<p>I've heard from several different people (teachers, accepted students, etc.) that Williams gives a slight advantage in admission and financial aid to local students (surrounding half hour radius or so I presume.)</p>
<p>Is this true? Does anyone have experience with this? Is the local student boost comparable to the hook of a URM or less? </p>
<p>I thought this would be an interesting topic to start...all thoughts encouraged. </p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Well, I highly doubt the validity of the statement about financial aid. They give based on need, and that's it.</p>
<p>Okay thanks Brittany2009. That's completely what I thought, expected, and was hoping to hear. I just wanted to check because I have heard otherwise (from probably not very reliable sources.) Thanks.</p>
<p>I was going through a few past results thread, and it is true that they give a slight boost to locals. Just in admissions though, not fin aid. Everyone gets the same amazing fin aid.</p>
<p>This is quite interesting. Does anyone know if any other top private LAC's do this?</p>
<p>There's at least one Middletowner in every Wesleyan class, often more.</p>
<p>Would Albany, NY be considered advantageous for Williams? It's about an hour away.</p>
<p>I'm really glad this has resurfacted, I think it's a really interesting idea. </p>
<p>ChandlerBing-I'm guessing yes. Albany definitely seems close enough for me to believe this would be "local" when compared to the vast distances a large percentage of applicants are coming from. </p>
<p>Thoughts from others?</p>
<p>
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Does anyone know if any other top private LAC's do this?
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</p>
<p>Yes. Swarthmore does. In fact, they have a full-tuition merit scholarship program for four local students:</p>
<p>"The only solely merit-based scholarship program at Swarthmore College is the Regional McCabe Scholarship. Each year, two Regional McCabe Scholars are selected from the Delmarva Peninsula and two Regional McCabe Scholars are selected from Chester County, Montgomery County, or Delaware County in Pennsylvania. These four Regional McCabe Scholars receive a minimum of full tuition for each of their four years at Swarthmore (but more if they demonstrate financial need)."</p>
<p>I suspect that many LACs have a preference for local students. Most of these schools were started as regional schools serving a particular geographic area.</p>
<p>Williams College does not operate in a vacuum. It is by far the largest and wealthiest employer in the Town of Williamstown, and one of the most important in Berkshire County generally. As such, the College is a major "player" in terms of local politics and economics, and all of the residents and government officials know this. Williams plays a far more conspicuous role in its community than (for example) Swarthmore does in the Philadelphia metro area.</p>
<p>My guess is that Williams uses the "local student advantage" as a political and public relations tool, to help promote good relationships with town and county officials, and with local residents generally. I would also guess that this advantage probably does not extend much further than Williamstown, immediately adjacent communities like North Adams or Pownal, or Pittsfield (the County seat). </p>
<p>All schools have to be concerned with "town/gown" relationships. A "local student advantage" is one possible strategy to help keep the relationship positive, and I'm sure that many schools are well aware of it.</p>
<p>I tend to agree with Corbett--Albany's not part of Williams immediate "town",-local Albany officials/citizens pay more attention to UAlbany/Siena/RPI than Williams--The state line matters</p>
<p>Great thoughts, Corbett and grundoon51. You both have very good points. Thanks for clearing this up for me.</p>
<p>Yes, thank you Corbett and grundoon51. I definitely see UAlbany/Siena/RPI on the news much more frequently than Williams, and though I didn't apply to any schools in the immediate Albany area, those schools are talked about a lot. Williams is still my top choice, though!
I wonder if they're going to be any less selective now that they have a little over 1,000 applicants less than last year. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>There is a distinct potential for class tension at a place like Williams. The College is one of the wealthiest schools in the country on a per-student basis, and the students enrolled there tend to come from affluent (sometimes very affluent) households. However, many of the surrounding communities, like North Adams and Pittsfield, are not noted for their affluence; they are blue-collar towns that have struggled for decades with the loss of their historic manufacturing base. It's not like (for example) Swarthmore or Wellesley, where wealthy schools are surrounded by wealthy suburbs.</p>
<p>But in practice, there seems to be less class tension than you might expect. I suspect this is in part because the College has been there since forever (or at least 1793); in part because the College is a source of good jobs in a region that needs them; and in part because the College is known to give breaks to deserving local kids.</p>
<p>Very well said, Corbett. Your logic makes sense. I have seen North Adams and Pittsfield and would agree with what you said. The two towns remind me of a lot of places outside of Albany, too.</p>
<p>"I wonder if they're going to be any less selective now that they have a little over 1,000 applicants less than last year. Any thoughts?"</p>
<p>Chandler -- I've heard it mentioned that the Williams Admission Office may feel this year's yield will be a bit higher since the addition of the extra admission essay may have discouraged marginal applicants from submitting applications -- so that the adcom may extend proportionately fewer initial offers of RD admission than in years past. </p>
<p>For that reason, the Admission Office may utilize the wait list more this year to compensate for any RD miscalculation.</p>
<p>That would make sene, onemoremom, I actually enjoyed writing the Williams essay (as opposed to not enjoying the majority of other colleges' essays, though I liked the Penn autobiography essay).
Did anyone else think the Williams prompt was a really good one?</p>