<p>I'm very interested in applying ED to W&M. I heard about the school from a former employer, who went there, and one thing led to another.. I've become enthralled with the College.</p>
<p>However, in viewing the W&M website, I found some points of concern. I have necessary grades and SAT to get in, but I don't have some of the "preferred" classes.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>They requested 4 years of Math, culminating in Calculus. I'm taking 5 years culminating in AP Stats (Algebra 1/2 X -> Geometry X -> Algebra 3/4 X -> Pre-Cal 1/2 X -> AP Stats). </p>
<p>They requested 4 years of a foreign language. I am taking 3 years of Spanish and one year of Latin.</p>
<p>They requested 4 years of science. I am stopping after 3, culminating in Physics. My school is such that there are few science options, and the only remaining science classes I could take would be an AP Biology class that's rather quite out of my range. Science is not my forte'. </p>
<p>Are any of these three issues serious detriments to my application? Is this an automatic "denied"?</p>
<p>of course not. that’s just a “recommendation”</p>
<p>If you took 5 years, you are fine. There are plenty of people that take stats instead of calc.
As for the foreign language, again, you are fine. Latin is technically considered a “foreign language”</p>
<p>as for science. If that’s all your school offers, then don’t worry. and even if your school offers more science courses that you are not taking, if overall you have a rigorous course-load throughout high school then it doesn’t really matter.</p>
<p>you should still apply. out of your list, the thing I would be worried about most is only 3 years of science, but that is definitely not anything close to “automatic rejection”</p>
<p>I can take another science course, just like I said, I’m not very good at it, don’t enjoy it, et al. On a scale of 1-10, perhaps, how heavily would you weigh that “recommendation”?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies. Very timely and helpful.</p>
<p>Daughter only had three years of Latin. No other courses. Was accepted in '07. She had to take foreign language at WM since she had less than for courses. I don’t remember her science classes but I think she only had three, as well. Don’t fret. Work on your essay and the optional supplement. Best of luck.</p>
<p>To some extent, it depends on the strength of the rest of your application. If you’re in-state, 1500+ SAT, 4.0 uw, top 5%, then I think these aren’t anything to concern yourself with. But if you’re OOS, 1300 SAT, 4.0 weighted, top 25%, then these things may loom larger.</p>
<p>There’s no one checklist or formla that W&M uses to determine qualifications for admission - but one of the more constant themes are “did the student take the most difficult classes available?” Taking AP Bio when you’re not interested in the subject probably isn’t necessary, but if you take, I dunno, “Naptime 101” in its stead, well, I don’t think they’ll be impressed. Calc AB or AP US History or something will serve you better.</p>
<p>W&M does not require any classes for admission but does recommend that students take the most challenging curriculum in which they can be successful. Calculus, the fourth level of a foreign language, and four years of science are considered to be part of that most demanding curriculum.</p>
<p>As you’re planning your senior schedule do consider a fourth year of science as well as calculus or the fourth year of Spanish if they are feasible.</p>