<p>Williams admissions is actually very much NOT score obsessed--Williams puts particular focus on admissions candidates that excel in academic as well as non-academic areas. As sports tend to be the most high-profile non-academic area and there is so much stigma attached to "jocks," this is what often is discussed. However, the athletic success and "emphasis" at Williams is probably more a reflection on the amount of weight admissions gives to all extracurriculars, than to the amount of weight admissions gives to athletics in particular. </p>
<p>One program at Williams which is rarely spoken about is its music program. The Berkshire Symphony (half student, half professional) is one of the best student symphonies in the country, and there are countless musical opportunities for the student musician at Williams. The amount of musical talent at Williams is outstanding--there are numerous musicians at Williams who could be attending a top conservatory or school of music if they had so chosen. I speak of the musical offerings because this is one extracurricular that I am particularly involved with. However, the drama and art programs are equally as amazing and also filled with extremely talented students. It's unfortunate that discussions of Williams (especially on this board) so frequently turn into a critique of athletics at Williams, because there are so many other extracurricular areas that Williams excells in. Williams is arguably the best school in the country for the student-athlete, a fact which is both trumpeted and condemned by alumns. However, Williams is also arguably the best school in the country for the student (non-major)-musician, the student-artist, the student leader, and numerous other types of students (including the student purely interested in academics). I think instead of focusing on merely one area of student extracurricular pursuits (athletics), we should be discussing all of the extracurricular opportunities available to Williams students, as the majority of prospective and admitted students are not athletes.</p>