Overheard in Committee: 2014 Early Decision Edition Part 2
We Admit It! Committee deliberations can be fun, uplifting, inspiring. Getting to hear applicants’ stories and getting to craft the next incoming class is at the heart of what we do. It’s what we like best about our jobs. At other times, committee deliberations are challenging. They force us to ask the tough questions; questions for which we don’t always have an easy answer. In these instances we do our best to explore all sides of the question at hand and make the best decision we can based upon the information in front of us. Today’s Overheard in Committee topic compelled us to ask one of those more challenging questions.
Overheard in Committee Today: “Talk to me about the discipline.”
If a student acknowledges in the Common Application that they have been subject to disciplinary action either at the school or legal level, that information is front and center for us on that student’s file. In those instances, we ask what the infraction was, what the resulting punishment was and we explore the extent to which the applicant acknowledges that infraction and what they learned from it. Disciplinary actions come in all shapes and sizes: we’ve seen everything from violating a dress code to physical altercations to honor code violations. Some disciplinary actions are easy for us to forgive (having your cell phone out in class for example). Others require much more discussion and deliberation (repeat offenses and honor code violations for example). And that’s because when we admit a student we can’t think only of that student; we need to also consider that student’s classmates, hallmates, roommates, etc. How will that person’s presence impact other students and the greater W&M community as a whole?
Today we were discussing an applicant who had made a rather serious mistake early on in high school. The resulting punishment was also severe and rightly so (for confidentiality reasons we will not go into detail about the offense or the punishment received). In reviewing the applicant’s explanation of what transpired it was clear he was remorseful and had learned from that transgression. He had gone on to prove himself an exemplary student throughout the rest of high school. To be frank, if not for the disciplinary infraction, he would have been someone very easy to admit. What we had to decide was 1) whether we believed that the applicant learned something from what transpired, 2) whether he would be a good addition to the Tribe and 3) whether the positive attributes in his application were worth an offer of admission when compared to other applicants who had not had any disciplinary issues.
At the end of the day, we as a Committee, believe that high school students make poor decisions from time to time as young people are prone to do. We also believe that those poor decisions can be forces for positive change and opportunities for personal growth. When we see that growth occur, when we believe the transgression is one that will not be repeated in college, and when we think a proverbial second chance is warranted, we will grant one and admit that student. That was the case today. It was obvious that he had learned from his mistakes. His own words to that effect were echoed by his recommenders. He was not a habitual offender (he’d had a spotless record ever since the early transgression). He had gone on to be a really valued member of his school community, and we believe him to be a young man of good character. We do not see it as a risk to bring him into our community.
We write this blog to help ease the minds of those who have found themselves in a similar spot. It might feel like one mistake can cost you your future. And in some cases, a disciplinary action may be a reason we decide not to admit someone. But in other cases, it’s not something that has to follow you for the rest of your life. What’s important though is what you learn from the mistake. In the end high school and college are times of growth, both academic and personal. That’s something that’s always in the back of our minds as we build incoming classes. We ponder how students we are admitting will help to improve themselves and their fellow students during their four years at W&M. To us, that’s what building a diverse, talented, intellectual, eccentric, interesting, vibrant, dynamic, thoughtful, quirky community is all about. That’s how we build the Tribe.
Wendy Livingston ’03, M.Ed. ‘09
Associate Dean of Admission
PS: For those of you anxious about a decision release, as we posted in a response to a comment on our previous blog, we WILL NOT release decisions over the holidays. Following the break we will complete our Early Decision process and prepare for a decision release. Please refer to our blog from March regarding “the most asked question.” While the dates and timeline are applicable to regular decision, the heart of the content applies to Early Decision. We appreciate everyone’s patience. We believe our early December timeline for a release is still on target.
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.
Is there any set time of day for decisions to be released? Should I check my email during the school day or are they more likely to be sent out in the afternoon?
@Robin, there is not a set time of day. But we will post a Decisions, Decisions blogs as soon as decision emails are sent.
I just received my official first quarter grades for senior year. Should I send them in if I am an ED candidate/ is it to late to send them?
@Gillian, you are welcome to send them. We are closed until 12/1 but we will process anything received over the break then. If we can review them we will but that may not be possible in these final stages of the process.
Shaking with anticipation! Hope to hear from you guys soon, I’ve been checking daily for your upcoming “Decisions, Decisions” blog! Thank you for these posts, they’ve been very helpful and encouraging.
Same!
Is there any way that the decisions might be sent out this week? Thank you.
@Elana, there’s no way to guestimate when we will release decisions. There are just so many steps that need to be completed between now and the launch and a delay in any one of those steps could delay future ones. What we do know is that our early December timeline is still a good prediction.
This is doing wonders for my lung capacity. I’ve been holding my breath since noon!
Hi! Just wondering: when is the decision release scheduled on the early December timeline? On what day, approximately?
@Question, as we said in our previous response, we really cannot approximate a date. We need every step to happen and happen in a timely manner. If any one step takes longer than we project then so does the decision release and we don’t want to predict a date that ends up being wrong.
I understand that there’s no set day that you guys can guarantee decisions will be sent, and I appreciate you working so diligently to review each application thoroughly! But can you at least give a general timeline for “early December?” Is that to the 10th, the 15th… first three weeks of the month… is there at least a general idea?
@Jayne Ross, it’s fair to say that early December is within the first two weeks of the month. We know everyone is anxious and we are working as fast as we can but this process takes time and it needs to be done correctly. We promise once we are ready to launch decisions we will. We won’t sit on them or anything.
Thank you so much! Definitely anxious, but I’d rather wait and know that the office really took time to do it right. Thank you for all the hard work and for the response!
I have been wondering this for a while–since your admission process compares students to their high school for context, what do students do when they have attended more than one? I know my current prestigious school will send a school profile, but what about my academically poor old high school? Is it up to me to contact them to ask to send in a profile of some sort?
@Anna Martin, that’s up to you. It’s pretty rare that we get a profile from a previous school but you can request one if you wish. We certainly realize however that changing schools can impact course selection, GPA, rank and extracurricular involvement and we take that into account.
The waiting game’s tough. Should I get in, I have my W&M t-shirt out already. Early December is maybe not as specific as I’d like, but I understand the importance of making the best choices out of a group of talented students. I’m checking Facebook, Twitter, this blog, and my email every half hour, so it’s not getting past me when it comes out.
@PR, no need to check every 30 minutes. Likely once or twice a day will do the trick.
How common is it for W&M to rescind an acceptance decision due to a mid-year school report or final school report? To what degree would an applicant need to show regression in order for his or her acceptance to be rescinded? I understand these are case-by-case situations, but what would you say is an acceptable change in an applicant’s academic performance that would not raise any eyebrows in the admissions office nor cause any issues?
They said in another blog if you get two C grades or any D or F they send you a letter
Do you know if it’s a “get-your-act-together letter” or a “we-no-longer-want-you letter”?
@Zach it’s like a “get-your-act-together” thing and I think you have to write a letter explaining your grades and then saying how you’re gonna improve. They read that and say if they still want you. But there was a blog post saying they hate having to take back admission so I don’t think it’s common.
@Zach, @ED is referencing great info from previous blogs. A slight dip in grades is certainly not cause for concern but drastic changes are, as all admission offers are contingent upon you upholding the academic and personal standards on which you were admitted. When there is a concerning drop in grades we evaluate that case and decide how best to proceed with that applicant. We always give the student the opportunity to explain themselves before taking any action. And as we said in an older post, it’s always best for the applicant to reach out to us before we have to reach out to them.
Hello! I’m not sure if this has already been asked, but will the admissions decisions be emailed in addition to being sent via postal mail?
Thank you!
@Kaitlyn, we’ll explain all that in our Decisions blogs but only those who are admitted also receive something by mail.
When the decisions are sent out and one is denied or differed, will there be an explanation? Or is it most likely a generated email that does not individually explain the decision?
@Syd, our decision emails do not provide specific explanations for the decisions we made — often times because there’s not a specific simple reason. Our Decisions blog will explain more but generally speaking, those who are not admitted didn’t do anything wrong; it’s just that so many of our applicants do so much right that we make very tough decisions among many qualified students.
So nervous to see the ED decisions!!! I keep checking my phone and email!!!
same!!
I had to turn my phone off to keep me from refreshing my email every 5 minutes!
Thank you so much for posting these awesome blogs that make me so nervous and so excited at the same time! What part of the ED process are you currently on?
@Nervous, we’re in the final stage but that stage had A LOT of steps so it takes some time. We appreciate everyone’s continied patience and we hope the wait won’t be too terribly much longer.
Thank you 🙂
Your blog has been very insightful and bring light to the ambiguities of the college admissions process! I always look forward to the new blogs that are post weekly! As an ED applicant, I was wondering why decisions are being released later this year than in past years.
@Future Tribe Member, while there have been years when decisions were released by this date, there are others when they were not. Last year for example, we didn’t release decisions until Dec. 6. This year the late date of the Thanksgiving holiday made an earlier release date difficult. But again, we believe we are still on track for early December.
Thank you so much!!
I just read a tweet from the William and Mary Admissions twitter page saying they are trying to release ED and spring transfer decisions on the same day, by no later than December 10th. Does this account for the later early decision release date? Are early decisions complete, but being held until spring transfers are too? Thanks!
@Kelly, the tweet actually just reads that both sets of decisions will be released by December 10th. As we mentioned in an earlier response, if we’re able to release both sets of decisions at the same time we will (which means both processes would complete simultaneously). If that doesn’t happen we will release them separately. We are not holding the ED release. That process is still ongoing. We are working through all of the final steps that allow us to launch decisions.
Praying for everyone on the blog. My question is concerning the decision emails. Will all the applicants receive them at the same time or will there be a trickle effect where some will receive the next day?
@Janay, all decisions are released on the same day. More detailed logistics will be included in the Decisions, Decisions blog so applicants know what to expect.
Many of my friends have told me that universities like to release their decisions on a Friday. Though they might just be basing this on simple observations, I wanted to know if W&M also favors Friday as an optimal release day, or if the Friday release observation is just a meaningless myth. Thank you so much for your continued diligence in answering our questions (no matter how silly this one might be)!
@L, we don’t have particular preferences on the day of release. We certainly have released decisions on a Friday many times but we’ve also released decisions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in recent years.
What percentage of completion would you say you all are at with the ED process? Ex: 95% or 85% done. Thank you!
@Zach, not sure we can really quantify that. We are definitely in the very final stages however. It’s just those stages take a bit of time to get completed. We promise the wait won’t be too terribly much longer.
As a parent awaiting word on my son’s admission status, I find that these blog posts help to clam the nerves. The unknown is always stressful and even though no decisions have been announced, I really appreciate your offering this view into the process. Thanks
@Eric, we appreciate the kudos and are glad this blog is helpful. We know that the waiting process isn’t an easy one and if this blog helps to ease that in any way then we’re happy to be of service.
Will decisions be sent by email, postal mail, or both. Will emails go to both the student and their parent? Thanks
@Eric, the Decisions, Decisions blog will provide all of this info (and other logistics surrounding the decision release). But shorthand, decisions are sent by email to all (those admitted also get postal mail) and decisions go only to students.
I know essentially everyone is asking the same question and I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here but since you don’t really know when admissions will be sent until they are sent, does that mean admissions have an equal probability of being sent out say, tomorrow rather than next Monday?
Thanks for your time, I truly appreciate this blog.
@Anxious, we think that’s a fair assumption. We still need a bit more time to get everything ready. We’re hoping it won’t be too many more days.
This might be an annoying question since you already stated that you don’t know when the results will be sent of until they are sent out, but is there a chance that the decisions will be sent out today? Thank you for answering all of our questions!
@Hi, in responding to @Anxious’ post we mentioned we still need a bit more time. As we’ve mentioned in response to a few previous posters, so that people aren’t staying up ’til the wee hours checking, if you don’t see a Decisions blog post from us by say 8:00-ish it’s fair to stop checking for that evening.
Would it be a fair assumption that the decisions will not be released tonight?
@Doubt, yes that’s a fair assumption.
Any updates on progress? Are we getting closer and closer? I’m dying over here!! If decisions haven’t been released by Friday do we have to wait until Monday or could they be released over the weekend. Thank you!
They have said in a comment on the most recent blog post that they have posted over the weekend in the past, so it could happen, but they try to avoid if they can.
@Riles, we get closer with each passing day. We know students are anxious to hear from us but it’s important to remember it’s been only 33 days (and for 5 of those days W&M was closed for Thanksgiving) since the deadline. In that time we’ve needed to receive, process, read (two times each), discuss and finalize review of over 1000 applications. We are working as fast as we can but it’s more important that we complete the process properly rather than quickly. The wait shouldn’t be too terribly much longer.
This blog has sincerely kept me sane. Thank you so much for keeping up with it!
What part of the decisions-sending process are you currently on?
@Process, it feels like there a 101 small tiny final steps that we go through at about this point to get decisions ready for launch. We are definitely in the very final stages of the process but there is more work to be done before we are at the finish line.
So is there a possibility that the decisions can come out today?
@Process, it’s fair to say that any of the next few days is possible.
What’s the possibility decisions are sent out today or tomorrow?
@ED Applicant, we can’t quantify that but as we said in our response to @Process, any of the next few days is possible.
Is there a good possibility that the decisions will be sent out tomorrow? It’s for reasons other than curiosity.
@Applicant, as we said, any of the next few days are possible. We can’t really guestimate good possibility vs bad possibility.
So do the final stages mean that you’re still deciding on some applicants or that you’re doing backgroud work to release decisions and that you have made all the decisions? Also what are the time schedules of when it will be released? Could it be released as early as 6 AM or as late as 8PM? Sorry I’m asking so many questions. I really appreciate all of you working so hard to appease us crazed seniors.
@Curious, during these final stages there’s a little bit of everything going on. We’re doing everything from making some final decisions to double checking everything has been entered correctly to printing letters for admits to queuing up each individual email (and dozens of other steps along the way). As for the time of day we launch it would not be before business hours but as we mentioned yesterday it can certainly happen in the evening.
Is it safe to say decisions aren’t coming out tonight?
@Kelly, generally speaking if you don’t see a Decisions blog by mid-to-late evening you can assume decisions aren’t being launched. It would be rare for us to launch layer than say 9:00pm.
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate these blogs! Thank you so much for keeping us informed! My anxiety has me on pins and needles, but these blogs really help!
@MPS, glad to hear it! That’s always nice feedback to receive.
Will the decisions be sent out based on when we submitted the application in CommonApp?
@Quest, no. We release all decisions together.
great! thank you!
Hi! I just wanted to tell you guys that I really appreciate these blogs! They make me feel so much better. I feel like I break into a weird state of nervousness sometimes but these blogs make me feel better (=^_^=). I can’t wait till we find out! I’m dying to know! I just want to thank you for all the hard work you guys are putting in because you guys are totally awesome!!!
Any chance that the ED decisions will come out today or should we stop checking until Monday? I am in a show this weekend and focusing on my lines and not on my email has been difficult. Thanks,
@Thespian Member of the Tribe, as we said yesterday, we could certainly release on any of the next few days. But it’s ok to only check email when you’re anle; if we release when you’re busy, the email will be there waiting for you when you do have time to check your in-box.
Hello 🙂 Just out of curiosity, are you maybe almost done with the decisions-sending process? Also, if you do send them out during school hours, I’m not sure about other people but I wouldn’t mind. Please send them as soon as possible! I think it’s amazing that you are able to be finished with making decisions within a month for us. I really appreciate it!
@Decision, we’re working our way through the final steps. As we’ve mentioned several times there’s no real way to estimate how close we are to the finish line until we actually arrive there. We promise we will release decisions when they are ready to be released but we won’t be able to any time before that. Remember, it’s better that we get everything right then get it done quickly.
Earlier you posted that you get roughly the same number of ED applications each year. I know applicants can vary but do you also generally accept the same percentage of the pool each year? And about what percentage would that be?
Roughly 45%. You can google it.
@Liz, we do generally admit about the same percentage of the ED pool each year but there is some variance based on each pool. Generally we try to bring in around 1/3 of our class ED and the admit rate is usually in the mid-40th percentile as @E mentioned.
Hi. I know you can’t tell us when exactly you will release the decisions, but are you still on schedule?
@Eager, yes we are still on schedule.
Hello,
Can you please update us on your current stage in the process? It would really relieve my anxiousness a little bit! Thank you for working so hard!
@Anxious, there’s no update from what we posted this morning. We are making our way through the final stages as we have been throughout this week. It’s not an exaggeration to say there are literally scores of final steps to ensure a successful decision release so they do take time. We promise we are working round the clock.
Admit It!,
I have read through all these posting…and, all I can say is that you are a better person than I am. Great work in responding to all the posts!
@The Parent, it’s the least we can do. We all remember awaiting decisions on our own applications on pins and needles. We’re glad this blog helps to calm nerves and provides insights and updates to those who grace us with their applications and trust us with their stories.
Hi, I just found out that next week I am receiving an award (Coaches Award) from my fall sport. Since it won’t really be official until I receive it on Wednesday, and since you all are in the final steps of the admissions process, do you think that it would be worthwhile to share this new information with admissions or not?
@V, at this late stage it’s unlikely we’d be able to include it in ED review.
That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure, thanks!
Sorry, you guys seem so nice, but I have to ask you this: is it fair to say that the decisions will be sent out today rather than Sunday?
@Hello, we can’t answer that. As we’ve been saying any of the next few days are likely. We can’t predict better than that. If say today is more likely and we’re not able to release today we’ll be swamped with inquiries from those expecting to have heard from us. Responding to those inquiries would take our focus away from what still needs to be done to get decisions out.
ohh ok, now I understand. I know you are all trying your best to release them as soon as possible, but if you can, please release them today because that would determine whether or not I have to take a test tomorrow! Thank you 🙂
Out of curiosity, what types of “final steps” still need to be completed before admissions decisions can be released? I think many people are somewhat confused of what that means and I think it would help calm everyone’s nerves if there was a better understanding of the process. Thanks!
@Curious, we mentioned them in a comment yesterday but it’s everything from processing/completing/reviewing the last few apps to printing and signing admission offers to checking to ensure all decisions are entered and entered correctly, queuing up over 1,000 emails and double checking each of those, and dozens of other data/technical steps that would be hard to explain. And most of these are sequential so one step can happen before a previous step completes.
Hi! Thank you so much for putting this much time and effort into reading our applications- I truly appreciate. I saw this tweet on the WMorientation twitter page and I was wondering whether or not it meant that decisions were coming out today. https://twitter.com/wmorientation/status/540950690110406656
Thanks again!
What did the twitter say? I don’t think the link works.
Anxious
It said “Your new Tribe family awaits your campus arrival. Congratulations to our new January 2015 students and Class of 2019 Early Decision Admits!” !!!!
I was just about to ask what Confused asked! I was perplexed but increasingly hopeful about what the tweet means!!!!!
Is this true??? Are the decisions sent?
They deleted the tweet and Instagram post.
@Everyone, we apologize for the confusion. They were preparing a congratulatory tweet for when decisions were released and accidentally published it (hence why it was taken down). We promise, as soon as decisions are out you’ll see communication from us on this blog, our social media and our website.
FYI, my daughter applied to WM ED last year – and is now a happy member of the Tribe. I feel all of your pain, but I wanted to share info about last year’s process. (1) WM started sending out e-mails for the class of 2018 on a Friday (12/6) arond 6 – 6:30 p.m., ET. (2) They sent out rejections first…then deferrals…then acceptances. So, there was a lot of angst as people started posting (happily or unhappily). (3) It takes awhile to send out all the e-mails – like a couple of hours…..so my daughter was refreshing her browser constantly for awhile. (4) The Admit It postings didn’t go live until well into the e-mailing process. (5) Best wishes to all!
@Jeannie, so glad your daughter is enjoying her first semester at W&M. We’re actually hoping to change our release process this year so the info you posted is great. Some of it likely will still be applicable, some might not. We do promise we’ll provide logistics in our Decisions, Decisions blog.
Out of curiosity, how did the process change from last year’s?
@Person, they were all release simultaneously and hopefully reaching in-boxes faster.
Is there still a possibility that the decisions will be released today?
@Anxious, as we’ve said any day within the next few days, including today, is a possibility. We just need to make sure all those final steps are completed.
JUST got my email!!! Although I’ve admittedly been frustrated the past few days…THANK YOU admissions not just for the acceptance, but for all the hard work you do to built the best school in the country! Class of 2019, Tribe Pride!
@Awesome, congrats and welcome to the Tribe!
I got in!! Thank you guys so much for all the hard work that you have put into reading all of our application-especially mine! And congrats to all of the other applicants who got it!
Also, if I also applied to other colleges just as a backup, do I have to withdraw the applications immediately?
@Tribe!!, congrats! And yes, you have to withdraw all other applications ASAP!
The wait was worth it, and I’m so happy to be a future member of the Tribe! Good luck to everyone as they wait for their emails to come in, and thank you for all your hard work admissions!
@Yay!, congrats. Well deserved! So delighted to have you as part of the next class.
@Everyone, the Decisions, Decisions post is up! Decisions are on their way. Best of luck to all!
I’m wondering – how many girls and how many boys did you admit? What ratio would you like to see in the Class of 19? I noticed that the percentage of boys decreased to 42% for last year’s class.
@Wondering, we don’t calculate admitted numbers for me and women in ED because the group is so small that those figures would be somewhat meaningless. That’s why we calculate it for the class once that’s in place. We don’t set out with a specific male/female ratio in mind. We’d love to have the class be 50/50 if possible but that’s not always a reality depending on the applicants in the pool and depending on how those admitted respond to our offer.