Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of William and Mary
1

<p>I am a junior deep in the college process and right now William and Mary is my #1 choice. I am definitely considering applying early decision, I was wondering if I could get some direction. Thanks!</p>

<p>General
- Live in Texas
- Male
- School: Small Private School
- Rank: no rank
- SAT: 1900 (retaking in March)
- Reading: 670
- Writing: 660
- Math: 570 (I know really bad)
- ACT: Just took but I made a 30 and 31 on the practice test
- GPA Weighted: 3.79
- GPA Weighted: 4.18
- SAT II:
- US History: 770
- Taking literature, math, and Spanish
- AP:
- US History 5
- Currently taking AP Spanish, Environmental Science, and European History </p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Biology: A-
Geometry: A
English 1: A
World History: A
Spanish II: A
Health: A
Old Testament: A
Strength & Wellness: A
Media Studies: A </p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Chemistry: A
Algebra II: A
English II Honors: A-
AP US History: A-
Spanish III: A
Piano: A
Photo I: A
Photo II: A
New Testmanet: A </p>

<p>Junior Year: (Projected Grades)
AP Environmental Science: A
Pre-Cal: A
English III Honors: A
AP European History: A-
AP Spanish Langauge: B (maybe a B+)
NewsPaper: A
Digital Imaging: A
History of Christianity: A</p>

<p>Senior Year:
Physics 1 Honors
Calculous
AP English
AP Government
AP Spanish Literature
Ethics
Newspaper
1 semester of either AP Macro or Micro Economics
- Depending on scheduling I might have to take a full year of AP Economics instead of government, in which case I would probably take a creative writing class ->-> would this be really bad?
- Also physics 1 honors is really a junior class so it might not fit into my schedule -> would regular physics be terrible? </p>

<p>Extracurricular (the weakest part)
- Breakthrough Teaching (10,11,12): This is about a 110 hour service commitment where you tutor children.
- SOS leader: I am a leader in the community service club for my school -> I lead the animal section
- I have extensive volunteer work at the local star of hope shelter around 150 hours
- Newspaper (could be co-editor next year)
- NHS
- NAHS
- Three years as a summer camp counselor
- Going to go travel abroad to Spain this summer and be a camp counselor
- There are other little things that I am forgetting</p>

<p>William and Mary is my number 1 choice for college and I am definitely interested in applying early decision. I am coming to take a tour in about a month. I am also looking at Washington and Lee, Wake Forrest, University of Texas, University of Georgia, Tulane, Rhodes, Furman, and University of Richmond</p>

<p>Thanks for any help!</p>

2

<p>Glad you’re super interested in William & Mary.</p>

<p>To address some of your questions about classes, there’s not a huge difference between honors physics and regular physics but taking physics is definitely a good plan.</p>

<p>As for AP Econ/Government/Creative writing, you should definitely take an AP course. You have 3 APs your junior year (which is great) so we hope you’ll take more your senior year (your senior year should be the most challenging). Anyway you could take AP Calculus? We consider that one of the most challenging courses you can take in high school.</p>

<p>Good for you for venturing in to standardized testing early. The middle 50% for out-of-state students is 1380-1430 (Critical Reading + Math) or 31-32 for the ACT. See how your ACT turns out. If it’s a 30 or 31 then take that one a second time. It would be your stronger test so might as well go with whichever test is working better for you. We only look at your best composite so taking it twice can’t hurt.</p>

<p>As for your extracurricular activities, you should definitely pursue leadership. In smaller high schools, leadership is usually more accessible and therefore more expected. Maybe pursue being editor-in-chief of your paper if that position is available.</p>

<p>Also, you said you planned a visit in a month which is great. Unfortunately, we offer interviews in the summer only. We don’t want anyone to feel compelled to pay for a second plane ticket to come for an optional interview but if you decide to visit over the summer instead, consider an interview.</p>

<p>Applying ED can be beneficial. The pool is smaller so it’s easier for any applicant to stand out. </p>

<p>For more on any applicant’s chances for admission, 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>

3

<p>Wm is going to be a reach for you based on your standardized scores and extracurriculars. Definitely study/practice for the tests. Goodluck.</p>

4

<p>W&M is a highly-selective institution admitting just under 1/3 of applicants who apply so in some ways, it’s a reach for most applicants. Any highly-selective school is as it has to turn away far more students than it can admit.</p>

<p>What we love about our process is that everyone has a chance. Regardless of your SAT or GPA or extracurricular activities, every application is read at least twice, from cover to cover, so that we can find the good qualities in every applicant. No applicant is automatically put into one decision category or the other. In the end, we read every application to look for reasons to admit, not to deny. What makes our job tough is that every applicant has great reasons to admit and we have to tease out which are best suited to our incoming class than others. </p>

<p>So the only way to not be admitted is not to apply. We believe that you lose very little (other than an application fee) by applying but you can gain so much depending on the decision made.</p>