Admission Requirements for the Undergraduate Program

Transcription

1 Admission Requirements for the Undergraduate Program Thank you for your interest in our Undergraduate Business Program. While other business schools tell you what you should do, we challenge our students to imagine what they can do with their business education. At the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, we want you to explore and develop your strengths and talents -- in business and beyond. Our admission process is designed to identify students who will thrive academically and professionally, and who will contribute to our learning community through their unique background of talents and experiences. Successful candidates exhibit: Academic achievement to date (as exhibited by grades, course load, difficulty of courses, trends in academic performance, and recovery from academic setbacks). Personal attributes and life experiences that illustrate the drive to better oneself and others, resilience in the face of challenges, ethical character, openness to diverse perspectives, entrepreneurial and creative spirit, and a collaborative approach in working with others. Strong communication skills (as demonstrated by one s application essay). Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Business Majors To be considered for admission, all prospective business majors must meet the following qualifications prior to the semester of entry into the Business School: Junior academic standing (54 academic credit hours). Completion of all of the following prerequisite courses (reflected on William & Mary transcript), prior to matriculation in the business majors program (prior to the semester one begins the program): Principles of Accounting (BUAD 203) Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 101) Introductory Macroeconomics (ECON 102) Introductory Calculus (MATH 108, MATH 111, MATH 112, MATH 131, MATH 132, or MATH 212) Introductory Statistics (BUAD 231, MATH 106, ECON 307, PSYC 301, SOCL 353, MATH 351, or KINE 394) Majors are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA; however, the admission process is competitive, and meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee acceptance into the business program. Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Business Minors To be considered for admission, all prospective business minors must meet the following qualifications prior to the semester of entry into the Business School: Junior academic standing (54 academic credit hours). Completion of all of the prerequisite courses for one s particular minor, prior to the semester one begins the program. Minors are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA; however the admission process is competitive, and meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee acceptance into the business program. Page 1 of 5

2 Instructions for Application All students planning to major or minor in business must apply for competitive admission, as outlined in the following detailed instructions. Students may submit only one application, selecting either the major program or the minor program. Those who select major on the application will have the option to indicate interest in the minor program if they are not accepted into the major program. The deadline for Fall 2016 Early Decision Applications from Spring Study Abroad students is November 2, 2015 (by 11:59pm). Only current William & Mary students who are studying abroad during the Spring 2016 term are eligible to pursue the Fall 2016 Early Decision application process. If you are interested in applying for the Fall 2016 term, but are not studying abroad during the Spring term you will need to wait and apply during the normal admission cycle which opens in January Inactive students should contact us at or for further instruction. Below you will find your general checklist for completing the admission process. APPLICANT CHECKLIST: Admission Essay. All applicants must complete and submit one of the admission essay options listed within the Admission Essay Instructions on page 3 of this Admission Instructions packet. You will upload your Admission Essay within the online application as either a Word document or PDF (preferred format). Student Profile. Please provide the admissions committee with a 1-2 page Student Profile of your collegiate and work experiences. Please see the detailed instructions on page 4 of this Admission Instructions packet on completing your Student Profile. You will upload your Student Profile within the online application as either a Word document or PDF (preferred format). Statement on Extenuating Circumstances (Optional). You have the option to submit a statement explaining any extenuating circumstances regarding your application that you think the admission committee would find helpful. Please see the detailed instructions on page 5 of this Admission Instructions packet on completing your Statement. You will upload your Statement on Extenuating Circumstances within the online application as either a Word document or PDF (preferred format). Online Admissions Application. The admission application process for both major and minor applicants for the Undergraduate Business program is now fully online. The online application will ask for basic information regarding your current interest in the Business program as well as your past academic experiences. We strongly encourage you to complete the online application in one sitting due to the mechanics of the online software. Therefore, since you will upload your Admission Essay and Student Profile documents within the online application it is important to complete your essay and profile prior to starting the actual online application. Transcripts from other Universities (Optional). You may submit unofficial transcript(s) from any colleges/universities attended besides William & Mary. Please note - The admission review by the committee will include a review of all coursework completed at W&M, as well as an assessment of all transcripts submitted to the Undergraduate Admissions office during your initial admission to the W&M. The Faculty Admissions committee will review all Early Decision applications and determine which will be admitted early to the Fall 2016 Business program, and which application packets will be held until the normal Fall admissions review in February 2016 and therefore reviewed collectively with the rest of the Fall 2016 applicant pool. All Early Decision applicants will be notified of their initial admission status by early December. Page 2 of 5

3 Instructions for Admission Essay All business major and minor applicants must complete and submit one of the following admission essays. It is best to complete your online application in one sitting, therefore we highly recommend that you please complete your essay prior to starting the actual online application. Your completed essay will be uploaded within the online application, preferably as a PDF document. Essay Question #1: Each of us has a unique perspective in how we see the world. What distinctive perspective will you bring to our program, and how will this perspective leave a positive impact on your classmates? In describing your perspective, use stories from your past that have shaped your unique perspective. OR Essay Question #2: Our program invites each student to connect the study of business with study across campus, developing your many strengths and diverse interests. Describe how your studies and life experiences have led you to the decision to study business, and how you plan to connect business with opportunities across William & Mary. 1 page maximum in length 1 inch margins, 11 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced Save the document as a PDF for easier uploading Please include the following on the top of your Student Profile document: o Identify which of the Essay questions you have selected to answer Page 3 of 5

4 Instructions for Student Profile All business major and minor applicants must complete and submit a Student Profile as part of the admission application. In a bulleted-format (similar to the format of a resume) please address your Collegiate Activities, Work Experiences, as well as your Distinctive Contributions, Awards, and Projects from your collegiate studies thus far. We have identified several examples below for each category for you to follow as a template. Please do not include any experiences from high school. It is best to complete your online application in one sitting, therefore we highly recommend that you please complete your Student Profile prior to starting the actual online application. Your completed student profile will be uploaded within the online application, preferably as a PDF document. Collegiate Activities List your athletics and extracurricular involvement during your college studies. For each activity, please provide: Organization/Activity Name University Name Dates of Participation Leadership positions Number of hours per week devoted to the activity/organization Work Experiences List your Internships, Externships, and/or other Employment during your college studies. Include employment while in college (either during the school year or over the summer), which includes all types of employment, such as jobs you may hold to help pay for your education, volunteer work, internships, and externships. For each work experience, please provide: Organization Name Location Dates of Employment Role Accomplishment Number of hours per week Distinctive Contributions, Awards, and Projects Use this section to describe your significant contributions, awards received, or projects you have worked on during your college experience. Here are several areas that you may wish to highlight: Contributions may extend beyond college community life, such as in community service, athletics, civic outreach, or in supporting family members through difficult health issues, family needs, or other challenges. Please include organization name (if applicable), dates, description of the contribution, and hours per week. Scholarships, Awards, Honors. Please include organization name, dates, description of the scholarships, awards, or honors Organizations or Businesses you have founded. Please include organization name, location, dates, role and accomplishments. Faculty-Student Research Projects. Please provide a brief project description, faculty supervisor(s), location, dates, role and accomplishments. 1-2 pages in length 1 inch margins, 11 point Times New Roman font Save the document as a PDF for easier uploading Please include the following on the top of your Student Profile document: Page 4 of 5

5 Instructions for Statement of Extenuating Circumstances (OPTIONAL) You have the option to submit a statement explaining any extenuating circumstances regarding your application that you think the admission committee would find helpful. It is best to try and complete your online application in one sitting, therefore we highly recommend that you please write your statement prior to starting the actual online application. Your completed statement will be uploaded within the online application, preferably as a PDF document. 1 page maximum 1 inch margins, 11 point Times New Roam font, doubled-space Save the document as a PDF for easier uploading Please include the following information at the top of your statement: Additional Admission Information Conditional Admission. All admission offers are conditional; students must successfully complete all prerequisite coursework, and sustain their academic performance. Students will forfeit their admissions offer if they fail to complete prerequisites. Failure to sustain academic perform may result in the loss of one s admissions offer. Financial Aid. Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarship aid, loans, or work/study should contact the Financial Aid Office for the necessary forms and further information. Page 5 of 5