Chances of acceptance into Williams College?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

Hey, thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I’ve been fretting over this nonstop for almost a year now and I would be grateful for any words of advice or reassurance…
anywho, I’m a female senior, absolutely sure of applying to Williams ED to pursue a major in neuroscience so that I can go on to med school. The research opportunities made me go wide-eyed and the campus was breathtaking (esp. those renovations!!). Also, I’m admittedly thankful that I won’t feel obligated to join a sorority…not the biggest fan of party schools. The music program at William, though I’m not interested in academic obligations to it, is incredibly stunning, I’ve heard [read], and I’d like to have the freedom to listen to live orchestral music in college without bothering them.

STATS

ACT: 33 (if i don’t make it through ED, will retake in December of 2016 for RD)
-Just took my subject tests-
w GPA: 4.3
Class: 650
School doesn’t rank, but most likely within/above 95th percentile

AP World: 4
AP Psychology: 4
AP Physics C Mechanics: 4
BC Calc: 5
AP Language: 3 (not submitting, noooo)

Senior Year Course load:
AP Lit
AP US&Comp Govt
Multivariate Calculus (dual enrollment)
Matrix Algebra (dual enrollment)
Human Anatomy/Physiology (non-honors, so brings down that gpa, but I’ve wanted to take this class for a LONG time)
AP Chemistry
Band
Chemistry Teacher Assistant

Activities:
-HS ice hockey team (co-ed, but only girl…i just want to play as club sport at williams) [have played soccer, softball, and ran in previous years]
-Model UN (one of, if not the, largest clubs at school): various awards from college conferences, varsity officer position, chaired committees
-Red Cross: officer position
-Marching Band: [dude it’s nerdy, but i kid you not i have better calf muscles–and sock tans–than many on crew/cross-country do, haha] avg of 20hr/wk WITHOUT competitions almost every Saturday, leadership position
-teen editor for a new york times national bestseller
-School Board: Student representative, nominated/accepted, sub-committee
-Child day care: almost every weekday after school for 1-3 yr olds. volunteer, 8 hrs/day during school breaks
-National Honor Society, National Math Society, Physics Club, Latin Club
-volunteered for physics-related booth at 4th USA science and engineering festival (WAS ACROSS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS AND NEXT TO CORNELL, CAN YOU BELIEVE?!?!?!?! Almost died of happiness, really)
-over 300 volunteer hrs total within HS career

Awards:
academic/athletic awards from school, county (but these don’t have much weight, right? :/)
ap scholar w distinction
work accepted into prestigious state literary magazine
music related

Recs: BC teacher (knows about academic stamina/resilience), Band teacher (longest teacher, has doctorate, knows about leadership/unrecorded volunteer hrs), Counselor (extremely close, understands personal circumstances)

No legacy, second generation, applying for financial aid (was on single-parent income in 2015)

Also, I’ve lived out of the country for 2 years, attended a DoDEA school during that time. I heard that colleges find moving experiences appealing (???) or do they only particularly care about your current residence? Do they take account of the academic competitiveness of the area?

Do you think admissions officers would be swayed by an evident passion for one’s intended major? I really want to take advantage of the research opportunities and grants; I have a research project that’ I’ve been devoted to since the eighth grade. I also intend to join the Red Cross or Peace Corps some time after school to help pay off debt/travel.

These are the major things :slight_smile:

So, Williams. Yay, nay, just questions/concerns? I mean, I understand I must be rational and consider the acceptance rate, so I of course do have backup schools. However, Williams is my dream undergrad school, most assuredly.

Again, all feedback would be greatly appreciated (or, heck, if you want to talk about anything, I’m down). Thank you ever so much!

2

You have a very competitive profile and a positive personality that comes through in your writing. Like many of the “elite” LACs, Williams admissions can be hard to predict given its relatively small enrollment. Applying early is helpful. To answer one of your questions, having academic and research interests that fit the college’s available resources is great but doesn’t necessarily factor in early admissions decisions.

Does Williams require 1 or 2 teacher recs? Since you aren’t pursuing music it may seem odd to have one from the band teacher.

3

Hm, so do you think I should focus more on Williams’s priorities in terms of whom they’re looking for, or simply make attempts to be “unique”?
They require 2. I wanted to send recs from both STEM and humanities, and, out of all my high school teachers, I believe my band teacher knows me best as a student and leader in/out of the classroom whereas my math teacher knows me solely through academic circumstances. I was trying to avoid repetition between recs (waived my rights to preview any). Though, now that you mention it, I do see why it would strike them as odd or…maybe unnecessary? Regardless, I don’t think I have the power to change much about the recs now, sorry!!

4

@Senior2016M

5

Just edit the heck out of your essays so they reflect you in the best light. I’m not convinced retaking the ACT will change things if you don’t get in ED. A rec from the chemistry teacher you TA for might be worthwhile if deferred.

6

You’re definitely a viable candidate, and if you come across well in your essays, they might get you over the hump. Good luck @thebookwasbetter !

7

You’re certainly a viable candidate. Grades and scores are where they need to be. (FYI, you don’t have to send AP Scores, you just report them on the common app. Report all the scores you feel comfortable reporting, but know that a 3 isn’t going to kill your app even though it isn’t great, so I understand your concern with it, but don’t fret about it. It won’t be the reason you’re denied).

Your essays need to be as filled with personality, voice, and interest as your post here. Give it color, life, depth, insight. Also, last year Williams had a supplement asking about who you’d want to join you in your tutorial, and if they have that same “optionsl” prompt this year (I’m not sure if they do, I’ve no clue) then you should absolutely fill it out and give them that. I am convinced that my supplemental tutorial essay was the reason I was admitted over more numerically compelling candidates. Just a bit of advice.

Good luck to you! Things, though always uncertain, would seem optimistic assuming good essays and recs :slight_smile:

8

@Oregon2016 Will do!! Thanks for clearing up the confusion :slight_smile:
@Senior2016M Oh yeah, they have to same prompt for this year too, only, I’m not sure whether or not I should take the opportunity to mention potential academic plans…should I keep the answer directly related to the prompt at hand? Though I trust myself to be a cogent writer when I must, I’m worried that I might deviate from what’s important :confused:

9

The essay doesn’t have to be explicitly about the person you’d want in your tutorial - in fact, it should only mention them tangentially! I talked about why my person mattered to me, what they’re about, and why I relate or feel connected to that. The whole point of this prompt is to use a unique avenue to discover more about you, perhaps things that would not otherwise be apparent in your application. You shouldn’t be doing expository writing in a biographic style about a person.

If nothing else, it’s another page in the application on which YOU can be heard and on which you may showcase your voice, your feelings, what matters to you, and, as you allude to, how good your writing is (which is vitally important, especially at a place like Williams, as you’ll be doing LOTS of writing in your tutorials!)

10

Please note that neuroscience is not a major at Williams. However, it is available as a concentration (somewhat akin to a minor). You can look up a list of majors on each college’s website.
I am sure that professors would work with you to support the research that interests you so greatly, however. Williams professors are very supportive.
And yes, intellectual passion is an attractive quality in an applicant.

11

I think Williams will find you a person of interest to the extent that you have a good chance at an ED acceptance. Williams likes the trifecta of academics, sports and arts, and you demonstrate intense interest in all three. I believe your overseas experience could be a plus (it depends how you weave it into your application) and being the lone female on the ice hockey team is a memorable distinction. You should be able to write vivid and personal essays.

You probably are aware that Williams has a great marching band. If you intend to continue your band participation (either marching or another music ensemble) while at Williams, say so. Either way, submit a music supplement, even if you will not major in music.

I would lean toward using your band teacher’s recommendation at an extra, third submittal and choosing a second academic recommendation, something in the humanities or social science. Our observation with Williams is that more is okay in the application.

I would caution you, however, about applying ED if you need substantial financial aid. By locking yourself into ED you will not have the opportunity to compare and negotiate offices which cam especially significant if there is a non-custodial parent in the picture. Run the net price calculator to make sure that you’re confident that you’re eligible for enough need based aid to make Williams workable. If there are extenuated circumstances, you or your parent should talk to the financial aid office now.

12

@Senior2016M Great! that helps me a lot :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:
@TheGreyKing oh yes, thank you for saying so! I was so caught up in the classes offered that I made horrid speculations. Nevertheless, I’m sincerely interested in studying at the school, so what you’ve said gives me more hope than anything :smiley:
@momrath thank you ever so much for such a detailed, helpful review :slight_smile: I’m a bit wary of signing up for marching band in college due to my difficulty with scheduling/prioritization during the marching season. I tried looking up their practice hours and past marching shows, but have not been able to find anything, unfortunately. Would you happen to have those details? And yes, I’ll certainly take your advice to submit a music supplement!
I do agree that I should find another teacher to write a recommendation. In fact, I was going to have my history/psychology/model UN sponsor teacher write one of them, but she passed away from leukemia during ap exam season last school year, and many, MANY of my past teachers have moved or retired. I suppose that asking my physics teacher would be the next best choice, but she rather scared me (though I do have enormous respect for her), so I’m afraid I didn’t leave the best impression as a student. Due to this predicament, I decided to ask my band teacher.
I hope that clears it up :slight_smile:

13

I don’t think you have to commit to the marching band or any other musical ensemble at this point. What’s important to communicate in your application is that you have a willingness to participate in music as an EC.

http://music.williams.edu/ensembles/marching-band/
Rehearsals

Monday, 7:00-8:00 pm
Friday, 4:00-5:00 pm

http://wso.williams.edu/orgs/moocow/
http://music.williams.edu/category/ensembles/

14

Thank you @momrath, you have been so generous with your time!!

Does anyone know if the WoW essay will be reviewed in the admissions process?

15

Sorry, I’ve just been combing through these Williams threads and I noticed ED Results have come out. If you’re comfortable sharing their decision it’d be much appreciated. :slight_smile:

16

@Ruzzen hi, sorry, I’m applying RD :slight_smile: