I will be attending Williams in the fall and honestly couldn’t be more excited! However, now that the excitement has faded a bit I’ve started thinking about my life in six months. I am from Kentucky and, as I know (personally) many of the top students in KY as well as how KY students apply to college, will probably be the only freshman from my state. I am pretty introverted as well. I am also a third-culture-kid (TCK), as I grew up overseas, and from a lower middle-class family. Basically, it’s going to be a culture shock. Although I am used to these as a TCK, I had my family with me as was younger then.
Williams’ entry system is great and one of the reasons I love the college, but will this be adequate to helping me get acclimated? (They also have programs for URM’s and First Gen students, but I am not technically either) How can I prepare for the move now? What are the best ways to get plugged into supportive groups on campus? Any help would be greatly appreciated and if my worrying is unwarranted that’d be good to know too 
Thanks in advance.
Congrats to you @Glorfindel1!
The short answer: yes. You had your family when you were a kid- but you were also in the minority as a newcomer when you moved school. At Williams just about every kid in your class will be new to college, new to Williams and very very few will know anybody else before they get there. You will all be hopelessly lost and awkward and hoping to find friends at the same time. The ones who look like they know what’s going on are just better at putting on a mask.
First rule is the same as every other move you have made: be fast to be friendly but slow to narrow yourself to one group. Remember that on average your first acquaintances don’t end up being your lasting friends (though they might be, and/or you might stay friendly with them).
LACs like Williams work really hard to help you settle in and feel at home. My TCKs went to colleges far away from where we were living at the time, and found to their delight more people ‘like them’ (other TCKs, other people who weren’t ‘from’ somewhere) than they had ever found in the schools they went to in the various places that they lived.
Join the fb group if you like, and when you get to campus be adventurous about trying things- all the clubs will be looking for new members, and doing things with people is a great way to get to know them.
Also: find out what the various academic supports are- peer tutors, writing centers, etc., and don’t be shy about using them early and often. Read the chapter before class, not after, and go to class. Use prof hours. Make study buddy friends.The pace and standards may be faster/higher than you are used to (dk anything about where you are now, obvs). Some students will arrive at Williams so well prepared that first year will be easier than the end of HS, but others -just as capable- will arrive under prepared, and that can be (an unnecessary) blow to self-confidence.
And again- congrats! I’m betting on you having a great adventure
Congratulations!
The entry system is an amazing way to get to know people, as are Ephventures. Williams has an especially warm and friendly atmosphere.
Also, collegemom3717’s advice is great. There is a ton of support available, both academically and socioemotionally. It exists for the students, so use it. The admissions office may be able to recommend some good groups and resources, too. You might ask them, or ask the dean’s office.
All the freshmen will be looking to connect with new friends and will be adjusting to being away from home and family and being in a new place. You won’t be alone!
P.S. I had a friend at Williams from Owensboro, Kentucky, back in the day!