Liberal Arts Convert Looking for Admissions Perspectives...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

<p>My top choice has been Penn (Wharton) for some time now, but I've always been interested in Williams. I've known about for a while, but never considered applying since my parents weren't advocates of the LAC thing until I explained that they do have Econ and other "practical" majors. I went on a road trip up to Palo Alto where my friend was moving and ending up talking to his mom the entire 6 hours. She and her husband are both Harvard grads, and she says she wishes she had attended Williams. "The kids there were always having so much fun, and the boys weren't as arrogant". </p>

<p>There you have it. I'm applying, it's in my top 2 now, and I want to know if my profile is academic enough to get into a top LAC.</p>

<p>General: Junior Male, Mexican, from a large southern-california public school.
Rank: top 3% (in a class of 800)
GPA: Unweighted - 3.800 (have received As in every class except math - I take advanced math courses, though)
Curriculum: Have only taken Honors or AP courses.
SAT I: CR - 750, M - 720, W - 800 = 2270
SAT II: Biology E - 740, US History - 760, Math 2 - 720</p>

<p>APs: European History (5), Biology (5), US History (5), English Language (5), Spanish Language (5), Calculus AB (5), Physics C (4)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP English Lit
AP Calc BC
AP Environmental Sci
AP Comparative Gov
Student Government</p>

<p>ECs:
Sport:
* I am a top-ranked gymnast in the west for my age (and level 10, the highest level), and I have trained gymnastics for 10 years. Currently train 16 hours per week, hold various state champ titles, etc.
* I am a varsity diver for my school, I train 10 hours per week in this sport, when I take a break from the gymnastics season (which never technically ends - it is a year round sport)
* I have the All-American Award for Gymnastics</p>

<p>Special Interests:</p>

<ul>
<li>I am the President of my school's Ecology Club</li>
<li>I am the President of my school's California Scholarship Federation (with > 50 members)</li>
<li>I am an avid music fan with knowledge from 1960s Jazz to 1980s Underground Hip-Hop to art-rock songwriters. I hope to write a music column in college encouraging students to listen to a more diverse mix of music.</li>
<li>I have over 500 hours of school-oriented service logged in for Student Government on my campus: I was Business Manager during Junior Year, and I'm the Senior Class President for next year.</li>
<li>I have competed for my school's very successful Academic Bowl team, during my Freshman and Sophomore years. I might not include this...</li>
</ul>

2

<p>there is no such thing as a "practical major"</p>

3

<p>Yes, you're qualified. I would expect you to get in since you have the URM hook.</p>

4

<p>"I want to know if my profile is academic enough to get into a top LAC."</p>

<p>Yes, it is. The academics are demanding, but many Ephs find balance by taking part in some of the many extracurricular offerings. </p>

<p>For example, you would be able to indulge your interests in both diving and music at Williams: not only could you write for the (weekly) Record, you could also train to be a DJ and fill one of the many slots available at WCFM, the college radio station. And as a member of the Swimming and Diving team, you would enjoy being part of a large (about 70, both men and women) social group, as well as contribute to one of the many sports that have a strong tradition of success (not only on the conference level, but nationally [D3] as well). If you haven't contacted the diving coach yet, take some time to look at the sports information online at williams.edu.</p>

5

<p>Your stats and grades are fine, and I can't imagine that there will be too many other mexican male gymnasts in the applicant pool.</p>

6

<p>@ Eph10: those words aren't mine, they are my parents. </p>

<p>The college radio station sounds perfect, that's exactly what I would want to do. But you can try out for varsity sports after admission, right? Because I'm honestly tired of dealing with sports recruitment at the moment, what with Stanford being disappointing with gymnastics offers and Yale being annoying with diving.</p>

7

<p>Padfoot - just wanted to be sure that you knew that Williams does not have a gymnastics team so your only sport would be diving . .</p>

8

<p>padfoot: Also, Division 3 sports isn't anything like the D1 programs at the two universities you mentioned -- the time commitment is much less. At Williams, athletics is secondary to academics (although those who typically like to criticize Williams -- usually from afar -- will no doubt pipe in to the contrary).</p>

9

<p>You sound like a great LAC candidate. Your athletic interests and student government background certainly would make you a good fit for Williams. Your eclectic music taste and your experience at a big southern California high school might argue for expanding your search to some colleges with different student cultures, such as Amherst, Wesleyan.</p>

10

<p>And it would definitely be a good idea to visit (if at all possible) the campuses of the colleges you eventually decide to apply to --- there's no substitute for the "feeling" you will get as an important factor in choosing the one that offers you the best personal "fit."</p>

11

<p>If you're interested in continuing diving at Williams, it would definitely be to your advantage to talk to the diving coach. It's probably possible to join the team after you get on campus, but then you would lose what could be a significant leg up in admissions. I understand your frustrations with Yale and wherever else, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice to let that hinder your chances elsewhere.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, I know Williams doesn't have gymnastics, only 19 schools in the entire country do. I would actually prefer a more laid back athletic program; I'm tired of training 20 hours/week to make my way to Stanford gym only to find that my recruitment which was a shoe-in sophomore year no longer is at this point. :-/<br>
Anyway, I'm disenchanted with the sports route to admissions at this point and will have to pass on this "significant leg up in admissions"</p>

<p>I'm real excited to get a peer review from a particular amazing friend of mine. :)</p>

13

<p>I definitely think you're qualified. However, as someone already mentioned, it's really important that you visit the colleges you're interested in. I was an academically strong student in certain respects and was a Questbridge Semi-Finalist. However, I think what really helped my admission chances were actually talking to people in admissions through campus visits. For them to get to know me to an extent and see how I carried myself in person made a big difference. I have to admit, it was pretty nice to get in contact with someone who used to work in admissions and find out that they remembered going on a hike with me. :)</p>

14

<p>Oh, you should definitely try to contact someone on campus about Williams Multicultural Weekend Program. You fill out and application and if you're selected, they pay for your plane fair up there, meals and everything. It was kind of overwhelming but well worth the experience.</p>

15

<p>Chances? Banana.</p>

<p>What? It makes a s much sense as anything else you'll hear.</p>

16

<p>OK...</p>

<p>I probably won't be able to visit Williams until (if) I am admitted. I'm about to go check their site to see if they offer alum interviews.</p>

17

<p>In the past, Williams has not required an interview as part of its application process, so there's not a formal, extensive network of alums set up to interview as with the major universities (Ivies, MIT, etc.). They may, however, be able to put you in touch with a local alum for an informative (rather than evaluative) interview.</p>

<p>The Williams admission office offers courtesy interviews to children of alums, to let them know if they're even ballpark competitive and should even consider pursuing an application for admission.</p>

18

<p>Thanks for the info! I hope Williams has a strong ECON department - though it's not as if I'll be going to the top LAC in the country and criticize the rigor of a department.
I'm hoping to apply, be admitted, and visit during my spring break to see if I love the environment, enough to forsake a city. Or, civilization as I have known it thus far in my life.</p>

19

<p>ECON is one of the most popular majors (and a lot of Ephs double major).</p>

20

<p>You sound like a very gifted athlete and although truly like LACs I think you should consider a DI school with the sports you describe. Vandy, Duke, Rice, Wake Forest, William and Mary, or the smaller Ivys might be overall better for you if you can practice your sport</p>