Show us what you got…

I love art. Any and every form of it. Most frequently I find myself writing poetry; spoken word poetry to be more specific. Anyone, who’s ever heard spoken word performed knows that it has to be dynamic…it can’t be flat. I feel like I have to share something with those in the audience that they may otherwise never know about me. And that is what I’m asking of you.

Two, sometimes 4 times a week I stand in front of a room full of students and their families. I share with them all of the wonderful reasons to consider William and Mary. I rave about our holistic approach to admissions. About how we are looking at an entire person, and working in the undergraduate admission office at this College will never be formulaic. I open the floor for questions. Inevitably, someone will ask, “What’s the most important part of the application?”

My response has become practically automatic; I don’t even have to think about it anymore. “There is no most important component. However, in my opinion the only thing you have full control over is your optional submission.”

Sometimes when I’m having a difficult time composing a poem, I’ll take a step back and leave it alone for a minute. Usually I’ll go to my bookshelf, grab one of my worn out favorites and sink into my chair. I have to feed my brain…after all you can only get out, what you put in. For the past 17 or 18 years you’ve been experiencing noteworthy things, learning life’s lessons. Tell us about them. Tell me something I can’t see from the rest of your application. Share something that I may otherwise not know about you. Look at this as an opportunity. This is one more opportunity to let us know why you should be here at William and Mary. So show us what you got! If you write it, draw it, produce it, sing it, or film it. We’ll read it, ponder it, listen to it, or watch it. So, have fun…and if you’d like to know who’s going to be making these admission decisions you can always become a fan of W&M admissions on facebook or check us out on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwxQ6J9_fLY

– Tish Lyte