<p>thx soccerguy, would you recommend WM for a Russian/Russian studies major?</p>
<p>WM claims to be the best small public school, which I think is dead on. If you want a smaller sized public school, then WM is your choice.</p>
<p>Hahah, zing, soccerguy. Zing.</p>
<p>bling bling</p>
<p>New College of Florida in Sarasota, FL, is also a very good Small Public school.</p>
<p>It's ok. No grades I think, but tons of pot. If you like the whole drug scene in New college, but I dont want to go there. WM looks much better academically.</p>
<p>WM, although liberal, is much more conservative than NCF, yes.
NCF has pretty good academics though, my brother goes there, and people are accepted to top graduate programs every year.
There is a big drug-scene at a lot of LAC's.</p>
<p>re interviews: They are new and you can of course be admitted without them, but a 28% admit rate means many great and qualified kids are waitlisted. So they do matter. They are evaluative, and can give you an edge in terms of showing interest and seeking a personal match. They can be tipping points for some applicants and they show seriousness in interest from OOS applicants. Student interviewers are well-trained and know their school well, and have a good feeling for things like "fit" and whether or not the applicant will contribute to life on campus. They answer questions quite frankly from students about their own experiences. They want the best for Wm and Mary and seek the best. And they have many great students to choose from who are keen on the value of the school for the bucks.</p>
<p>Russian studies? hrm... I can't comment at all about the strength of the Russian department, though I don't think it's that big.</p>
<p>here's the Russian department info <a href="http://www.wm.edu/catalog/2003-04/modernlang.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.wm.edu/catalog/2003-04/modernlang.htm</a> it looks like the only have a minor. Or you can get an interdisciplinary major, which I'm not really familiar with.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wm.edu/catalog/2003-04/reqfordegrees.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.wm.edu/catalog/2003-04/reqfordegrees.htm</a> this link has a contact for the interdisciplinary people.</p>
<p>so... my answer might be, a 'no'.</p>
<p>I've looked at the Russian studies (interdisciplinary) major and it has some amazing courses. That's unfortunate that it's small though. The Russian major at UF is dying; the main reason that I'm transferring. Is WM talking of getting rid of the major, like at UF?</p>
<p>I've heard no talk of getting rid of the major.</p>
<p>If you're transferring for the major, I suggest you contact someone at W&M and make sure the program will still be there. As I said, I haven't heard anything, but there is no point for you to transfer somewhere and then they drop what you want to study also.</p>
<p>If the courses W&M has seem appealing to you, then that's all that really matters. I mean, you can only take so many courses in one subject anyway, so if you like the ones they have, it wouldn't be a big deal that they don't have that many.</p>
<p>From US News 2005 College Rankings Issue </p>
<p>TOP PUBLICS BY SAT AVG SCORE</p>
<p>William & Mary - 1350
Georgia Tech - 1340
Virginia - 1330
Berkeley - 1315
UCLA - 1285
UNC - 1290</p>
<p>P.S. UNC is technically the oldest US public school whereas W&M was private until the early 1900s.</p>
<p>From US News 2005 College Rankings Issue </p>
<p>TOP PUBLICS BY FRESHMAN IN TOP 10% OF HS CLASS</p>
<p>Berkeley - 99%
UCLA - 97%
Michigan - 90%
William & Mary - 85%
Virginia - 85% (estimate based on partial data)</p>
<p>hmm, yes, I don't think anyone is denying it is among the best public schools.</p>
<p>Derek,</p>
<p>See the 07-25-2005, 11:01 PM posting. I was trying to correct that poster's statistical mis-assertions and not really making any broad qualitative assessments.</p>
<p>heh, ok, I wasn't trying to bash you. It's cool. Do you attend WM?</p>
<p>i have a scheduled interview in the coming week and it said there are no more seniors open for that day so i will be interviewing with a faculty member is this better or worse....this will be my first interview and im kind of nervous becuause i havent really thought about what kinds of questions are going to be asked of me....does W&M put a lot of emphasis if u chose to interview?</p>
<p>Before you interview, write down three or four things about you that you hope he jots down on his report and ranking sheet right after saying goodbye to you and your parent, who will be left in a waiting room. (I have been there and parents are not really spoken to at all except with a greeting handshake.) Your goal is to listen and to also get those points on the table, no matter how you interject them. 3-4 points is all any adcom can retain anyway. Now sit down with a parent or friend and see if you can weave this infor about yourself into your answers. Better than choking later. Prepare for a person who loves WM, knows his students very well, and is wondering if you are seriously considering the campus or using it as a safety. (You are a strong candidate for several of your schools as are many WM candidates, and WM has a large pool of highly qualified applicants from OOS.) 3 times on the SAT is fine, don't give that a thought. You are done now except for keeping your senior grades up. Your verbal SAT is low for Wm and Mary. But your SATIIs and APs are terrific and offset this factor. I don't think he will ask where else you are applying, but he will be wondering..alum almost always ask. Do not compare WM to any other school unfavorably (ie sports lacking) and always make strong positive statements about WM's best qualities and which specific quality about WM grabs your attention. Compliments in all areas of life are best if specific, otherwise they are forgettable. Offer him an abbreviated version Activity and stats sheet, although he might decline to look it over. Most applicants have the stats and have good ECs so don't toot your horn too much. Tell him or her exactly which EC role you intend to fill on campus...music, volunteer tutor, ect which means looking up their ECs and clubs. Can you visualize yourself living within this community of scholars and if so paint the picture for him, with you as an active person contributing to your school. Do express what your strengths are and what kind of experience you are seeking for college years. Don't be too shy..be direct. If you have a question about a WM issue, perhaps it is OK to risk asking it..."work ethic on this campus is famously intense, could you comment..." for instance. Look into an EC or academic path of interest at Wm and Mary, read up on what it offers and come with a couple pertinent questions...like "when I return for an overnight in October, what classes would be good for me to observe, or could you give me a name of someone I could email with my questions about....."<br>
While there, walk the campus and seek out any signs of life even in August. Jot down phrases or visuals that day you might use in your Why WM essay to add color and personal touches. Nervous is normal, but try to at least feel positive and happy to be there..positive is contagious and attractive. I believe my S was asked to not discuss the exact interview questions with other candidates in his class, which he honored. There are no right answers, but positive is always right. Send a follow up written note immediately by email and copy to the adcom who handles your region. Make it brief and positive. If you can see yourself living in Wmsburg by all means say so.
good luck!</p>
<p>wow that was very through and extremely insightful i really appreciate your help and that made me a lot less nervous considering i have never had an interview b4 and i had no clue what it would be like....Thanks for sharing you knowledge and taking the time to write it out for me.....on a side note i do have another question about W&M in general and about the interview. I have an uncle that went to W&M and i was just wondering if legacy applies there at all..most likely not and i guess it is a stretch but hey u never kno until u ask...also he is what made me intrested in the school since i was litle do u think that it is a good idea to bring it up in the interview of essay at all saying something to the effect of Him graduating there has made me really interested in the school and at first i just thought W&M was just another school, not realizing it is one of the oldest and 0ne of the most prominent in the United States and even the world. THrough my own research of the school i have recognized that W&M exemplifies academic excellence.....I dunno if that sounds a little corny and i dunno if it is the best thing to mention my uncle but i was jw becuase i mean it is true and i dont want people to think that im bringing it up just to play the legacy(if u call it that) card......thanks for the advice</p>
<p>Well, I have a simlar question. My biological father went to WM, but my parents divorced and he is no longer really considered my father, because I am legally my step-father's son now; adoption. Can I use the legacy thing here? Legacy is parents only, sorry Krypto</p>