I was wondering how different the admissions are at UVA and the College Willing and Mary. Looking at their stats they seem very similar. So what I’m asking is, is one necessarily more difficult to get into than the other? If you were accepted into one are you likely to be accepted into the other? I know this is a bit of an oversimplification but any answer would be appreciated.
Although the stats for enrolled students at both schools are similar, each school weights admission factors in its own way. If you compare section C7 of the common data set for UVA http://avillage.web.virginia.edu/iaas/cds/cds1415all.shtm and W&M http://www.wm.edu/offices/ir/documents/cds/cds_1415_part_c.pdf, you’ll see some interesting differences. W&M rates the 6 academic factors as very important; UVA rates standardized test scores and essays as important, and the other 4 factors (GPA, curriculum, recs, and rank when provided) as very important.
UVA rates first generation and alumni status as very important; W&M says these factors are “considered,” which is the 3rd of 4 categories of importance. W&M offers elective interviews, which are also considered in the admissions process; UVA doesn’t interview for undergrad admission (please correct me if I’m wrong on that).
So these factors may account for those applicants who are admitted at one and not at the other. I’ve had kids at both schools: 2 for undergrad, 1 for law school. There’s certainly a different vibe, so even if every kid admitted at one was admitted at the other, certain students will thrive more at a particular school.
Fwiw, my d1 was a Monroe Scholar at W&M, so in the supposed top 10 percent of the entering class, but waitlisted at UVA.
Wow, thank you so much for such a great response! I really appreciate it!
Also if you are looking at the common data set anyway - be sure to look at the M/F break out of acceptance rates. I don’t know about UVA but WM has far more F apply and they try and keep a good balance in who they admit so…the admit rate for M’s is much higher. I have two son’s at WM!
Atmosphere is very different. William&Mary is one of the great “intellectual” schools in the country, like Reed or UChicago. UVA is more sports- and frats- focused, the students are incredibly smart too but more preprofessional than intellectual (which does NOT mean students at W&M don’t like sports or that no UVA students are intellectual, but I’m trying to summarize “atmosphere” and this is subjectively what I perceived.)
Both are very different in vibe. Spend time on campus at both and you’ll “feel” it.
Now sorry I did not apply to WM, just never on my radar