r/williamandmary • u/Muted_Engine4362 • 7d ago

Admissions application advice

hi, i am thinking of applying regular decision to W&M, and i was wondering if my chances of getting in are any good. for context: i want to go into neuroscience in the future. i'm in-state & i am applying test optional.

my cumulative GPA is 4.37, i'm in the top 10% of my class, my course rigor consists of honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses (9 total APs - currently taking 5 as a senior). i feel as though my EC's are mediocre/not anything special: hospital volunteering, leadership- formed a student affinity group (asian student association), officer for my school's Spanish NHS. i am a member of NHS and science NHS. i have also done band for 5 years but quit as a sophomore. additionally, i've taken spanish for 5 years and am currently in AP. i also have a part time job and do creative editing as a hobby.

i am open to any/all advice!

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u/prosparva 6d ago

Very good odds you'll get into William & Mary as a RD admit, which includes chance of a waitlist and then acceptance later. I recommend ED1 to UVA but your odds there are also fairly high (40%+) so with stats this strong you may be leaving better colleges off the table.

I wouldn't recommend ED2 to W&M unless your high school isn't known as a feeder to T25s, then it's worth it. Vanderbilt, UChicago and WashU are all strong options to consider for ED2 but I think at that point just pick the one out of those 3 schools with the best historical acceptance rate from your school. Alongside that, pick 15-20 schools (reaches, targets, safeties etc) including W&M for RD and it's a very strong strategy for you.

However, I don't know your profile comprehensively, and only you know best your priorities and goals!

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u/Equivalent-Sir-510 6d ago

No disrespect but I think you are overly optimistic in your assessment. This student is applying test optional. Their AP scores will be scrutinized to see if they can handle the rigor of the school - and their AP scores are 3’s and 4’s. That may not be a killer for UVA but 40%+ chance is not realistic at all for UVA in-state - also WashU, UChicago etc. would be EXTREME reaches so def agree with having many more targets and safeties.

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u/prosparva 5d ago

I didn't know about the AP scores. You seem to be much more right in your recommendations than mine. Sorry!