<p>Well, I was in contact with the swimming coach at Williams a month or so ago, and then the other day I get an email from him that says "I wanted to check in and see how your were doing. I also wanted to let you know that I have gotten some very positive feedback from admissions and I am hopeful you are still seriously considering Williams."</p>
<p>Does this mean I'm in? Does this mean I'm probably in? Does this mean I'm maybe in?</p>
<p>Who knows. But it sure sounds good. And the Williams coaches don't screw around about this stuff. BTW, the swimming coach is amazing. Great team.</p>
<p>Yeah. All of that.</p>
<p>My guess is that it means that you are 'admissible' and if you give the coach some positive feedback along the lines of "williams is my first choice because of the academic programs and the opportunity to swim in your program" there is a good shot at a positive outcome. The coaches do have some pull with admissions.</p>
<p>Don't do this unless Williams <em>is</em> your first choice though.</p>
<p>You could also let the coach know if Williams is, for example, one of your top three choices -- he would most likely want to know where Williams stands on your list. Honesty is the best policy -- you'd be surprised how many of the college coaches, from various conferences, know each other.</p>
<p>Ditto what others have said: Coach Kuster is highly regarded by not only the Eph swimmers, but coaches throughout the country (club and school/college) as well. The Ephs won (as they have for several years) both the men's and women's NESCAC conference championships, and are headed to NCAAs -- where they also look to place well as they have in the past.</p>
<p>to add to the comments about the swim team being amazing, I'd like to point out that not only did the Ephs win both men and women's NESCACS but the guys achieved that win with about a 700 point difference between us and our closest rivals (Amherst). Girls are headed to Texas for nationals tomorrow, so don't be suprised if you don't hear back from coach for a while.
And also ditto what everyone else has said, Coach is a great guy. I don't swim for him, but I guard for swim team practices (don't ask me why this is necessary...) and he seems to be a great coach who also really cares about his swimmers.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody....</p>
<p>The problem is that I already wrote him back and I was like "yes, I am still seriously considering Williams, thank you for your interest and encouragement and I hope to be in touch with you with good news soon." And that's not really the kind of email the coach (or anyone) would feel needs to be responded to. So it's not like I can just randomly email him again and say: "Oh and by the way, Williams is one of my top choice schools..." And whether or not I attend Williams depends on whether or not I get accepted to Princeton, my top choice. So it's not like I can make any promises, I don't want to gush about Williams and then get accepted to Princeton and be in a very akward situation.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for the feedback:)</p>
<p>Ernie--it sounds like your email back to him was fine. You showed interest and sounded hopeful for Williams. Good luck to you in whichever route you take.</p>
<p>You could also just drop a handwritten, old-fashioned note in the mail, saying whatever you might have left out of your e-mail. You could congratulate him on his season, or whatever you wanted to say. </p>
<p>Keep your mind open between Williams and Princeton, and keep the doors open, too.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>BTW, we have some really fine swimmers coming in in the fall, to add to those already at Williams. One great thing about Williams athletics is that you can do sports really intensely at a very high level but also have time not only for your academics but (if you time manage well) another interest. Williams has the Division of the Day (afternoon practice slot during which classes and labs aren't scheduled). That makes it a lot easier than at the Ivies I was recruited for. I'm not a swimmer, but I've talked to kids in a lot of sports at Williams and one of the things I liked best was that they are really engaged in their classes and their sports and generally also in something else (singing group, Outing Club, volunteering, etc.). Makes them really interesting people. I loved my official visit to Williams best of all of them for that reason. <<---just a little plug from a Class of 2011 EDer</p>
<p>What sport do you do, enviromentalist?</p>