<p>Attending a top 3% of country grammar school sixth form, taking A-LEVELS.</p>
<p>GCSE results: A*AAAABBBDD (the D's are due to real illness on a day, and I will explain this in apps)</p>
<p>SAT I taking in December. Practice tests average me at around:</p>
<p>700:Writing
730:Critical Reading
640:Maths</p>
<p>I plan to do better than this however.. All above 700!</p>
<p>EC's:among others
Creator of fictional society
member of philosophy and film society
toured in a rock band for 2 years nationwide and over 100 gigs
Played organ in church
class captain for a period
Vice editorial chief and arts supplement head of school magazine
many more..
I'm applying for fall '09 so I should amass a feww more maybe..</p>
<p>General GPA around 3.6-8 (This is innacurate because we don't have GPA here, but basically straight As and occasional Bs)</p>
<p>VERY GOOD recs and good essays will come.</p>
<p>Requiring large fin.aid. (I know this sucks for being an international, but my shortlist only has colleges who are good for this!)</p>
<p>LISTTT!</p>
<p>-Williams
-Yale
-Oberlin(Favourite and will be ED)
-Middlebury
-Pomona
-Bates
-Hamilton</p>
<p>Rather than stressing the "good points", let's take a look at the weaknesses. First, Williams being ranked as a number one liberal arts college is not looking for SAT scores in the mid-600s. Your math score will require significant improvement and expecting a move from 640 into the 700+ range is not very realistic. Although based in Britain, consider a Math SAT review course.</p>
<p>Second, your posting shows no sports on any level - junior varsity, varsity, or club level. Given Williams philosophy on educating the whole individual, this is a major gap although not a pure showstopper.</p>
<p>Third, much of your posting is written in future tense; "scores will go up" or "essays will be great". Honestly, that is on everyone's mind who is considering Williams.</p>
<p>These comments are written on the basis of viewing your qualifications through "American" eyes. You do have two years in front of you to adjust in order to complete a more balanced picture.</p>
<p>It is possible that your international status will call different questions into the picture, but remember that Williams is need-blind so acceptance and your ability to attend based on finances are two very different issues.</p>
<p>Good luck over your final years of pre-collegiate work.</p>
<p>I disagree with the above two posters. Your chances of being accepted at Williams are as good as those of applicants who have been accepted in the past. Your music and art background would be especially apppealing, and many have been accepted with SAT scores lower than yours. It also doesn't matter that you don't participate in sports, since as many successful applicants played music in high school as played sports -- and about 50% of those who attend don't participate in sports at Williams at all.</p>
<p>It's important to convey, through what you include on your application and, most importantly, your essays -- who you are and what you could contribute to the community. The adcom will be interested in you if you can show that what you could bring is something that will positively add to the experience of those at the college -- your classmates, the upperclassmen, the faculty, and the staff.</p>