Category Archives: Current Students

What’s in a W&M Student’s School Bag 

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I always love seeing what’s in my bag posts, so here’s my take on what actually ends up in a W&M student’s school bag! (based on mine and STEP’s followers’ bags!)

  • Laptop + charger: Obviously a laptop is a must in college, and mine comes with me everywhere! It’s always a good idea to bring a charger just in-case too.
  • Folder: I only use one folder to carry any handouts I get from class or assignments I’m turning in. Since I don’t get that many paper assignments I just use one folder for all of my classes. 
  • Legal pads: Ever since a legal pad was the only form of notebook I could find in Ireland, I’ve been hooked on using them to take notes in class. I have two: one for scratch and un-pretty notes and another for nice and clean one-pagers! Like the folder, I use one for all my classes and just label the bottom left corner to know which class the notes are from.  
  • Water Bottle: Hydration is key, especially when it’s over 80 degrees still in October! 
  • Hand Sanitizer: Virology has made me a bit of a germaphobe, so I carry hand sanitizer with me everywhere. 
  • Lipbalm: Really can’t go anywhere without lipbalm. 
  • Headphones: My airpods are also a necessity for listening to music between classes and noise cancelation while studying. 
  • Snack: Sometimes there’s just not enough time to go grab a formal meal, so I always have a snack or two in my bag! My favorites are honey roasted chickpeas or some sort of protein bar. 
  • Tissues: I always find my nose running after walking into a freezing ISC lecture hall coming from a humid exterior. 
  • Bandaid: Just one of those essentials that’s always useful to have on hand! 
  • Hairties / claw clip: When my hair starts to bother me or it gets a little warmer than expected outside, I have something to put it up! 
  • Lots & Lots of books: A clear marker of a typical W&M student!
  • Planner: W&M students are known to be organized, so having a planner is a must!

A Week in My Life at W&M

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College weeks can be unpredictable with one day feeling super motivated and productive with another day struggling to get everything done. Here’s a peek into what a real week looks for me through the balance and chaos of classes, work, and training for a half marathon.

  • Monday: School starts up again each Monday starting with virology and biostatistics classes. I’ll learn more about viral entry mechanisms and then do some reading and soak up the sun after class. I have a huge gap between my two classes on Monday, so I use the time to study, get some content done, and work. By this time, Biostat feels pretty late in the day, so I refuel with a strawberry acai lemonade from the ISC cafe. Monday is one of my favorite days for running because of the DoG Street Pub Running Club at 6pm! Given that I’ve finished all of my tasks for the day, I’ll wind down with some reading, crochet, or tv. 
  • Tuesday: Tuesday is my busiest day starting with a long run at 5am, but after 8 miles, I moved my long run to Saturday. I have two back to back classes: stress & immunity and spatial analysis & social justice, so I spend my first hours of the day in ISC. I’ll then get some work done in Swem while waiting for my lab meeting with my research advisor where we’ll discuss next steps on my project (now in the publication phase!). I usually stop at Everbowl for a snack after this long day and then head to the gym for strength training before grabbing dinner at Caf and watching Dancing With The Stars. 
  • Wednesday: Wednesday is pretty similar to Monday schedule-wise, but I have some more meetings and my biostatistics lab before class! Wednesday is also another running and strength day.  
  • Thursday: Thursday is a rest and social day. I usually will grab lunch or dinner with a friend and catch up on any work I need to complete. 
  • Friday: Friday is always fun. I like to clean on Fridays to prepare for the weekend. After my shakeout run, you’ll find me in bed early on Friday to prepare for Saturday!
  • Weekend: Saturday is my long run day ranging from 6-11miles in preparation for the Jamestown Half! I love getting Kung Fu Tea and then studying for a couple hours at Barnes & Nobles. I also like to use the weekend to plan and get ahead on next week’s tasks! 

Designing Your Ideal College Routine

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The absolute best thing about college is the freedom to build your own schedule. Whether you
thrive on 8am classes or prefer to stroll down to ISC around 12, the beauty of college is that you
can design a routine that fits to you.


Some things to consider:
● When do you focus best? Do you have the energy and determination to wake up for
early classes? Or do you enjoy studying late at night and sleeping in?
● How much leeway do you have with your classes? Unfortunately sometimes there’s only
one section of a class so you won’t have the option to shift it, but try focusing on what
you can control within your schedule
● Balance matters!! College isn’t just being productive 24/7. Sometimes having time for
social connection, relaxation, and fun is just as valuable as studying another hour in
Swem
● Anchor points in your day. Try adding a few things to your schedule that are concrete
weekly/daily activities. For instance, meals, workouts, bedtimes

  • Keep in mind that you can always change it! If something in your schedule is just not
    working, you can change it! Also, what’s considered your “ideal routine” will most likely
    change semester by semester as you get a new set of classes and adapt around them

Building a Career Portfolio in College

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As I’m on the glimpse of graduation and entering the workforce full-time creeps up around the
corner, I’ve been thinking more and more about the professional and academic experiences I’ve
gained at William & Mary and how to compile it into a portfolio for my resume and future job
search. One thing I’ve realized is that even the little things and skills you collect throughout your
time in college can be used. Experiences, projects, new knowledge, and skills can become
important tools for applying to jobs, internships, or grad school.


Class Projects
Let’s take class projects for example. Maybe you did a group presentation, research paper, or
case study? You can save your best work for example in a creative portfolio or reflect on the
skills you developed. Use these experiences and consider how it demonstrates critical thinking,
problem solving, and communication skills.


Clubs and Organizations
Probably one of the more common things students think of when they hear “experience” for a
resume. Get involved in clubs and organizations for opportunities to plan events, gain
experience, and network! These experiences can highlight initiative, collaboration, and
creativity!

Jobs and Internships
Obviously gaining work experience is a plus for a resume and career portfolio. These can help
you develop transferable skills, even if your job is not exactly in your intended career! Gaining
experience in different industries can help you shift perspective and learn skills and knowledge
different from the ones you learn in the classroom.


Documenting
If this summer’s business program taught me anything, it’s to start compiling your experiences,
building your resumes, and connecting on LinkedIn as soon as possible. That way you don’t
have to scramble to remember all the wonderful things you’ve done!


Your college journey is more than just classes. It’s a collection of experiences that prove what
you can do. If you start treating your daily activities as portfolio pieces, you’ll graduate not just
with a degree, but with a professional story you’re ready to tell!

Finding Off-Campus Housing

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Searching for off-campus housing doesn’t have to be stressful! There are many helpful
resources to begin your search. Firstly, first and second year students are required to live on campus. You may choose to remain on campus for the remaining two years, but some students
prefer to move off campus after fulfilling the two year requirement. Talking to your friends and
classmates might help you determine whether you’d like to move off campus, and if so, where.


If you aren’t familiar with the area or are interested in learning more about rental opportunities,
this resource can help introduce you to the current rental listings that are a close walk, bus ride,
or drive to campus. Here is the link to the off-campus housing website:
https://www.wmoffcampus.com/
In this website you can filter and sort the number of bedrooms, building type, move-in options,
lease type, transportation, and more to help find what you’re looking for. This resource focuses
on new lease apartments, but if you’re looking for semester long lease options, roommates, or
sublets, Facebook groups are a helpful tool to check.

STEP also has a helpful guide to navigating off-campus housing! Here you’ll find resources to begin your search, core considerations, tips on staying engaged with campus, and a guide to your rights as a tenant. Here’s the link: https://www.wm.edu/offices/step/current-students/form/off-campus/


Oftentimes when people study abroad, you’ll find semester-long sublets, especially in the
spring. Similarly, if you’re looking for summer housing, lots of students will sublet while they’re
away in the summer. The Facebook group, “College of William & Mary (W&M) Housing, Sublets,
& Roommates” is a helpful tool for finding more affordable and flexible off-campus housing. In
this group many students post their sublets and housing opportunities as well as roommate
requests. Here you’ll find a mix of both apartments and houses. The Facebook group, “College
of William and Mary (W&M) Apartments and Housing (NO SPAM)” is also a good group to find
sublets and roommates.

New housing on the way – introduction to the new dorms 

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With housing selection around the corner, the chaos and anticipation surrounding which hall to choose for the next academic year ensues. But this upcoming selection is bringing in more new options than ever for both incoming new students and returning undergraduates! Here is an overview of the 5 new residence halls opening this upcoming fall! 

Cedar Hall

Cedar Hall is part of the Jamestown Triangle with Hardy and Lemon Halls. This hall will be home to 270 new first-time-in-college residents, including Sharpe Community Scholars. It has singles, doubles, suites, and stand-alone arrangements along with learning commons, study rooms, and lounges over 4 floors. Cedar Hall is the perfect spot right in the middle of campus! Only a short walk to both new campus and old campus, and it’s right across from the Integrated Science Center. 

Maple Hall

Maple Hall is part of the brand new West Woods 1 neighborhood! Maple hall will be home to 150 returning undergraduate residents on four floors. This hall has both single and double rooms along with lounges and study rooms. Maple Hall will also be home to the new Lavender House, a special interest community for LGBTQ+ identifying students. A bridge will connect the West Woods to Sadler! 

Oak Hall

Oak Hall is part of the West Woods 1 neighborhood! It will be home to 150 returning undergraduate residents in both single and double rooms. This hall also includes centralized lounges, communal hall kitchens, and study rooms at the end of each wing. THe first floor of Oak Hall will include a great room for meetings. If you take a tour of in future years, you’ll be sure to see the model room within this hall too!

Pine Hall

Pine Hall is the largest of the West Woods 1 neighborhood. This hall houses 500 first year and returning undergraduate residents in both single and double rooms. The four floors of this hall include centralized lounges and kitchens, study rooms, and two outside terraces on the second floor. The fourth floor of Pine Hall will be home to the brand-new Global Village, a living-learning community for various languages! 

Poplar Hall

Poplar Hall is also part of the West Woods 1 neighborhood! This hall will be home to 120 first-year residents in both single and double rooms. This hall has centralized lounges, study rooms and will be connected to Sadler via the pedestrian bridge!

How to navigate the WATA bus system

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Did you know that the WATA bus transport system is free for William & Mary students? Show your William & Mary ID to the driver while boarding to ride any of the routes for free! There are 12 routes around the Williamsburg area. 

Route 1 – Lee Hall

Notable stops: Lee Hall and Transportation center

Route 2 – Richmond Rd

Notable stops: Walmart, One Tribe Place, Outlets 

Route 3 – Merrimac Trail

Notable stops: CW visitor center, Colonial pines, Merrimac trail CVS, Target

Route 4 – Longhill Rd

Notable stops: New town, Harris Teeter

Route 5 – Monticello

Notable stops: Ritas, Trader joes, Food lion

Route 6 – Jamestown 

Notable stops: Lemon Hall, CVS, Food lion, Merchant Square 

Route 7 – Mooretown Road

Notable stops: Kingsgate shops, Great Wolf Lodge, Walmart

Route 8 – William & Mary

Notable stops: Law school, Lemon Hall Jones Hall, Kaplan, School of Education, Caf, Parking Deck

**This route is dedicated to transport around the Willim & Mary campus. It operates in a loop beginning at the Law School with a round trip of 30 minutes. 

Route  9 – Toano 

Notable stops: Walmart, JCC Library

Route 11 – Lackey

Notable stops: Riverside hospital


Route 12 – Ironbound

Notable stops: Ritas, New Town, Target

Route 15 – Colonial

Notable stops: CW Visitor Center, Palace, Capitol, Merchant Square

How to find the route for you: Transit App!

The Transit App compares local transportation route options to easily find the best option for you. To easily navigate your trip follow these steps: 

  1. Search for your destination
  2. A list of options will appear
  3. Press GO on the option you’d like to use
  4. See a step-by-step outline of your journey 

Learn more about the routes here: https://gowata.org/148/Routes-Schedules

My Transfer Student Experience: Vanessa Broadrup ‘25

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I’m Vanessa Broadrup ‘25, a current International Relations and Japanese Studies double major at William & Mary from just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I began my time as a transfer student at W&M last year during the Fall 2023 semester. When I decided to transfer out of my former academic institution, I was studying abroad at a university in Osaka, Japan as part of an exchange program. It was there that I realized I enjoyed the experience of being on a bigger campus so much that I wanted to have this opportunity to meet more people from different places once I returned to the United States. I also realized that a larger university with a bigger International Relations department like W&M would give me the opportunity to meet lots of new people who had similar interests to me but different life experiences from myself. 

At first the idea of leaving my old school and transferring all of my credits to a new place was daunting, but once I met with W&M Transfer Admissions Dean Dean Monica Pinier who answered all of my (many) questions, I felt reassured that W&M would welcome me and prepare me to succeed in my final two years of my undergraduate academic experience. My friends who are now W&M alumni themselves also encouraged me to apply, sharing a contagious enthusiasm for the campus and the courses they took here. So, to me, sending my one and only transfer application to W&M was a logical decision, and one I made with excitement and a lot of thought. I knew that if I transferred, the one place I would want to be was at William & Mary. So naturally, I was over the moon when I finally got my acceptance letter in early May (and when I found out so many of my credits transferred)!

When I first came to campus, I was a bit nervous about finding a sense of community and adjusting, but by the end of New Student Orientation, I could find my way around pretty easily. I also attended the Student Activities Fair, which I think really helped me get involved and make friends. Trust me when I say that W&M has just about any organization you could possibly think of, whether it relates to professional development, athletics, or hobbies. If you are a transfer student who feels a little nervous, that’s perfectly normal, but I promise you will find kind people in teammates, classmates, and student organization members who want nothing more than to help you and see you succeed. I have noticed that a lot of clubs here are also super welcoming to new people–including transfers. I attend Swim Club meetings (even though I’ve never been on a swim team!), and I am the proud Vice President of Programming for the William & Mary chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society, a foreign policy related organization–which you’re more than welcome to join even if you’re not an IR or Government Major! 

If you’re a prospective transfer student like I once was, or you managed to find this blog post because you Googled “William & Mary Transfer,” and have some questions, I implore you to check out this page or email transfer@wm.edu. If you choose to come here as a transfer student, there are a lot of resources meant to set you up to succeed, so don’t hesitate to reach out or attend STEP events! Remember–if you’re a transfer, never sell yourself short. You’ve been in college before and you’ve got this! You are likely looking to learn a lot from your classmates about their cool experiences at W&M, but remember that you are interesting too and also have something unique to offer, even if you didn’t begin your academic journey here. Make connections with classmates, ask professors about opportunities to immerse yourself in fields that interest you, apply to campus jobs and other opportunities, and enjoy yourself here. Remember, you applied for a reason! 

W&M Lingo 

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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 

The 5 Best Uses of Dining Dollars

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  1. Chick-Fil-A

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!

  1. Food Trucks 

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! 

  1. Bake Shop

Bake Shop is another student favorite for fresh pastries, lattes, and bagels. Great choices for brunch and snacks!

  1. Town Center Cold Pressed

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. 

  1. Farmers Market

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!