REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Williams College
Established in 1793, Williams College consistently tops rankings as the top liberal arts college in the nation and is often referred to as a “Little Ivy.” Its rich curriculum features unorthodox pedagogy such as the Oxford-inspired Williams tutorial and Winter Study program that have earned it a reputation as a world-class incubator of profound thought and courageous leadership. Located in the famed Berkshires, Williams takes an immersive, experiential approach to both scholarship and community by embracing a “learning in action” ethos alongside nature-oriented traditions. Overall, with 65 different areas of study available to the tight-knit student community and 100% of courses taught by professors, Williams has perennially proven to be a lush learning environment illuminated by the earnest pursuit of truth.
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Williams College
Established in 1793, Williams College consistently tops rankings as the top liberal arts college in the nation and is often referred to as a “Little Ivy,” Its rich curriculum features unorthodox pedagogy such as the Oxford-inspired Williams tutorial and Winter Study program that have earned it a reputation as a world-class incubator of profound thought and courageous leadership. Located in the famed Berkshires, Williams takes an immersive, experiential approach to both scholarship and community by embracing a “learning in action” ethos alongside nature-oriented traditions. Overall, with 65 different areas of study available to the tight-knit student community and 100% of courses taught by professors, Williams has perennially proven to be a lush learning environment illuminated by the earnest pursuit of truth.
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Williams College
Established in 1793, Williams College consistently tops rankings as the top liberal arts college in the nation and is often referred to as a “Little Ivy,” Its rich curriculum features unorthodox pedagogy such as the Oxford-inspired Williams tutorial and Winter Study program that have earned it a reputation as a world-class incubator of profound thought and courageous leadership. Located in the famed Berkshires, Williams takes an immersive, experiential approach to both scholarship and community by embracing a “learning in action” ethos alongside nature-oriented traditions. Overall, with 65 different areas of study available to the tight-knit student community and 100% of courses taught by professors, Williams has perennially proven to be a lush learning environment illuminated by the earnest pursuit of truth.
School Location:
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
School Type:
PRIVATE LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY
Admissions Rates:
ADMITTED: 9.99%
GENERAL INFO
SAT/ACT Scores:
Test Optional for 2024-2025
Admission Cycle
Class of 2027 Test Scores
SAT: 1480-1550
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Dates/Deadlines:
Early Decision (ED):
November 15
Regular Decision:
January 8
School Information:
Undergraduate population:
2,055
Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Interviews Considered:
Yes
WILLIAMS TIPS & GUIDE
How difficult is it to get into Williams?
According to the 2023-24 Common Data Set, Williams accepted 9.99% of students seeking admission for the fall of 2023. Data reveals that lofty test scores and impressive class rank proved instrumental to the elite few who secured those coveted admissions letters. The SAT composite (50th percentile) score for the incoming first-years during that admissions cycle was 1520, while the ACT composite (50th percentile) score was 34. Additionally, 91.6% of incoming freshmen graduated in the top 10% of their class, while 100% graduated in the top 50%. Needless to say, a top academic profile is definitely necessary for admission into this highly-selective institution.
What is the campus like at Williams?
Williamstown is nestled in the gorgeous Berkshires of Massachusetts, a rural mountain region of highlands renowned for its picturesque landscapes and unique historical and cultural offerings. Fans of outdoor adventure and musical composition alike find a home in the town, which shares a border with both Vermont and New York, as the area attracts leaf-peepers in the fall and Boston Symphony Orchestra listeners in the summer. Tanglewood aside, Williams offers experiential courses and community engagement opportunities for students to immerse themselves meaningfully in the quaint community beyond the school’s walls.
The institution has a tight-knit student body of 2,097 undergraduates in the fall 2023 according to the 2023-2024 Common Data Set. Though it began to depart from fraternities during its male-only years in 1962, Williams has roughly 220 student groups, in which 96% of students participate. The largest student organization, with over 750 members, is the Williams Outing Club, a spirited collective with a history dating back to 1915, From sunrise hikes to polar bear swims to the annual Mountain Day tradition, WOC offers a vibrant community for wilderness enthusiasts to bond while exploring the great outdoors.
To foster those bonds further, Williams also maintains many popular traditions like Mountain Day. On one Friday in October (which Friday is a closely-guarded secret and somewhat spontaneous decision), the President announces early in the morning that all classes are canceled. A host of planned events on- and off-campus ensues, including the most iconic: a mass hike up to Haley Farm Meadow, where students are greeted with cider, apple donuts, a scenic view, performances by various a cappella groups, and even evening astronomy. The tradition began over 200 years ago as a campus cleanup event, but once students started paying local residents to clean the campus, it since evolved to yield “memories of beauty and grandeur that years will not efface,” as a 1909 publication of the Williams Record proclaimed.
What is Williams known for?
On tours and in promotional materials, a widely-lauded facet of the Williams education are the Oxford-style tutorials—two-on-one classes where two students meet with one professor once a week. Each week, one of the students presents a paper or presentation, and the other and the professor will offer feedback. More than 50% of all Williams students partake in at least one of the 60-70 annual tutorials available across the curriculum before they graduate.
Williams is also known for its Winter Study program and consequent 4-1-4 course schedule. Typically, students take four classes in the spring and fall and then spend the “Winter Study” period in January taking a single class pass/fail. Winter Study classes range wildly in topic and intensity, including several international offerings, but are designed to allow students to spend time studying and enjoying the campus without worrying about grades. The classes offered during winter study run the gamut of interest and expression —like Mindful Leadership, Independent Study: Maritime Studies, Practical Application of Sports Performance, Drawing as Meditation, Puppet: Extending the Corporeal Form, and Feast, Fasts and Holy Pasts: Religion & Food. Students are also welcome to conduct an independent study during this period.
How do I apply to Williams?
The Early Decision deadline is November 15 while the Regular Decision deadline is January 6. Students will hear back in December and April, respectively. To apply, prospective students should submit the following materials by their preferred deadline:
- Early Decision Agreement Form (if applying ED)
- Choice: Common Application, Coalition (SCOIR) or QuestBridge
- Counselor Recommendation (1)
- Teacher Recommendations (2)
- Mid-Year Report
- School Report
- $65 Fee (Fee Waivers available)
- (optional through fall of 2025) SAT or ACT
- (optional) Additional Writing Supplement
- (optional) Scientific Research Abstracts
- (optional) Studio or Performing Arts Portfolio
Does Williams have a good athletic department?
The Williams Ephs compete in the NCAA Division III and NESCAC. The institution has 32 varsity teams, split evenly between men’s and women’s, and excels in tennis and lacrosse. 33% of Williams students compete at the varsity level. Outside of varsity athletics, recreation for students encompasses the Williams Outing Club, intramural sports, fitness classes and a thriving club sports program. Athletics are a major component of the Williams undergraduate experience, as an impressive 60% of students compete in at least one athletic team at the varsity, junior varsity or club level.
What are Williams’ core curriculum and programs?
Williams’ 4-1-4 course schedule and Oxford-style tutorials are only part of what makes it such a vibrant and unique place to study—across the curriculum, multidisciplinary and hands-on learning is highly encouraged. The most popular majors as of 2020-2023 were Economics, Mathematics, Biology, Psychology, Computer Science and Political Science, and 45% of students graduated with multiple majors. Students can have traditional majors, and instead of minors, students can take up a concentration – a group of courses around specific topics that pull from different departments and disciplines. Students can also develop their own major.. Williams requires all students to fulfill a four-part distribution requirement to graduate. This requirement entails the following: (1) Divisional Requirements spanning three courses in each of the following: Language and the Arts, Social Studies, and Science and Mathematics, (2) a Writing Skills (WS) requirement, (3) a Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement, and (4) a Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement.
Williams is also unique in its lack of a credit-hour system—instead of designating different amounts of credits to courses and requiring a certain number of credits to graduate, students are required to pass 32 regular classes, and four Winter Study classes as well as complete their distributional requirements in order to graduate.
Finally, the “Division of the Day” ensures that student-athletes can thrive athletically and academically. Williams only allows classes to be scheduled from 8 am – 4:00 pm M-F and 7 pm – 9:40 pm on Monday evenings. All extracurricular activities are to be scheduled outside of these times. This generally means that student-athletes do not have to choose between academic or athletic commitments, and ultimately creates a more positive learning environment.
Can I afford Williams?
Williams meets 100% of demonstrated need with no loans, and it’s one of the only college in America without work-study expectations included in students’ financial aid package. Williams is unique in also guaranteeing free textbooks and required course materials for all students on financial aid through the Book Grant. Additionally, Williams is need-blind for all domestic applicants, and 52% of students receive need-based financial aid, and 18% of students receive Pell Grants. The 2024-2025 comprehensive cost is $87,320.
