<p>I've looked at some stuff on EphBlog but couldn't find any conclusive current info. How big a boost is it? And is it necessary for an applicant to do the interview w/ the admissions ppl to ascertain chances? I wasn't aware this was an option when I visited....</p>
<p>I’d be interested to hear as well.</p>
<p>Plenty of background reading on legacy admissions here:</p>
<p>[Legacy</a> Admissions : EphBlog](<a href=“http://www.ephblog.com/category/admissions/legacy-admissions/]Legacy”>http://www.ephblog.com/category/admissions/legacy-admissions/)</p>
<p>Summary: Legacy status counts for much less at Williams then it did 10 or 30 years ago. The doubling of the number of students in the 70s meant that the (fewer) children of 50s graduates had (proportionately) more open spots. The dramatic increase in student selectivity in the 80s meant that Eph children were becoming smarter and coming from families with more of a focus on elite education. All those trends are continuing. Within a few years, being a legacy will count for, essentially, nothing when you apply to Williams. Till then, the main advantages are: 1) The Admissions Office will give you a secret wink if you really have no chance, thus saving them (and you) the awkwardness of a formal rejection and 2) AR 1 legacies are always (?) admitted.</p>
<p>The main benefit of the interview is that they will tell you if you have no chance, but I suspect that they would do the same if you just called.</p>
<p>The only possible concern of not doing the interview is that Williams will think that you aren’t interested and are only using them as a back up if you don’t get into Yale. Easiest way to deal with that is to apply early decision. If you really would prefer Yale and want to use Williams as a back up, then just try to signal them over the winter that you really will come if admitted.</p>
<p>What does “AR 1 legacies are always (?) admitted” mean? AR 1? Is this even true?</p>
<p>You can look in some of the ephblog but it is basically someone near the top of his class and 1520+ for CR/math. Williams breaks down students into nine academic grades . If you are below the second grade and do not have some advantage (athlete,legacy,ed, etc) the math gets more challenging.</p>
<p>Oh nice! I JUST make the 1520 cutoff… depending on how soft it is (it must, in some cases, be swayed by factors other than purely SAT and GPA)… but this is good to know! I hate to jinx myself, but this makes me feel a little more relaxed… perhaps… who am I kidding! It’s still scary not knowing!</p>
<p>But how can it possibly be true that they will ALWAYS accept legacy AR 1s? There must be exceptions.</p>
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<p>Not to be cocky but I definitely DO have a good chance at Williams with my stats, so the admissions interview seems fairly pointless. However, I don’t want to run the risk of seeming uninterested. If I visited and toured coming all the way from California, though, do you think this adequately conveys interest? Williams isn’t a back-up to Yale, it’s just that I didn’t want to commit myself anywhere by applying ED and Yale offers EA. Even if I get into Yale SCEA I will still apply to Williams. It’s definitely a strong contender.</p>
<p>Quomodo, If you feel so confident you’ll get in based on your stats, why interview?</p>
<p>“But how can it possibly be true that they will ALWAYS accept legacy AR 1s? There must be exceptions.”</p>
<p>Not according to former President Morty Schapiro. Again, read EphBlog for details and citations.</p>
<p>“If I visited and toured coming all the way from California, though, do you think this adequately conveys interest?”</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
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<p>I do not feel confident I’ll get in based on my stats, and I never said this. I only said I felt I had as good a shot as anyone based on my stats–that is, my stats are not bad enough that I have no chance. I was referring to interviews specifically for legacies, which seem mostly to be for the purpose of informing poor candidates that they don’t really have a chance. Since I know I have a CHANCE, I was questioning whether such an interview would be necessary to demonstrate interest (since I don’t need the information it would provide).</p>