There’s No Place Like Home

We Admit It! At William & Mary, we’re suckers for traditions. Opening Convocation, Yule Log Ceremony, Last Day of Classes Bash. These are just a few of the celebrations that highlight a year at W&M, and that you will come to know and love should you become a member of the Tribe.

This weekend marks one such tradition, when graduates from years past and from across the globe travel back to Williamsburg for a healthy dose of nostalgia, reunions and fun. You guessed it: this weekend is Homecoming 2015. While there are exciting things happening at W&M each and every day, Homecoming brings with it its own unique energy and excitement.

The weekend begins Friday afternoon with a parade featuring dozens of floats by alumni and W&M student groups. Jamestown Road becomes packed both by those participating in the parade, and by those cheering on the sidelines as their favorite floats pass by. To get a sense for what this looks like, picture the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but even more epic, and with even bigger balloons… Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s still a fantastic time.

The festivities continue through to Saturday, with symposiums, presentations, gatherings and tailgates happening across all corners of campus leading up to the Homecoming football game. This year’s football contest is against Hampton University, which will undoubtedly result in a decisive victory for the good guys (Go Tribe, Beat the Pirates).

For us Admission folk, Homecoming concludes on Saturday evening with an Admission Office Staff reunion, where student volunteers and Admission staff who have since left our team join us for a night full of laughter and catching up. There’s nothing quite like spending quality time with close friends to get our office prepped and ready to tackle our busy application reading season.

As next Sunday’s (11/1) Early Decision deadline approaches, and throughout the coming months of the college search and application process, we encourage you to take some time to enjoy your own traditions, and to enjoy the company of your family and friends. We’ll be sure to do the same, and look forward to reading your applications in the very near future.

Brad Harlan
Assistant Dean of Admission