Chance me ED acceptance / Windows on Williams?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to give me your thoughts. I’m absolutely in love with Williams and I hope to get in ED for mathematics. I am also applying for the Windows on Williams program this summer and I am super excited. If you guys have any advice or notes I would very much appreciate it, thank you!

Academics:
SAT: 1540: 790 R/W 750 M
(Superscore: 1560: 790 R/W 770 M)
SAT II: None

3.96 Unweighted, but this will likely drop closer to a 3.91 after this semester due to me probably getting B+ in Calc II and three A-'s

Course Load Junior year: Seven classes first semester, nine classes this semester (why my grades dropped, but glad I did it)
Math: Linear Algebra (S1), Calculus II (S2), Discrete Systems (S2)
English: American Literature (S1), World Literature (S2)
History: Intro to American Hist. (S1), American Hist 1 (S2)
Science: AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Capstone (Biotechnology), Intro to Organic Chemistry (S2)
Language: French

Course Load Senior year (next year): I am taking Abstract and Real at a local University
Math: Abstract Algebra I&II, Real Analysis I&II, Calculus III (S1), Ordinary Differential Equations (S2)
English: AP Language
History: American Hist 2 (S1), History of World Religions (S2)
Science: AP Physics II
Language: French

AP/IB: AP Micro Econ – 4, AP Literature – 4, AP World History – 4,
Likely going to get 4’s on AP Physics, AP Chem, AP Seminar, but hopefully a 5 on Calc BC

Awards: State Champion in Math and Science Academic superbowl teams, various school awards, Deans List at local University

Extra Curriculars:

Freshman year: Spectrum Diversity Club, Editor of school’s newspaper, Captain of Speech Team, Praetor in Latin Club, History Club.

Sophomore: Spectrum Diversity Club, Editor in chief of school’s newspaper, Captain of Speech Team, Praetor in Latin Club, History Club, “Chess club” (not just chess, all games were encouraged) co-president.

Junior Year: Academic Superbowl Interdis Team Captain, Smash Bros Club co-founder, Current Events Club, Speech Team, French Club.

Recommendations:
Counselor - Will probably be alright, 7/10
Math Professor - Likely very good, he taught me Discrete this year, and Real Analysis next year at my local University, 9/10
Chem Teacher- Hopefully very good, he’s a great dude, 9/10

Other:
State : Indiana (I was literally born in a barn if that matters)
School Type: Public, small and competitive
Ethnicity: Caucasion
Gender: Male
Hooks: Low income, not much else.

2

Without a hook I would put you at 50/50 maybe…your math is not off the charts. My daughters Math is very strong and R/W was weak. Math was 790 and Math 2 Subject test was also 790. She took the Calc AB and BC AP test Sophomore year and received 5’s on both. These last 2 years she has been taking her math classes through Stanford. But she got in this year because of sports otherwise I don’t think she would of made it. All the numbers I have been seeing from students getting accepted and declined is just amazing.

One thing going to you is they do like see even scores I think and you have that, you are not overpowering in one area and equal. So maybe you have better then 50/50

3

Welcome to College Confidential, @williamsplease!

Chance threads are not reliable, because they consist of fellow students, parents, and alumni just… guessing.
You can tell from the statistics that Williams posts on its Common Data set that you are a solid applicant:

https://provost.williams.edu/files/williams_cds_1718.pdf

Congratulations on your excellent achievements!

Whether you are accepted or not will depend not only on the strength and appeal of your total application in all its parts, but also on the rest of the applicants and how the class is shaping up. So aim for a nice mix of reach schools, match schools, and safety schools that have have characteristics similar to those you like in Williams, and you will end up somewhere you will be happy, whether ar Williams or elsewhere.

Applying to Windows on Williams, and then applying early decision, are good moves that indicate strong interest.

Good luck!

4

TheGreyKing; Good advice, thank you!

5

Bresdo; Thanks, and that’s really cool that your daughter took math classes at Stanford!

6

Your best shot is to play the low income hook, and it is a hook now. Your stats are fine. I’m not sure they even matter anymore so long as you are above some magical line which seems to be surprisingly low. It is all about hooks and activities. You have one hook. Get one more or a desirable activity and you have a good shot. Right now, I agree with the 50/50 number. MAKE SURE YOU APPLY TO SECOND TIER SCHOOLS TOO! And make sure you read their website carefully and check all of the necessary boxes of what to do. I am so disgusted with the current admissions situation that I am offering to share what I have learned with people like you, but not everyone because it sickens me that some people have turned this into a game. Message me if you want.

7

[1] If you want to maximize your chances and Williams is your top choice, then Early Decision would be the most strategic option; if financial aid is of concern, Williams does meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.

[2] Have you considered applying to QuestBridge? It is an excellent opportunity to stand out in your applications, receive application fee waives automatically (if you become a finalist), and is centered on low-income, high achieving students like you!

8

Hooks are interesting. Those who claim to know say it’s all about athletics/low income/minority/legacy. I disagree that that’s the whole list. If I can add one more thing that you can make a hook for you, try to personally contact a professor or two in the Math department. It appears you have both the passion and accomplishments there. And Williams takes pride in having the best LAC (if not all undergrad) math department in the country. They are looking for passion and talent. And you will learn a lot about the department you can’t find on a website. If you attend Windows on Williams, seek them out for a personal meeting. If you don’t, email and skype with them. Find one or more profs that specialize in something you’re particularly interested in now. If they are interested in you, they will communicate that interest to admissions.

We did this with our 2 kids and their passions, and it affected their choices in schools. They both chose to apply ED and attend(ed) Williams. They had NO obvious hooks (unless you count Kid #1 as legacy for Kid #2). None. Zip. They made it clear who they were and why they were a great fit for Williams academics and culture. They also had reach, zone, and safety schools they were prepared to attend, with applications ready. All reach schools are a long shot. There are many schools similar to Williams, with outstanding math departments. Be sure to be enthusiastic about them as well. I wish you the very best of luck. Take care.

9

Congratulations on having accomplished so much, you would be an excellent applicant and your strength in Math is outstanding. Are you thinking of majoring in Math? Williams has a very strong Math department and is known among the LACs for Math. Perhaps you should expand upon your passion for Math and explore its intersection with the arts or sciences, multidisciplinary studies are a focus for Williams, so bolstering this aspect of your background in a creative way might help.