How to Prepare for Williams

Academic Preparation

Applicants should pursue the strongest program of study offered by their schools. Wherever possible, you should take honors or advanced level courses, especially in fields of great interest to you. A challenging and well-balanced program of study ideally should include: a full four-year sequence in English and mathematics; study of one foreign language for three or, preferably, four years; and three years of study each in the social sciences and laboratory sciences. These are not absolute requirements for admission, rather they are recommendations for developing a strong high school record. The Admission Committee is interested in your four-year high school record, with junior and senior year results being especially important.

Standardized Tests

All applicants must take either the SAT or the ACT (American College Testing Program exam), plus any two SAT Subject Tests of the applicant's choice. Students taking the ACT must also submit the optional Writing Test.

We recommend applicants take the required tests in the spring of junior year, and encourage you to repeat both types of exams in the fall of senior year, ideally no later than the December test date. Williams will consider only your best performance on each type of exam (SAT and ACT if both are taken). We consider your best individual scores on the verbal, math, and writing sections of SAT; best composite ACT scores; best score on each SAT Subject Test taken. Williams College codes for SAT=3965 and ACT=1936. Test scores submitted to Williams should be sent directly from the testing services.

Some useful information about the SAT and SAT Subject Tests can be found in the College Board's SAT Pages.

Of special note to Early Decision candidates: Tests taken through October will be considered by the Committee.. We encourage you to submit an official score report, especially when taking tests in the fall of senior year. This report will summarize previous test results you wish to release to colleges. Scores released on your official high school transcript will also be considered.

Advanced Placement

Scores from A.P. or International Baccalaureate (I.B.) exams taken prior to senior year should also be submitted on your transcript or directly from the testing agency. These scores, when provided, are reviewed in the admission process.

Williams offers placement into higher level courses to students with strong scores on the A.P. or I.B. exams. Individual departments determine placement, but generally an A.P. score of 4 or 5, or an I.B. Higher Level score of 6 or 7 is required. These scores do not reduce the number of courses required for graduation or the standard load of four courses per semester. A few departments offer major credit which reduces the number of courses required to complete the major. However, starting with the Class of 2008, Williams no longer offers general credit toward acceleration, i.e. completion of the degree in fewer than four years.

More detailed AP information can be found in our Advanced Placement Interpretation Guide.

Non-Academic Achievements

Williams is most interested in evidence of your extended involvements in school, community and personal activities and groups, and employment. We look for students who have shown a commitment to such involvements, and whose participation over time has led to some leadership, honor or recognition of talents and abilities. A "strong non-academic record" might reflect a wide range of developed talents or distinguished accomplishment in a few areas. There is no preferred set of activities required to gain admission. We review each applicant's interests and achievements on an individual basis. Our goal is a first-year class which, as a whole, brings a breadth of skills, experiences, and passions to campus.

Supplementary materials documenting special talents may be sent to the admission office at the time of application. Faculty in art, music, or theatre will review slides, tapes or resumes submitted according to the guidelines contained in the Prospectus. Scientific or research papers received in admissions may be referred to faculty for review. Prospective student-athletes may contact coaches for information.

We request that you do not send books, scrapbooks, and other large, bulky items that do not fit in a standard file. Video tapes and CD-ROMs should be submitted only if they accompany the Arts Evaluation form for departmental review.