Reply to Rankings won't cause schools to radically change in quality, especially WM

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What a fortuitous coincidence that exactly when W&M could greatly benefit from helping the downtrodden, the country finds itself with an abundance of ambitious first-generation college-age immigrants whom the progressives in Williamsburg would probably welcome with open arms. [/quote]

The do. WM is now tuition free for Pell grant students, and these students graduate at a high rate.  They are welcome and supported.

The question is, should WM do soft/hard DEI targets like VT, even at the expense of taking more qualified students? I have a kid who went through TJ during the admissions criteria change, and am inclined to say no. [/quote]

+1  I think W&M should stay committed to its high academic standards--it's what will ultimately stand the test of time.  Being tuition-free for Pell grant students who qualify makes so much sense--actively recruiting strong low-income students who might not be familiar with W&M, sure.   Adjusting your admissions criteria to favor first gen students is wrong IMO--and though it made VT rise in the rankings, I don't think it's a great move overall for the institution or the state.    I'm a progressive, but I think this generates backlash and does a disservice to students.  The point should be about removing barriers to attendance for all not adjusting admissions criteria to strongly favor a group--especially in a public institution.  I don't have any students applying to college right now so it's not about what will help my kid get in somewhere.[/quote]

Agree with slight adjustment:  "...actively recruiting [u]strong[/u] low-income [b]& first gen students [/b]who might not be familiar with W&M, sure.   Adjusting your admissions criteria to favor first gen students [b]& Pell Grant[/b] is wrong IMO..."

Our strong first gen DD is very happy at W&M and so are several of her classmates, some of them Pell Grant qualified.  One was offered a W&M scholarship and it was the deciding factor for that girl between UVA and W&M. All came from adv academics magnet school.

The quality of students is par with UVA (only a smidgen lower on the low end).  I understand the campus is not for everyone, and it will always be more self-selecting than the other big state publics.

However, changes are coming.  Dorms and dining facility will be much improved in roughly 2 years, a new Science Building with the addition of Design/Engineering (are they going to start offering some engineering I wonder).
[/quote]

And the new fine arts building just opened. (My musician DD is over the moon).  [/quote]

I my kid is planning on taking piano in the summer again and is looking forward to it too.  Was quite the experience this summer, playing in the old basement and everything around already getting packed up.  [/quote]

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