<p>ED can be an enormous help, for OOS females particularly. It made all the difference for my d, I’m sure. Well, that and checking the box that she would not apply for financial aid. Though I’m not really sure how much weight that’s given, since W & M is upfront about meeting the financial need of VA students first and doesn’t promise OOS students much in the way of grants. When you say you’ll be taking on student loans, do you mean Stafford loans, or are you hoping for other sources of loans as well? </p>
<p>If you’re certain that you can handle the cost at W & M, ED gives you a solid admissions boost.</p>
<p>I’m currently at NIAHD’s Pre-collegiate program, and this school is AMAZING! Dr & Dr Whittenburg are the nicest people ever!</p>
<p>My instructor Josh also told us that he and Dr. Whittenburg have a lot of pull at Admissions, and that the College loves to get the NIAHD kids. I think I’m doing extremely well here too; Josh hasn’t once had to ask me to redo anything in my journals and has been fairly impressed with my in class performance as well. Dr. Whittenburg will be with the Colonial Class next week, so hopefully he likes my progress as well!</p>
<p>NIAHD is also giving us a two hour session with admissions just to ask questions and learn about applying. That afternoon I have an interview at admissions, so hopefully I’ll be prepared.</p>
<p>It’s strange but at home I was 99% sure that I’d never get into W&M. For some reason, now I’m actually feeling pretty good about going; I guess I didn’t realize how much doing well at NIAHD can help.</p>
<p>I would strongly advise you to take a math. I am in state and my counselors say that most people who do not take a well rounded circulium will not get into William and Mary.</p>
<p>Even though you’ll be interviewed by a student, you can ask him/her what they think about your course load for next year. You can say something like “W & M is my first choice school and I really want to be a strong applicant. What do you think about my courseload for next year?” The interviewers know quite a bit about the admissions dept. at W & M, and they’ll be able to tell you how the adcoms will look at your application. I wouldn’t introduce this as a topic during the the initial part of your interview - but I would ask it when the interviewer says “Do you have any more questions?” - after you’ve asked a few others that show your affinity for the school.</p>
<p>One of my friends did that program and got wait listed, so it is definitely not anything close to a guarantee. That said, I’m sure doing well in a pre-college summer program will add to your resume. She transferred to W&M after a year at another VA school though and is actually working with the program this summer, so it is possible you know her, lol. I dunno how big the program is.</p>
<p>I’m about to be a freshman at W&M, and check this out: I also went to a public school in suburban MA, I’m also a very devoted musician, and it is extremely likely that I’ll <em>at least</em> minor in history. Coincidenceeee Anyway, it definitely looks like you have challenged yourself in terms of classes, and your ECs are solid (idk how no sports will look). You might want to elaborate on the “Chapter Co-Founder of X Honor Society”, though, because to me it kind of sounds like you founded them so that it would look like you had more “honors” designation on your application. Maybe I’m way out of line, but that’s what it seems like on the surface. Explanation would definitely help there. Here’s some info about me, if you want to compare yourself to an accepted student with a similar(ish) background:</p>
<p>-I had a B- in math at the end of junior year. That was my worst grade by far, but hopefully it will show you that a 78 isn’t the end of the world! First semester senior grades were kickass, though, so maybe that helped.
-VP of band, pep band
-freaking outstanding rec from history teacher, great rec from band director, decent rec from physics teacher
-chose band over physics senior year
-captain of fencing team (state champs, undefeated)
-some volunteer work: not a ton, but certainly not minimal
-varsity javelin and discus
-I was elected to a bunch of other leadership positions during senior year but didn’t get a chance to put them on the app.
-I took a rigorous (honors whenever applicable) course load all throughout high school, but my school offers like no APs…I took 2 AP classes in total (3 exams) and just got my scores last week so W&M didn’t know them when I applied. Also, I freaking HATE math but decided to take AP Calc AB because I knew that W&M would know that I was challenging myself. Well, I was accepted, I just found out that I got a 5, and now I never have to take math ever again. Take a risk like that if you can!
-3.9/2260</p>
<p>Oh, and are you seriously a chick drummer? Because that would make you my hero (there aren’t enough of us in this world haha).</p>
Anyway, it definitely looks like you have challenged yourself in terms of classes, and your ECs are solid (idk how no sports will look). You might want to elaborate on the “Chapter Co-Founder of X Honor Society”, though, because to me it kind of sounds like you founded them so that it would look like you had more “honors” designation on your application. Maybe I’m way out of line, but that’s what it seems like on the surface. Explanation would definitely help there. Here’s some info about me, if you want to compare yourself to an accepted student with a similar(ish) background:</p>