William & Mary Admissions by Residency and Gender

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been nervous that my out of state daughter is going to be denied and this isn’t making me feel better. But thanks for sharing the info. It confirms what I’ve been hearing.

It's tough. A daughter of a friend of ours from NY (5th overall in her class of 350) had W&M as her dream school, applied ED and was denied. Not even deferred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the atmosphere like there?

Intense. Very academic.

I disagree. My DS is a freshman there. Granted, he's only finished his first semester but he has not found it intense at all and thought the transition to college courses was much easier than he was expecting. He's in a smaller dorm and the orientation program really helped him bond with his dorm mates. They really look out for each other. His roommate will check up on him if he's out really late one night. When the school was evacuated in the fall for the hurricane, they all got together to make sure everyone had either a way to get home, or a place to go (if they lived really far out of state.)

My DS was worried there wouldn't be much of a social scene. He joined a fraternity last semester and spends a lot of time with his fraternity brothers. They go to football and basketball games together. They were on a flag football team together. The fraternity throws parties on the weekends. My DS didn't want anything to do with crazy, "Animal House" type fraternity parties and from what he describes, they are much tamer. But there is alcohol at the parties. The houses are on campus, right next to the freshmen dorms, so I think it is difficult to get away with the crazy parties I attended when I was in college. Also, I was in school when the drinking age was 18 so it was a completely different atmosphere from today.

My DS has said there are kids he's met that skip classes, and drink too much on the weekend. They are struggling academically. But he realizes that if he studies a couple of hours each day and keeps up with the work, academically it hasn't been difficult. His classmates aren't competing against each other for grades - he says so far they are studying together if they want. He has said there are some really super nerdy, brilliant kids at W&M. My DS is a little nerdy and bright but not brilliant.

I went to a private college, and it felt like a family. Since I didn't go to a state school, I don't know what they are like, but I think in a lot of ways, W&M reminds me of my private school - small classes, beautiful campus, the way my DS and our family was welcomed into the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the atmosphere like there?

Beautiful campus, intense academics, smart and kind students. But it’s not for everyone. Many guys who favor big sports environments will say no thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Historical totals:

Not exactly the trend lines the Board of Visitors would want to see.

[Anonymous]

More data here. You can see data by county in VA.
http://research.schev.edu/enrollment/b8_admissions_locality.asp

[Anonymous]

It has a reputation as not being a very "fun" school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More data here. You can see data by county in VA.
http://research.schev.edu/enrollment/b8_admissions_locality.asp

So the admit rate from Fairfax County is 47.4%, higher than the average. While it's certainly possible that the students are more qualified than other counties that doesn't strike me as ominous as people make it out to be for NoVa.

UVA's admit rate from Fairfax was 39.2%, again not that dire.

[Anonymous]

Intense for sure. I had a family member who attended and they partied, etc but they are also profoundly gifted, extremely talented in the arts, valedictorian, etc etc. Everyone there is like that, which may or may not appeal to your student.

[Anonymous]

Admit rate for Arlington County is 50.2%.

[Anonymous]

High suicide rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the admit rate from Fairfax County is 47.4%, higher than the average. While it's certainly possible that the students are more qualified than other counties that doesn't strike me as ominous as people make it out to be for NoVa.

UVA's admit rate from Fairfax was 39.2%, again not that dire.

Admit rate for Arlington County is 50.2%.

This does not fit my thinking that it is IMPOSSIBLE to be admitted, so I will ignore you both!

-Most DCUMers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the atmosphere like there?

Beautiful campus, intense academics, smart and kind students. But it’s not for everyone. Many guys who favor big sports environments will say no thanks.

And thank god for that too. Enough meat heads in the world, good to know there is a place that doesn't attract them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the atmosphere like there?

Intense. Very academic.

I disagree. My DS is a freshman there. Granted, he's only finished his first semester but he has not found it intense at all and thought the transition to college courses was much easier than he was expecting. He's in a smaller dorm and the orientation program really helped him bond with his dorm mates. They really look out for each other. His roommate will check up on him if he's out really late one night. When the school was evacuated in the fall for the hurricane, they all got together to make sure everyone had either a way to get home, or a place to go (if they lived really far out of state.)

My DS was worried there wouldn't be much of a social scene. He joined a fraternity last semester and spends a lot of time with his fraternity brothers. They go to football and basketball games together. They were on a flag football team together. The fraternity throws parties on the weekends. My DS didn't want anything to do with crazy, "Animal House" type fraternity parties and from what he describes, they are much tamer. But there is alcohol at the parties. The houses are on campus, right next to the freshmen dorms, so I think it is difficult to get away with the crazy parties I attended when I was in college. Also, I was in school when the drinking age was 18 so it was a completely different atmosphere from today.

My DS has said there are kids he's met that skip classes, and drink too much on the weekend. They are struggling academically. But he realizes that if he studies a couple of hours each day and keeps up with the work, academically it hasn't been difficult. His classmates aren't competing against each other for grades - he says so far they are studying together if they want. He has said there are some really super nerdy, brilliant kids at W&M. My DS is a little nerdy and bright but not brilliant.

I went to a private college, and it felt like a family. Since I didn't go to a state school, I don't know what they are like, but I think in a lot of ways, W&M reminds me of my private school - small classes, beautiful campus, the way my DS and our family was welcomed into the school.

Thanks for the review. This is nice to hear. I've wondered if it could be good for my DS, who is bright but not intensely academic, wants to major in math, likes an active social environment but is not at all sporty and wants nothing to do with a jock-like culture.

[Anonymous]

I went to W&M so I can say from personal experience that it is very intense academically but not cut throat, students are generally the nerdy-but-own-it types who support each other, and there is a small social scene if you are an athlete or Greek (who are also bright). The alumni support is great.

Everyone in my social circle went on to get Ph.D.'s, law degrees, or MBA.

For the right student, it is a really terrific combination of a state school that looks, feels, and acts like a SLAC. But, it's not for everyone. This is a typical (very typical) scene trying to get into the library prior to finals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rfe2XyPP4s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High suicide rate.

That’s a grotesque comment.