William & Mary Forum

[runawaydish]

Hey all, this may have been answered, but it's a long thread.

How many of you getting acceptances wrote the optional essay?

How much importance do they place on it?

W&M is one of three outstanding apps for me, and I would like to maximize my chances there, but I just can't think of anything for their prompt. I've been out of school a while, and my PS is all about working and having a career, which seems to answer their optional prompt.


Any help is appreciated!


Edit - 164 LSAT, 3.23 cumulative GPA. LSAT is right in their range, but GPA is low.

I took a tour of W&M law school and talked to an admin officer, she said that the optional essay REALLY is optional. Not doing it won't hurt you, but if you do have a particularly interesting/ insightful story to tell then it would help you. ( I didn't write one).

She also said that the Fellowship essays, have no impact on your admission process (they don't read them and forward them to the corresponding fellowship office only after acceptance).

I would say go for it, in no way would it hurt you chances, it could only help!

[dakatz]

Instead of the optional essay, I wrote a "Why W&M" that highlighted the course offerings, clinics, and extracurriculars that most impressed me and would take advantage of. But I haven't gotten in yet so I don't know if it was a plus or not, and may never know.

[texas08]

Hey guys, I'm a 1L and I started a thread in the Discuss Your Law School forum to answer questions... Hopefully some of the other 1Ls will post there too, maybe even a 2L (Fly?)...

[Unadilla Kayaker]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

[starrydecisus]

Hey all, this may have been answered, but it's a long thread.

How many of you getting acceptances wrote the optional essay?

How much importance do they place on it?

W&M is one of three outstanding apps for me, and I would like to maximize my chances there, but I just can't think of anything for their prompt. I've been out of school a while, and my PS is all about working and having a career, which seems to answer their optional prompt.


Any help is appreciated!


Edit - 164 LSAT, 3.23 cumulative GPA. LSAT is right in their range, but GPA is low.

I was accepted with fellowship and scholly and didn't write the optional essay. 168/4.0 . If you feel that your PS answers the prompt, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[danidancer]

3.4 168, no optional essay.

[tintin]

i did not do the optional essay nor a why w&m, but i was about both 75th percentiles, so it was a calculated risk one might say.

[Pearalegal]

I got in!!!!

[NatSec]

congrats! were you notified via status checker?

[Pearalegal]

congrats! were you notified via status checker?

Yup! Can't wait for my packet!

[gymboree]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

Hey Kayaker - I have similar stats and submitted early.... and, still Decision Pending. Based on the dates of acceptances last year on LSN, I would say it doesn't look that great for us. Although, there weren't any true splitters (>75% LSAT, 25% GPA) who were anything but Waitlisted. No one with a 166 and less than a 3.4 was straight up Accepted last year. However, n isn't a big number, so you never know. I have officially gone to a "Meh" status on W&M. I'm not trying to burst your bubble - I'm the biggest optimist out there (shoot, I've F5'd my Berkeley status checker more than once today). But it may be that W&M is going to keep us hanging for a long time.

[mhernton]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

Methinks you are right, Got the Congrats Admit Packet Mailed 11/18 on status checker. This school was a complete reach for me with a 155 LSAT and abysmal GPA. I am a URM and 32 and military Vet, so I had great softs, but call me excitedly surprised. Irony is I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Accepted and dead in the same moment, luckily I'm still here. good luck to the rest.

[gymboree]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

Hey Kayaker - I have similar stats and submitted early.... and, still Decision Pending. Based on the dates of acceptances last year on LSN, I would say it doesn't look that great for us. Although, there weren't any true splitters (>75% LSAT, 25% GPA) who were anything but Waitlisted. No one with a 166 and less than a 3.4 was straight up Accepted last year. However, n isn't a big number, so you never know. I have officially gone to a "Meh" status on W&M. I'm not trying to burst your bubble - I'm the biggest optimist out there (shoot, I've F5'd my Berkeley status checker more than once today). But it may be that W&M is going to keep us hanging for a long time.

Just did some more research. There are absolutely people who have gotten in with our numbers. However, no matter when they applied, they didn't seem to hear until *at least* January - and more likely Feb/March. We are aso equally likely to get Waitlisted/Accepted. this is based on the last 2 cycles (2007-08 & 2008/09) of Law School Numbers.

Didn't want to send you into the day on a down note - without at least some data to back it up!

[SamSeaborn2016]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

Methinks you are right, Got the Congrats Admit Packet Mailed 11/18 on status checker. This school was a complete reach for me with a 155 LSAT and abysmal GPA. I am a URM and 32 and military Vet, so I had great softs, but call me excitedly surprised. Irony is I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Accepted and dead in the same moment, luckily I'm still here. good luck to the rest.

Dude! That is awesome. Thanks for serving and congrats!

[Vincent Vega]

Congrats to all who got in!

Looking at LSN and my own stats (166/3.29), it seems that they haven't yet dug that deep in their acceptance numbers yet (based on last year). For people who are around/below my combined stats, I wouldn't worry. Last year they sent me a fee waiver (when I had a 160 LSAT) with a personal e-mail encouraging me to apply. I think they are just admitting the people they think will definitely come (who have good numbers) first. They say they make final decisions by the end of March (not rolling), so though it sucks many of us may have to wait until they get the bulk of their applications. At that point, I expect those who believed they have a good shot to start hearing good things.

Good luck to all!

Methinks you are right, Got the Congrats Admit Packet Mailed 11/18 on status checker. This school was a complete reach for me with a 155 LSAT and abysmal GPA. I am a URM and 32 and military Vet, so I had great softs, but call me excitedly surprised. Irony is I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Accepted and dead in the same moment, luckily I'm still here. good luck to the rest.

Congratulations on W&M and thank you for your service to this country! I would be honored to be a classmate of yours in the fall!

[texas08]

Hey Kayaker - I have similar stats and submitted early.... and, still Decision Pending. Based on the dates of acceptances last year on LSN, I would say it doesn't look that great for us. Although, there weren't any true splitters (>75% LSAT, 25% GPA) who were anything but Waitlisted. No one with a 166 and less than a 3.4 was straight up Accepted last year. However, n isn't a big number, so you never know. I have officially gone to a "Meh" status on W&M. I'm not trying to burst your bubble - I'm the biggest optimist out there (shoot, I've F5'd my Berkeley status checker more than once today). But it may be that W&M is going to keep us hanging for a long time.

Well if you want some optimism on splitters I was one last year >75% LSAT and well below 25% GPA and here I am. I believe I was admitted in late January, which means I was only complete for about 3 weeks before I got in.

[UFMatt]

I'm also a splitter and I just got in. Several points beyond 75% LSAT, around 25% GPA. There is hope.

[jbing21]

I am perplexed. I got into W & M today with a 165 and 3.22 GPA. White male, Poli Sci degree. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Good softs but not much else. Was I supposed to get in? I was told by their asst. dean of admissions at our law fair that I was a sure waitlist (in kinder words).
I don't know what kind of response I'm looking for I just don't get it.

[gymboree]

I am perplexed. I got into W & M today with a 165 and 3.22 GPA. White male, Poli Sci degree. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Good softs but not much else. Was I supposed to get in? I was told by their asst. dean of admissions at our law fair that I was a sure waitlist (in kinder words).
I don't know what kind of response I'm looking for I just don't get it.

You just broke my logic (see above). And my ego.

[jbing21]

I am perplexed. I got into W & M today with a 165 and 3.22 GPA. White male, Poli Sci degree. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Good softs but not much else. Was I supposed to get in? I was told by their asst. dean of admissions at our law fair that I was a sure waitlist (in kinder words).
I don't know what kind of response I'm looking for I just don't get it.

You just broke my logic (see above). And my ego.

Not intended to bash your ego. I just really don't get it. I looked at LSN too and saw no one got in with my stuff last yr. Tonight I am going to pray in as many ways as religions to hope it gets up there!

[runawaydish]

I am perplexed. I got into W & M today with a 165 and 3.22 GPA. White male, Poli Sci degree. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Good softs but not much else. Was I supposed to get in? I was told by their asst. dean of admissions at our law fair that I was a sure waitlist (in kinder words).
I don't know what kind of response I'm looking for I just don't get it.

You just broke my logic (see above). And my ego.

jbing- Where did you go for undergrad? An admissions rep told me that they view GPAs very differently depending on where you attended, maybe that gave you a boost.

[jbing21]

I am perplexed. I got into W & M today with a 165 and 3.22 GPA. White male, Poli Sci degree. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Good softs but not much else. Was I supposed to get in? I was told by their asst. dean of admissions at our law fair that I was a sure waitlist (in kinder words).
I don't know what kind of response I'm looking for I just don't get it.

You just broke my logic (see above). And my ego.

jbing- Where did you go for undergrad? An admissions rep told me that they view GPAs very differently depending on where you attended, maybe that gave you a boost.

Ha you got me, BYU. I have a 3.77 last 90 credits since changing from Mech. Eng. to Poli Sci. The only thing I can think is that my addendum (about grades) persuaded them to 'consider' me as a 3.77 student. I did write a diversity statement (or whatever they called it, life accomplishment) that I liked quite a bit.

[5ky]

.

[mhernton]

Call me paranoid, but I had to recheck the status checker to make sure they hadn't made a mistake, I still don't believe it, but I'm deployed and in Kuwait right now, so it'll take another week for the admit package to arrive at least. I'm pretty sure W&M is where I'm going, I do have to talk with the wifey about it, but she's been supportive every step of the way, so even if I were to get into UCLA or Cornell, my other reaches, I think W&M makes the most sense. Good luck to everyone else.

[mte84]

Anyone else out there decision pending for more than a week? Thanks!