If you are in state, apply ED. My DS graduated from W&M a few years ago. We were OOS. His comparative schools that he was accepted at were Wake Forest and Villa Nova.

College of Wooster in Ohio is a good choice. My son, who just started at W&M also applied to Wooster and got enough merit aid to make it cheaper than W&M.

W & M focuses more on the the right kind of student than the grades. So, once she hits the minimum grades, then essays are recommendations become critically important.

As for safeties from W & M, the one that jumps out -- but it is a huge step down -- is Mary Washington. W & M is pretty unique in that it has aspects of a research school and a SLAC (more of a midsized LAC).

DD did not apply to any other schools "like" W & M (maybe Miami of Ohio). She just started her freshman year.

My advice is to apply ED.

Also, backup schools, in no particular order:

Binghamton (good school, ugly architecture, horrible town), Miami of OH (more of a party vibe), Elon, UMW

Focus on w&m. My daughter is a graduate and has a great job in journalism. My 2 sons attended Elon and Dickinson. Great schools but W&M is far better. Davidson is highly respected but pricey.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does she want to study?

Premed

URM? or White/Asian?

Anonymous wrote:What does she want to study?

Premed

UVA

Not safeties, but I would see if you could get merit aid at Grinnell, W&L and Davidson. You should get into W&M with those stats. W&M values test scores more than others and perhaps a retest might help.

CNU is small like W&M, nearby, and in state tuition. She sounds likely for W&M but would probably get honors at CNU (possibly with merit money). Ask her how to get onto your high schools’s Naviance and look at scattergrams. They will show the stats of other applicants to W&M from your school.

Dickinson? St Mary's College of MD?

Wooster is a good option.

Mount Holyoke might be a target school (if she is willing to consider all female, and New England)

W&M is pretty solid for your DD if you're in Virginia. Remember, there's no financial aid other than loans if you're out of state. Your suggestions are reaches for everyone, including students with much higher SATs.

What does she want to study?

Elon. Davidson. Mary Washington

Anonymous wrote:DD with a 4.53 and SAT in mid-1400s has her sights set on W&M.

I told her she has the stats but one never knows so she needs to look at other schools as well.

Schools that have come courting with invitations to apply with no application fee include Hofstra, College of Wooster, Fordham and UC Boulder.

Are these reasonable targets?

I also suggested she look at Rice, Brown, Columbia and Penn, but I imagine those are all more competitive than “safety” schools for her with her stats.

Reaches, all of these.

DD with a 4.53 and SAT in mid-1400s has her sights set on W&M.

I told her she has the stats but one never knows so she needs to look at other schools as well.

Schools that have come courting with invitations to apply with no application fee include Hofstra, College of Wooster, Fordham and UC Boulder.

Are these reasonable targets?

I also suggested she look at Rice, Brown, Columbia and Penn, but I imagine those are all more competitive than “safety” schools for her with her stats.