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are the dates of visitation different for those who got the phone calls
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<p>Traditionally, the URM students got their own special "Diversity Weekend" visit at elite colleges. This has started to change for two reasons. Special programs restricted only to URM students are now considered to be unconstitutional by the college's legal council. Second, more and more URM applicants resent being "segregated from the general population" so to speak, so in some cases a Diversity Weekend approach backfires.</p>
<p>I know that Swarthmore now hosts all of their "specs" at the same time. There is no longer a special date for URM pre-frosh. They invite all accepted students for a 2.5 day event mid-week in April with classes and lectures to attend, yadda, yadda. There are targeted events during those days, put on by the Af-Am student group, the Latino student group, the Asian student group, etc. that URMs can choose to attend or not.</p>
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Hahaha.. Well.. Since I'm A Minority I Guess I'll Go To The Minority One..
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<p>You should go to whichever one you prefer. If you envision yourself identifying with a particular group for four years, then go to the minority one. If you envision a college experience without ad hoc segregation, then go to the one for "all people".</p>
<p>The college is trying sell YOU. You are the customer at this point. So, you should take whatever test drive you prefer.</p>
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Sorry, but I don't buy your altruistic argument that Williams is merely trying to help students "understand about the school" by going out of their way and making personal phone calls. They are trying to gain a competitive edge, plain and simple. Let's call a spade a spade, eh?
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<p>Raven, I think that you are really off-base in your assessment. As far as an admissions staff is concerned Williams is the best school that my daughter did not attend.(it took me a while to get over that my daughter chose to attend else where) There admissions staff is totally phenomenal and never have a met a group of people more committed to their students. </p>
<p>My daughter visited them summer junior year, fall senior year and during admitted students days. when you come across people who are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow that group of people come to mind. The bend over backwards not only for prospective students but their current students as well. The students are really great at making everyone who comes there feel welcomed. Personally, I don't think that williams is so hard pressed for students that they have to front and be anything less than what they truly are as a mechanism to convince students to chose williams.</p>
<p>Lindsey, Congratulations. You will have some excellent choices but a hard decision to make in april.</p>
<p>Yeah, they are very generous in paying for URM to visit. I was considered one, oddly simply because I was a farm girl from the midwest. I attended one of the multicultural weekends. They paid for everything, even flew me out of a very close town rather than minneapolis. I was very impressed. My financial situation isn't "dire" but I don't think I would have visited if it wasn't for the offer, and without visiting I am sure I never would have applied ED.</p>
<p>Anyway, congrats lindsey on your acceptance. I don't where you'll end up going, but either way you surely have the opportunity to attend an awesome school. I cannot wait until next year! :)</p>
<p>Thanks Sybbie and Leonesa :) My decision making just got further complicated by an acceptance from Swarthmore. It certainly will be a hard decision to make.</p>
<p>You are really feasting during this application season. As you know Interested Dad's daughter and A chat's son are at Swat. They will try to lure you away. You already know where Cangel and I want to see you.</p>
<p>Not really. Although a large chunk of the student bodies (50% might be a reasonable guess) are the same kids at both schools, Williams is a better fit for some kids, Swarthmore for others.</p>
<p>Aside from specific differences (particular departments, athletic teams, etc.) that might push an individual student one way or another, the two "big A-level" differences would be location and prevailing campus culture. Different kids are going to value different qualities in those big picture items.</p>
<p>You know I got love for you. I know that your daughter is very happy htere and you might want to share the happiness. :) Somedays I feel bad that when whe went to see Haverford and Bryn Marw that we did not check out Swat. It sounds like a wonderful place.</p>
<p>on the topic of the "exploding letter" in general, I got one, albeit it wasn't from a school of even comparable quality.</p>
<p>It was from a kansas school sometime around November(I had never even sent an application), it said basically "commit to this full ride scholarship in 20 days or else!". I wrote a letter back saying how evil I thought such a practice was. They didn't respond to it but then sent a hand written note saying please come... </p>
<p>its really disgusting some of the practices schools resort too</p>