<p>I think I'm proof that Williams and I'm sure many other schools are finally looking at the whole package. We all know there was a time when your standardized test scores meant everything, but now colleges are gradually realizing that, hey, maybe so-and-so had a bad night or they're just not good at testing.</p>
<p>Your scores are hardly a measure of your intelligence. I got a horrible, horrible SAT score. And I'm not one of those modest people who say they did bad but really got 1380 or higher. I mean, I did poorly and I applied to Williams through Questbridge.</p>
<p>They looked at everything and looked past my scores and saw a real person. I'm so so so happy I'm going. It's going to be amazing. I hope all of you get in and just know that Williams is going to try to see you for who you are, not just a set of scores.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance and welcome to the Class of 2011. </p>
<p>You must be an outstanding person. You show it by your thoughtfulness in posting this note of encouragement to those who are waiting to find out whether they will be your classmates. You sound like just the sort of person my D wants to go to college with.</p>
<p>I've just been reading the Ephblog entry and commentary that are linked to this thread. Rather than commenting directly on that and add more fuel to a fire that I wish hadn't been started, I'll address another issue that came to my mind when I read through some of those postings.</p>
<p>As your acceptance letters say, at least three people on the Admission Committee read your individual application. They read it carefully. They know what they are doing. They chose you. They want you. They are confident that you will do well at Williams, that you will fit in well, and that you will each add a great deal to the college.</p>
<p>These should be among the happiest days of your life. And the best is yet to come. Williams truly is wonderful. You will fit in there and you will find that the Admission Committee's judgment was a very good one. Don't start doubting yourself. Go celebrate a vindication of your very hard work, your considerable skills, and your outstanding achievements. Next semester, finish out your high school years on a high note and then go confidently from strength to strength into your Williams years. </p>
<p>Your post really inspired me. I am in a similar situation. I have good grades and am well rounded but my SAT scores are just mediocre. To here that they look at the "student as a whole" is really a wonderful thing. Thank you so much for sharing your story.</p>
<p>ONE anecdotal acceptance means nothing, literally. so you are accepted despite of your SAT scores. you are one case, not one thousand. applicants to williams must keep firmly in mind that the SAT is still one of the most important aspects of the application.</p>
<p>*claiming that williams looks at the whole package based on your own admission is similar in nature to claiming that williams does NOT look at the whole package based on another person's rejection. *it shows thoughtfulness, but an immature and uninformed one.</p>
<p>^^I was going to say the same thing, but did not know how to phrase it so it won't sound too harsh. Unless you have certain circumstances your chances will be bleak if you have SAT scores/rank lower than their averages. Make sure you have some safeties.</p>
<p>Never forget that there are a lot of people who are admitted with stats that are below the announced average. The "bottom 25%" of the admitted students vis-a-vis standardized test scores has 25% of the admitted students in it. </p>
<p>You are, of course, entirely correct that each individual in that 25% must also have had some very strong things going for her or him.</p>