Just got a large envelope out of the mail -

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of William and Mary
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<p>Wm and Mary Admissions –</p>

<p>I have an ED student, and no big white envelope yet. </p>

<p>Can you please confirm: (1) ED and RD scholarship recipients, AND their admit packs went out via first class mail last Wed., March 9, 2011. (2) ED admits who didn’t get merit scholarships will get admit packs later this week or next, and WM and Mary admissions will also send EDs an email to say admit packs are on their way (3) No email was sent to EDs who are scholarship recipients.</p>

<p>Info on your website says generally Monroes are top 5% statistically on standardized tests, with outstanding grades in rigorous courses, and a demonstrated intellectual curiousity. Can you say how many ED students and how many RD students received Monoe this year? Do RD students have an advantage over EDs? Are ED midterm grade reports reviewed in Monroe consideration? </p>

<p>Most applicants from our in-state high school have been very strong. Several RDs have received big white envelopes, and are Monroe recipients, but nothing has been received by our high school EDs (who also are in the top 5% for standardized tests, outstanding grades in rigorous courses, award-winning students, etc). </p>

<p>Could it be that the applicant pool for 2015 so strong that it has resulted in a higher Monroe threshold? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance, Wm and Mary Admissions!</p>

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<p>I am in Michigan and still have not received a letter…should i just give up at this point?</p>

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<p>so there’s no money involved with the Monroe scholarship I guess? That’s too bad.</p>

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<p>also nhojcast- there’s hope- I live in MD and I just got my letter today.</p>

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<p>nhojcase, we tell students to allow one week for mail to be delivered. By then, most of the mail sent should be received.</p>

<p>Xogenxo, there is money involved with the Monroe Scholarship but it’s a research stipend, not tuition assistance. It’s still a wonderful honor and a nice addition to your W&M experience. Those who were awarded Monroe should attend the Monroe Weekend so they can learn more about the program.</p>

<p>Stagemom, if an ED received a scholarship, their new admit pac was mailed regular USPS last Wednesday, March 9. If an ED was admitted but did not receive a scholarship, their new admit pac will be mailed either today or tomorrow and an email will be sent either today or tomorrow letting them know their admit pacs are on their way. Those who received scholarships were sent something by mail only. There was no accompanying email.</p>

<p>We don’t have a count so to speak as to how many EDs vs RD receive Monroe however the majority are RDs (no surprise since RDs are also a majority of our overall applicant pool). All ED students were reviewed for Monroe during January and February. Unfortunately, not all students with top test scores, grades and courses receive the distinction because it is a competitive scholarship and just how we are sometimes not able to admit really great students, sometimes were a not able to make all really great students Monroes.</p>

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<p>W&M admission,</p>

<p>We’re a little worried that with the myriad Monroe scholar benefits, that our ED student will be treated unintentionally like a 2nd class citizen as she begins her college life.</p>

<p>It’s our fault for not understanding the whole Monroe element in W&M admissions. Our D has great grades and test scores, and we wonder whether she wasn’t placed at a disadvantage in this process due to W&M’s understandable need to attract top students who have not yet committed to W&M.</p>

<p>We wonder whether we should have discouraged our D from applying ED, to increase her chances of a Monroe or even an Echols at UVA. </p>

<p>We would be less concerned if the Monroe group were a smaller number; but it sounds like perhaps 1500 applicants have been offered the opportunity to be a Monroe?</p>

<p>It sounds like the Monroe group have advantages in registering for classes (which could get even more crowded with the increase in class size); level of faculty support/care and feeding; housing; $s for research grants; opportunity to be introduced/showcased with the W&M faculty; special seminars…etc. Do they also have less tangible benefits as a Monroe in terms of being viewed more favorably for other research grant opportunities or applications; applying for jobs or graduate school?</p>

<p>Some of these concerns may relate to the normal “buyer’s remorse” sentiment. But what can she do to make sure she isn’t treated as a 2nd class citizen? Or has she made a big mistake? Any thoughts would be appreciated greatly.</p>

<p>By the way, is there a “waitlist” for Monroes this year? Also, would you mind sharing the Monroe Scholars weekend agenda?</p>

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<p>No student is treated like a second class citizen at W&M. I know because I went there…and, of anyone, I <em>should</em> have been:)</p>

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<p>From what I understand, students can become Monroe Scholars while at W&M, so your D has a chance for those benefits. Not everyone can be “chosen” for everything, but over the course of her years at W&M, I am sure she will have many exciting opportunities that others in other majors, etc, won’t get to have, but they might have other opportunities instead.</p>

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<p>TribeParent15: Congratulations to your D on going to W&M! There definitely should not be any buyers remorse at all. She was considered for the Monroe and still has an opportunity for it as per W&M Admissions posts. There will be many students of your daughters caliber come April 1st that would love to be at W&M and will have been waitlisted. Also, you do not know for sure that she would have been considered for Echols at UVa. Many very qualified students are also not chosen for Echols. </p>

<p>She chose ED W&M because it is the right fit for her and she is thrilled to be going there. TeachandMom said it, there will be many opportunities for her to engage in and as long as she pursues what is best for her as a person she will love her four years there with or without being a Monroe Scholar. </p>

<p>Take a moment and say, my D is going to W&M and that is all that matters because it is where she wants to go and she will be happy there.</p>

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<p>Tribeparent15 -</p>

<p>I doubt that 1500 or so WM applicants received a “Monroe Package”. From what I’ve seen posted here, and learned elsewhere, there are roughly 13,000 applicants in all, and a little less that 5% of applicants are offered Monroe scholarships. Therefore the total number is more likely on the order of 500 - 600 or so. </p>

<p>Of those, I assume that the majority turn down W&M and go elsewhere, given that only 8% - 10% end up enrolling and being Monroe scholars (I assume that none who are offered Monroe status and end up at WM turn it down, but I’m not sure) . </p>

<p>This is not entirely surprising given that Monroe-caliber students likely get admitted to other competitive schools.</p>

<p>As to ED vs. RD, I probably agree with you that ED students might be at a bit of a disadvantage, but I’m really not sure. However, I also think it quite reasonable for WM to use Monroe status, at least partially, as a recruitiing tool.</p>

<p>As to the choice to apply ED, that is a tradeoff that we make. On the one hand, you cannot compare financial aid offers. On the other hand, there is an increased likelihood of admission and you get the college admission process over with in December. </p>

<p>My child decided that W&M was the first choice and ended up applying there only (and got it). We feel very fortunate. And, as stated by “woosah”, what counts is that a student will be happy there.</p>

<p>Anyway, just my two cents’ worth.</p>

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<ol>
<li> Woosah: “Take a moment and say, my D is going to W&M and that is all that matters because it is where she wants to go and she will be happy there.”<br></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you, and actually chanted it 3x for maximum impact :-)</p>

<ol>
<li> sjb: “I doubt that 1500 or so WM applicants received a “Monroe Package”. From what I’ve seen posted here, and learned elsewhere, there are roughly 13,000 applicants in all, and a little less that 5% of applicants are offered Monroe scholarships. Therefore the total number is more likely on the order of 500 - 600 or so.”</li>
</ol>

<p>Hopefully that’s right, but from what I’ve seen it could be more like 10-15% of the total applicant pool of almost 13,000. I’m sure W&M Admissions can give us the details.</p>

<p>Ulcerita and Teachandmom: </p>

<p>Good sentiments, and thanks all for the thoughtful comments.</p>

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<p>Tribeparent, the number from the website says 7% of the student body, so very roughly, about 100 students a year are “Monroe Scholars.” I think the threshold for consideration is the top 5% of standardized test scores, but no idea how many are offered vs. how many accept. </p>

<p>The research stipend is nice, but some of the other things may not be as special as it sounds - like “priority registration” - that’s good for the first semester only.</p>

<p>I mean, it’s a nice honor, but it’s not like they walk around with halos hovering over their heads. And has been mentioned, you can apply for Monroe after your first year:</p>

<p>[William</a> & Mary - James Monroe Scholars Program](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/charlescenter/scholars/monroe/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/as/charlescenter/scholars/monroe/index.php)</p>

<p>W&M is the most egalitarian place I can imagine - doesn’t seem anyone really knows or cares whether you’re a Monroe, a Murray Scholar, PBK, rich, poor, whatever, it’s just a friendly and engaging place. In that vein, DD tells me now that she never properly appreciated that about W&M, until she went to grad school at a certain University due West of Williamsburg, which she finds to be comprehensively segmented by class, status, and sex - she now desperately misses W&M.</p>

<p>Given what I’ve learned about W&M more or less first-hand, your daughter is in great hands, and in excellent company. While it’s true, it may not be for everyone, for those for whom it’s a fit, it fits like a glove. If she’s visited and felt the vibe, (and I assume she has, being a ED), then be very happy for your daughters’ choice, she can be very happy at W&M.</p>

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<p>The JM Scholars for each yr are listed on the website if you really wanted to know the exact #'s</p>

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<p>were the acceptance letters only for Monroe Scholarships, or for non-scholarship recipients too? I applied ED and was deferred, so hearing all this talk about people receiving their big envelopes is making me nervous!</p>

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<p>@lclaire - The letters were not only for Monroes - my D got an acceptance in the mail last week and did not receive the Monroe. She did receive something called the W&M Scholar distinction. It is full tuition and we are still researching what it is and any other benefitds that come along with it. We are very grateful. </p>

<p>Keep the faith, many more will be accepted in the next 2 weeks or so.</p>

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<p>tribeparent, we’ll address your questions last because they will take the most detailed response.</p>

<p>lclaire, only scholarship admission offers were released (Monroes and William & Mary scholars). The remaining decisions (which is the bulk of them) will not be mailed until early April give or take.</p>

<p>We appreciate all of the responses on this thread in the past 24 hours. It’s so reassuring to know how many wonderful CC posters are out there spreading the good word about W&M.</p>

<p>tribeparent, to clarify first, only about 700-800 students receive the Monroe admission officer so it’s nowhere near 1500. About 70-100 of those students will likely enroll as Monroes for the fall. Unfortunately there is no waitlist for Monroes. Some W&M freshman (usually about the top 10% by GPA) will be invited to apply for Monroe late in their freshman year and will become Monroes as sophomores.</p>

<p>Your D was in no way disadvantaged. Every single ED admit was reviewed in January and February for scholarships. Unfortunately, just like admission to W&M, getting one of the scholarships is competitive and we can’t offer them to all of the wonderfully qualified students. However, rest assured that your daughter will in no way be treated as a “second class citizen” at W&M.</p>

<p>The Monroe Scholar program is a wonderful opportunity to be sure and it allows us to honor some of the best students in our pool. However, it is not a designation that defines a student once he/she arrives on campus. If you stopped random W&M students on campus we doubt they could tell you which of their friends are Monroes and which aren’t. It’s not a label students carry with them on campus. We’re just not that kind of community. Everyone is a part of W&M whether Greek or non-Greek, Monroe or non-Monroe, athlete or non-athlete, etc. </p>

<p>As Squiddy pointed out however, , the priority registration for Monroes is only for the entering semester. After that, they register alongside all other students. And the only additional access to faculty support is through their Monroe reesearch project. We’d wager most Monroe Scholars would tell you that their experience at W&M, while enhanced by their research project, is really no different than any other W&M student. They do not take separate classes or live apart from other W&M students (yes they can live in Monroe Hall their freshman year but they can opt not to and non-Monroes also live in Monroe Hall). At most colleges/universities, the honors program is a separate track academically and socially. We believe W&M to be an honors college and thus our Monroes don’t need separate advanced classes or separate social opportunities. Additionally, while Monroes automatically get a $3000. research stipend, other students have access to research grants and monies via application to our Charles Center so your D will still be able to participate in undergradate research should she so choose.</p>

<p>Please don’t have buyer’s remorse. We’re so thrilled your D will be a member of the Tribe this fall. Applying ED is a wonderful opportunity for students to know where they’re going and to avoid all of the anxiety other students and families are feeling in March and April. Your D has been able to relax these past few months and has been able to begin planning for the next four years which will be wonderful.</p>

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<p>Sharing my experience as the parent of one child who was a Monroe at W&M, and one who was an ED admit and not a Monroe Scholar - there is absolutely no difference in terms of the quality of the student experience or future opportunities. In fact, the ED admit has made more of the academic possibilities at W&M (probably because the Monroe made more of the social possibilities :wink: …) and is even happier than her older sister was there.</p>

<p>For us, there is no question but that ED was the best possible choice. In such a strong OOS applicant pool, d3 was grateful for whatever advantage ED offered. She’s had ridiculously good luck in registering (6 times now); there was no negative fallout from registering after the Monroes as a freshman. The Monroes only have preferential registration for fall of freshman year, anyway, when there are usually enough classes at the intro level (and classes often added to accommodate more students at that level when needed). If I remember correctly, Echols Scholars at UVA always have preferential registration.</p>

<p>As W&M Admissions pointed out, there’s an opportunity for second-semester freshmen to be invited into the Monroe program. It does require a pretty stellar GPA, though, which many freshman can’t attain - it’s well over the 3.6 required for Dean’s List. Which itself is well over the average freshman GPA (right about 3.0, last time I checked). </p>

<p>Your family made an excellent choice and your d has a wonderful experience awaiting her.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much, W&M Admission, and others, for the very reassuring comments. I’ll share them with my D tonight. We are sure that she has a great experience awaiting her at W&M. </p>

<p>She’s excited about meeting some of her classmates on April 16th down in the 'burg. </p>

<p>And you are right, she has had the benefit of relaxing over the last few months…perhaps a little too much!</p>

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<p>My D was SO happy to receive her admission and Monroe invite over the weekend. W&M has definitely been among her top choices for schools since we visited in November. She absolutely loved it there! However, we’re sad to say that she will likely not be attending W&M in the fall since other of her top choice schools have offered attractive financial merit packages that we (and she fully agrees) cannot pass on. From a parent’s perspective, it seems a shame, and this is in no way reflective of W&M specifically, but more generally to public universities as it relates to OOS students, that families are so handcuffed in their decisions to attend when a similarly “ranked” private can offer substantial merit aid and the public universities cannot (or somehow choose not to … depending on the institution). W&M is a WONDERFUL school and so is the one that she will be attending and she’s very happy, but all other things being equal, she probably would have chosen to attend W&M. Good luck to EVERYONE that will be attending W&M in the fall, you have chosen a great school! And a BIG thank you to W&M Admissions on this CC site, who is SO helpful to those interested in learning more about W&M. Cheers!</p>

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<p>Dad2ILD, while you are correct that many public universities are not able to offer the type of merit-based aid that many private colleges are, if you applied for need-based aid, those awards have not yet been sent and likely won’t be until around the second week of April. So if you think need-based aid is a possibility, don’t write W&M off until you see the entire package. If however you know you don’t qualify for need-based aid then we certainly understand that tough decisions have to be made regarding college choice and finances.</p>

<p>We do honor your D, who is obviously a fantastic student, with virtually the best merit-based offer we can make but if W&M isn’t in the cards for her we wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors.</p>