Applying OOS and really wondering which is hardest, etc. My daughters scores are in the middle 50% but on the low end for math, her EC’s are average but everything else is strong, 5’s on most AP classes, highish GPA., strong essays. She wants to be a history major. Could really use the advice! Thank you!
University of Virginia is probably hardest for an OOS student, followed by William & Mary. I’m guessing that for the two public schools, nonresident students need to be near the top of the middle 50% if not straight-up in the top 25% of applicants to have a good shot.
Juliet thank you! She didn’t get into W&M and is devastated. The other schools seem harder so not sure if she’d even get in but she’s going to try Chapel Hill & UR has ED2 1/15. Interesting that UVA is hardest, maybe we’ll skip that one. How does UR weigh in? And do you know anything about Mary Wadhington? I assume that one us much easier than those I’ve mentioned. Any opinion at all is appreciated!
UVA’s OOS admit rate is 24% vs. W&M’s 31%, so…
UR is private, also 31% admit rate.
Are you wondering which is hardest to get into or hardest when enrolled? For admissions statistics, College Navigator can’t be beat.
Hopefully your D has applied to some other schools with better odds of admission. If not, it’s not too late!
I also have a question about Richmond.
It seems like an intriguing option because of the size, location, beautiful campus, study abroad opportunities and good financial aid.
However, we are from San Jose CA and neither my daughter or any of her friends have heard of it-until I mentioned it, of course. Also, 100% of the students from her school who have applied (all 5!) have been accepted so it doesn’t appear prestigious or rigorous from our Naviance.
It seems possible that they really just want kids from our area since there are so few applicants for such a well regarded school?
alooknac Thank you, I am wondering, all things considered, overall which is hardest or easiest to get into, in your opinion. She is applying to easier school but we have a few waiver so she wants to apply to Chapel Hill and UR just on the hope she might make it. She’s in the middle 50% score wise, above for English & writing but at bottom of middle for math. Do you know anything about Mary Washington reputation? I know it’s easier…
Just from personal knowledge amongst friends and family Mary Washington isn’t the best school or even a contender within the ones you listed above. If your daughter is a competitive applicant for U of R, UVA and W&M she may not be happy in the academic environment and MW… But just my 2 cents.
India1234. Thank you, I welcome all opinions. I know the school is a step below the others, but my daughters scores are at the low end for those school so she needs some safer choices. She really wants VA and we have no idea where to apply. She’s a history major and would love an older, historical school, if possible. I worry she won’t get in those schools, she was just denied ED at W&M and is hysterical. She needs other choices so we read about Mary Washington. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
UVA really looks at ECs and leadership so if those are not strengths combined with being at the 50% I would say it would be a big reach. Mary Washington is a nice school and has a good honors program so it could be a fit for her. It’s a pretty campus but the surrounding little city is nothing exciting. James Madison University is very popular here for students who just barely can’t get into UVA/WandM. Beautiful campus. Not sure about the honors program there. Another idea to look into would be VA Tech. They have very well regarded liberal arts programs but because it has Tech in the name being from OOS you may not realize. I have a number of friends whose kids have graduated from VT in liberal arts majors who got wonderful jobs right out of school. It is very far from any airports which makes it harder being OOS but they run a shuttle bus to the closest airports so it just takes a bit more planning for flights home. The campus and little college town are both lovely and the food is known for being exceptional.
@acdchai. Thank you very much, this is really helpful information!!!
This is my first ever post, but I live in Virginia and have a freshman daughter at W&M and a HS senior son who is in the process of applying, so I know a bit about these schools…
Unfortunately as OOS, if she did not get in to W&M (ED) she is unlikely to get into UVa. My daughter also thought about MW but did not like it after visiting. The campus has a similar feel, but it is smaller. Also in a cute historical city (Fredericksburg). It is very skewed gender-wise. I think they told us 65% female. It is noticeable on campus. Not sure if that is a factor for her or not. It is a few steps down from UR, W&M and UVA academically. If she really wants to go to a school in Virginia, has she looked at James Madison? (my alumna mater!) It is not as historical as the other schools you mentioned, but is a solid choice and academically higher than MW but easier to get in and to do well than the others you mentioned. It’s in the Shenandoah Valley, pretty campus. Kids there are well rounded, friendly, smart - seems like everyone is happy there. If she’s ok with big, George Mason may be worth looking in to. Everyone also loves Virginia Tech. It’s not really known for history, but it’s another great school, in a more rural area of Virginia. Also not as hard to get in to as some of the others. We have several other state schools that people from outside are not as familiar with that aren’t as hard to get in to…Christopher Newport (Newport News, about 30 mins from W&M), Radford, Longwood, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth all come to mind.
Would your daughter be interested in Gettysburg College for history?
UVA, William & Mary, URichmond and Washington & Lee are the most prestigious schools in Virginia for undergrad – the Big Four, so to speak.
UVA OOS and Washington & Lee are probably about equally difficult to get into, with W&M and Richmond just a bit less selective. As for undergraduate academic chops, they’re all outstanding colleges, probably with little to nothing separating them in terms of quality. If she gets into more than one, she should feel comfortable choosing based on fit.
@kkmabo Thank you, this practical info is just what I wanted. She is considering James Madison but wondering the prestige, education, etc, difference between JM, MW and VCU. Can anyone offer an opinion? Also as she didn’t get into W&M, should she even try UR.? As its private I hear it’s easier OOS. Any thoughts for me? She needs to apply places this week. Ajust got the bad news about W&M fri night and she can’t stop crying. UR still has ED2 due 1/15 so considering that.
@shawnspencer. Yes, she has a friend at Gettysburg and we visited. She liked it but it’s much smaller than her HS and she doesn’t want that, also not much to do there. They’re also not too great with FA but thanks for the suggestion.
@prezbucky Thank you, all these comments on the differences really help! I guess we’ll skip UVA, seems too hard for her. She will also apply to Chapel Hill but she really needs easier fall back schools. I guess I need to find the best, easiest in the area. Ashe is so heartbroken not to go to W&M but she has to move on & apply places soon.
We really liked UR as the academics are top notch, the campus is really nice and the Richmond Promise is a nice, unique feature. If I were your daughter, I would apply ED2 at UR which should increase your chances. UR, as a private school, does not have the in-state constraints on UVA/W&M and UR is trying to become more geographically diverse.
I didn’t mean to dissuade you/her from applying to UVA – admissions decisions can be fickle and are hardly reliable, so while she didn’t get into W&M, who knows, she might get into UVA. The only way she can’t get in is if she doesn’t apply.
Are you only looking at VA and NC? There are plenty of solid options for match-type schools if you can broaden your geo area by a handful of states.
As for lower matches and safeties, your home state’s public school(s) are generally a good bet – even CA, VA, MI (etc.) residents have good public options that aren’t over-the-top selective like their flagships are.
W&M can do some weird things in admissions, so I wouldn’t take not getting in as a sign for other schools, at least UR.
I went to a highly competitive magnet school in VA that literally has a 95% acceptance rate to W&M, but I was waitlisted when I applied. I attend UR now (I’m a junior), where I am a Richmond Scholar (full tuition scholarship). UR and W&M have similar difficulty in getting in, but they are looking for slightly different things in students they admit.
You can never tell with admissions so it can’t hurt to apply to UVA. But make sure you have backups.