If the College of William & Mary is your first choice school, then it is worth fighting for, in my opinion. Plus, with such a high goal, it may force you to become a more serious student with respect to academics.
Even though applying as a transfer student to another university, you can enjoy VCU during your freshman year. (When I was a college student, I had a few classmates who had Guaranteed Transfer Options to Cornell University. Even though all of them transferred, all were actively involved in campus life during their freshman year.)
I do agree that your essay needs to be written in a more explanatory fashion without complaints. Perhaps you could view your past difficulties as challenges which you overcame.
I think many kids think college is a continuation of high school, same sorts and levels of work, same sorts of thinking, same sorts of teacher expectations- and if you don’t do well in a class, there’s always next year to prove yourself. A lot seem to treat applying to college same as when you want to transfer to another high school- a combo of just show you can and have grit.
It’s not like that. College is the Big Leap and applying to a tippy top is an even huger leap. They need to see in you what they want and all of it. Not “The Little Train That Could,” saying over and over, “I think I can, I think I can.” Not excuses. And not challenging yourself with an app just because you can, when the basic academic record is NOT there. We don’t know ECs here. The back story is not enough. And “I want” or heart is not enough, considering the competition for W&M is often tippy top level kids.
VCU is where you can so easily get the research, volunteer, and other experiences needed to get to med school. On top of that, W&M may easily dash the med school hopes, in their competitive atmosphere. Sometimes, you have to decide what’s more importantin the long run: med school or the prestige name of the undergrad institution.
Since VCU has a highly regarded medical school/large tertiary hospital, you will have a MUCH easier access shadowing drs/volunteering in hospitals at VCU, and it might be easier to have a higher GPA at VCU than at W&M. I think VCU is cheaper too. Once you are in medical school, no one will care where you did undergrad.