How important are ECs given your background? (chances)

<p>I live in the country, more accurately, the boondocks. Unfortunately, this causes me to have almost no ECs. Almost all of my time is spent doing whatever needs to be done at home. I don't live on a farm, but we still do a lot of work. During the winter most of my afternoon is spent managing our supply of firewood (we use a wood stove for heat in the winter, running the electric heater is too expensive) until it gets dark, which happens fairly early. Weekends are spent with more work, we do all of our own logging, chopping, etc. Fall and spring are spent either doing yardwork (mowing, brush clearing, working with poisons, etc). On top of that, things break out here abnormally fast - we can't go a week without something going wrong and having everything be put on hold right then.</p>

<p>The trouble with physically getting me to ECs is that the total travel time is at least an hour (round trip).</p>

<p>I keep a 4.0 unweighted GPA
Last I checked I was ranked 16 in a class of 343 (top 5%)
ACT
29 Composite
30 Math
28 English
SAT
660 Reading
630 Math
560 Writing</p>

<p>I'll be taking the SAT II U.S. History and Math I
This year I'll be taking AP (Dual-Credit) English, AP U.S. Government and Politics, Dual-Credit College Algebra, and Dual-Credit Trigonometry.</p>

<p>Like I said, ECs aren't too wonderful:
Academic Team 9 & 10
Band 9
Marksman in pistol through the NRA
Graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Academy Introductory Mission (AIM)</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Be sure to explain to use your commute to and from school and the work that’s required of you by your family farm. We take these circumstances into account when reviewing your application and certainly understand that those who work or who have family obligations may not be able to participate in ECs the way other students might.</p>

<p>We would recommend that you consider some culminating courses like calculus, physics, and the fourth year of a foreign language. College Algebra and trigonometry do not transfer to W&M and we prefer to see calculus or AP/DE stats over non-transferrable courses.</p>

<p>You might also consider taking one of your standardized tests one more time. The middle 50% of out-of-state students score 1370-1430 or 31-32 so your current scores are a bit below that range. These are not minimum requirements but since we consider your best testing outcome it might be in your best interest to try to improve your score.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your assistance. I know I can make at least a 31 on the ACT because I’ve taken it twice, and done in good in 2 categories and not so good in the other two, and unfortunately those 2 sections have flipped perfectly, giving me the same composite. I know W&M takes the highest composite, but are the highest subscores at least considered in any way? I made a 35 in reading, and feel as if it may help me.</p>

<p>I do plan on re-taking both SAT and ACT, on top of my Subject Tests.</p>

<p>In terms of culminating courses, I’m a senior, and used up most of my electives in computer courses. I believe I could get my CompTIA A+ and Cisco CCENT certifications sometime soon. How much would those mean on my application?</p>

<p>Thank you again!</p>

<p>Unfortunately with the ACT we only review the best composite, not the individual sub scores. Also we do not require SAT II exams so take them if you’re taking them for another application but don’t worry about them for W&M.</p>

<p>The computer certifications are nice but considered electives more so than academic classes.</p>