william & mary admissions is problematic and classist

[Anonymous]

It is outrageous that W&M, a public institution, only has early decision (not just one, but two ED dates) and no early action. The website says "While financial aid packaging at W&M will not be affected by applying Early Decision I or II, students who choose to apply early are making a commitment to attend W&M without having the opportunity to compare financial aid packages from other institutions. Therefore, if financial factors could impact your decision to attend W&M, Early Decision may not be the best choice."

Basically you have a state subsidized, taxpayer funded public institution that says upfront that they have two admissions tracks--one for rich kids who don't need to compare financial aid pkgs, and one for everyone else. What is the messaging to students from the get go?

W&M is the ONLY public (to my knowledge) institution in the country to have only ED and not any EA option. Very few publics have any ED. The other "public ivy" Miami U has ED and EA, as does UVA.

No wonder W&M lacks socioeconomic diversity. Contact your state delegate and demand better--our public state institutions should not be country clubs.

It's also problematic that UVA as a public institution even has an ED option. UVA always moans about how it lacks economic diversity...you'd think they'd understand that having a special track for full pay students is undermining their ability to consider everyone at the same time. (And yes, ED is linked with benefits, = 100 point boost on the SAT, see Christopher Avery from Harvard's research) Shameful.

[Anonymous]

If you care that much, call your state senators

[Anonymous]

Both UVA and W&M want to go private LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both UVA and W&M want to go private LOL

Aside from their names, land, buildings, and endowments being owned by the state, whatever is left is free to leave and become private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both UVA and W&M want to go private LOL

Reminds me of Penn State (technically private) where tuition alone is $20,000/year for instate students and there are no financial aid initiatives.

[Anonymous]

All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

[Anonymous]

OP - I disagree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

What? You mean organizations try to take in more than they spend, ensuring their ability to continue to operate? It's an outrage!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

Very much so. As a foreigner who went to university for free in my country, it's obvious to me.
However now we're here and are forced to play by new rules. My kid got a cipher postcard from W&M. Hope he gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

What? You mean organizations try to take in more than they spend, ensuring their ability to continue to operate? It's an outrage!

Maybe, I dunno, they should be properly funded by taxpayer money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

Very much so. As a foreigner who went to university for free in my country, it's obvious to me.
However now we're here and are forced to play by new rules. My kid got a cipher postcard from W&M. Hope he gets in.

What country?
Those countries usually take half of your income as tax.
There's no such thing as free.

The problem with US systems is more with fairness, not a cost comparison to European countries who pay 50% tax.

[Anonymous]

True, W&M does not have EA like UVA. However, they have a W&M scholarship for low-income students that covers 100% of the tuition costs, which UVA does not.

A friend of DD got into UVA (EA) & W&M(RD), was leaning towards UVA but the scholarship was too good to pass up on, and she is now attending W&M.
Overall, it looks like W&M ED filled about 1/3rd of the class of 2026 with ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

Very much so. As a foreigner who went to university for free in my country, it's obvious to me.
However now we're here and are forced to play by new rules. My kid got a cipher postcard from W&M. Hope he gets in.

What country?
Those countries usually take half of your income as tax.
There's no such thing as free.

The problem with US systems is more with fairness, not a cost comparison to European countries who pay 50% tax.

DP, yes all of Europe is taxed into the poor house. Nobody can afford luxuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All colleges in the USA, unlike the rest of the world, are basically #1 a business, money-making venture, whatever you call them otherwise, however they get their funding.

What? You mean organizations try to take in more than they spend, ensuring their ability to continue to operate? It's an outrage!

Maybe, I dunno, they should be properly funded by taxpayer money?

NP- disagree

[Anonymous]

UVA has ED but it doesn't help that much to ED. WM, on the other hand, is way easier to get in if you ED. And people have figured it out. Lots of pretty low stat kids (especially boys) at dc's school ED to WM and get in.