@homerdog Sounds like your child received an amazing high-school education. I can’t speak to whether my daughter’s high school pushed her hard enough, as I can now see her being pushed father than I thought possible. But, she took a total of 12 AP classes and made mostly 5s and two 4s on the tests, which I believe are scored on a national scale. So I agree that those tests, plus her ACT are better indicators of what she learned compared to other nationally competitive 2022 students than her near 5.0 weighted GPA. She was in the Duke TIP program and took her ACT in 7th grade and again in 10th and 11th. No study courses or anything else. She had a 33 super-score ACT.
She is adapting well to the academic rigor, but she was not prepared for the level of intensity at W&M. However, finishing that first semester with above a 3.5 (taking Cal, Honors Physics, Chemistry, Coll, and Econ) meant more to her than any other academic achievement of her life. But, for sake of comparison, she was the ONLY student in her Honors Physics ten-person lab who did not score a perfect 36 on her ACT, which humbled her very quickly.
And by quirky, I guess I mean eccentric but well-adjusted. The kids are unique, unconventional, and strange… but super cool. You can’t really categorize any of them that I have met as socials, jocks, nerds, or artsy types, because they are all a little of everything. Encountering a kid with mismatched socks, wearing a Dude Abides shirt, who is in an A cappella group but knows deep-cut Dylan lyrics and advanced Star Wars trivia who is also on a Club Lacrosse team and is President of his fraternity would not be unusual. In fact, he would be the usual there.
Good luck to you and your son, wherever he finds the best fit.
Yikes. That certainly sounds quirky. S19 pretty mainstream sporty smart. He is an artist but doesn’t have a quirky personality and is about as suburban white bread as you can get. Never read Harry Potter. Doesn’t play video games. Doesn’t have any quirky hobbies. Basically he’s a bright kid who likes to run and play frisbee but also likes to debate politics and philosophy. So he’s a deep thinker but I wouldn’t say quirky. When we visited he did not get that vibe.
Thanks Much for further best describing the campus as it makes W & M stand out more in my mind as a desirable consideration. D18 is still waiting on RD. We hope it becomes an option.
Curious you mentioned Mock Trial. D18 is looking to return to State Mock Trial Finals once again this year. So proud to watch her argue before a State Supreme Court Chief Justice last year and hoping for a repeat.
Is your daughter participating on the Mock Trial Team at W & M?
@homerdog , I wonder if your son has been working so hard at school and EC’s that he hasn’t had extra time to develop “quirky” interests?.
Then again, quirky means different things to different people. To me, it just means not average, not expected. So, a teenaged boy who doesn’t play video games could be quirky . . . ?.
My D19 is actually fairly conventional in values, dress, and experiences (for a suburban American). But, she reads Sartre for fun, loves knitting and rock climbing, and doesn’t drink or watch sports (unless her friends are playing). She’s unusual, but not at all wacky.
The kids we met at W&M were deeply interested in a variety of subjects and activities, but I wouldn’t describe them as unconventional or weird. Just smart, active and engaged. Of course, I think loving Star Wars is mainstream (my conservative grandmother loved Star Wars) so YMMV!
@J123D123 and @3SailAway Just to clarify, I think quirky is about the most wonderful compliment I receive about my daughter. And, while knowing Star Wars trivia is extremely normal in our family, it wasn’t until my daughter got to W&M that she was surrounded by so many interesting kids, all with different quirk combinations. Just a great student body at W&M. I remember reading once that the school’s most attractive features all relate to the students selected who also select the school. I agree. Just a great mix of articulate kids with tons of personality who are also killer smart and many who are also extremely gifted athletically and artistically. Again, my post was intended to note that the admissions algorithm at W&M works to produce a really unusual group of kids who have no issues being comfortable in their own skins and owning all of their glorious quirks (and appreciating the quirks of others).
@homerdog I think of her five classes three had labs, so eight classes (although the labs were only one hour a piece). But, yes, I think 18 hours is a pretty full load.
And my daughter would likely be considered mainstream based on things that the outside world saw, soccer, homecoming queen, student council, debate, etc, but she had a lot of other interests that were less apparent yet better defined her. I think that’s her favorite part of W&M, being with kids who are far more dynamic than their traditional check offs.
@J123D123 That’s fantastic. It’s such a great experience going before the SCT (most real lawyers won’t do that in their careers).
My daughter didn’t try out this year, as she pledged a sorority and played on the club soccer team. But, she did attend mock trial tryouts to check out format and competition. She plans to try out next year.
The best part was the random occurance after the Mock Trial where we ran into the CJ in the parking lot after the case. When we introduced ourselves and made mention of our daughter he lit up with such promise in describing his impressions of her.
@whatmattersmost What is “Coll” in your daughter’s schedule? I went to a university that has the quarter system so we only had four classes as a time. I didn’t know semester schools have five!
Family friend daughter is in the W&M / St Andrews dual degree programme. Impression I was given that W&M was a lot of work but not overly onerous, St A’s went into much more depth but was more reliant on independent reading. The only course she has found difficult was Economics at St A’s which was a real man eater. D3 has applied RD to W&M OOS but she right at the 50% mark in terms of accepted students so not expecting much especially since her EC’s are less than stellar and essay was ho hum, she will be full pay so she has that going for her . :((
@homerdog I would think a lot of people would probably characterize kids that are artists and like to play frisbee and debate politics and philosophy as quirky. So could be how people define it. I think the key is that if the students have interests and passions that are outside of a perceived norm, they don’t feel they have to conceal them.
Little confused here? I didn’t expect W & M to announce anything until March 21st. Are they just sending out scholarship offers to apply or are they sending out acceptances with Scholarship offers?
Some kids get likely postcards. S19 got one. Then today he got an email with official acceptance and the Monroe Scholar offer. There’s a $3000 summer research stipend but no other money. Very happy though. The email says top ten percent of applicants. Most decisions come later this month.
Thank you! Applied RD and just learned of scholarship, don’t know much about scholarship, including how much $. Says I will receive details in the mail soon.