<p>I don't know where the original poster went, but maybe someone can answer my questions. How did these students get to do these programs? I don't recall being asked to apply. And do they receive credit from Williams for them (and if so, how much)?</p>
<p>nope, no credit.</p>
<p>The programs are by invitation, with invites usually going out to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, the first in their family to attend college, etc. I think the intent is to introduce them to a college environment and help them feel comfortable with it before dumping them into the madness of the normal school year.</p>
<p>There's no formal credit given, but SHSS and especially SSP students have a huge leg up when they start fall semester--I was in intro math and science classes with many SSP people, and they had learned a lot of the material over the summer, which made intro chem, etc much easier for them.</p>
<p>And just for the record-- all the SSP and SHSS students I knew over my four years at Williams were extremely dedicated (and accomplished) students, but also led full lives outside the classroom. They were varsity and club athletes, dancers, actors, partiers...much like the rest of the class.</p>
<p>The original poster was probably asked not to post on the thread anymore, Eph10. I don't know how I'd feel if I was one of the students in the house and saw what he wrote on a mere whim without actually knowing anything about me. I know for one thing, I wouldn't be happy; I'd feel disrespected by his remarks whether or not they pertained to me.</p>
<p>As with anything, any reader of this thread should take what RH says with a measure of salt. It seems that he's let one bad experience with a few people color his entire perception of his housemates which is sad, indeed.</p>
<p>Why should he stop? They're his opinions, he can write what he wants.</p>
<p>Of course he can say what he wants. It's just that he was probably committing social suicide, even if unintentionally. It took me about five seconds to figure out who he was and I'm sure it wasn't hard for the people he was writing about to realize who he was, either. </p>
<p>I imagine that it either blew up in his face or someone was kind enough to take him aside and explain to him that he wasn't making things easy for himself, to put it rather mildly.</p>
<p>Ah right. I definitely see what you mean there... heh.</p>