<p>Do you have to have sports to get into Williams? I'm URM...if that helps with diversity! :-)</p>
<p>No, S did not play any sports in h.s. and was admitted to Williams.</p>
<p>glucose - you don't 'have' to have sports to get into Williams but you might consider if you will feel a part of the culture if you aren't particularly 'into' sports. My s recently went to a tour/interview/info session at Williams. We were totally impressed with the obvious quality of the school, but it is DEFINITELY conspicuously sports oriented. There were about 20 kids who introduced themselves at the info session- stating their state of residence, main academic interests and main EC interests. S was the ONLY kid in the room who didn't have a sport - not to mention "three-season" sports. He really felt that he wouldn't particularly fit into the dominant culture there. Perhaps if you don't do sports but at least like to watch and cheer, you'd be happy there.<br>
These are, of course, just our feelings. You may feel entirely different. I'm a believer of an intuitive feeling about a college- as to whether you'd comfortably fit in or not.</p>
<p>It's not that I don't like sports...it's just that in high school I wasn't given the chance. My mom couldn't drop me off. I would SOOO love playing tennis though!</p>
<p>However I definitely think your being URM will help you- and I say go for it.
Another interesting aspect of the info session is that it was led by two students who were both URMs and an adcom who was also a URM. In the twenty or so who were at the info session: zero URMs. However, the brochures boasts 25% of student body being URM. So I would infer that they work hard at attracting that 25%.
If I were you I'd make appointments to meet with the admissions staff and show your desire to attend- if of course you'd like to go there.</p>
<p>PS they have both indoor and outdoor tennis courts and gym is a requirement- so you'll get your opportunity to play tennis :)</p>
<p>Glucose, This is an excerpt from an interview with, Haon, a current Williams Student and CC poster from Carolyns website. (Carolyn is a frequent CC poster; to access her site and the entire interview, follow the instructions on this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=89248%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=89248</a>)</p>
<p>Many guidebooks stereotype Ephs (the nickname for Williams students) as being "smart jocks" and while there are many "smart jocks" at Williams, the majority of students don't really fall into this category. Athletics is but one of the many extracurriculars Ephs are involved with, and while Williams sports teams are extremely successful and well-supported by the student body, so are Williams theatre productions, Jazz Bands, Art Shows, etc. To characterize Williams as only a school for athletic students is to overlook the numerous other passions and successes of the student body.</p>
<p>My son was never too involved in team sports in high school but since being at Williams he has developed an interest in several athletic and outdoorsy pursuits, just for fun. Of his 10 or so closest friends only 2 are serious athletes; the others are involved in art, music, politics, theater, dance, some in several activities. So Id say that while most kids are physically active and multifaceted, they are not necessarily athletes.</p>