@kassh4 yeah, I really loved williams when i visited, but I’m still not sure about the very rural setting 
how about you?
@DancingwithStars Yea same, I prefer a more city environment, but i think i could adjust to the rural setting. Not like we would have the time to go out into the city anyways.
Anyone know when decisions have come out in previous years?
@kassh4 Once again pulling out my trusty dusty IvyWise (didn’t actually know it existed until two days ago, but it does seem to have useful information haha), decisions have historically been released on:
March 22, 2017
March 23, 2016
March 25, 2015
All were in the evening. Also, these dates are on the second-to-last Wednesday in March, which will be the 21st this year. Don’t know if anyone who went through the process can confirm, but I hope this helps!
Wow, kinda sad they take that long. I wish they came out earlier. Anyone know what the deal with likely letters is? I’m most likely not going to get one(Asian and not an athlete), but I’m just curious.
hey guys! i’m applying to williams from the midwest and i’m super pumped!! where is everyone else from?
Midwest also.
yay! good to see someone else from the midwest applying (or even someone who knows about williams lol)
I’m from New England! Which actually makes me wonder if Williams will be too similar to what I’m used to; I want a different environment in college. Does anyone else feel the same?
@historynerd5 What state are you from?
Hey, applied RD too, I’m an international (French citizen but live in Morocco). Wish y’all good luck 
@kassh4 Indiana, how about you?
@historynerd5 I’m from Central Illinois
I’m applying from northern Virginia! I’m so nervous about having to wait so long, I’m a double legacy and my parents have been really excited about the prospect of me going to Williams, but I have absolutely no chance of getting in and it’s killing me to have to wait so long to get denied.
@illiteratemoron Oh no… The waiting game is so challenging. Even if you feel like your application was in some way inadequate, remember that nothing’s an absolute certainty, and your admissions decision is not a reflection of your value as a person.
Do something fun to take your mind off it. Go see a movie. Walk your dog. Play a game with your friends. Heck, even talk to your parents: let them know you don’t think you’ll get in if you think it will help ease the anxiety you’re feeling; or just hang out and enjoy the time you have to spend with them. I hope they will be supportive as you wait. Just stay calm and pay attention to doing what you enjoy through March.
I wish you all the best!
Thanks! I’ll be keeping pretty busy until march because IA season is kicking off, anyway. I’m really only worried because I think my parents are expecting me to get in- both of them had drastically lower stats than I do and they both got in, which makes my situation kind of stressful.
I’m the only person applying to Williams from my high school in years (everyone goes to Virginia Tech or UVA), and no one really knows what it is. I went to a legacy kids event last spring run by admissions, and I noticed they really put a lot of emphasis on counselor and teacher recommendations. Does anyone know if being at a large public school, where my counselor has a caseload of 300 kids and doesn’t have time to get to know me or write a really strong letter, is going to be a disadvantage?
@illiteratemoron I dont think a weak letter from your counselor is going to hurt you. I think they know that counselors are busy this time of year and severely overworked.
@illiteratemoron - I was a little worried when my son chose Williams for early decision. I was afraid he might feel extra anxiety about getting in because I had gone there- that he would feel the same kind of feelings you are experiencing. I tried to counter that by always sounding confident that he would have an equally great experience at any of the several other colleges he liked, some of which were easier to get into. And that is true— I really do not think that getting into one particular college makes or breaks either your college experience or your future thereafter.
I suggest that you spend some time reading up on and daydreaming about some of the other colleges to which you applied— especially the ones that have easier admissions odds. That way, your emotional eggs are not all in one basket. If Williams works out, great. If it does not, you will be truly excited and happy about going to a college into which you were accepted.
Williams is much harder to get into today than it was when your parents and I went there (assuming they are within ten years or so of my age, since my son is your age). Even with a double legacy and good grades/scores, the possibility of rejection exists. It will not reflect badly on you if you do not get in. Lots of qualified applicants who could succeed perfectly well there are rejected. They are trying to form a diverse class, with lots of different types of niches to fill, from oboe players, to students in poverty, to athletes, to people from Wyoming, to people interested in majoring in classics, to comedians.
And do talk with your parents about what you are feeling. They probably do not want you to think it matters overly much to them if you go there. YOU are more important to them than any college could ever possibly be— no matter how great their experience there. And you said you are double legacy, so if your parents met there, that probably also colors their memory in a positive way, because their love for each other is what’s important. It’s the people, not the place, that matters.
You can have a wonderful experience wherever you go.
I am sure that, if Williams rejects or waitlists you, your parents will just want to know that you are happy with wherever you end up going.
I was deferred ED so I really don’t know what to think for RD ;( I am from Chicago and know zero kids who got in ED… guess the admissions officers aren’t too keen on the Midwest this year?
Agreed, they take into account the resource limitations of larger public high schools. The majority of accepted students are from larger public schools so it seems they are still able to assess an applicant’s personal qualities. Williams also has a fairly large DC/ Northern Virginia contingent.