Raymond A. Mason: Admissions

Graduate Admission

Within the limits of its facilities and its obligations as a state university, William & Mary offers the possibility of admission to all qualified students without regard to age, sex/gender, race, color, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status and other protected classifications.

All students admitted to graduate programs at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business must have a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution prior to matriculation.

For additional admissions information go to https://graduate.mason.wm.edu/ and select a specific Program.

Admission to Online Programs

To be considered for admission to the Online Programs, applicants must submit a completed online programs application, a 300-word personal statement, one professional reference, professional resume, and an undergrad transcript with numeric GPA. The interview requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. International applicants and those with a transcript from an international university may also need to submit a transcript evaluation and/or an English proficiency examination score as a part of their application.

1. Holistic Admissions Review
   1. All applicants are evaluated based on a holistic review of their academic and professional credentials, regardless of transcript format.
   2. Admissions decisions consider a composite of qualitative and quantitative factors, including but not limited to academic records, letter(s) of recommendation, personal statements, and relevant experience.
2. Transcript Requirements and Evaluation
   1. Applicants must submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
   2. Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
   3. If a transcript lacks a GPA or letter grades (e.g., uses narrative evaluations, pass/fail systems, or other non-traditional formats), the student must submit an official document from the conferring institution’s Registrar’s Office detailing the equivalent letter grade for courses and grade point average.
3. Equity and Consistency
   1. All applicants are subject to the same admissions procedures to ensure fairness and consistency.
   2. No applicant will be disadvantaged solely due to the absence of a GPA or letter grades, provided sufficient evidence of academic readiness is presented.
   3. Admissions decisions will not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.
4. Continuous Review
   1. This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with best practices and institutional goals.

Admission to Non-Degree Status

Under special circumstances, individuals who wish to take graduate courses (courses numbered 5000 and above) for audit or credit, but not enter as a degree-seeking student may be permitted to do so on a space-available basis with faculty and Program Associate Dean permission. Non-degree status is limited to students who have already earned baccalaureate degrees (official transcript required) and is not available for all courses. Non-degree status is permitted for up to 9.0 credit hours of coursework. Non-degree status is not permissible in any of the Online Programs. Students must be admitted to an online degree or certificate program to register for the classes offered through the online programs.

After written approval from the instructor and Program Associate Dean, interested students should contact the Program to request a Non-Degree Seeking Student Application. Registration will be processed by the Graduate Registrar. If approved, the individual will pay the current graduate business tuition rate for the course.

Non-degree status and visiting students must receive permission for each class in which they wish to enroll. Non-degree applications must be received no later than one week prior to the first day of classes. Non-degree students are bound by all rules and regulations of the university and its Honor Code.

Enrollment in Multiple Programs

Students can be enrolled in only one graduate program at W&M unless the two programs are listed in this catalog as a combined degree program offered by the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. Students are also permitted to be enrolled in both a certificate and graduate degree program if both programs are offered by the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. 

Enrollment Reactivation and Readmission

Enrollment Reactivation

Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment should contact their respective Graduate Program Office for information and approval to return. Once program approval has been obtained, the Office of Academic Administration will reactivate the student status and issue a time ticket, required for self-registration. 

Readmission

Students who are in good academic standing with the university but have not been enrolled for 3 or more consecutive semesters (including summer) must reapply for admission into their respective Graduate Program. Students with orders for military deployment may be considered for additional semesters of inactivity before readmission is required and should consult with their Program Team. A domicile application must also be submitted to the University Registrar upon re-admittance. Please visit the In-State Residency website to complete the domicile application. Any questions about domicile eligibility should be directed to the University Registrar’s Office in Blow Memorial Hall.