So Close Yet So Far
We Admit It! We believe the end is in sight. We are wrapping up Committee and beginning the decision launch prep. Now before you get too excited, know that there are what feels like a million and one steps to complete between now and then. We need to wrap up our Committee proceedings, enter the decisions, double check those decisions, print decision letters, sign them (yes, Dean Wolfe individually signs each admission letter), prep them for mailing, prep each of the emails, double check those emails, continue to attack the snack cart with all of the vigor our stomachs can muster, and so on and so on. These last steps take SEVERAL days.
We know you’re anxious to receive your decision. And we are working as quickly as possible to get them to you. Because each of these one million and one steps needs to happen in succession, and because any little hiccup can set us back a bit, we do not forecast a decision launch date/time in advance. The obvious follow-up question to that statement is “Why?”. The answer is simple. Say that we did set a launch date and for some reason we got derailed (one year for example W&M’s network went down just as we were preparing to send decision emails). Then we will be bombarded with calls and emails as to why you didn’t get your decision (which would be fair). Answering those inquiries would take our attention away from all we need to do to get decisions in your hands. Additionally, it is in all of our best interests to make sure we get this process right, and that takes time. We appreciate your continued patience.
What we can tell you is that we can see the light at the end of the admission tunnel, and we hope to get decisions to you sooner rather than later. We can also tell you that we generally launch decision emails in the evening hours so as not to interfere with your school day. We will post a Decisions, Decisions blog when the emails are on their way to your inboxes.
Until that magical day/time arrives, we will put our noses to the grindstone and work to wrap up our process. We thank each of you for taking this journey with us. We have been immeasurably impressed by each of your applications, and we are eagerly awaiting the time when we can welcome the rest of the Class of 2019 to the Tribe.
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.
Eek! It’s so exciting and nerve wracking. Thanks for keeping us in the know in the process and it’s odd to say, I’m happy to see that it will soon be over.
Is this referring to Transfer admission decisions and committee wrapping up? or Freshman applicants?
@Sarah, it’s referring to freshman admission. Transfer decisions are released in late April.
Will the RD notifications and letters include the full package (Aid, scholarship, etc.) or will the package follow separately?
@Billk, our decisions are sent via email. Those admitted will then get a formal package in the mail. Scholarship recipients have already been notified for the most part. Financial aid information comes via email about one week after admission notification.
Is the decision launch prep completed?
@Mason, no they are not. As we said in the blog, these steps take SEVERAL days so please be patient with us.
GASP! I’m scared! I hope you accepted me. I am definitely sure that you accepted me, because if I am #W&M19Accepted, I will show up at the freshman orientation with my Do-it-Yourself W&M bandanna and a t-shirt saying “W&M SORA: School Of Royal Awesomeness”! Trust me; I cannot hold my Tribe spirit any longer!!!
Oh, and speaking of which, after I receive my decision email and when I get my formal package in the mail, what will be included in this package?
@Martha, the admission package includes a letter plus additional information for admitted students (a timeline, information on visiting campus as an admitted student, information about tuition, etc.).
Thank you! Once again, in all caps: I CANNOT HOLD MY TRIBE SPIRIT ANY LONGER!!!
I’m so nervous but also happy to know that the wait is almost over. I know this question should have been asked earlier, but better late than never. How much weight does the committee place on an applicant’s SAT scores? I understand that your review is holistic but I also know that most colleges that receive such a mass amount of applications use an algorithm to precut a large majority of applicants based on their SAT, GPA, and coefficient assigned to their school’s rank. Or does W&M not use such a thing? Basically if the applicants only weak point is an average/ decent SAT score does that inhibit their chances a lot?
@Curious Nerd, we have no pre-sort or algorithm. Every application, regardless of GPA or SAT gets the exact same review. Standardized testing is one part of that review, no more and no less. Like any other component it can make you a more or less competitive applicant. If all parts of an application are amazing save an SAT and we want to admit the student we will. If an SAT isn’t great and other components of an application also fail to stand out we likely won’t admit that student.
You can say that again, because ALL parts of my Common Application, including my 1030 CR+M/1640 CR+M+W SAT and my 22 Comp/26 Eng/24 Math ACT, are yet to be as outstanding as it can be!
How many transfer applications are usually submitted for the fall semester? And what percentage of those applicants end up being accepted?
Thank you!
@Transfer Hopeful, generally about 800-900 students apply for fall transfer and we admit 40-45%. You are welcome to update your application. You can email updates to admission@wm.edu.
Also, if I have updated information for my application should I contact someone to have it added to my file or is it too late to do so for transfer applicants? I was hired for a job soon after I submitted my application.
Thanks!
Ahh… I am so nervous! I really wish that you can accept me, especially after so many rejection letters (Well, just three, but that seems a lot) that jumped into my email box and made me sad. And again, thanks for updating!
Can’t wait to find out which of my friends get accepted! I was accepted ED; do you know when the admit packs will be mailed out for ED accepted students? Thanks for the updates!
@KEliz, those were mailed this week and should hopefully arrive this week. You should have gotten an email from us about this and other updates.
When will you notify applicants for the Joint Degree Programme of acceptance? Is the decision notification separate from the regular admission decision?
@Joint Degree Hopeful, all that info will be outlined in the Decisions, Decisions blog.
Out of curiosity, approximately how many VA applications did you guys get this year?
@Miranda, generally about 40% of our applicants are in-state.
This is so exciting! I’ve started to turn off my cellular data and not check my email while I’m in school in case I get a denial decision in the middle of physics or something. How did the regular decision applicants compare to the early decision applicants?
@Lynn, as we said we try not to release decisions during the school day so no need to worry there. What do you mean about comparing Early and Regular Decision applicants?
@Admit It!, I think what she meant was if the early decision pool was more competitive vs the regular decision pool or if one pool was harder to decide on in general.
@Miranda, the sheer size of the regular decision pool (nearly 14,000 compared to 1100 in Early Decision) makes it more competitive.
This answered my question exactly. Thank you!
Can you say whether or not it looks like decisions might be released sometime mid- or late-week?
@Monica, we can’t for the reasons we stated in the blog. If we say mid-week and that ends up not being the case, our attention will be turned from launching decisions to responding to inquiries about why decisions weren’t released. Our goal is certainly to get them out as soon as we are able but we will launch only when we’re sure we’re ready.
It is very impressive how quickly AdmitIt! responds to questions, giving insight to the admissions process. My daughter was deferred from ED and is anxiously awaiting good new from W&M after submitting updated material that strengthens her application.
That being said, as a parent, I noticed her EA schools and now the RD schools (she has been accepted to all) give and actual date for decisions and stick to it. Some have released a day or two early, but the vagueness from AdmitIt! on notification time (and the plethora of blog space chatter devoted to “when”) detracts from the meat of meaningful admissions dialogue. Colleges, much larger and smaller than W&M, have actual dates for decisions release and I would encourage W&M to blend their own organization and technology to both give the kids a better experience in the process and have parents like myself on board, feeling that W&M keeps up with organization and technology that other schools have shown us. Overall the blog is excellent and we appreciate it.
@Dave, thank you for the feedback. We appreciate it.
As another interested parent, I disagree…It would be easy to set a safe date and refer questions to a FAQ. I honestly feel that W&M is working to provide the info as early as possible. Most of the other schools I have seen offer no guidance until they actually release info. We are all on the edge of our seat waiting for responses. I agree that the chatter about the release date can be distracting and I believe W&M’s responses show respect for every individual’s questions. Is is stressful on my daughter and family waiting to hear?…yes…but the blog shows that we are not alone.
@BillK, thanks for your post. And just to clarify regarding the chatter on a release date, we didn’t use to post blogs on this topic. But we got lots of questions so we hope this post helps to provide additional info to those waiting for decisions.
UVA, VT, JMU. all have released. I am waiting to hear from WM . Everyone is choosing roommates etc. & WM is holding this process hostage. Should I go with UVA
@Mason, we know you are anxious to hear from us. We will release decisions as soon as we can. It sounds like you would consider attending W&M if admitted so we encourage you to be patient so you can make the most informed decision possible. You have until May 1 to make your final decision and we promise plenty of students, like you, are still weighing their options.
I am sure that W&M is moving as fast as they can. I doubt they are sitting around trying to make students and their parents wait any longer than necessary. The Ivies aren’t releasing until next week, so for some students, W&M’s release may seem early. I think everyone needs to take a deep breath. Mason, it sounds like you already have good choices, so you can relax now, happy that you will have a great spot somewhere next year!
Do you release decisions on the St. Andrews Joint Program at the same time as the Regular Decisions are released?
@Melissa, all that info will be outlined in the Decisions, Decisions blog.
I didn’t want to go onto specifics, but someone else already mentioned UVA. My daughter loved W&M, (still her top choice), but the vagueness about the ED notification timing (please re-read your ED blog to see how silly it became), and the theme popping up again is a turn-off for me and makes me not think as highly of W&M, and sort of makes me want her to take her UVA offer. I have not discussed any of my thoughts with her, (I may be busted if she reads this!), but please coordinate your decisions with your tech support and organization (required signatures/ double checks) such that you have a better handle on decision release timing. Makes me worry how things are handled there for other matters. I’m an alum of another well respected top institution, so I’m not as emotionally on board with W&M as my daughter, but I hope she is admitted since she was most excited about your school and the “fit”.
@Dave, we’re sorry you feel this doesn’t reflect well on W&M. Our intention is that is shows the care and detail we take as we complete this process. Our first priority is to always ensure we get it right and that simply takes time. Our process also has a lot of detail. For example, many admission offices may not have hand-signed admission letters…signing each of those over 4000 letters takes time…and can only be signed by one person. This is just one of the many personal touches that is indicative of the W&M Community.
Sure I understand, but can you not update their record much like UVA did. The letters or emails can follow.
@Mason, we don’t use an applicant portal so the only way a student can find out their decision is by email. We are working round the clock to get decisions to you as soon as we can.
I have been accepted by another instate VA University. I would love to be a tribe but scholarship may be a decision maker. Would you review my grievance for a scholarship offer
@Jill, there is no way to appeal not getting a scholarship since all students were considered for them. However, if you are a VA resident, we would advise that if you get admitted, see what financial aid we can offer. We do meet 100% of demonstrated need for VA residents. So W&M may be affordable even if you do not receive one of our limited scholarships.
A simple search for Decisions, Decisions will show you last year’s blog post and when it was released (3/26). IMO, they are on time for a similar date, if not early.
Virginia had a rough February for snow. My kids were out of school for a whole week at one point and 2-3 days at others. School closed=GCs also not working=mid year reports delayed, at least for VA students. W&M is a state school and has obligations to in state students with respect to consideration for acceptance. They are ON TIME this year all things considered and, to me, THAT speaks to the dedication that they have to making it happen. We were banking on them being late this year and closer to 4/1. That they are taking a few days to get it right and add a personal touch to it truly is not that big of a deal in the grander scheme.
I totally get the anticipation factor and impact. D waffles between super excited, to panicked, to “I’m cool, I’m cool” multiple times a day. This is the time when the cooler heads need to prevail, folks.
When she asks me if I have heard anything, I say, “No. Go take out the trash/do your homework/clean your room”
As a parent of one child who was offered admission at W&M in 2012 and another who is pending an admission decision this year, I have to say that the W&M process is first rate. I have witnessed first hand the manner in which a significant number of prestigious schools handle similar notifications and they all, to some degree or another, involve similar concerns regarding notification dates. In this age of instantaneous communications and obsessive need for constant status updates, it’s easy to get caught up in the release date churn. The reality is these are important decisions that involve our children’s futures. Take as long as you need to get it right, a few more days isn’t going to significantly disadvantage anyone.
Charlie W&M Law ’97
@Charlie, thanks. Great encouragement as we push our way through these final stages.
@Cate, the last part made us laugh out loud. You must have a very clean house at the moment!
Thank you for accepting my daughter!! I’m so excited for her and this path that is now before her. I know the Tribe will take very good care of her.
@Linda, no thanks necessary but they are appreciated. Your daughter did all the hard work! Welcome to W&M.
Hi! I was accepted ED, and I’m so excited to be a part of the class of 2019! I heard admit packs were mailed last week from one of your earlier posts, but mine still has not arrived and I live in Northern Virginia. I’m wondering if there is a problem potentially and I need to contact someone through e-mail, or if I should just keep waiting another week? I’m concerned only because many other people have already received theirs, including international students.
@Tribe2019, they were mailed last week and we anticipate their arrival late this week. Some of course may arrive a bit earlier or later. We’d give it ’til Monday. If you still don’t have on then, let us know. Remember, the contents of that packet are available on the welcome website while you’re waiting.
Will do, thanks so much for your quick response!