My W&M student's second choice was Wooster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS’s top choice is W&M and he’s trying to find a few more safeties and matches. Are there any schools with a similar vibe that you’d recommend?
(30 ACT/1320 SAT/5 AP classes so far)

Everyone is listing safeties not matches. For academic matches and similar vibe look at Davidson, Hamilton, Kenyon, Carlton, and Grinnell.

A 30 ACT is the 25th percentile at both Carleton and Davidson so no, they're not matches. (And a 1320 SAT at Carleton is below the 25th percentile.) He might still get in, but they're definitely reaches.

Scores are inflated because of test optional so don’t not apply because of those. But fine if you want to apply only to Mary Washington go then go ahead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS’s top choice is W&M and he’s trying to find a few more safeties and matches. Are there any schools with a similar vibe that you’d recommend?
(30 ACT/1320 SAT/5 AP classes so far)

Everyone is listing safeties not matches. For academic matches and similar vibe look at Davidson, Hamilton, Kenyon, Carlton, and Grinnell.

A 30 ACT is the 25th percentile at both Carleton and Davidson so no, they're not matches. (And a 1320 SAT at Carleton is below the 25th percentile.) He might still get in, but they're definitely reaches.

In Pennsylvania, look at Juniata and Muhlenberg. Good schools, somewhat similar vibe and good merit.

Anonymous wrote:The problem is there is no direct match that is not private and more expensive for in state students.

If you’re looking for that price or less, then you go to Mary Washington or you go down a tier and take the merit. Oberlin, Grinnell and lots of slacs in Pennsylvania will give you the merit and have a somewhat similar vibe. Doubt you’d get the money at Davidson Hamilton or Carlton or Kenyon.

The problem is there is no direct match that is not private and more expensive for in state students.

Anonymous wrote:DS’s top choice is W&M and he’s trying to find a few more safeties and matches. Are there any schools with a similar vibe that you’d recommend?
(30 ACT/1320 SAT/5 AP classes so far)

Everyone is listing safeties not matches. For academic matches and similar vibe look at Davidson, Hamilton, Kenyon, Carlton, and Grinnell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid going to W&M this fall and did similar research last year. Saint Mary's College of Maryland and Mary Washington were the schools mentioned most frequently. Both very nice places in their own ways and good safeties for a kid with your DS's stats.

Is he considering applying ED? I would strongly encourage it. My kid got in ED with slightly higher SAT scores and a 4.1 weighted GPA. Friends with similar stats who waited for RD did not get in.

Interesting question because my DS, a junior at an FCPS public high school, also has W&M as his number one choice and we're looking at other schools to fill his list. CNU is the public in-state option mentioned most often. FYI, we visited W&M last Monday and the auditorium of interested future applicants was PACKED; there will likely be more competition than prior years. My DS says he wants to apply ED1 but even with a 33ACT/1460 SAT/4.1w, getting in may be iffy.

My DD got in ED1 this year. 4.0W/34 ACT/10 APs. But, both verbal sections of the ACT were 36 with a humanities major and she had some interesting/ unusual things going on with class selection that made her W GPA deceptively low. When they reweighted, it would have jumped up. Also had a strong upward trend. Weakest year by far was freshman.

Boys have an easier path than girls for WM. Buy he could well be admitted with that profile. Probably not a given though. RD would be very, very hard.

Be sure he interviews— and they fill up by early summer— and put good effort into the “optional” essay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe not strictly safeties, but Dickinson and some of the other small LACs in Pennsylvania have a very similar vibe to W&M. I’ve known people who have spent time at both Dickinson and W&M who have remarked on how similar they are.

This is a good comparison. I've been to both and I can definitely see why someone would say they are similar. Dickinson gives great merit too. I'm not sure why it's not a more popular school on DCUM.

I think it's likely growing in popularity. We just got back from a visit. Lots of people at the info session and the great majority from the DC area. DD really liked it and is also applying to W&M and UMW and probably SMCM so I agree with the similarities.

+ 1 for Dickinson

- 1 for Richmond, which is much more like UVA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid going to W&M this fall and did similar research last year. Saint Mary's College of Maryland and Mary Washington were the schools mentioned most frequently. Both very nice places in their own ways and good safeties for a kid with your DS's stats.

Is he considering applying ED? I would strongly encourage it. My kid got in ED with slightly higher SAT scores and a 4.1 weighted GPA. Friends with similar stats who waited for RD did not get in.

FYI, we visited W&M last Monday and the auditorium of interested future applicants was PACKED; there will likely be more competition than prior years.

I think it was because of school spring break. We went on a normal school day and only had ten kids or so.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid going to W&M this fall and did similar research last year. Saint Mary's College of Maryland and Mary Washington were the schools mentioned most frequently. Both very nice places in their own ways and good safeties for a kid with your DS's stats.

Is he considering applying ED? I would strongly encourage it. My kid got in ED with slightly higher SAT scores and a 4.1 weighted GPA. Friends with similar stats who waited for RD did not get in.

Interesting question because my DS, a junior at an FCPS public high school, also has W&M as his number one choice and we're looking at other schools to fill his list. CNU is the public in-state option mentioned most often. FYI, we visited W&M last Monday and the auditorium of interested future applicants was PACKED; there will likely be more competition than prior years. My DS says he wants to apply ED1 but even with a 33ACT/1460 SAT/4.1w, getting in may be iffy.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe not strictly safeties, but Dickinson and some of the other small LACs in Pennsylvania have a very similar vibe to W&M. I’ve known people who have spent time at both Dickinson and W&M who have remarked on how similar they are.

This is a good comparison. I've been to both and I can definitely see why someone would say they are similar. Dickinson gives great merit too. I'm not sure why it's not a more popular school on DCUM.

Villanova - about the same size, similar campus feel, equidistant from DC area.

I have a kid going to W&M this fall and did similar research last year. Saint Mary's College of Maryland and Mary Washington were the schools mentioned most frequently. Both very nice places in their own ways and good safeties for a kid with your DS's stats.

Is he considering applying ED? I would strongly encourage it. My kid got in ED with slightly higher SAT scores and a 4.1 weighted GPA. Friends with similar stats who waited for RD did not get in.