<p>i got the big envelope today as well!
i have a question that is somewhat tacky to ask, but i will anyway
does williams/any other lac cover the expenses of transportation/other costs when prefrosh visit for their overnights?
my issue is that i live in the DEEP south, and i have been fortunate enough to be accepted to multiple northeastern lacs. i need to attend some of the open houses/want to visit others again just for the fun of it, but the flights would rack up an obscene total if i fly back and forth every weekend in april.</p>
<p>Not a tacky question at all (considering many schools do offer travel stipends). I’d like to know the answer as well… I know that Carleton offers travel aid to National Merit Scholars.</p>
<p>I hear you completely. I will not be able to go if I dont get a travel stipend so i was goign to be calling the admissions office soon to find out. When I do I’ll post it in case you havent already found out from someone else. BTW, I know as a fact Rice does it.</p>
<p>geekinpink, what northeastern lacs have you gotten into?</p>
<p>Interesting that you got a telephone call from Williams in conjunction with the “early write” acceptance.</p>
<p>This is a new twist on the “early write” yield-boosting device.</p>
<p>Do you sense they were, in some way, trying to gauge your reaction or to push for some kind of informal commitment? </p>
<p>Was there any hint of advantages (housing preferences, financial aid, etc) that might be available in exchange for a deposit check?</p>
<p>Byerly, it’s impossible that housing preferences could be used as an incentive because freshman don’t pick their housing. I doubt that there is a financial aid incentive to committing early also, since all demonstrated need will be met by the college, with no merit grants. </p>
<p>As far as I know, the phone calls are just something they’re doing to let people know about decisions, and maybe answer any questions while they’re at it. I think in the next few weeks every accepted student will get a similar call from a current student, if not from the admissions office.</p>
<p>So this was a call from a current student, and not from an admissions office representative? Are you sure about this, Bex? That was unclear from the prior posting. </p>
<p>If there is an organized effort to “take the temperature” of those to whom “early write” letters were sent, that would be a significant development, particularly if the “early write” letter encourages applicants to send in a deposit check.</p>
<p>I’d imagine that an “acceptance call” would come from someone in admissions. Still, I’m not sure why you call it a “significant development” that early write letters encourage accepted students to send in their deposit. </p>
<p>At this point, from the school’s view, the game is all about % yield. Early write letters are just one way of increasing that number by making students excited about Williams before they even hear from their other schools. As long as they’re not offering incentives (which…no.), I don’t think it’s any different than other schools are doing.</p>
<p>I mentioned student calls because I know all members of the admitted class of 2009 will get one eventually. I’m not sure when these start, but they’re pretty much just to answer questions and that kind of stuff.</p>
<p>Hey byerly (here’s the same response to the same question you posted on the other thread, just in case you missed that one),</p>
<p>With Williams’s admissions policy, there is no advantage in exchange for an early deposit check. For example, I have a friend who was waitlisted last year, got an enormous single in East College, and ample financial aid to boot. Very simply Williams is a college of their word. It does not matter when you’re admitted, you’ll be on an equal footing with all the others in the class. I find it quite interesting that you would insinuate that this kind of activity occurs.</p>
<p>My call was a call from someone on the admissions committee and basically he just said, “Well I’m actually very pleased to be making this call to you today and would like to welcome you to the Williams Class of 2009.” He told me to expect a letter and that they were offering to fly me down to their admitted students weekend at their expense and that he was looking forward to meeting me. That was about it.</p>
<p>I just got the Early Write letter as well - quite a surprise, considering I had resigned myself to wait until 1 April for all my admissions decisions. The cover of the folder has the usual Williams trademark humor (though I can’t help wondering if Williams developed that all by itself or took a few hints from University of Chicago’s advertising staff), and the letter inside is niftily personalized with references to your interests and, at least in my case, a little handwritten note from someone on the admissions staff.</p>
<p>I know exactly what you mean, speeddemon - my parents were having exactly the same discussion last week, only in regards to switching phone service to a VOIP to establish a phone number not only where they live but also wherever I go to college, so that I could essentially call them “local.” Kinda strange to think that in some ways, college isn’t exactly the total cut-off from family we’ve been expecting, eh?</p>
<p>Does anyone know if they’ll be attending either of Williams’ visit (“Preview”) dates? I think it’s probably worth going (likely for the overnight version), but like geekinpink, I’m concerned about the transportation costs and absences which will rack up from having to visit multiple schools.</p>
<p>so far, i’ve gotten into wellesley (unofficially-i am a “likely” candidate), brandeis, and williams</p>
<p>i’m still waiting to hear from penn, swarthmore, tufts, vassar, and amherst</p>
<p>to everyone else who commented about this, lindseylujh posted that a williams admissions officer informed her in the “welcome to williams” call that the college would fly us out at the school’s expense. i’ll call them tomorrow (along with my other schools) just to make sure, but i thought all of you would like to know. :)</p>
<p>my friend, who is currently at wesleyan, said wes paid for everything during her visit–even the cab ride from the airport.</p>
<p>Well, geekinpink, they didn’t tell me that they were offering to fly everyone down for the visit. I don’t know if that’s the case or not.</p>
<p>Admissions will not pay for everyone to visit–but if you’ve been admitted and want to visit but cannot afford the trip, chances are they will foot the bill (talk to them about it).</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend that every student admitted to Williams (early-write or otherwise) attends one of the two Previews. Personally, I would go for the overnight one if it’s possible–it’ll give you a better perspective on Williams.</p>
<p>Early write letters don’t, to the best of my knowledge, encourage admitted students to decide any earlier than the rest of RD-admitted students. Phone calls from admissions or current students are meant to be purely informative for the admitted student. If you get called, use this as a chance to find out more about Williams. It’s a great opportunity to speak with a current student and get a feel for what the place is like.</p>
<p>mk, thanks</p>
<p>My S just received notification of a Marquis Scholarship from Lafayette College. There is a fully paid study abroad program included.
This is becoming wonderfully difficult. :)</p>