Could I get into Williams?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

<p>Williams seems like a very awesome place, and I'd love to go there. I've always had more of a Liberal Arts mindset. Do I have a shot?</p>

<p>GPA: UW 3.91, W 4.15
Class rank: 30 of 401
Freshman Year:
Earth Science XL
Geometry P
Chinese I P
Robotics ROP
English 9 P
(Also PE and Health, though these are not ag courses)</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Biology XL
English 10 XL
Algebra II XL
Chinese II P
World History P
(Also PE)</p>

<p>Junior Year:
Chinese III P
AP US History
AP English Language
Pre-Calculus P
Chemistry P</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Calculus AB
AP English Literature
Government P
Economics P
Architectural Design P
AP Computer Science A
Physics P</p>

<p>SAT I: 2020 (730 CR, 660 Math, 630 Writing)
SAT II: 790 World History, 770 US History
APs: Scored a 5 on APUSH and AP English Language
Essays: Very strong
Teacher recs: Strong
Counselor rec: Strong
Ethnicity: White
School: Small, rural public High School.</p>

<p>ECs:
-Cross Country (10, 11, 12)
-Track and Field (9, 10, 11, 12)
-Chinese Language and Culture Club (9, 10, 11)
-Boy Scouts of America (9, 10, 11, 12): Served in numerous leadership positions, including Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Scribe, Troop Guide, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Lead several backpacking trips and hikes, with over 40 nights camping and 500 miles hiking.
-American Heart Association (9, 10, 11): Organized donation efforts in my neighborhood.
-Mission Solano (10, 11): Led youth in making/distributing holiday meals for the less fortunate in my city.
-California Coastal Creek Cleanup (9, 10, 11): Led youth in efforts to clean up litter in/around local creeks.</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>Boy Scouts
-Eagle Scout
-Model Troop Award
-1st Place Troop from Camp Winton
-Philmont Ranch Completion Award</p>

<p>School/Athletics
-Varsity Letter in 2 Sports
-Black and Orange Award (School Awards)
-Academic Letter</p>

<p>Work Experience:
-None.</p>

2

<p>Tychas,</p>

<p>Unfortunately, Williams might be a stretch for you. Your SAT puts you just above the 25 percentile for admitted students. Also, your grades and class rank (although excellent) do not stand out. HS grades and SAT scores are “very important”. Extracurriculars are merely “important” (see Williams’ Common Data Set for details on academic and non-academic factors in admission decisions).</p>

<p><a href=“http://provost.williams.edu/files/12_13_common_data_set_final.pdf[/url]”>http://provost.williams.edu/files/12_13_common_data_set_final.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The good news is that you have figured out that a LAC is what you are aiming for! There are tons of top notch LACs where you would be a top candidate.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I thought it might be a little bit of a reach. How much weight do the Subject Tests carry? That is, of course, if you don’t mind me asking.</p>

4

<p>There is no reason that you shouldn’t apply to Williams as a reach with your stats. Can you re-take your SAT and/or try the ACT? Ideally, you want to have each section of the SAT at 700+, subject tests in the mid 700s (which you already have) and ACT in the 33-34 or higher range. But that doesn’t mean that you will get accepted with those stats, just that you have put yourself in range.</p>

<p>Also, as indicated upthread, you will surely be able to put together a great list of LACs that represent a range of selectivity from reach to target to safety and that have similar feeling/vibe to Williams. You will have lots of excellent choices.</p>

5

<p>Well it depends on your athletic stats. If you are a very good athlete your stats might be okay to get in. I would contact the Williams track and XC coach in your Junior year to discuss this option.</p>

6

<p>Certainly apply if you’re interested. Those numbers won’t be the best in the applicant pool, but I think you deserve a shot at it! And like others have said, do some good college “shopping”–if you apply to other similar top-tier schools, you may not get into all of them, but you might get into at least one. I get the sense that you’d be “a big fish in a small pond” if you settled for schools less competitive than the NESCACs.</p>