<p>Hi this is my first thread on CC. I'm a student who has fallen in love with W&M and would really like to know what my chances are to get into the school (I am considering ED). I'm a white male, and a rising senior at a respected prep school in Mass. While I'm not certain on my GPA or class rank my average at the moment is an 86.7. My grades have improved majorly in the past two years going from a 78 to an 87 in just one year and hope that the admissions team will see that I'm on an upward trajectory and hope to continue that my senior year. This is what courses I've taken junior year and what im taking senior year.</p>
<p>Junior year:<br>
-American History<br>
-Middle Eastern Studies/International relations (sem 2)<br>
-American Lit<br>
-Biology<br>
-Algebra 2<br>
Senior year:
-AP US Government and Politics
-AP Environmental Science
-Economics
-Essay Writing
-Pre-Calc
For EC's I play Lacrosse, Hockey and Sailing, and play the bass guitar in one of the school rock bands. I also have experience in the work force and worked for a grocery store for profit and did a program for underprivileged kids in Boston for community service, my school also requires com service. For leadership roles I am the captain of JV lacrosse and Commodore of the sailing program, I am also a school prefect. I interviewed at the school and I am getting excellent recommendations from my teachers, especially from my middle eastern studies teacher as well as my advisor who is the academic dean. My essay showcases my assent to better grades and responsibility. My weak point is definitely my SAT score which was a 620 Math, and a 600 CR. I hope that my grades go up a bit and have been on the honor role for a year. W&M has everything I want and I would really appreciate input because I don't want to waste my ED decision on a school I have no chance of getting into, however I love it.</p>
<p>Remember, because of our holistic process, every student has a chance of getting in to W&M. We have no minimum criteria a student must meet because we consider objective and subjective qualities so any interested student should apply. As long as students have reasonable expectations (i.e. they go into it knowing we admit only 1/3 of those who apply and only 27% of OOS students) the worst that can happen is they won’t get in (not anything that makes you happy but not the end of the world).</p>
<p>Without knowing more about your school it’s hard to assess your program or GPA but here are a few recommendations. Clearly you’re not tracked to take calc (one of the three courses we see as benchmarks of a more challenging curriculum). Have you taken physics or the fouth level of a foreign language? Those are the other two benchmark courses so if you haven’t taken them, try to. Also, can you fit another AP in to your curriculum? Two total is fewer than most of our applicants will take (now if your school is one that limits APs than two might be more reasonable).</p>
<p>We’d also recommend you take the ACT in Sept. or try the SAT again in October. We take your best score so it can’t hurt you and 1220 (Critical Reading + Math) is below our overall mid-50% range (1250-1450). </p>
<p>We’d also encourage you to pursue some leadership positions this year (maybe captaining one of your sports team) to help distinguish your application in the EC arena.</p>
<p>If W&M is your first choice we’d advise you to apply ED. The pool is much smaller and so it’s easier for any applicant to stand out. It cannot hurt you at W&M to apply ED. Remember, ED is not a strategy. It’s for those who are ready to name a first choice school so don’t apply ED somewhere becaues it helps you get in. Apply ED because it’s where you really want to go.</p>
<p>For more on our process and any applicant’s chances, check out our Admit It! Blog ([W&M</a> Blogs Chance Me](<a href=“http://blogs.wm.edu/2010/12/14/chance-me/]W&M”>http://blogs.wm.edu/2010/12/14/chance-me/))</p>
<p>White Male = No Chance</p>
<p>doratheexploree, remember in our process, one factor alone does not determine an applicant’s fate. Whether that factor is race, gender or SAT score doesn’t matter. We try to evaluate the applicant as a whole, both the objective and subjective qualities to see what the student might add to campus and if what they can contribute is greater than other applicants.</p>
<p>I know I know…just havin a laugh :)</p>