A group of junior advisors posing together

Families

Photo of family in front of dorm

Welcome to the community of Williams families

We have a hugely important role in our students’ college experience. After all, we know them—and they know us—better than anyone.

As they have all their lives, our students may naturally come to us first for help at Williams. (“I got a C on my first paper!”; “My roommate sleeps with all the lights on!”) Our own first response may be to “fix it.”

This is our moment to step up by stepping back. It’s important to let our children navigate their own, sometimes delightfully unpredictable, paths through college. Here are ways to help them make the most of their Williams experience…

A Monthly Guide to Your Students’ Williams Experience

    • Commencement! (We begin at the end.)
    • New Students:
      • Receive a welcome message at their high school email address from Dean of First-Year Students Christina Walsh explaining how to…
        • Sign up for their Williams email account (a must for receiving all subsequent Williams communications).
        • Complete and submit medical forms, health insurance, and dorm room preferences.
        • Pay bills.
        • Sign up for EphVentures.
        • Connect with academic advisors.
        • Pre-register for classes.
        • …and other essentials to prepare for Williams.
      • Weekly updates will guide them through all of this.
      • New families receive their own welcome message from Dean Walsh reviewing the first-year experience and various ways families can support their students as they settle into Williams.
      • All families can learn much more about everything above on this website, by joining the families’ Facebook group, subscribing to various campus newsletters, familiarizing themselves with Williams terminology, reading a book or two, and/or getting involved.
    • Returning students (many of whom may spend their summer on campus, engaged with research projects) confirm the dates they’re allowed to return to campus for the fall semester.
    • Final exam schedule posted: a great time to finalize Winter Break travel.
    • Thanksgiving Break: a great time for conversations and not a problem for students who choose to remain on campus for this short break.
    • Last push before Winter Break! (Students may apply to remain on campus if absolutely necessary.)
    • Spring term bill due soon.
    • Winter Study: How to encourage your student to make the most of it.
    • “Dead Week”: A weird name for the few days between the end of Winter Study and the start of Spring Semester. Some students travel off campus, many stay and relax.
    • Spring classes begin!
    • Sophomores prepare to declare their major.
    • Claiming Williams
    • Winter Carnival

  • Miderms.

    Spring Break!

  • Getting ready for Commencement.

  • Final Exams!

Fans cheering on the Williams football team at Homecoming

Family Events & Services

Beyond partnering with us in your own student’s Williams education, we also invite you to contribute your experience, skill, and resources to improving the Williams journey for all of our students.

To make sure you’re informed about opportunities to connect and receive important college updates, please complete this form to provide us with your contact information. (The only family information we begin with is what your student entered in their college application.)

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