For Shannon Scott, William & Mary was never just a school. It was a dream she’d been carrying for years.
“I heard about William & Mary when I first started school,” the Woodbridge, Va., native recalled. “I wanted to transfer there, and I didn’t end up doing that.” Life had other plans—a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a tax career and service in the United States Coast Guard.
Years passed. Scott built a life of discipline and service, moving from assignment to assignment, filing taxes and advancing her career. But that dream of William & Mary never quite faded.
Then one day, she found herself back near the area, and the graduate accounting program she’d been considering felt within reach.
“It’s kind of come full circle,” she said. “I’m able to be a part of the Tribe.”
The Application She Almost Didn’t Submit
Even with the dream in sight, Scott hesitated.
“I started my application, and I kind of held onto it because I was scared,” she admits. “I was overthinking it, honestly.”
It’s a feeling many prospective graduate students know well—that quiet, persistent voice that asks, “Is this really for me?” For Scott, those doubts were amplified throughout years of consideration.
“I was so nervous about being accepted and going to William & Mary because it’s something I always wanted to do,” she said. “And I think a lot of people questioned me about it in the past.”
What changed? Her admissions outreach advisor refused to let her disappear.
“He remained in contact with me,” Scott said. “He was there for me every step of the way. He even went over my essay.” Slowly, the fear began to loosen its grip. The process that had felt so daunting turned out to be manageable, even encouraging. When the admissions team told her that an interview would be optional, given the strength of her application, something shifted.
“I was able to grow to a place where I could believe in myself to do it,” she said. “And once I got in touch with my admissions outreach advisor and really thought about it, [I asked myself] ‘What are you waiting for? Your tribe is waiting for you.’”
An Online Program That Feels Anything But Distant
Scott is the first to admit she had questions about what an online master’s program would actually feel like. Would it be isolating? Would she miss out on the connections that make graduate school meaningful? After years in the military—where frequent moves had made it hard to build lasting relationships—the idea of a genuine community felt both important and uncertain.
As she got into her first class, however, those worries disappeared.
“It has been a blast, and it’s been much needed,” she said. “Now that I’m in my program and I’m with the other students, [I’ve found] they’re like-minded and they have goals, too. I have an amazing group chat with my classmates and it goes off all day, all the time.”
The connections Scott has formed aren’t the polite, transactional kind. They’re real friendships, built through group projects, study sessions and the kind of shared experience that forges genuine bonds. Within her cohort, she’s formed close bonds with one classmate in Richmond, another in New Jersey and a third from Norfolk.
“I’m like the project manager of the group,” she explained. “And then we have our Gen Z comedic relief, and then also the mom friend.”
The community extends beyond her immediate cohort, too. At conferences, she’s found herself running into William & Mary alumni she’s never met and experiencing that immediate, unmistakable click of shared identity.
“They’re like, ‘Hey!’ And you’re like, ‘Oh, the Tribe!’” she said. “It’s really exciting.”
Even the virtual classroom itself carries a sense of personality and warmth. Scott lights up talking about one professor’s habit of putting Star Wars and Lord of the Rings imagery behind his lecture backgrounds—a quirky, human touch that became a recurring topic in the group chat.
“It’s always a big topic,” she said. “We talk about it because we like that stuff.”
William & Mary’s approach to its online programs, Scott noted, reflects a genuine intentionality—a deliberate effort to make sure distance never becomes disconnection.
“The faculty took time to create these online programs so that you still feel a part of the Tribe," she said. “It seemed like it was well thought out, and they had me in mind.”
Doing Hard Things
Today, Scott is balancing active-duty Coast Guard service, five years of tax work, career advancement goals and a master’s degree—and she’s thriving. The program has already begun paying dividends in her day-to-day work, from newfound fluency with tools like Power BI and Alteryx to a deeper understanding of how accounting concepts apply to real-world decisions.
“I thought accounting was very straightforward,” she reflected. “It’s just so much bigger than I thought it was.”
But perhaps the most meaningful growth has been something harder to quantify: the confidence that comes from finally doing the thing you always told yourself you would do.
Her advice to anyone sitting where she once sat—application half-finished, dream half-believed—is simple and direct.
“Do it. Don’t wait like I did. Don’t overthink it,” she said. “You can do hard things. That’s who you are. You’re the person that is going to do what they say they’re going to do, and you don’t have to question it.”
For Scott, William & Mary wasn’t just worth the wait. It was worth every year she spent becoming someone ready to believe she belonged here. The Tribe was waiting for her, and it’s waiting for you, too.
Find Your Place at William & Mary
Shannon Scott is a current student in William & Mary’s Online Master of Accounting program. Interested in starting your own graduate accounting journey?
In as few as 16 months, you’ll gain a comprehensive education in advanced accounting concepts, financial reporting standards and regulatory compliance. Whether you're aiming for a role in public accounting, corporate finance or senior leadership, this program will equip you with the skills needed to make your next career jump.
If you are ready to take the next step in your accounting journey, review our admissions requirements. To learn more about William & Mary's Online MAcc program, schedule a call with one of our helpful admissions outreach advisors today.