Those of you getting obsessively hung up on ECs apparently couldn’t be bothered to even read the topic of the OP’s post (which is about going into teaching). We get it, W&M is a reach. The student has other options they’re considering and maybe you could be helpful by suggesting additional schools. It’s sad to read so many parents trying to create mini-adults with complete resumes, curated story arcs, evidence of ECs aligning with majors, etc. OP’s kid sounds like a solid student and contributing member of society who would make a great teacher!

OP, what about Mary Washington as a safety? They have a good teaching program and are strong in liberal arts, English, etc. I also like Dickinson College as a possible target.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

Is she very analytical?

OP here and to an extent, but terrible in math. DC has nearly a perfect English SAT score… math is a weak point. Retaking SAT for the second time this weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

Huh? Since when can someone not apply as an English major and should instead pursue sociology because of extracurricular activities? These kids are still 17 and 18 years old, their entire career destiny is not tied to high school activities.

NP: At a competitive admit school, a test optional English major would have 1-2 ECs that align with major.
Otherwise seems weak to me.

Another NP. This is not true. Students’ ECs do not need to align with their majors—especially at highly selective schools. First of all, most highly selective schools don’t admit by major. Second, ECs show what sort of campus community member the student would be; most of these schools want kids who will get involved, and ECs are good evidence of that.

This is bad advice for a weak test optional candidate to a T30. If you have any deficiency in your application or stats, then the rest of your application should have a strong message. Without it this kid is forgettable. There’s just nothing special here. Maybe the high school is a feeder in which case private high schools can help. If you are at a private school, ask your College counseling staff for thoughts.

Going through this process right now with a very similar kid who is also test optional from a private school - looking at some of these schools listed and some more selective. Our counselor suggested ways to highlight a few other out-of-school activities that match major while still keeping all of the inside of school activities as well. Just showing a more thoughtful and intellectually, curious picture of who she is, what she wants to study, where her passion lies and focus & most importantly, why.

The way they explained it to us was that the application is “read” by the AO with your major in mind. remember, the activities list is the first thing that a college looks at before they read your essays. It helps “frame” your kids story. At least that’s how I was explained to us.

The current activities show no intellectual curiosity. While I’m sure the activities are great there is a weakness there.

I was just encouraging my kid to consider teaching. We need good teachers, and he’s smart and great with kids. I would much prefer he taught than went into finance, that’s for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

+1. I agree with this unless you have “one that got away” (accepted by unknown reason/mistake).

It’s a private high school. Clearly you are not familiar with that grading.
That’s a high GPA for a low rank school like William and Mary from a full pay OOS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

Huh? Since when can someone not apply as an English major and should instead pursue sociology because of extracurricular activities? These kids are still 17 and 18 years old, their entire career destiny is not tied to high school activities.

NP: At a competitive admit school, a test optional English major would have 1-2 ECs that align with major.
Otherwise seems weak to me.

Another NP. This is not true. Students’ ECs do not need to align with their majors—especially at highly selective schools. First of all, most highly selective schools don’t admit by major. Second, ECs show what sort of campus community member the student would be; most of these schools want kids who will get involved, and ECs are good evidence of that.

She should consider a cyber charter or writing curriculum instead of standard classroom teaching. Better home life balance and less toxic. West Chester university in Pa is famous for producing good teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

Huh? Since when can someone not apply as an English major and should instead pursue sociology because of extracurricular activities? These kids are still 17 and 18 years old, their entire career destiny is not tied to high school activities.

NP: At a competitive admit school, a test optional English major would have 1-2 ECs that align with major.
Otherwise seems weak to me.

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

+1. I agree with this unless you have “one that got away” (accepted by unknown reason/mistake).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

Huh? Since when can someone not apply as an English major and should instead pursue sociology because of extracurricular activities? These kids are still 17 and 18 years old, their entire career destiny is not tied to high school activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

Hmm. Any mentoring or literacy volunteering to tie into a nice arc? Any evidence for English major?

My 3.7uw test optional kid got into W&M OOS but had strong evidence for major in independent projects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

Is she very analytical?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

Anonymous wrote:Expect significant change in the profession due to AI & ML.

EDTech is a growing industry.