REALLY REALLY want to apply ED to Williams College. I absolutely fell in love with it, and it’s an ideal school for my family and I for financial reasons. I fear that my stats are lacking I am an incoming Sr, so obviously no time for them to dramatically change. PLEASE tell me honestly what you think my chances are of getting in ED to Williams
School Type: Public, competitive
Location: NJ
Race/Gender: White female
Prospective Major: Poli Sci
W GPA: 3.997 (school doesn’t tell us unweighted)
Class rank: School doesn’t rank
ACT: 29 (only taken once…realistically will raise to 30, MAYBE a 31/32 if I’m lucky but I don’t count on it)
SAT II U.S. History: 730
AP Scores:
APCSP: 5
AP Lang: 4
APUSH: 4
AP Psych: 3 (won’t submit)
(taking 3 more APs Sr year)
Extracurriculars :
Debate Team (co-founder, 2x VP)
Model UN (Secretary)
French Club (president)
French Honors Society
National Honors Society
Feminist Club
Gay Straight Alliance
Middle School mentor program
Women’s community service group (~100 hours of service)
Awards:
New York Times writing contest, article published
1st place at regional debate competition
Award recipient @ UC Berkeley MUN comp
High Honor Roll each year
The data from the Williams class profile shows that only about 16% of those enrolled for class of 2022 that submitted the ACT had a 30 or below. Almost 70% had a 33 or above. So a 29 from an unhooked applicant has very little chance of acceptance. So it’s wise that you are retaking.
GPA looks great, but it’s what is beyond the number that counts more. Do you think you are in top 10%? Did you take the most rigorous course work available at your school? Do you have B’s on your transcript? What level math did you take?
No one here can really give you your “chances,” because none of us has a crystal ball to predict what the admissions officers will think of your application in comparison to those of other applicants.
Statistically, your ACT is on the low end, but the rest of your information sounds most impressive! Congratulations on your achievements. Give it a try and best wishes!
I would agree with Grey King, the process takes into account many factors other than test scores. If your essay is really compelling (having won the NYT contest, you must be a strong writer!!) and you have strong recs that round out certain themes in your overall application, that could carry the day. If you like Williams, you should apply early.
I agree with Grey King and Tennis parent too. Don’t let standardized scores stop you from applying. If your other stuff on the application is great, go for it. Apply.
Williams is actively looking for strong students who are URMs, first gen, or with serious need for FA. You are not a URM, but maybe you meet one of the other two criteria? Good luck. Williams is beautiful. My daughter will most likely apply there too.
Williams does not require or consider AP scores or SAT ll scores. They said if you send them, it’s fine. But your AP scores are not all 5s and your SAT ll is not in a tippy-top percentile, so I do not think you should send them. It will not hurt you not to send because they are not required. But if you DO send and they take a glance, I’d worry that they could work against you.
As noted above your ACT is low compared to admitted students. It’s also difficult for anyone to give you good advice, as there are so many ways that high schools calculate weighted gpas. Please calculate your unweighted gpa, core classes only (Eng, SS, Sci, Math and FL, no electives or gym) using the A=4 pts scale, B=3 and so on. It’s also important for you to know your unweighted GPA, as many colleges will calculate this, if it’s not provided by your school on the transcript.
Good luck and make sure you have match and safety schools to round out your list.
I don’t think you’re a very long shot, provided you do all of the following: I agree you should take the SAT, after doing a test course. I do not agree that you shouldn’t submit any 4s and 5s you get on APs – those are no problem. Since you’re a strong writer, go and win some Scholastic Awards while you’re at it. They may be relatively low-hanging fruit, but every other aspiring writer will have them; you should too. Trumpet the hell out of the NY Times; it is universally revered. And start hacking out the essays now! They will be critical.
I would defer here to someone who currently sits on a liberal arts admission committee – I only sat on liberal arts graduate admission committees for two state universities – but barring such direct insight, I am of the firm opinion that most admissions people do sneak a glance at the numbers at several stages of the process (especially the first). I also did not attend Williams (though my child is there now). And I don’t think either a 730 SAT II or any 4s or 5s in AP tests can do anything but help you. All those AP tests – including the several you’re taking this year – also go indirectly to the question of how challenging your curriculum was. And do keep the 3s and below to yourself.
I attended a Williams info session three days ago. The admissions professional said they do not want AP scores or SAT subject test scores. I have no reason not to believe her.
I just have to comment that AP scores with a mix of 4’s and 5’s and subject test scores in the 700’s are great scores! Congratulations!
There is no way they could work “against” you, although many Williams applicants will have similar scores so they won’t tip the scale in your favor either.
I see no reason not to share them by listing them in the appropriate area on the Common App— they just reinforce that you are capable of Williams work. If I were you, I might share them, particularly if your ACT score does not improve, because they are scores that are more typical of Williams students than is your ACT score.
But you also can choose not to share them, because, as brantly noted, they are not required.
There is a place to list them on the Common App. You can list them there. There is no need to pay money to the College Board to send your AP scores (until you already have been admitted— that way, you need only send them to the one college you will be attending that will use them for credit and/or placement—— at Williams, just placement).
As per my earlier post, admissions at Williams are holistic, anyway. Best of luck!
I am an incoming Sr, so obviously no time for them to dramatically change. PLEASE tell me honestly what you think my chances are of getting in ED to Williams 