International student- accepted, should i defer?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

<p>I was so excited to learn that I was admitted into Williams yesterday, it's really a dream come true. I live in Norway and therefore am an international student. Because I will be coming out of a very tough 2 IB-programme years, I think that taking a gap year would be a very positive thing for me to do so I can approach Williams with a more hard-working energy and zeal in my freshman year. </p>

<p>However, unlike other schools that either clearly state that gap-years are positive (Harvard) and negative, Williams does not really put out this information. I will contact them but I would also like to hear your guys' views. </p>

<p>1) Can i defer my matricultion so that I start as a freshman in 2012, without losing my place?</p>

<p>2) Is this generally frowned upon by Williams?</p>

<p>3) I will be 20 if I defer until 2012 when I start freshman year, is this going to be a problem for me considering the gap in age between my classmates and myself?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for any help</p>

2

<p>Congrats! And definitely take a gap year. Plenty of Williams students do (particularly international students) and Williams definitely allows–and encourages–it. And in terms of your age: there are plenty of older international students who have deferred for one reason or another, even domestic students as old as 22/23 as freshmen on occasion.</p>

3

<p>Great! Thanks for your help, I am definitely looking to taking a gap year</p>