Surprise Waitlist from William & Mary

<p>I got placed on the waitlist too. I also have a high sat score, a good GPA, and live in VA. This really sucks because I thought I would get in and haven't been accepted by any other school yet.</p>

<p>Sorry to hear that Jps36. Are you male or female? Schools look for other things besides STATS, how did you measure up in the area of ECs, rigor of cources, recommendations and essay?</p>

<p>I read in a pretty good college guide book that sometimes kids with credentials too stellar are waitlisted by second rate schools like William and Mary coz the admissions office figure they'd never enroll anyways (like if Princeton admits you, which is very possible from their point of view). Hence, call them to ask for an explanation. Moreover, if you get into a roughly equal school as WM, or get into a more selective one but still wanna attend WM, then fax them your acceptance letter from those schools and they'll take you off the waitlist.</p>

<p>Second rate schools like William and Mary eh? heh.</p>

<p>I don't think that was the case here because Worldshopper posted his stats above and they seem to put him well within competitive range, but aren't soo "stellar" that W&M would think he was using them as a safety school.</p>

<p>well, I will probably not go because they don't have engineering, which is what I want to pursue. so if you end up really wanting to go to w&m, maybe you'll get taken off the waiting list! good luck everywhere else too.</p>

<p>W&M is second rate relative to Princeton. </p>

<p>worldshopper's transcript is extremely strong especially the course selection; ECs were all meaningful long term committments. --- being deferred by Princeton attests to the actual strength of these credentials. And deferred is only half a step away from admitted. Hence from the WM admission officers' perspective, they will assume that worldshopper will likely be admitted to some first rate school (not neccessarily Princeton, since they don't know of course), and therefore is only using WM as a safety. </p>

<p>Of course, there's the possiblity that the essay didn't fit the WM officer's taste for some reason. Otherwise, my theory above is very credible in this case.</p>

<p>Correct, I don't have Ivy STATS. However, my g.c. said today that a couple of thing "may have" lead to a waitlist status (basically a rejection):</p>

<p>The fact that my No. 1 area of interest (actually a passion for me) is figure skating and specifically skating on a team. I don't just take lessons, I skate competitively on a team and individually along with acting as an assistant teacher for beginners. She said W & M knows other schools have skating teams and may have thought I was applying to one of them and using W & M as a back-up, which I was. Btw, schools that have teams are not all Ivy schools. Also, Williamsburg does not even have a rink, the closest one is 25 minutes (approx.) away. </p>

<p>Secondly, I had taken 4 SAT subject tests. Clearly, I was applying to more selective schools.</p>

<p>Lastly, my ECs are little different and the fact that I traveled and went to school in Central America for 2 summers may have made me very desirable but also a little above that of an average W & M applicant (maturity). </p>

<p>I don't think W&M is a second rate school.</p>

<p>yikes that seemed mean, so I deleted it.</p>

<p>Good luck worldshopper.</p>

<p>But I will say this: If W&M waitlisted/rejected people that they thought were using them as a safety, how do you explain the 2300s/4.0s with killer ECs that clearly are using them as a safety school getting in?</p>

<p>well, clearly since WM is your back up both in terms of reality and in perception, then its very likely that WM admissions officer thought that way.</p>

<p>zhonggong:</p>

<p>Thanks! The essay I wrote for W & M was one I wrote for Princeton about "my favorite quote". The quote had to do with going for what I want instead of comprimising for what is realistic. Getting into W & M was "realistic", so the essay (specifically the quote) didn't jive well with me applying to W& M. In my essay, I highlighted specific examples of how I've always attempted what I wanted instead of what was sensible.</p>

<p>Yes, ALL of my activities have been long-term and in depth. This includes working the same 3 jobs for the past 3 to 5 years. I work during the academic year which is a bit unusual for a full IB kid who has to commute, do their sport and participate in their activities. </p>

<p>I do NOT have Ivy numbers, not even close yet I did apply to Princeton and Cornell hoping they would see the other qualities I have to offer. I even explained to Princeton that my grades could have been better but it would have meant either not working or not being involved as much with my activiites. I even had to miss mid-term exams 2 years in a row (3 days missed from school) to go to a competition. Told them I wouldn't change a thing even if it meant not getting accepted.</p>

<p>W & M missed the boat on Worldshopper! I've been monitoring posts for several weeks from my different colleges. Some of the posters from other colleges are really so full of themselves! Not sure I want to go where they are. Worldshopper had me hooked on W&M-- I want to go where she goes! Sorry about your waitlist worldshopper, but they lost out.</p>

<p>I hope you get into Princeton!</p>

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<p>They admit 2300's and 4.0's all the time. Killer ECs? I guess that depends what you define as "killer". ALL schools (even the ones low on the totem pole) are going to admit these kids knowing fully well they are using them as a safety. Even if those kids don't matriculate, the "numbers" help the school stats. "In 2009, 80% of our accepted applicants had SAT scores in excess of 2300". My numbers would certainly not help their STATS.</p>

<p>Also, them sniffing me out as using them as a safety is a theory and again "safety" meaning it's a great school but I'd rather go to a school that has skating (not necessarily a more selective school).</p>

<p>I have not yet met any W & M applicants who were accepted that have killer ECs (out of the ordinary, very in-depth or long term)-- but I am SURE they exist.</p>

<p>Thanks Yankeeboy! I had some cheerleaders on the Princeton board during ED and they too were disappointed. </p>

<p>I guess some things just are meant to be. W&M is a lovely school in many respects but I guess I did not fit their profile. I'm not saying I was overqualified, because I wasn't -- I just didn't fit. But to see other kids with much lower stats get in over me, was well, a little discouraging. Not only did they have lower stats, but their ECs weren't as good (IMO) and their situation was different. Many were from two parent families and didn't work. I am from a single parent home and DO work. </p>

<p>But when you look at Cornell (my second choice), they have one of the few Latin American Centers in the U.S. (that would be my major) and a skating team. Although my STATS would be very borderline (but acceptable), I'm a better "fit" at Cornell. Have you ever read MIT's blog. They clearly say, "we will accept a better fit over numbers when given the choice". Maybe Princeton or Cornell will think along the same lines. Either way, it is a total long shot.</p>

<p>Lastly guys...my family (mostly Dad's side) has had 4 family members go to University Richmond, 4 to Princeton and 2 to Penn. I guess going to UR would fit in nicely with my family history. This goes back to "what is meant to be will be".</p>

<p>Everyone at my school is baffled. A girl with stat's similar to yours worldshopper was waitlisted, and many people were rejected that should've been wiatlisted, if not accepted. Half of those accepted at my school are hispanic, so that might have something to do with it. W&M admissions this year is ridiculous (no offense to those of you who were accepted).</p>

<p>The silver lining was that my best friend got in. Even with lower STATS, how can I not be happy for her!</p>

<p>Are you instate? I think you SATs hurt you, although you do have some excellent experiences and ECs. If you are out of state, it is obvious that your SATs were the killer.</p>

<p>In-state, W & M is not too big on SATS. My friend got in with 1520/2400. SATs weren't the issue. Plus W&M loves IB kids. But, thanks for your observation and I agree about them being a killer had I been oos.</p>

<p>I;m sure you will do well, don't fret it too much. I was deadset on going to chicago then i got waitlisted then i got over it. If you ARE deaset, I know more than one person who has transferred in from another state school, so there is plenty of hope. Good luck</p>

<p>W&M admissions this year are not ridiculous... they just validate the point that I have been repeating all along that "good stats" won't get you in, and "low stats" won't keep you out. They work hard to make the best class that they can in many different areas.</p>

<p>worldshopper, as you said, W&M is probably not the best fit for you. That said, with those stats + ECs, you will get somewhere else (excluding UR where you are already in). With so many years of skating, to apply to a school that doesn't even have a rink close by probably stood out. If it comes down to you wanting to go to W&M when all your acceptances come, I think you should send them a letter, and I feel your chances would be very good.</p>