A Freshman’s Guide to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia

Being a freshman in college may present a new challenge to a young student’s life. Most aspects of daily living can be transformed into something completely different, such as favorite hangouts, food, and even housing. The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia offers a different perspective for living on campus.

First off, the campus is filled with luscious green grass and bundles of trees that provide shade during the hot summers and a colorful change in the oncoming of autumn. Near the middle of campus is the Sunken Garden, which is literal in a sense, since the area is sunken below normal ground level yet not actually a garden. It’s mainly a grassy haven for students to cut through or play around in; a great place for college freshmen or any student in general to hang out. Some enjoy playing Frisbee in the garden, and others might enjoy a nice tanning from the sun by laying a beach towel on the grass during hot summer days. Many events are also held in this favorite space of residents, such as outdoor concerts, carnivals, dances, and even big-screen movies.

The College of William and Mary offers a quiet, peaceful environment for student’s to enjoy and bask in. Colonial Williamsburg is just a few minutes walk from the dorms on campus, depending on where a student lives. And while the food on campus may be fitting and tolerable for a few weeks, right beside the college is an area called “Merchant’s Square” which houses one of the most popular café restaurant hangouts on campus… Aroma’s. Using a William and Mary Student ID will even allow you to purchase coffee, food, cake, and delicious sandwiches that are made to order. Sometimes, live bands can be found performing for a hungry audience also. A great place for hanging out, Aroma’s allows any student to grab a life-saving coffee in the morning, a satisfying sandwich in the noon time, and a nice, cool, savory milkshake at night. If you’re looking for a more nostalgic feeling that comes along with a quick bite to eat, you can visit “Retro’s,” right next door. It offers filling portions of hotdogs in the “Jumbo Dogs,” and more than enough fries to go around. Modeled after a “retro” café from the days of old, this restaurant is great for a nice bite at a booth or table overlooking the street outside. You can even order its own exclusive, “Limeade” to quench your thirst, or play Ms. Pacman at an arcade-like table near the condiments to relive early gaming.

While others may be looking for a more radical way of living or a bustling night life, William and Mary isn’t at all as quiet as it may seem. Like any other college, parties are a must for any student. Fraternities, sororities, club organizations, and even at times the College itself hosts parties that allows students to let loose and have a little fun during the late hours of the night. Just be careful about spontaneously having one at a small dorm on a week night, for the police may arrive to settle complaints of the loud noise.

After the parties are over, and the students’ stomachs are growling with hunger, they can always stop at one of the most popular places to go around the hour of 2 A.M. in the morning every day… the reliable Wawa on Richmond Road. No time is busier for this small food convenient store than the late, late night. Maybe this is because students’ have no where else to go for food at night, and it’s always a great place to take a break during a long night of studying for finals. Student’s can choose a variety of different foods to eat, from Wawa’s own sandwiches and hotdogs to frozen foods, candy and Slim Jims. If you’re looking to cool off, you can grab an Icee or some hot (or cold) coffee to keep awake. You can even grab a little beer for your party down the street, as long as you’re old enough. All in all, you can’t go wrong with Wawa.

Once the partying is out of your system, studying may be the last thing you need to do on your list. And when a big test arrives, most students choose Swem Library to pull off the all-nighters. Large and tranquil, Swem offers numerous computers, study areas, and hundreds of books on three floors and a basement to help a student with his or her learning needs. There’s even a small Starbuck’s the has snacks, vending machines, and essential coffee needed to jumpstart your day (or night). With film classes prevalent nowadays, Swem even offers a video viewing room in the basement floor and a small filming studio as well. Of course if the library is full during the peak hours of midterms and finals, small groups of students can find educational buildings such as Jones Hall or the Campus Center fitting for a peaceful studying scene. Many of these halls contain small study rooms that not many students take advantage of.

When choosing a freshman dorm at William and Mary, one must carefully think about what he or she wishes to accommodate. For instance, you have the larger, more populated dorms in the forms of Botetourt and Dupont Hall, which are located north near William and Mary Hall. These houses offer better access to the Commons, which is the largest eating facility on campus, the Recreational Center, Swem Library, and Phi Beta Kappa Hall where many plays are hosted. But a little closer to the Sunken Gardens just south of the Campus Center are the smaller, humble abodes that consist of Hunt, Taliaferro, and Brown Halls. These houses offer quick access to the Campus Center, Merchant’s Square, Colonial Williamsburg, and Educational Buildings around the Sunken Gardens, where a majority of classes are held. Unlike sophomores, freshmen are guaranteed housing, so it may be wise to choose a dormitory that best fits your needs at the college in your first year.

Regardless of where you hang out, eat, or live on campus, your experience is what you make it to be. So if you choose to do so, enjoy your stay at the College of William and Mary.