And So It Really Begins
We Admit It! This time of year can feel a bit overwhelming to us, no doubt as the last few months leading up to the application deadline felt for you. Every day we download additional applications. Every day we get new mail, open it, sort it, index it and work to match it with those downloaded applications. Every day we get dozens of emails with application updates or additions that we then open, sort, index and match. Every day we are creating new files for deans to read (and remember, every application is read at least twice). Then we come in the next day and repeat, repeat, repeat. Everything we do prior to January 1 leads up to this point in our process. What we are working on right now is the essence of what our work is all about. We might be a tad overwhelmed by it, but we also love it. This is our opportunity to create the next chapter in William & Mary’s very distinguished history. This is our chance to create a class that will challenge, support and inspire each other, this campus and the world at large.
However, before that class comes to fruition, we have a lot more downloading, opening, sorting, indexing, matching and reading to do. We ask for your patience during this time. Just to give you an idea of the volume we’re talking about, on December 24 only 40% of our applications had been submitted, on December 31, about 60%. That means between December 31 and January 1, close to 7000 students submitted an application to us. This creates a bit of a logjam but we are working through it as quickly as we can. And that’s just applications. That doesn’t include application fees, transcripts, recommendations or test scores. As we process applications remember:
- We will email you and your parents (presuming you included their email address(es) in your application) initially when we download your application from the Common App.
- We will email you and your parents a second time when we match your application to the other required materials (transcript, application fee, standardized test scores).
- At this time of year it can take up to a month to process an application.
- If for any reason we are missing any particular component we will simply email you and ask that you resend whatever is missing. There is no penalty assessed; as long as you submit an application, we will work with you to complete and review it.
We will post a blog when we have downloaded every freshman Common Application.
So keep an eye on your inbox and this blog for updates as we work our way through the infamous reading season. We will be sure to come up for air from all that downloading, opening, sorting, indexing, matching and reading to keep you up to date.
Wendy Livingston ’03, M.Ed. ‘09
Associate Dean of Admission
Comments are closed on posts older than one year, but we still want to hear from you. If you have a comment or question for us, please email admission@wm.edu.
Sounds like the processing of applications from RD students is heating up…it certainly seems pretty hectic. With that said, I did receive an email from W & M entitled “Your Application to William and Mary” today, but otherwise the email had no content. Is this normal? I’m just a little mystified. I realize the admissions office is very busy at this time of the year, but I’m concerned about whether my application has been downloaded or not. Thanks in advance for a response! 🙂
@Brittany Morris, our apologies. We didn’t get notification about your comment and so we were a bit late to respond. Are you sure the email had no content? Is it possible you need to accept us as a safe sender and then you’ll see the content? Our records show that assuming you’re the Brittany Morris who goes to WT Woodson High School, we did email you on Jan. 8 to let you know we downloaded your application from Common App and that we are working on matching it to your other materials.
For deferred students, do you review them in the same process as regular decision?
@S, mostly. We review deferred applicants in the final stages of regular decision but we are also working through our regular decision process at that point.
I just received my report card from first semester. My grades were the best that they have ever been. Since I was deferred, I would like to show the admissions committee that I am still working very hard. I think that it is going to be a while before I receive my updated transcript. Is it okay if I fax my report card to you guys?
@MPS, you are certainly welcome to but your school should be sending us your updated transcript when it’s available (usually late January/early February) which will arrive in plenty of time to be considered. So if you wish to wait for your school to send your official report that’s absolutely fine.
Hello. I am a deferred applicant and my semester transcript will not be sent out until February 13th, I believe. Will this have any effect on my admissions decision or the way my application will be reviewed? Will they admissions committee wait until they have received my transcript to look over my application again? Thank you! I look forward from hearing from W&M.
@LAS, that should be fine. We expect mid-year grades to arrive between late January and mid-February so you’re right in that window.
Generally, what are the chances for a defered ED student to have a successful outcome in the regular decision cycle?
@Parent, generally there are some deferred students who eventually get admitted but it’s unfortunately not overly common. It certainly can happen but it just gets more difficult for any student to stand out as we receive more and more applications during Regular Decision. We certainly encourage those who were deferred to seriously explore the other universities to which they have applied so that regardless of the outcome with W&M, they have great choices for next fall.
How does the letter of continued interest play into effect for deferral applicants?
@KB, it just provides the applicant with the opportunity to update us on any thing that’s happened since the application was submitted and we can take that information into account when reviewing your application again.