St. Andrews Joint Degree
Family Newsletter
Fall 2018
Dear Joint Degree Programme Families,

Happy Holidays! The Fall 2018 semesters at St Andrews and William & Mary will soon be coming to a close. At William & Mary, classes wrap up on December 7th and exam days will be held Dec. 10-14 and 17-19. Across the pond, St Andrews formally concludes its Fall semester on December 21nd. On the 22rd, students are to vacate their halls of residence.

We hope that over the Winter Break, you will have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your student and hear about some of their incredible Joint Degree Programme experiences. For all that they don't cover, we've included some updates, stories, and important information for our JDP families.

As your student continues to engage with all that the Programme has to offer, we hope you will stay in touch and direct any questions to families@wm.edu

Sincerely,




S. Mark Sikes Ph.D.'15
Director of Parent & Family Programs
College of William & Mary
Yule Log Ceremony

William & Mary's most treasured holiday tradition is the annual Yule Log Ceremony, held this year on December 15th. This year is very special as it marks President Rowe's first Yule Log Ceremony. During the ceremony, the entire William & Mary student body squeezes into the Wren Courtyard to enjoy music, food, and speeches. Afterwards, students file into the Wren Building to throw a ceremonial holly sprig into the yule log fire for good luck.

December 15: LIVE at 5:30 PM (EST)
Raisin

In October, many of our students joined the annual Raisin Monday celebrations with the
foam fight! The tradition dates back to the early days of the university when new students would
give senior students one pound of raisins in gratitude for their help in adapting to university life,
in exchange for a receipt written in Latin. Failure to produce such a receipt could result in a
dousing in the local fountain. Nowadays the raisins have been replaced with a bottle of wine and
the dousing with foam.


First Abroad

Applications are in and the selection process has begun for our next First Abroad
students. Through the First Abroad scheme, two Scottish students – one from Arts and Divinity
and one from Science – will be chosen to visit William and Mary in March 2019 for a few days.
During their time, they will sample the study abroad experience offered between St Andrews and William & Mary by experiencing first-hand William & Mary’s academic and co-curricular
culture.

Independent Learning Week

After the chaos of Raisin, students are provided a week free of lectures to independently
learn outside of modules. While getting ahead of work, many students find a way to meander to
different European destinations. The week is a perfect opportunity for students to travel while
Europe is accessible and also dedicate themselves to their studies. You can see some of the travels undertaken under Read More.

Internship Search

For the first time ever, both schools’ Careers Centres joined together and live-streamed a
conversation about the internship search and job prospects found in both the US and UK. Led by
William and Mary’s Hyunyoung Moon and St Andrews’ Kristyn Emmer. Students on both sides
of the pond were able to listen to advice and pose their own questions about the infamous
internship hunt. A productive conversation, the inter-school Internship Search successfully
familiarized students with the steps to make towards their future careers.

Christmas Ball

Throughout the year, St Andrews hosts a number of balls. One of the favorites is the
Christmas Ball. The first weekend after the end of lectures, the ball offers students a chance to
dress to the nines and dance the night away before dedicating themselves to revision.

The Joint Degree Programme is a unique partnership between William & Mary and the University of St Andrews. Through a balance of academic, social and pre-professional programs, Joint Degree students are learning to thrive no matter where they are in the world. Please join fellow parents in supporting our students in their journey by making a gift to the William & Mary / St Andrews Program Fund.

Your gift will support: 
  • Summer Research Funds
  • Career Exploration Opportunities
  • Need and merit-based travel awards
  • Emergency financial aid
  • And many additional opportunities for students
 Support our students with a gift to the William & Mary / St Andrews Program Fund today!
Parent & Family Programs
William & Mary
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Email:  families@wm.edu