A case study of an accepted applicant - class of 2014

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

<p>Taking a quick look at the forum's chance posts, I think that today applicant increasingly emphasize over SAT 1/ACT score and worries about their less than stellar score (for top LAC and university at least, <1400 or <32). In the face of this, I would like to present a case study of my own application, accepted for Williams college class of 2014, which would serve both as a reference and a relief for whoever having "low" SAT 1/ACT score (and maybe poor extracurricular involvements like me).</p>

<p>A. Standardized test scores (submitted all):
- SAT 1 (three takes, best scores): R 630 - W 680 - M 730
- ACT (two takes, highest): 31
- SAT 2 (one take, 3 in one day): Bio E 800 - French 760 - Math II 800
- AP:
(junior year) Biology 5 - Chemistry 5 - Physics B 5 - Statistics 5
(senior year) English Literature 2 - US government 5 - Psychology 5 - Environmental science 5 - Calculus BC 5</p>

<p>B. Academics:
- School: middle-of-the-rank public high school in Florida
- Course load:
(freshman year, from my home country's transcript) all non-honors courses - 1 C, several B, a few A
(sophomore year) beside Algebra 2 honors, I took all non-honors courses, all A
(junior year) honors courses beside AP, all A
(senior year) honors courses beside AP, all A
- GPA: ~3.7/4 unweighted; ~4.8/6 weighted.
- Academic competition: (junior) USA Biology Olympiad top 500. Notice: in the summer of my senior year, I got into the top 20 of USABO, but of course it never showed up on my application and thus not counted.</p>

<p>C. Extracurricular activities:
- French club: ~1 semester, plain member
- Model UN: 1 year, plain member
- No sport, no music
Pretty lame, I know.</p>

<p>D. Letters of recommendation:
- 1 from biology teacher (taught me AP bio junior year): I developed a close relationship with my teacher by asking a lot of question during class, asking a lot of questions after class (risking being late for the next class), taking the initiative to ask her to sponsor my taking the USABO open exam, and volunteering to be her student assistant during my senior year (grading AP bio quiz, exam, lab, and supervise lab activities). I believe my LoC was great because my teacher told me that her friend who edited the letter said she would like to adopt me as her child.
- 1 from social study teacher (taught me US history junior year and AP US government senior year): I did not grow close relationship with him but rather talk with him feverishly about politics during and after class (I could not imagine any way to know and get known by your teacher better than talking with him/her after class - take initiatives for even just 3-4 minutes/class). I had no idea how the letter was.</p>

<p>E. Essays:
- QuestBridge essays:
Biographical (800 words): "The past armed me well" - I basically talked about the way I was brought up which inadvertently made me a self-reliant and socially-upward moving person.
Significant experience (500 words): "Cancer cannot be drowned" - a slightly tragic and humorous narrative about my life's entanglement with cancer and my hope to fight it.</p>

<p>F. Other thing:
- Ethnicity: Asian; immigrant living in the US since my sophomore year
- Legacy: of course none
- Language spoken: beside mother language, English and French.
- Income: below middle-class
- I was a QuestBridge finalist, but I do not think being one helped me because I was still rejected by other similarly prestigious QuestBridge partner colleges.</p>

<p>As you can see, I did not apply with great SAT 1 or ACT score. It is reasonable to say that efforts you put in academics (challenging classes and competition) is equally if not more important than your SAT scores. There may exist stereotype out there about Asians - egghead, socially awkward, etc. - that disfavor them as applicants. I admit that I fit such molds (on the application stats and in real life up until now, sophomore year at Williams); however, at least I tried my best to show the admission officers that I have other sides too (in essay and via LoC).</p>

<p>I hope this would help some Williams-hopeful applicants out there.</p>

2

<p>You had a socio-ec tag as a Questbridge applicant. Even if you aren’t accepted through Questbridge it gives you an advantage. They definitely consider scores in context of background. You have excellent subject test and AP test scores as well.</p>

3

<p>No knock to you but you are by no means the “average applicant.” Mr. Nesbitt and the admissions office have focused upon increasing socio-economic diversity for years now (rightfully so I might add). Coupled with strong essays, I think that your background set you apart from other candidates. If this post gives hope to other people to apply to Williams, then that is a very good thing, but this “case study” shouldn’t be taken as the norm for most people who need good test scores, etc. to get in.</p>

4

<p>Wow…I have to ask though: is your courseload the hardest in your class?</p>

5

<p>I would say that my courseload is among the hardest. However, since I do not play sport or do a lot of extracurricular activities, it does not seem that hard overall.</p>