Overheard in Committee: Early Decision Edition Part 2
We Admit it! Thanksgiving Break was incredibly relaxing, and provided all of our Committee members much needed time to travel home and decompress. Now, we’ve all returned to Williamsburg, and have resumed our Committee discussions. While our conference room chairs let out an audible groan when we first sat down (we all enjoyed a healthy amount of food over the break…), we are excited to get back to building the Class of 2020.
In our last blog post, we discussed the importance of your transcript in the college admission process. Colleges want to be confident in your ability to succeed academically at their respective institutions. We very much adhere to this philosophy, and as a result we review each applicant’s academic history in depth. This entails studying course rigor (have you been challenging yourself in the classroom?), academic performance (have you been performing to the best of your ability in the classroom?), and yes, every student’s favorite, standardized testing.
As has been discussed previously on this blog, we are of course looking to build a freshman class comprised of academically promising students. But our Committee discussions would admittedly be somewhat boring if we only talked about transcripts and test scores. After all, numbers can only tell part of the story. We are genuinely trying to get a sense for ALL that you bring to the table, both in and out of the classroom. Limiting the conversation to just numbers and credentials would be superficial, and wouldn’t do you justice. To this end, our conversations in Committee go deeper.
Overheard in Committee today: “There’s more to this applicant than meets the eye. There are strong PQs at play here.”
By “PQs,” we are referring to the personal qualities of an applicant—the “intangibles” that come through when really taking the time to thoroughly review an application. If our student body was solely made up of students with a certain minimum GPA, or with certain minimum test scores, or with specific extracurricular interests, our campus would be a pretty dull place. It takes all sorts to make the William & Mary campus vibrant, dynamic and welcoming. To accomplish this, we look closely at the “non-academic” components of your application, your essays, letters of recommendation, and extra-curricular involvements, to get a sense for what you might bring to the William & Mary community.
Your essays and letters of recommendation can go a long way to conveying such PQs. What “vibes” do we get when reading your essay(s)? How do you articulate yourself when discussing your interests, passions and/or life experiences? What parts of your personality shine through when putting your voice on paper?
Similarly, how do your recommenders describe you? How did those closest to you (teachers, coaches, mentors, employers, etc.) enjoy working with you? What insight, stories and anecdotes do they relay to us that highlight your work ethic and overall potential?
When both of these components work in tandem to bring your personality to the forefront of your application, it can lead to a highly engaging read. While strong PQs may not be enough to merit admission, they may just be the tipping factor in determining a final admission decision. This is why it is so important to take the time to both meaningfully reflect about and carefully edit your college essay(s), and to get your letter(s) of recommendation from those individuals who you feel can best advocate for you.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s version of Overheard in Early Decision Committee. We have very much enjoyed reading and discussing your impressive applications. Be on the lookout for “Decisions, Decisions” blog posts later this week once admission decision emails are sent. As of today, we are planning to send decision emails out by this Sunday (12/6) evening.
Brad Harlan
Assistant 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.
WOOHOO!!! Looove Overheard in Committee! Thank you all so, so much for continuing to provide such great insights into your process – and for working so hard for each and every prospective student. Bravo. Wish I could give hugs over the internet.
@Yay!!! thank you for your kind note. It is our pleasure to work with such fantastic students and their families. Sending you a big hug right back!
Understanding that the decision emails will be sent by Sunday evening, is it possible that they could be released before the weekend?
@Taylor, it is indeed possible, however at this point in time we are only able to say that you will be hearing from us by Sunday evening. Either way, you will be receiving an email from us soon.
So when looking at extracurriculars, do you all prefer students that have done a lot of activities with less commitment, or just one or two hardcore activities for three or four years? For example, a student who was in various clubs such as scifi club, creative writing club, random acts of kindness, video game club, etc. at different times versus a student who spent 4 years in DECA or Debate and became president/captain.
It was mentioned elsewhere on the blog. It said” there’s no preference here. There are places in our class for students who focus their efforts on one or two specific areas and there are places in our class for the more jack-of-all-trades sort. We do not have a preference for one or the other; we value both. Likewise, we do not preference a part-time job over volunteer experience. Both are equally valueable in our eyes.”
@2020 Hype! @La is spot on when quoting one of our previous responses on this blog. We would also add that the most important thing is to find those activities that you are most enthusiastic about, and then spending a meaningful amount of time pursuing them. Whether its creative writing club, random acts of kindness, DECA, debate, or anything between, we are simply trying to gauge how passionate and committed you are to your various extracurricular involvements. It is also important to note that there is no hierarchy of activities that we are looking for. That is to say that there are not activities that inherently look better than others.
This week couldn’t possibly go by any slower! I’m so anxious for Sunday night! But, I sincerely thank you all for taking such time and care with every application, and for keeping us applicants as up-to-date as possible on the process. You rock!
@Kelly Konrad hang in there, you will be hearing from us soon! And we sincerely thank you, and all of our other applicants, for sharing such impressive accomplishments, interests and talents with our office. Reviewing these applications, and getting to know more about our applicants, is one of the best parts of our job. You da bomb!
Thanks ‘admit it ‘ blog for making the applicants know the latest information about admission process!
@Haonan Jiang you are more than welcome! And thank you for your kind note. It is our pleasure to work with such fantastic prospective students.
I’ll put my money on emails coming out by Friday afternoon, same as last year. WM admissions is not likely to risk something going wrong and not be able to fix it over a weekend because there are no IT resources around to help out. Plus, most schools use some third party bulk mail sender like constant contact and those outfits are not likely to keep around weekend resources without additional charges. Doing this over a weekend is too risky and WM admissions is too smart… u connect the dots!
@ITguy intriguing theory. While decisions may go out sooner, we are only able to say that decisions will go out by Sunday evening. Time will tell…
Today is Grants 18th Birthday. He is off now at the first swim meet of the season, as a Captain, ready to lead WTWoodson (and his team mate brother) in cheers and some fast swims. I hope that tonight he gets the best present ever, learning that like his father, he will become a member of the “Tribe”.
Thanks so much to the staff who write Admit It! It’s a fun and upbeat blog that kept us all in the know while providing helpful glimpses into this sometimes difficult/stressful process.
I may have married into the “Tribe” but after 24 years and going through this process, W&M holds a very special place in my heart.
#hopefulmom #marriedthetribe
I swung by here this morning out of habit. Two years ago this week I was an addict to this blog. Living and breathing every minute of it. In the end — on Friday evening — it was good news for my Sophia. It changed her life forever and I will always be grateful to the Admissions Committee for seeing in Sophia what I have always seen in her.
I am confident that William & Mary was the perfect fit for my child; however, I am equally convinced that it isn’t for everybody and that this Committee does the best it can to sort through those various multiples.
As these decisions approach and the pressure mounts, remember to take a deep breath. It will all work out the way it should — one way or the other.
@Mom- Class of 2018 very wise words. We are so happy to hear that Sophia is enjoying her William & Mary experience! And agree that every student who reads this blog, as well as all other college applicants, will find themselves at a fantastic institution next fall, and will undoubtedly accomplish great things during their undergraduate career.
Thank you ‘Admit it!’ blog for keeping us updated throughout the whole application and decision period! The posts really help alleviate the anxiety we applicants face during this whole process! Looking forward to recieving decisions soon! 🙂
@Amulya thank you for your kind note! You will be hearing from our office soon 🙂
I am thoroughly enjoying reading W&M’s 2020 undergraduate admission blog!! My son and I are scouring every bit of information we can find waiting for the big decision. I know this is an incredibly busy time for the Admissions personnel…and keeping your blog updated adds to your hectic schedule. Thank you for your kindness and compassion to those of us anxiously waiting to hear. Best wishes and thoughts for a successful process. And, here’s some extra hugs!!
@Hopeful Mom we appreciate your kind words, and are happy to hear that you are enjoying reading our updates. You and your son will be hearing from our office soon!
This week is going by as slow as molasses!!! Can’t wait to hear back, good or bad. I just want to hear the news either way! Checking this blog every other minute almost for a “Decisions, Decisions…” blog post! I just want to know so that I can figure out my next steps.
@Excited! we hear ya, and will send decisions out as soon as we are able. A “Decisions, Decisions” blog will be posted once decision emails have been sent. Hang in there!
Waiting on pins and needles over here! Hoping decisions will be released tomorrow and sending good thoughts to all other applicants! Thank you so much for keeping us informed throughout this process.
@Sophie Kidd it’s our pleasure to help our prospective students in any way that we can during this stressful time. Take some deep breaths and do what you can to relax. You’ll be hearing from us soon!
WM is a great school. These days I wished they had a mandatory US Constitution Class for every single student regardless of major to reinforce Jeffersonian thinking and principles.
Really hope that the decisions will be out by Friday night! So excited and can’t wait to know
@Charlotte we will send decisions out as soon as we are able. We appreciate your patience as we finalize things on our end!
First of all, thank you for all of your hard work during this process. I know that decisions will be released by Sunday evening & a “Decisions, Decisions” blog post will be posted as the emails send. Will you update your social media pages (Facebook & Twitter, etc.) at the same time as the blog post?
@M absolutely. Once decisions have been sent we will post a “Decisions, Decisions” blog, at which point we will also update all of our social media accounts accordingly.
Last year I was an addict anxiously waiting to see the blog each day when my daughter applied to William and Mary ED. Alexandra is now a freshman, with her last day of first semester classes Friday!! It was truly the best decision she has ever made. She loves it, and as a parent I couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. Now I am again on the blog daily as I have another daughter who applied ED 🙂 Thank you again so much for all of your hard work and for keeping us updated as we eagerly await your decision!
@Mom- Class of 2019, thank you for your thoughtful note! We are so happy to hear that Alexandra is enjoying her freshman year at W&M 🙂 You and your younger daughter will be hearing from us soon!
Is Sunday night a definite for finding out our decision? I literally cannot wait (but of course I will if Sunday night is it). Thank you!!!
@Madeline, we are not able to provide specifics at this time. All we can say is that you will be hearing from us by Sunday evening. We appreciate your patience!
I am in the same boat with @Mom- Class of 2019. I have a freshman studying for finals and a senior applied for ED. They both love the college. I hope they will be together next year (and it will be easier for us to visit them in the same trip 🙂 .
Thanks for the blog and updates!
@19&20, you’re more than welcome! We wish your daughter the best of luck on her final exams, and are happy to hear that she has loved her time in Williamsburg. Your younger daughter will be hearing from us by the end of the week! Go Tribe.
I’m just curious..
Assuming that ED Committee has been fully completed & all the ED decisions have been made, what happens between the completion of the Committee gathering and decision release?
@M, we are simply organizing things on our end, and making sure that we are being careful at each stage of the process (or else things like this might happen: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/johns-hopkins-wrong-acceptance-letters_n_6342026.html).
I am so anxious! I really appreciate this blog so that while I’m contemplating my future with a severe amount of anxiety, I may check up on the blog to see what’s being talked about. It’s nice to have all the information. Although it doesn’t make the waiting any easier! Thanks for all the hard work. 🙂
@Claire, you’re more than welcome! Take some deep breaths, you’ll be hearing from us soon. Once decisions are launched, we will post a “Decisions, Decisions” blog!
Best of luck to my daughter, Madison, and all the ED applicants. No matter the outcome you have a bright future ahead. Thank you to the ED Committee Members for your thoughtful review of all the candidates.
@Proud Dad – Class of 2020, we couldn’t agree more about the promising futures for all of our applicants. It really is quite humbling to get to work with such talented students and their families.
All fingers and toes crossed for my senior applying ED. The waiting is so hard !
@Momofsamiam, we know the waiting can be tough, but we promise you will be hearing from us before too long. Hang in there!
I have a gut feeling that tomorrow will be the day the decisions come out. Ah I’m so anxious to find out!! Thank you all for keeping us updated throughout this whole ED process. I hope I can say I’m apart of the Tribe family in the fall!
@R, take some deep breaths and do some fun things to relax! We will be sending decisions out by the end of the weekend.
Good Luck Everyone! We were in yours shoes last year and will be in them again next year! My older son is a Freshman and absolutely LOVES W&M!!! His younger brother has already decided to apply ED next year! Best of Luck to all!
@Kim Tobin, we are happy to hear that your son LOVES W&M! We look forward to reviewing your younger son’s application next year. Go Tribe!
I want to thank you all for the time you have spent both reviewing applications and keeping us informed through the blog posts. While the waiting is tough, there is comfort in reading about your efforts to build the community that will be the Class of 2020. We have tried to remain pretty “zen” at our house. I participate in the admissions process for the graduate program for which I am the lead academic advisor. So we, at the House of G, understand and appreciate all that you do! Good luck to all of the ED applicants, including our son Patrick!
@Nelia Gustafson, thank you for your note! It is our pleasure to do all that we can to assist and support our applicants and their families during this stressful time. We are happy to hear that you have remained “zen” throughout this process! We promise that you will be hearing from us in the near future. Go Tribe.
is it possible that the emails could come out earlier than Sunday?
RT
@JW decision emails were launched tonight. Please refer to our latest “Decisions, Decisions” blog post for further information.
Barnsback Family December 4, 2015
Today is Grants 18th Birthday. He is off now at the first swim meet of the season, as a Captain, ready to lead WTWoodson (and his team mate brother) in cheers and some fast swims. I hope that tonight he gets the best present ever, learning that like his father, he will become a member of the “Tribe”.
Thanks so much to the staff who write Admit It! It’s a fun and upbeat blog that kept us all in the know while providing helpful glimpses into this sometimes difficult/stressful process.
I may have married into the “Tribe” but after 24 years and going through this process, W&M holds a very special place in my heart.
#hopefulmom #marriedthetribe
@Barnsback Family, thank you for your kind, genuine and thoughtful note. It is our pleasure to use this blog as a helpful tool for our prospective students and their families. Decision emails were indeed launched tonight. Please refer to our latest “Decisions, Decisions” blog post for further information. We hope that Grant’s swim meet went well! Have a terrific weekend. And a very Happy Birthday to Grant. #GoTribe
Just heard from my daughter that she got her early decision acceptance email! Our family is SO excited for her to become part of the Class of 2020! Go Tribe!
@Proud Arlington Dad congratulations to your entire family on your daughter’s impressive accomplishment. We are ecstatic to officially welcome her as a member of the Class of 2020. We’ll see you for move-in day in August, if not before. Go Tribe!