<p>I am an out of state student and want to apply ED later this year. However, I am somewhat reluctant because my unweighted GPA does not appear up to par with other applicants (it's around 3.5). I took a very rigorous course load with 9 AP tests and am also an IB candidate that is expecting their diploma. Moreover, the primary reason why I wasn't able to really excel at school was my father was diagnosed with grade 4 cancer my freshman year and I basically served as his caregiver. I know I shouldn't use that as a crutch, but in all honesty, I can't say it hasn't significantly affected my focus in school because it has. My ACT scores seem to be in the range (31 composite) and I have also been able to participate in a few extracurricular activities. Do I have any shot of getting in? Does W&M offer conditional acceptances or anything of that sort?</p>
<p>Do NOT let your GPA stop you from applying. W&M takes all factors of your application into consideration, so a low GPA will not automatically keep you out. In fact, I personally know a few kids with GPAs similar to yours who ended up getting into W&M. I also think you should mention how you were a caregiver for your father somewhere in your application, whether it be through an essay, recommendation, the extra info section, etc. That’s an extremely difficult thing for anyone to have to go through, and I think it would help put your application in context. </p>
<p>My advice is to spend as much time as possible on your essays. They’re a big factor in your application, so you don’t want to put them off until the last minute. Quality essays help you stand out, allowing you to overcome weaker parts of your application. Don’t let laziness stop your from presenting yourself in the best light possible! </p>
<p>Also, as an out of state applicant, you may want to think twice about applying ED if finances are in issue. W&M, due to frequent budgets cut from the state assembly, isn’t always able to offer very good financial aid to out of state students. You don’t want to bind yourself into attending a school that isn’t actually affordable.</p>
<p>If your school does not weight GPA we absolutely do not hold that against you (we do not compare weighted GPAs to unweighted GPAs). And yes while there is an “average GPA” reported on the Common Data Set (because it’s required), we don’t actually use an average GPA because GPAs vary so much from school to school. There are schools were a 3.5 GPA is very competitive for W&M and some schools where it might not be. We take your courses and school into account when evaluating your GPA/class rank.</p>
<p>As ExceptMe mentioned, please do explain your caregiver role and the impact your father’s illness had on your grades and EC involvement so that we can take that into account. You may also ask your GC to make mention of this as well. We certainly understand that family obligations can hinder a student’s EC involvement and as long as we are made award of these circumstances we can properly contextualize the review of your application.</p>
<p>Applying ED can certainly give you an advantage as it’s easier for any applicant to stand out in a smaller pool so if your family is okay to forego comparing scholarship and financial aid packages then applying ED cannot hurt you.</p>
This is because if the W&M FA package is insufficient to support attendance, you can decline the offer and apply RD elsewhere; you are not forced to attend if you can’t afford it (who would pay the bill?).</p>
<p>A tentative FA package will come with your ED acceptance, upon which you will base your decision; if your estimates were accurate, your final package should be about the same. Remember that when a school accepts you ED with FA, they really, really want you to attend. E.g., our D’s LAC has never had a case where someone couldn’t attend because the tentative FA package differed from the final.</p>
<p>A FA estimate does not come with an ED acceptance letter. A FA estimate worksheet comes with the letter that students can complete if interested. Based on the submission of that worksheet, our FA Office will send an estimate of FA to the family. Final FA packages are issued in the spring once the new year’s FAFSA is available and reviewed.</p>
<p>Students should not apply ED without considering what FA they may be eligible for. In other words, don’t apply ED and just kind of cross your fingers that FA will come through. Families should use FA calculators and estimators so they have an idea of what their EFC will be and should research what a school might be able to offer them. Our ED website says: While financial aid packaging at W&M will not be affected by applying early decision, students who choose to apply early are making a commitment to attend W&M without having the opportunity to compare financial aid packages from other institutions. Therefore, if financial factors could impact your decision to attend W&M, early decision may not be the best choice. If a student’s financial situation changes significantly after submitting an application, the student may appeal to the Admission Committee to be released from the early decision commitment.</p>
<p>This is saying that we will release a student from the agreement if their financial situation changes drastically between Nov. 1 (application submission) and Dec. 1 (decision released) but students should consider the financial ramifications of applying ED before doing so.</p>