The Most Asked Question
We Admit It! We are getting close to wrapping up the freshman Regular Decision process. The last files are being reviewed, Committee discussions are winding down, the printer is going full speed printing out acceptance letters and Dean Broaddus’ green pen is at the ready – prepared to sign thousands of offers of admission. These are just a handful of the literally scores of steps that we must go through in order to release decisions.
At this time, we are often flooded with questions about when we will release decisions. All we know for certain is that they will be released by April 1, but we cannot be more precise beyond that. Each of the dozens of steps that must be completed in order to release decisions is dependent on each of the other steps being completed in turn. And then there are those things that are beyond our control. Last year, an unexpected snowfall closed the College and set us back a day.
We appreciate that applicants are on pins and needles awaiting their decisions; we appreciate that. We are just as eager to get you your decision as you are to receive it. But right now we need to focus on completing our process. Last year we received over 200 comments on one blog asking when decisions would be released. While we are more than happy to respond to any question (be it on the phone, via email, a comment on this blog or on our social media channels), the time we take to respond to this question when it’s asked over and over, takes us away from finishing the process and getting you those decisions.
Remember, when we push the proverbial button and release decision emails, we will post that information on our website, social media and our “Decisions, Decisions” blog will go up.
Until then, we appreciate your continued patience. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It won’t be too much longer now.
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.
Thank you for being as transparent as you reasonably can. No need to respond. 🙂
My son was admitted Early Decision and just received his packet today. He also applied to the St. Andrews joint degree program. My sense from past blogs was that students admitted to the St. Andrews program receive their decision letter in the packet. His packet didn’t contain an acceptance or rejection letter. Does the absence of any information about St. Andrews mean that he was not accepted to the program, or just that the process is ongoing? Thanks very much.
@2018Mom, decisions about the Joint Degree programme are released shortly after we release decisions to those who applied RD so that process is still ongoing.
Can a student apply to the Saint Andrew’s program during or after their freshman year? Thanks!
@Corinne K, given that the program is a four-year program it’s very unlikely that a student can enter the program if they didn’t originally apply to it. It also depends on whether all the spots in the program are already taken. Generally speaking, if you don’t apply to the program, you cannot join it later just because you’d be too far behind in the course progression. We do have a semester study abroad program with St Andrews that students can apply to participate in.
Ok, thanks for the info!
If a student applied early decision and got deferred and then never sent in mid term grades what happens to their app? 🙂
@Sabrina, we will still review your application and send you a decision when we release decisions to those who applied Regular Decision.
Hello! Will you be informing first via email and then mail or the opposite? And any chances theyll come out today? Thank you^___^
@Sam, our Decisions, Decisions blog will explain the ins and outs of how we release but we email all applicants first. And as this blog explains, we prefer not to speculate on whether decisions will or will not be released on any given day. Just look for the Decisions, Decisions blog to be posted. That will be the indication that decisions have been released.
Thank you so much!
As decisions from other colleges randomly roll out, I get progressively more nervous to hear back from William and Mary! I like the “safe” feeling of ambiguity, but at this point I am extremely excited and nervous to hear from you all!Thanks so much for everything, it’s crazy to think the whole process will be over in just a few days!
@Jean, we agree. And to think the Jan. 1 deadline was less than 3 months go. And decisions will be out by April 1. It goes by so fast and so slowly all at once.
Hello! Wow I agree with Jean 100 percent! Does that mean William and Mary will not release before April 1st? Thank you so much for everything!!
@Sarah, no it doesn’t mean that. As the blog says, we will release decisions by April 1. We don’t know more than that. It could be earlier but we make no promises in case it isn’t.
I read on a William and Mary page that you guys will send the emails out on March 26. Is this true?
@Vanessa, we think you’re reading last year’s blog (we released on March 26 last year). As this blog states, we don’t predict a release date in advance.
@Vanessa, or you found our announcement from when we released last year but you’ll note that’s dated 2013.
Ahhh I see, my mistake. Thank you so much!
Is the release date at any time you are ready before or on April 1st? Or do you know yet?
@Griffin, yes, we release decisions when all those steps we’re discussing are complete and decisions are ready to be launched. That can be before or on April 1.
wow, Admit it Dean, you are up super early!!
With decisions coming out from University of Virginia and Virginia Tech on Friday, March 21, we assume W&M is saving the best decision for last. Any chance the W&M decision will be coming within a week of UVA’s and Va Tech’s decision? I’m not asking about a specific date, just a timeframe shorter than April 1.
@Anxious W&M Dad, we’re honored to be “the best.” It is possible that decisions will be launched prior to April 1. We just can’t make any promises. We just simply don’t want to say oh we expect they’ll come out on or about this date and then having something come up that delays the launch. We’d then be flooded with inquiries (understandably so) and that would slow us down further. Know that we’re working round the clock to get everything released as soon as we can.
Can I just ask if like we hear from other schools, was the admission criteria this year so much higher than past years?
I know you previously said that the number of applicants was far greater but were they higher caliber?
Seems across the board, kids are applying to an obscene numbers of schools, and it’s not just that there are more students. Every school is reporting much higher application rates which means there will be a higher student rejection rate….
There has to be a limit in the number of schools kids are applying too, as it is really going to cause issue with enrollments. The process definitely weighs harder on the middle tier candidates.
At the moment my son has only 1 school that he cares about and it’s TCWM. the other decisions are just sitting there as places that accepted him and are fall backs with sadly little interest as his dream school has been TCWM since he hit double digits.
School costs are just too high to waste a year just for a transfer next year. We are getting no need based aid so the costs are clearly not going to outweigh the benefits of going away to a school that he has no love for. A year of working and local school may pay off.
Hopefully it won’t be the case and dreams will pay off. We are willing to pay for TCWM out of state tuition as JPM interns from there that we’ve had the pleasure to work with are much higher caliber and have only praise for the school. I wouldn’t be willing to say that for many other schools out of state rates. TCWM has very impressive student graduates. I have never heard a negative word from these now adults.
The stress is explosive. Saving the Best for Last…..
Let’s go Tribes.
@Parent, our application numbers were up this year and yes, generally the caliber of student increases each year. Not dramatically but the competition does get a little stiffer as application numbers increase. That being said, our class size is increasing slightly this year so we’re able to take a few additional students.
I was just wondering, IF we get accepted, will we recover our financial aid information with the “thick envelope”? Thanks!
@Hopeful, information about that will be in the blog we write for admitted students once decisions go out but basically, you’ll be emailed when your financial aid info is available to view online.
What day will admissions decisions be released? Will it possibly be before April 1? Just kidding!!!! I can read! Just wanted to say I love your blog. It has lots of great info. Waiting on pins and needles!
@MOM, we appreciate your sense of humor and the kudos!
Hello, One of my friends received her acceptance in the beginning of March and she did not apply early decision. I was just wondering how this was possible? Thanks!
@Samantha, they got a postcard that was discussed in another blog that was not an official acceptance, it just hinted at it. Not everyone got one though. See other blogs.
@Samantha and @Parent, our scholarship recipients did receive their admission packages earlier this month (also addressed in comments of previous blogs). Those students are a very small cohort of our admitted student population but they did receive notification early.
In the early decision blogs each night you posted at a certain point that the decisions would not be released that day. Is there a point in the evening at which we should stop checking for that day? Also, if it comes to it, can decisions be released on a weekend, or are you not in the office? Thanks, and sorry to bother you.
@Steiner, if you don’t see the Decisions, Decisions blog by 8:00 or 9:00pm EST it would be highly unlikely that decisions would be released that night. But again, as we’ve said, we don’t make any predictions or absolutes at this time about when decisions will or won’t be released.
We try to avoid releasing decisions on the weekends but we don’t rule out the possibility if it’s needed.
I found a post on your website that decisions will be released tomorrow. Is this true?
@Oklahoman, see our response to Vanessa’s similar comment on March 22. You’re seeing posts from last year — note they’re dated 3/26/13.
I know you can’t tell us exactly when. But, please throw us a bone! 🙂
@Corinne K, we know how anxious you are but the point of this blog is to explain that we can’t do that. Say we said we hope to release in the next two days, and then something happened (it might actually snow today for example or last year when our campus network went down) and we didn’t release. We’d be flooded with inquiries 3 days from now (understandably so) that would only delay us further.
At worst, April 1 is a week away so that’s not too much longer. And again, that’s at worst.
Ok, thank you. I get it!
Will there be an admitted students day this year if so, do you know the date? I cannot seem to locate on the site. Past years it looks like the second weekend of April.
@Kevin M., it’s on April 12. Admitted students will get much more info about it in their admission materials.
I hope you have more than one admit day because schools that have already released their decisions have scheduled admit days for that date.
@Meghan, unfortunately most colleges use that Saturday because the previous Saturday is too close to when decisions are released and the following one is the Easter holiday so we know that our day conflicts with many others.
We have smaller programs on Mondays in April for admitted students. They’re not on the same scale as our April 12 program but they are great options for those who can’t make it on the 12th.
Hi. If my submitted essay has some small typos. Will it have a big effect on my chance to get in?
@Serena, it depends on the severity of the typos. If it’s just something small it shouldn’t have a big impact. If it’s lots and lots of typos, to the point where we question whether you’re ready to write at the level our faculty expect, it could impact your application.
Can you definitely say it will not be tonight? Seeing as how the day is coming to an end?
@Hopeful…this is copied from earlier. Just fyi…if you don’t see the Decisions, Decisions blog by 8:00 or 9:00pm EST it would be highly unlikely that decisions would be released that night. But again, as we’ve said, we don’t make any predictions or absolutes at this time about when decisions will or won’t be released.
We try to avoid releasing decisions on the weekends but we don’t rule out the possibility if it’s needed. Good Luck to all. And a little faith too.
Are students that were accepted early decision allowed to attend the admitted students day on April 12th? Or is it meant for people that are trying to make a decision about whether or not they want to go to W&M?
@EDStudent, Day for Admitted Students is open to all admitted students and their families so ED admits are of course welcome.
I was notified about admission in early March because I received the W&M Scholarship and gained admission into the Monroe Scholar program, distinctions for which I am VERY grateful. I was wondering if I would receive an official email concerning my admission into the college even though I already received an admission packet? (BTW I love this Admission Blog! You guys are AWESOME!!)
@Daniel, congratulations on your admission and the W&M Scholar and Monroe Scholar designations. You will not receive a decision email. For those students we just send the admission package with the admission letter. The admission letter is the most official thing we send.
We hope you decide to join the Tribe!
Okay, thanks! One more question, if we had unfilled requirements for financial aid and we submit them, how long should we expect it to be before we hear anything back from the financial aid office?
@EDStudent, that just depends on what needed to be submitted. You can follow up with the Financial Aid Office and they might be able to give you a timeline.
I have a good feeling about today. We are getting close, I can feel it!
I have a feeling it may be today 🙂 Good luck everyone!
This blog has been a beacon of light in the darkness, it really sets W&M apart. We have been bombarded with college material mailed nonstop for more than a year (always exciting no matter what school it was from), emailed by the hundreds and all of a sudden radio silence. It’s unnerving and these last remaining days have left us wound very tight. Being able to read real words written daily (sometimes hourly) calms us just a bit and enables us to carry on like normal. Thank you!
@Runnergirlsmom, awe. That is a really sweet post. We’re so glad the blog has been a “beacon” in these stressful months as students await their decisions.
I second @runnergirlsmom, my son had the unfortunate experience of receiving an admission decision in error from another school. Apparently only 20 or so received them a week ahead of the actual decision date. It wasn’t his top pick (W&M of course) but still happy to receive. The next day he received an email from the dean of admissions that it was not an offer of admission, no phone call, no real explanation, just an impersonal email. Whether he is admitted to W&M or not I will forever be a fan of your school because of the respectful manner in which you all provide information.
@Liz, sorry to hear about your son’s experience. We feel badly for all involved when that happens. We’re glad this blog has been helpful!
Could you please clarify how RD acceptance information will be made available. Will W&M send an email to the student email address used to confirm application completion?
@KC, the answer to your question is yes but all that will also be detailed in the Decisions, Decisions blog (which goes up when we launch decisions).
So we’ll have all that detailed in the Decisions, Decisions post that goes up this evening? 😉
@T, no predictions or promises on when the blog will be posted. Just promises that it will answer all the logistical questions about decisions and their release.
What’s with the mystery? It’s driving us crazy!! When’s the latest you’ll post the “Decisions, Decisions” blog post (time) so we know when we should stop looking?
@igotztoknow, we’re not being mysterious. We just don’t know when decisions will be released until they’re on their way as this blog explains. And we answered your question in response to a few previous comments. 8:00-9:00pm is likely the latest we’d post the blog.
Oh god I hope I get admitted, It will make me so happy.
I guess I’m a bit behind in blog readings so missed why you wouldn’t know by now if you’ll post by 8:00 tonight. That’s only a little over an hour and a half away!
Decisions are out! Unfortunately, I didn’t get into W&M which was my top choice for years but congrats to all those that did! 🙂
@AC. How do you know?
I got the rejection email.
@inquisitive, we don’t launch the blog until we actually have some decisions out so we can ensure the process is working and there are no last minute glitches and we don’t know any of that until we’re literally pushing the proverbial button.
Sorry AC. I am sure you will go where you are meant to be…best of luck. I still don’t know yet.
Got waitlisted by UVA and now William and Mary, why does my luck suck.
Well, I got wait listed. I was wait listed at another school, and the feeling of inadequacy definitely is not a good one. Congratulations to all who got in, and I am thinking about everyone who will be sad tonight.
@AC, @W&MHopeful and @Disappointed, we are certainly sorry the decisions couldn’t be more positive. Applying to selective colleges is a challenging process and sometimes one with frustrating results. We know you will have other great offers and we wish you all the best.
Chin up….you were not denied. I still don’t know…any moment I am sure.