Black Williams ED Candidate

rhassanl · March 2, 2006, 10:41am

I am a black male junior from a public school in prince george’s county. These are my stats, I know they are not THE best but perhaps my standing as an underrepresented minority may suffice? Let me know what you think…

ED Candidate Economics Major
Low-Income Household

Top 10% of ~300 Students Public High School
3.5 GPAw (ouch)
NOTE* My gpa was brought down by 9th and 10th grade years, GPA for my junior year was ~3.9w sophomore year was 3.63 unweighted freshman year was 2.5

SAT Reasoning: 2150 800 Verbal 750 Writing 600 Math
Haven’t taken SAT 2’s yet, will in spring will prob’ly score 650-800’s

Mathematics:
Algebra 1: D *took in middle school teach sucked.
Geometry: C
Algebra 2/Trig: B
Pre-Calculus: A
Applied Calculus 1(College): A
*skipped AB Calculus
AP Calculus BC: A *forecast

English:
English 9 Honors: A
English 10 Honors: A
English 11 AP Language & Composition: A
English 101 (College): A
AP English Literature: A *forecast
AP English Exam: 4.78

Computer Science:

ORACLE Database Programming: A
ORACLE SQL Programming: A

Foreign Language so pitiful I will not disgrace cc by posting.
*DID take French 1 in senior year: A

Extra-Curriculars:

Class Treasurer Sophomore & Junior Years
SGA Treasurer Senior Year
FBLA
Junior Achievement
Mock Trial Trial Attorney 2 Years
500+ Community Service Hours
Worked 2 Years in Restaurants 30+ Hours/Week

Entrepreneurial;
Started "The EverGreen Lawn Co. when I was 14-16, made $5,000+/Summer

Sold The EverGreen Lawn Co. at 16;

Started GiZmo Computer Company, selling refurbished laptops, Currently making in the area of $10,000/Month forecasted revenues $120,000 fiscal year '06

NOTE* I heard in a forum that the admission rate for students of color at Williams has averaged 50% over the last 10 years due to low yield

<hr>

ALSO: Right now, there is a raging battle in my head between williams and babson. I’d like to hone my enteepreneurial skills; Babson offers the greatest Entrepreneurial major, but i am a slight prestige whore. Williams is the apple in the eyes of thousands of beholders, and is ranked amongst the ivies.

I need opinions; why is Williams better than Babson College for entrepreneurship? why is it a better college overall? why not?

Thank you for your consideration

noxiousnirvana · March 2, 2006, 11:06am

wow! you started a company! That’s really impressive!

rhassanl · March 2, 2006, 11:13am

thank you. When your mother makes $50,000/year but refuses to buy you basic clothing, you find very inventive ways to make money. I hope Williams Admissions will take these accomplisments into regards as well.

rhassanl · March 2, 2006, 11:19am

oh sorry took french 1 sophomore year

noxiousnirvana · March 2, 2006, 11:28am

Of course they will. You have a strong chance.

MikeyD223 · March 2, 2006, 11:42am

I would accept you in a heartbeat!!!

I would be shocked if they didn’t accept you… and I would write an angry letter on your behalf

system · March 2, 2006, 12:35pm

Williams is incredible. Go to Williams hands down. I know people that went to Williams and just recently graduated. They are already very high up in the world of banking and many other industries.

Williams has connections and an alumni base that will help you out a lot more.

rhassanl · March 2, 2006, 12:50pm

thank you. I like the aspect of being recognized for business, which I can only really get at an ivy-league quality school. I think the purple cow is reall cool, and the students’ attitudes toward education REALLY impresses me. I am visiting Williams this spring.

It is amazing to me that despite colleges now offering “entrepreneurial” courses, the top people in business STILL come from big-name colleges. why? what does an ivy-esque school offer that so invigorates their students to forage into greatness?

ahh…the million dollar (literally) question…we’ll all be making more than $1,000,000 in our lifetimes, so other than professional motives, what promotes other students to seek Williams?

oh…wanna go to Harvard Business School for graduate studies.

driver · March 2, 2006, 1:48pm

One of the reasons that Williams has such a huge endowment is due to the generosity of its very successful graduates, many of them entrepreneurs. Leigh Perkins (Orvis Co.), Herbert Allen (CEO of the investment brokerage bearing his name), and David Paresky (Crimson Travel) come immediately to mind, but there are many, many others like them. When you visit, and see the new Class of '62 Performing Arts Center, keep this in mind:

Herbert Allen, on his $20 million donation to start the project. Paresky–who recently donated $16 million on top of similar previous gifts–did end up at Harvard for his MBA. Don’t know about the others. Allen is the source of one of my favorite quotes:

<a href=“WRAPS organizes campus-wide food drive, adapts to COVID restrictions – The Williams Record”>WRAPS organizes campus-wide food drive, adapts to COVID restrictions – The Williams Record;
<a href=“WRAPS organizes campus-wide food drive, adapts to COVID restrictions – The Williams Record”>WRAPS organizes campus-wide food drive, adapts to COVID restrictions – The Williams Record;

system · March 2, 2006, 3:46pm

It’s called wildly successful alumni such as the ones previously mentioned, incredible and sometimes famous professors, motivated peers, attraction of top companies, grad school opportunities, performance on tests such as GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE etc… and peers who’s parents are connected CEO’s, moguls, etc…

Those are the reasons why the most successful people still come from the best universities in the country. Williams being one of them.

Now I hope you understand why Williams is the best school that you should definitely go to.

cangel · March 2, 2006, 5:39pm

Remember Rhassani, that business is not a major at a school like Williams, as it would be at Babson. What you are getting at Williams is honing of your thinking skills, and opportunities for business internships that will be second to none. Also, I’m curious, how did you improve your math so much? Did you self-study to fill in gaps from algebra and geometry? Ds to As is a big jump for just maturity, you had to have relearned the material at some point.

Ephman · March 2, 2006, 5:57pm

… you should know that Bo Peabody (founder of Tripod, now worth around 50 million) and Steve Case (founder of AOL, now worth, well, who knows) are both wildly successfuly technology enterpeneurs who went to Williams. Bo and his business partner Ethan Zuckerman are both very active in the Williamstown community which, despite its isolation, has been the incubator (along with neighboring North Adams) of a fair number of start-ups. Current students founded the popular xuqa.com site. So Williams definitely provides a great environment for entrepeneurs.

As for your admissions chances, I’d be surprised if you didn’t get accepted, particularly if you apply ED, but you never know … have you checked out matching through Questbridge? If not, you should.

Clayleas · March 3, 2006, 12:48am

Rhassani,
I have a few thoughts on your situation.

First, I would be wary of going to college to major in entrepreneurship. In my experience that is something you can’t teach. You either have what is necessary to be a successful entrepreneur or you don’t, and you have shown already that you have it. I look on the entrepreneurship programs as a “sexy” marketing effort by some colleges to attract students. (I’m prepared for people to tell me I’m wrong)

Second, your progression from Bs, Cs & Ds freshman year to As now is quite impressive. Did you have an epiphany somewhere along the way? Might be an interesting topic for your essay.

Finally, I would recommend that you speak with someone who is a financial aid expert about your situation (possibly even the Williams FA Office) - and the sooner the better. It seems obvious that you will need it, and Williams FA is entirely need based (with them meeting 100% of your demonstrated need). They are very generous - among the best around, but their idea of “demonstrated need” and yours could differ. A problem could arise for you, because of your business, which appears to provide you with a very good income - I’m assuming its much higher than a typical student job. As the student getting the FA, the formulas assume that a very high percentage of your income and assets will be used to finance your education. Better to talk to someone now to find out where you stand and determine if there are some steps you should take rather than wait and possibly get a nasty surprise when the FA results come back next year.

Good luck.

rhassanl · March 3, 2006, 8:05am

My progression from D’s to A’s was fueled by my desire to be the best. I regard healthy competition as a motivator, which pushed me to aim much higher than my fellow students, even taking math in college. I have friends going to Brown and Columbia, MIT, so I have had to prove I am as smart as they are, even if grades don’t prove it. And I had to relearn algebra 1 in Algebra 2/Trig, but my Alg. 2/Trig teacher was excellent. My school allows Alg. 2/Trig students to advance to Pre-Cal, which was rough because of the difference in concepts. However, my Pre-Cal teacher is a young Math Major fresh out of college, so he’s very laid back.

My transcript looks like a slope almost (lol) with mostly B’s and C’s and a couple D’s freshman year with mostly B’s and one or two C’s sophomore year. So far, i’m making Straight A’s with one C in science (teach is from the netherlands does NOT speak understandable english, grades like a madwoman).

I am currently co-enrolled at my local community college taking Applied Calculus–WOW, what a change. The difference in difficulty is astronomical, so i’m in the books EVERY night, but i’m maintaining an A thanks to my Alg.2/Trig teacher who also helps me with Calculus. Also, my calculus class is designed for people who have never taken Pre-Cal, so the pace is comfortable.

I plan to tkae the SAT 2 English Literature Subject test in April and the SAT 2 Math 1c in June.

I forgot to include the fact that I will be a National Achievement Finalist, maybe Awardee this fall. I plan to check Williams as my first choice college on the College Board form, but this is risky because it will cost me 2 full scholarships to Iowa State and Howard University.

I moved with my Grandparents because my mom makes over $45,000/year but my Grandma is unemployed and lives off 1 income–my grandfather’s. Their combined income is maybe $20-25,000/year.
The FAFSA is mostly to assess the PARENT’S ability to pay,I hope there is not to much indication regarding the student’s ability. I am saving this money for Grad School and future ventures.

So far, I have seen that other African American candidates to Williams have a higher GPA but the difficulty of their academic records is fleeting. My GPA is not the best, but had it been perhaps a 3.9 i’d’ve shot for Harvard.(not that I don’t love the Purple Cow–I do) Btw…maybe not, there’s always a second chance to go to Harvard, but there is no such thing at Williams.

thanks for the continued input, this is immensely helpful. I can’t wait for my visit to Williams in April!

dabost · March 3, 2006, 8:23am

“I moved with my Grandparents because my mom makes over $45,000/year but my Grandma is unemployed and lives off 1 income–my grandfather’s. Their combined income is maybe $20-25,000/year.
The FAFSA is mostly to assess the PARENT’S ability to pay,I hope there is not to much indication regarding the student’s ability. I am saving this money for Grad School and future ventures.”

Rhassan1, your mother’s income still has to be reported on the FAFSA, regardless of whether you live with your grandparents. If your mother reports you as a dependent on the 1040, then she has to report her income to schools you apply to. Also, there is no question that you have to report your income as well, and if you have been earning income, colleges will expect you to contribute some of that towards your education.

tophe · March 3, 2006, 2:06pm

Wikipedia has a short list of successful business alums:
<a href=“List of Williams College people - Wikipedia”>List of Williams College people - Wikipedia;

mini · March 3, 2006, 4:14pm

“why is Williams better than Babson College for entrepreneurship?”

It isn’t, but you already knew that.

“First, I would be wary of going to college to major in entrepreneurship. In my experience that is something you can’t teach.”

Of course you can. There are specific business analytical/entrepreneurship skills and business group dynamic skills - that you don’t get in economics classes - that can both be taught and finely honed and business schools around the country have made a fortune doing so. This isn’t to say you can’t pick them up in other ways (just as, in my state, lawyers are not required to have law degrees), but the very large number of Williams grads who go on to business schools testifies to a least a small number who believe they didn’t acquire those skills as undergraduates and believe that school is the best way for them to obtain them. What’s nice about a place like Babson, if you are SURE that’s what you want to do, is that, besides skill-building, you are immediately grouped with a much larger set of potential business partners - your classmates! You MIGHT find the same at Williams, but you definitely will at Babson.

Lots of Williams folks end up being rich. But lots of Williams folks are the sons and daughters of the rich. (Same is true at Babson.) You’ll do fine at either place - but if you want a business “jumpstart” in your education, you’ll get more at Babson. (but you’ll get a much better liberal arts education at Williams.) So…know yourself.

system · March 3, 2006, 9:41pm

I disagree. I believe you will find many more students who will push themselves to the limit academically and socially at Williams than at Babsoln. There is a reason why Williams is the top ranked liberal arts school in the nation.

Sure both schools have many students who are rich and will one day become rich. That same statement holds true for every private school in the northeast in that price range.

Williams will give you many connections into prestigious industries such as investment banking, consulting, hedge funds, venture capital etc…

Williams will also give you a great alumni base.

I don’t know why you are contemplating between the two. One is a good school that is strong in business (Babson) the other is an excellent school that is the best in liberal arts and also has extremly good business connections to support its liberal arts (Williams).

Williams is the complete package

cat076 · March 3, 2006, 10:49pm

You probably have a good chance! I would suggest that you change your explanations for your lower grades, it seems as though the classes you had the lowest grades in had the worst teaches. While you might not have had a good teacher, the blame shouldn’t be on them! Colleges would rather hear that you had a hard time but kept working instead of hearing that you had a bad teacher.

momrath · March 4, 2006, 12:08am

rhassanl,The choice between getting a BA/BS in liberal arts followed by an MBA or going straight into an undergraduate business program is purely personal. The same could be said for other disciplines like architecture or medicine; some kids want to cut right to the chase, some want to meander through the halls of academia.

Since youre posting on the Williams board you will most likely get a majority report for the generalist undergrad followed by professional graduate school, but without doubt, no one can tell you which is better for you.

Putting hireability aside for a minute, Im not sure that I would consider Williams and Babson on the same level intellectually or academically. A better comparison might be Williams and Wharton. At any selective, academically rigorous college or university you will be challenged to think creatively and analytically skills that will serve you well in business. Though you wouldnt be studying business per se at Williams you would learning both related and unrelated concepts from economics and math to geology and art history that would help develop your intellect in the abstract and your writing and speaking skills specifically.

I’ve held senior management jobs at several Fortune 500 companies. I have a BA in a totally unrelated field but I use the skills that I learned at my university every day. My colleagues are mostly all college educated, some have MBAs, some BAs or BSs in seemingly incongruent fields like Botany or History, some are engineers and lawyers.

What these successful people have in common is that they are good communicators, leaders, motivators, and yes, thinkers. They are not afraid to take risks and they accept that theres a lot left to learn. They are interesting, energetic people. All of these descriptors could apply to Williams students as well.

Williams alumnae/i are well represented in the business world. Take a look at the recruitment calendar in the Office for Career Counseling website. These firms know and value Williams well.

So this is a circuitous way of coming back to the main question would Williams be a good fit for you? And the corollary, would you get in? Taking the latter first, Id say most likely if you presented yourself well in your application. Come back to that issue after youve decided whether or not the small LAC education is right for you. Visit, talk to the kids, sit in on a few classes. Drop in on the Office of Career Counseling and learn about Williams wonderful internship, recruitment and networking opportunities.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

PS Have you read Blue Ocean Strategy?

Black Williams ED Candidate

CONNECT WITH US