assembly will be this Saturday April 27th! Come enjoy the lively music of COIN and K CAMP. Tickets are currently $10 for general admission and $15 for floor.
May 1 – Senior Signing Day Celebration
If you’re a graduating senior, visit Sadler Tidewater A&B May 1st from 11am to 1pm to collect a cord to wear for graduation! There will be food, prizes, and lots of fun! Make sure to complete the My Experience Portfolio on TribeCareers and RSVP to claim your graduation cord.
May 1 – Spring Puppy Palooza
Looking for a break from studying for finals? Visit the Sunken Garden on May 1st to cuddle with service dogs and learn about Canine Companions! The Pre-Vet Club has partnered with this organization which is dedicated to training service animals for those with disabilities!
May 3 – Last Day of Classes!
Everyone’s favorite day, the end of classes! Enjoy the celebrations around campus and if you’re a graduating senior, don’t forget to ring the bell!
May 5 – Senior Spring Brunch
Graduating seniors are invited to brunch at the Alumni House on May 5th from 11am to 2pm. Reserve your spot to learn more about your transition into alumni and receive a custom engraved glass!
Springtime is the best time to wander around Williamsburg with an iced coffee (or chai) in hand. There are an abundance of cafes to choose from around town if you’re looking for a new spot to study and fuel up on caffeine. Here are my ratings for the cafes in williamsburg!
Starting with the two on-campus cafes that you’re probably very familiar with:
Column 15
Town Center Cold Pressed
Aromas
Secret Garden
Tipsy Beans Cafe
The Bake Shop
Illy Caffe
Overall rating: 4 stars
Our energy levels often fluctuate in college which creates challenges maintaining productivity and balance in our day. There are days where we wake up ready to complete all tasks on our to-do list, while others find us wanting to sleep all day. Instead of fighting against these fluctuations, understanding and embracing how we feel can be a beneficial way to optimize productivity, efficiency, and well-being. Try these three different daily routine ideas that adapt to your energy levels which can help to avoid burnout.
Low energy
High energy
