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can anyone provide some input on my chances at Washington and Lee. More than likey I will apply ED here, so any comments?

4.016 GPA, 17th in Class of 310 (top 6%)

1210 SAT Score (620 V / 590 M) -- hopefully taking for a 3rd time in Oct. - expect around a 1280

SAT II: US History: 710 Writing: 550 (haven't taken math yet)


2 Years of service in the Civics Club, (hopefully an Officer)
SADD Club - 1yr
Co-Editor-in-Cheif of school newspaper (Feature Edior, Photographer, Staff Writer aswell)
participation in the Symphonic Band (9th grade - had to drop to do Newspaper)
active memeber of the Spanish club for 4 years - Officer
a responsible employee of Food Lion of 2 1/2 years
a dedicated volunteer to God's Storehouse - over 50 hours of service
a member of the junior varsity Science Acadmenic team
History turtor - 1 yr.
AP US History research club
National Honor Society (hopefully an Officer)
Performance in local theatre
Varsity Swim Team (12th grade year only)

AP Classes: (6)
Spanish 5
Biology
US History
English 11
English 12
Government

Credits:
English 4
Science 4
Math 5
History 5
Band 1
Adv. News Mag 3
Foregin Lang 5
Physical Education 2

Senior Year Classes:
AP Biology
AP Spanish 5
Adv. Pre Cal.
Adv. News Magazine
AP English 12
AP Government
Adv. 20th Century History

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 10:51 pm: Edit

i just got my AP US History score - 4

By Persona1011 (Persona1011) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 11:14 pm: Edit

Hey, I will be a freshman there in the fall and have some advice for you. W&L is a very selective school...but not hardcore like all but 2 ivies (dart and cornell...more lenient). Everything is GREAT, except for your SAT's. Your SAT II's were similar to mine (I bombed the writing because I had a wrestling match..got a 730 on bio and math), but you still need to take one more. Your class rank is decent...trying to knock it up a few notches would be beneficial...if you could crack top 10 it would be better. As for your SAT's; try to reach a 1330 for a safer bet...although this number still isn't a sure thing. I would say that a 1380 or above would almost guarantee you a place if you nail your essays and keep your grades up. Good Luck.

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

i'm going for an interview soon, will that help too?

By Persona1011 (Persona1011) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 11:36 am: Edit

no clue man...I am just guessing that it could help or hurt depending on how you interview. I personally did not interview and got in just fine...big big nice aid package too (if you get any it will probably be very generous..much more so than those i received from hopkins and duke...richmond and wake gave mediocre ones).

By Gcajrjr (Gcajrjr) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 12:45 am: Edit

Hey Im a current w&l junior if anyone has questions just post them.

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 03:49 pm: Edit

what were your SATS Persona1011?

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 03:49 pm: Edit

STATS (typo)

By Persona1011 (Persona1011) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 11:43 pm: Edit

oh my stats...how much do you want really?...well..

I got a 1450 SAT (750 math, 700 verbal), 730 math SAT II, 730 bio-e SAT II, 570 writing SAT II (OUCH! I KNOW...i got a 730 on the composition...but skipped 21 questions on the mc and got a 500 on that part...so the composite was shoddy), I was SGA President, 1st in a class of 200 (180 by the end of the year...major transfers/dropouts), key club member...hmm...hoby ambassador...i've worked for a year and a half...picked up wrestling my sophomore year and became a 2x state qualifier, team captain as well..multiple tournament mvp's and placements...i was ranked top 6 for the school-size division at one point...tutor, class secretary, NHS member, i had 6 ap's my senior year and 2 my jr year...got two 4's on both the chem and bio exams my junior year (with wrestling it's a lot man...)...um...my essays were the big thing for me...i write really well and my essays were the "blow you away" kind...my stats are kinda like yours except a higher SAT, a little higher SAT II's, the class rank...and your extra currics are a little more diversified but I picked a handful and excelled in all. When you apply...shoot for a higher SAT, focus on your essays immensely, get the class rank up a bit, and try to incorporate your ec's into "who you are." You look like a good candidate who needs to bust a 1330-1370 SAT.

By Wdlynn (Wdlynn) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 10:48 am: Edit

I'd definitely recommend an interview. I had a friend this year who's stats were almost identical to mine (minus legacy status) who received a postcard from W&L asking to setup an interview and he never got around to it. Ultimately, I was accepted and he was waitlisted, and his parents are convinced it's because he didn't take the interview opportunity.

I'd say you have a good chance at W&L, especially if you can pull your SAT above 1300. I also suggest to anyone applying to look at the George Washington Scholars program at W&L. It's a scholarship program in which you don't apply EA, but you submit your application a couple of weeks after the EA deadline. This year I think there were about 800 scholarship applicants, and 100 were notified by the end of january that they were invited to a scholarship competition in mid-march. You go through a few interviews during the competition, and they choose about half of the 100 for different scholarships.

I guess EA gives you a nudge in the admission process, but the scholarship competition is a good chance to get some help on that hefty W&L tuition. A half tuition scholarship offer was one of the reasons why I chose W&L over UVA.

anyway, check it out.
http://admissions.wlu.edu/web/page/normal/132.html

http://admissions.wlu.edu/gwhs

By Persona1011 (Persona1011) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 11:46 am: Edit

Wdlynn, I've read a couple of your other posts. I can understand that your "legacy" status might have nudged you up a bit for scholarship contention; however, did you have one truly noteworthy thing that might have made you out as a definite scholarship winner over kids who nailed SAT's of 1500+ or have other accolades behind their names? I got excessive grant money (I am paying for books, that's all), so I am not complaining at all about not getting one (my stats were, as you can see, competition "worthy"), I was just wondering what set you apart versus someone else with similar stats. Is W&L that generous to families that show loyalty to the school? I am aware their alumni are very dedicated...just wondering if "loyalty" played an influence. I am being completely inquisitive in this post...just wondering/curious about what they looked for in the scholars. See you in September, I'll be heading down from Maryland.

By Wdlynn (Wdlynn) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 12:33 pm: Edit

well, I'd certainly like to think that legacy had little to do with it - but really it's hard to say. my father isn't really a part of the alumni network; he's a county prosecutor who doesn't make loads of money and doesn't donate often besides to the W&L "annual fund" which is asked of all W&L alumns.

If there was anything that set me apart it probably would have been my essays, which in my opinion were very good. I thought my teacher recommendations were impressive too, but you never know what the adcoms are looking for in essays and recs. maybe four years of varsity soccer and two years as captain was notable, I don't really know.

One thing about my "legacy" status that was visibly advantageous was that during the student-panel interview at the scholarship competition two of the three students knew and thought fondly of my sister who had graduated the year before. If anything, this gave us something to chat about and made the interview very relaxed and the rest of the interview went well.

Like I said, I'd like to think I was offered the money on academic merit alone. But with a father who graduated from W&L undergrad and law, an uncle who went to W&L law, and a sister who had just graduated from W&L undergrad - it's hard to tell what weight was placed on what. I don't quite agree with putting "legacy" applicants on a pedistal in the admissions process, but I'm not going to turn down the money because of it.

congrats on the grant - that's a fantastic deal!

By Willywonka (Willywonka) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 06:29 pm: Edit

I'm going for an interview two weeks from tomorrow, but I can't schedule it until tomorrow, so hopefully it will be enough notice.

I'm going to cry if my counselor refuses to release class rank because of the county policy. Without it, I'm not even eligible to enter the GW scholarship competition.

By Persona1011 (Persona1011) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 08:42 pm: Edit

Wdlynn, funny how you put it: i'm not going to turn it (the money) down. No one would, man...lol...that's just ludicrous to even think of. Do you know any people/friends going? I am the only one from my area who got in (not that great of a school system out in Western MD). Are you going down to W&L any time this summer just to acclimate to the campus...or are you very used to it? I'm probably not going to join a frat either...I wrestle...cannot afford to gain alcohol weight...and do not have the $$$ to spend on a frat (i think...).

By Wdlynn (Wdlynn) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 12:23 pm: Edit

yeah I'm the only person from my area that's going to attend W&L this year. The only other individual I know of that was accepted was our valedictorian, but unfortunately she couldn't afford it so she'll be at william and mary next year. I do know of a handful of people who will be at VMI right across the street, but VMI does a good job of keeping their kids busy.

I'm rather familiar with lex vegas and the surrounding area (already in love with it). I have an aunt who lives in lexington, so I think I'll be going down in a week or so to visit and that will give me an opportunity to walk around some more. I know the campus pretty well, but I haven't been there yet as a definite student so I'm looking forward to it - plus I'll be able to pick up at W&L window decal for my car.

I'm still unsure about a frat. Because of soccer I don't plan on partying too hard, and the financial issue is definitely there. I guess I'll wait and see.

By Willywonka (Willywonka) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 02:27 pm: Edit

I know that MD kids have always been well represented in every W&L class, but I hope there aren't so many of us applying that they'll start to put a cap on the number of us they let in.

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 11:23 pm: Edit

i don't play any sports hardcore (just in free time i play tennis, etc.) but will i be singled out and find it hard to make friends if i'm not involved in a sports team?

By Willywonka (Willywonka) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 11:34 pm: Edit

I can't speak from experience, but I seriously doubt that you'll not make friends for not playing a sport. If you enjoy playing tennis, why not play at a less competitive level?

I want to join a frat, too, but I'm worried about money as it is. Then again, it's like every extra opportunity you take at W&L to meet new people could lead to the job offer of a lifetime, depending on the circumstances...

By Wdlynn (Wdlynn) on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 08:51 am: Edit

I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to making friends outside of sports. There are many other clubs and organizations on campus that give you the same (or better) social opportunities as being a member of a team. Also, frats and sororities have intramural sports teams in just about every sport, so there's definitely still a way to play the sport you enjoy at a less-competitive level.

By Nate8585 (Nate8585) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 09:12 pm: Edit

Gcajrjr- I am going to be a freshmen at Holy Cross in MA this fall and I was wondering if you have any idea how competitive the W&L transer process is. W&L was my first choice but I was rejected, however, even though I believe I could be happy and succeed at Holy Cross I still would like to attend my first choice school. I interviewed with a W&L rep this past fall and am also wondering if an additional interview would be necessary if I were to apply for transer. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks

By Gcajrjr (Gcajrjr) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 12:34 pm: Edit

Nate8585- To my understanding the transfer process is pretty difficult. I would estimate that few get in. Im not saying its impossible, but you would have to do very well at Holy Cross, get great recs, and become involved in campus. Another interview could also help. I say its worth a try, I love W&L and I would tell anyone to come.

By Nate8585 (Nate8585) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Thanks alot for the info and I really hope that I can get in.

By Guyfromva05 (Guyfromva05) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 03:24 pm: Edit

i know W&L is private but will it help that i'm from VA?

By Gcajrjr (Gcajrjr) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 12:29 am: Edit

Well Virginia is W&L's #1 feeder state, but I don't think the state matters in the acceptance process. But don't quote me on that.