Ryan Silien
Class of 1940 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Baltimore, MD (Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School)
Academic Interests
History, Pre-Law
Why W&M
Growing up in Northern Virginia, I remember seeing William & Mary shirts and bumper stickers around my neighborhood before I fully grasped what college was. But, after moving out of state at 10, I quickly forgot about the green and gold cypher and the college it represented. It wasn’t until mid-fall of my senior year, when my mother recommended I add William & Mary to my college list, that I thought about the school for the first time in years. After a little research, I liked the school’s liberal arts philosophy and emphasis on undergraduate research, but it ranked on my college list like chicken tenders do on a menu: it was a safe bet, but I didn’t think it would be my first pick unless I really wasn’t a fan of my other options. Little did I know, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
As I began working on William & Mary’s supplemental essays, I began to realize how much I identified with the school’s values. The somewhat unusual essay prompts forced me to think critically and take new perspectives, so I was thrilled when I received an email notifying me of my selection as a semi-finalist for the 1693 Scholarship.
Coming to campus for the first time for the 1693 Finalist Weekend shocked me. I immediately felt at home, surrounded by a community of curious and passionate scholars. As an unabashed history nerd, I marveled at the feeling of having class in the same building as Thomas Jefferson. I left feeling inspired by the intellect, wit, and passion of the other 1693 Scholars and every William & Mary student I interacted with. Most importantly, I felt like this was a place where I could thrive. So, when I got a phone call from Professor Cristol offering me a place as a 1693 Scholar, I couldn’t say no, proud of choosing William & Mary and the perks of becoming a 1693 Scholar over an Ivy League college.
High School Activities
- Student Lead, Beth Tfiloh/Temple X Collaborative Initiative
- Vice President, Student Government
- Scholarship Recipient and Language/Cultural Ambassador, US Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth
- Communications Intern, Governor Wes Moore
- Creator and Organizer, Mission: Morocco (Grassroots Fundraiser)
- Captain, Mock Trial
- Editor in Chief, Yearbook
- President and Founder, Science Club
- Student Coach, Model UN
- Captain, Varsity Golf Team
Awards / Distinctions
- National Merit Scholar
- AP US History perfect score
- AP Scholar with Distinction
- Maryland State Merit Scholastic Award
- National Honor Society
- Arts Award
