Congratulations! Did you receive it today?
I feel kind of foolish… my son got a postcard from William & Mary about 4-6 weeks ago. I remember it had a few sentences hand written. There was some mention about look for decisions in the spring, but not sure what it said specifically. We both thought it was just something everyone got as a courtesy and recycled it!
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Cypher postcard today! OOS, male, ACT 35/SAT 1560, high GPA.
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Awesome!
Don’t lose hope 
. You have an excellent h.s. record.
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My son OOS received a cypher postcard and is now really considering W&M. We have not visited so it is hard to compare to schools we have visited. Can you give some positives and negatives of W&M from your perspective. Thanks!
We went this Summer. Gorgeous campus. Manageable. It’s right next to a little touristy area - not one kids would hang out on. You can probably street view it - but very green with paths that criss cross. Lots of green. Small town - was not easy to access - but in between Richmond and Norfolk. I did wonder OOS about getting there but I assume there are buses, etc. to get kids from the airport. If you like a quieter (I’m assuming it is), smaller campus that’s manageable without a bus, it’s a winner. We won’t end up there - little OOS merit. That said, we’ve yet to get the postcard.
I wonder if no postcard means no acceptance. Or if some still get in even without the postcard. It will be a huge confidence boost for my daughter to get.
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One of the WM blog posts explains that only about 25% of admitted students get the card. If they read the application early AND it’s a strong application, they will send it. So it doesn’t mean you’re not a top candidate if you don’t receive it. Good luck to everyone!
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Supposedly only 25% of kids receive post cards, and much of it has to do with the timing of when your app is read. With the USPS delays this year, I wouldn’t worry too much about not receiving one. Good luck!
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Congratulations! When did your son apply? Gorgeous campus, great for my history buff son!
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Out of curiousity, is the postcard the only message received or did you also get an email/note in portal?
My son applied in October. Only cypher postcard but the note from his AO was very positive. He didn’t really have a one and done school for ED so he applied broadly. He loves history, will for sure study abroad and is interested in IR so the proximity to DC without being in DC is a positive.
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We loved the campus. Very pretty, welcoming, perfect size in my opinion. We did Fall Focus days last year and heard a lot. Most students go abroad (non-covid times) which we thought was a pro because while most colleges have programs, not everyone takes advantage of that because they are busy or don’t want to miss out, etc. We liked that they encourage kids to go abroad. Also liked that they seem to have a focus on wellness, and a focus on diversity and anti-racism. The student panel participants said that research opportunities are easy to get. Also the students in general seemed welcoming and inclusive. On the down side they said a good number of freshman dorms don’t have a AC.
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My son is looking at IR and interning in DC as well. We will continue to wait! LOL What’s another few weeks!
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Best of luck to your son and maybe they will both be in W&M Class of 2025!
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The postcard is a likely letter–not an “official” admit, so nothing will be on portal etc. Upthread it is described more. Only about 5-7% of applicants get one(or about 25% of admitted students). Not to worry if not received.
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My older son goes to an ivy, on an athletic team, and his freshman dorm had no ac and was actually not very nice inside although picturesque from the outside.
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First of all, congrats to your son! I would be happy to provide some positives (and negatives) from my perspective. Before I start, let me provide you with some of my background. I was an OOS male student from New Hampshire. One of my biggest concerns was whether I would “fit in.” I was a multi-sport athlete in high school, moderately social, and certainly took my studies seriously. In brochures, on the website, and during tours, I noticed a common theme: community. This really spoke to me as a prospective student. I didn’t want to feel like a number at a large university. I wanted to immerse myself in a dedicated learning community that was small enough to ensure quality, yet large enough that I could “branch out” when necessary. My hope was that I could be myself, extend my social network, participate in numerous clubs/activities, and be prepared for the rigors of graduate school. W&M met those expectations for me and much more. Deciding to attend W&M was the best decision of my life besides marrying my wife (in case she ever reads this). I immediately felt at home in my dorm, Taliaferro. The RA’s go out of their way to make sure that everyone feels “at home.” Convocation, which comes quickly after settling into one’s dorm, is the biggest welcoming experience I could ever imagine. Upperclassmen cheer on first years as they pass through the Wren building from the colonial courtyard. I’ll never forget the level of enthusiasm shown by the W&M community on that day. I joined several clubs and organizations, including: sailing club, club soccer, student chamber of commerce, St. Jude fundraiser team, the honor society for history majors, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society for first year students with 3.5 or higher gpa, Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and Golden Key International Honor Society. There are numerous social events such as the “King and Queen” dance, Greek Life gatherings for those interested, and others. I was fortunate to meet lifelong friends at the College - one from California and one from Virginia. As an OOS student, I never really felt out of place. There were times where I felt like I was balancing many things at once, but I learned to just set aside some quiet time in my dorm each day. I would use this time to read, write, create, brainstorm, rest, or a combination of these things. Making some time for myself kept me balanced and on track in my classes. There was generally always enough time to dine with and hang out with friends. Time management and organization skills are important at W&M (as I’m sure they are anywhere). Going back to my point about community and perhaps digging even deeper - considering the fabric of the W&M culture - I benefited in unquantifiable ways from learning amongst some of the brightest minds. There were classes in philosophy, anthropology, history, sociology, and others where my peers drove class discussions to entirely new levels. The professors are, in a word, excellent. I had one history professor in particular, Dr. Robert T. Vinson, who challenged me to write a seminar paper on a particular subject. I knew that he had provided me with the proper foundation, but I was a bit hesitant to tackle the topic. We had our scheduled rough draft meeting. I explained my ideas and concerns. He told me, “You have some wonderful ideas here. I will show you new directions that you can take this if you’d like.” He mapped out the trajectory of the topic and offered insight, taking more time than I ever expected. Then, he turned to me and said: “I gave you this topic, because I know that you are one of the few who has the ability to do it justice.” Him showing that he believed in me, in my ability, really made a positive impact. I could share more stories like this one, but this memory was one of my favorite ones. Professors at W&M invest themselves in their undergraduate students. I’m not so sure that I would have experienced this kind of individualized treatment at many larger universities. As for possible negatives or at least initial concerns, I will provide my take. I didn’t miss out on large-scale football games as much as I thought that I would. The campus is somewhat removed from certain businesses and off-campus dining options, but those things are really only a moderate walk/bike ride or taxi/uber away (depending how far you are looking to go). There are some decent options right beside campus. I was never looking for the urban feel and that’s something that W&M certainly will not provide. My friends and I visited Richmond, D.C., and VA Beach on some weekends. In sum, W&M is an exceptional learning community where exceptional minds meet. It’s a place where I was able to “be myself,” yet feel connected to the collective college experience. The College became my other home. When I return and set foot on the campus, there is a touch of magic in it. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but those years spent at the College are ones that I will always hold on to. They were and will always be some of the best years of my life. If there is anything else that I can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I wish your son the very best as he plots his next chapter.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to fashion a very thorough and moving response to my query. I am now convinced more than ever that William and Mary is special and should be at the top of my son’s short list. Best wishes to you and your wife!
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Thank you for this perspective! I really appreciate you taking time to share!
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