<p>ECs
Newspaper -4years, assistant editor
Ice Hockey -varsity 4 years, assistant captain
NHS -president
Latin Club -3 years, secretary
Debate Team
Junior Statesman Summer School: Took an Honors Constitutional Law class, participated in Congressional debates, saw speakers in DC - intensive 3 week political summer school</p>
<p>17hr/wk job</p>
<p>Despite my low stats, especially for OOS, i think William and Mary is a good fit for me, given the intellectually stimulating atmosphere in which i thrive (i typically do better in more challenging classes ie, my 100 avg in AP Calc). im also drawn to their desire for students who challenge each other to step out of their comfort zones and embrace uncomfortable ideas, and that they typically look for a dynamic and driven student who will contribute to debates in and out of the classroom.</p>
<p>I apologize for the length, but what are my chances, however pitiful, from OOS?</p>
<p>My son got in OOS with stats very similar to yours except his math SAT score was higher. Great job on the writing portion; a talent for writing is a comparatively rare thing nowadays. It will be a little tougher for you because you are an OOS girl, but i think Native American status would be a huge plus.</p>
<p>My S chose W&M for the EXACT reason you mention in your post--the type of student it attracts. (He also liked the idea of a smaller-but-not-too-small school). He's kind of a quirky kid, did some offbeat things in high school and then wrote about them in his essays. If you can find a way to stand out (and I'm betting you can) I think you'll be accepted. Good luck!</p>
<p>What impressed me most about your post is that you really seem to have put a lot of thought into William and Mary being a good fit for you. Your SAT's definitely show that you have the apptitude to do well here. However, your GPA is low................and being an OOS female isn't going to help. Don't know why, but I'm going to say that you have a good chance. Your application is going to stand out. Best of luck to you and I hope you do end up at William and Mary. I love it here!</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for the well wishes. . . I'm not sure, however, how to use the one optional essay to make myself stand out and show how much I believe William and Mary is a good fit. My GPA is low because I have always been more interested in genuine learning and knowledge than in quantifying intelligence. . . though I don't know how to say that without sounding snobbish and as though I'm rejecting my schooling.</p>
<p>I don't think I'd counsel saying any of those things in your optional essay. Since you love learning for learning's sake, why don't you write about a class or a teacher you particularly enjoyed or were challenged by? Bring your descriptive powers to bear...as the old (but true) writing cliche goes....show, don't tell. If you never had a class like that, invent one you WISH you had had and describe how you'd have thrived had you been able to, say, spend a day shadowing Hippocrates, or had tea with Jane Austen. Be creative...write an essay that will have an admissions officer thinking, "Hey, this young woman has an interesting voice."</p>