Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I decided to apply ED to Williams instead other big schools.....
i just want to make sure if i'm not wasting my ED
It's true that I'm going to have a superb education at Williams or even better than most big schools....right??
I hate when people ask why am I going to apply to Williams as Early not Harvard or Yale.....it makes me feel bad....
I know Williams is as good as any top Ivies...... right?? it seems like many people think Williams isn't as good as HYPSM schools...but I know it's not true...
Can somebody make this thing clear to me???
Thanks a lot

By Mini (Mini) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 03:53 pm: Edit

How about "different". Why don't you go over to studentsreview.com and see what current students have to say when they are not confronted with having to make worthless comparisons?

By Cangel (Cangel) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Why do you care what they think?

By Hopemanjkjk (Hopemanjkjk) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 01:05 pm: Edit

as my parents always say, worry AFTER you get in... I am applying early also, but I rarely have chances to think about those.. getting an acceptance letter is grueling enough.. why worry yourself with those petty things?

Personally, if anyone's dissing you about Williams college, ignore him. Most people who will actually matter in your life(Deans of graduate schools, Wall Street employers, Government officials) know what an awesome place Williams college is.

By Palomino (Palomino) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 03:19 pm: Edit

if you need convincing from others, then you're making a big mistake applying to Williams ED.

By Jrpar (Jrpar) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 05:51 pm: Edit

I agree - if you aren't sure, you shouldn't apply ED.

By Madjoy (Madjoy) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:56 am: Edit

You're right - Williams is a FANTASTIC school that offers a great undergraduate liberal arts education. It may not have as much name recognition, but this is undoubtedly one of the top schools in the country.

You aren't wasting your Early Decision for this reason. If you visited the school and loved it, then go for it! A lot of people are surprised I'm applying Early Decision to Wesleyan University instead of top schools like Yale, but that's alright with me, because I know how happy I would be at Wesleyan.

However, if you're only applying to Williams because you think you have a better chance of getting in, then you're being silly. Don't play the admissions process like a game - find out where you really want to go, and find a way to get there.

By Sixsixty (Sixsixty) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 10:14 am: Edit

I'm thinking about Williams early too, but I'mr eally worried about the kind of finaid deal i'll get. Has Williams been known to stinge on the finaid it gives out to early applicants?

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

I can't talk about ED, but my daughter was accepted during RD and recieved and excellent FA package from Williams. Williams will meet 100 % of your financial need and really prides themselves on making it affordable.

By Mini (Mini) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:25 pm: Edit

My d. is a legacy and applied RD and received decent aid. However, it was $2400 less per year than her best "need-based" offer (based on the same EFC), and, over four years, $12.6k was in loans (the other school was grants), and required much more summer earnings.

My d. ended up attending Smith for academic,"fit", and opportunity reasons, not financial aid ones. Of the offers received, Williams was in the middle of the pack. It was "affordable", but it also was a stretch.

If you are really worried about financial aid, you have no business applying ED - you need to place yourself in a position to compare offers. If comparing offers is not important to you, and you can live with whatever they decide is "affordable", then it isn't a problem.

You should also know that once you take out the legacies, the developmental admits, the recruited athletss, the oboe player, and sort-after URMs (put them together and it is a lot of people!), there really isn't much advantage at Williams in going ED.