<p>I am reluctant to bring this issue back to the table, but attached is a link to report created by the Williams baseball coach criticizing the de-emphasis on athletics at Williams.</p>
<p>I think everyone feels strongly about this situation (one way or another), and I don't want this thread to turn into yet another fiery debate, but there is some interesting info embedded in this document. Clearly it's biased, but nevertheless, it answers some of our questions.</p>
<p>Primarily, we now have a bit more information regarding how Williams assigns academic ratings. Low-band athletes who receive scores of 1150 - 1250 are assigned ratings of 7, out of 9.</p>
<p>"Protects" with academic ratings of 3's have SAT scores between 1450 - 1520. Therefore we know that academic "2's" and academic "1's" have SAT scores exceeding 1520.</p>
<p>Mikey, This is really a fascinating insight into the process and it certainly shows the other side of the coin. Before my son went to Williams I didn't know anything about college sports. He's not an team athlete, but many of his friends are, as are many of the kids who post (or whose parents post) on this board. I had no idea how emotional the issue of sports on campus could become both in admissions and in campus culture and when it becomes intertwined with drinking issues -- watch out! I'm heartened that Williams administration is aware of these issues and, for one, I'm convinced that they are doing a good job in bolstering the emphasis on other areas as well (which is probably why my son, the artist, is there in the first place.) They point is they don't need to de-emphasize sports; they just need to make sure that other activities -- like theater, art, dance, music, politcal activism -- get equal funding and recruitment. Through my son and this board, I know of quite a few Williams athletes and there isn't a dumb drunk among them (or for that matter a smart drunk or a dumb teetotaller) but still the perception lingers. The administration needs to keep working on this.</p>