I still think supplemental essay(s) add an insightful extra dimension. We know some NESCACs eliminated it (them) to increase application numbers, but I didn’t expect this from Williams.
UChicago - don’t cave in, and stay strong with your fabulous essay prompts!
I think Williams did this years ago? D26 applied and there was no essay, just a writing sample (graded paper).
Amherst gives you the option of a paper or a response to one of 3 prompts.
Agreed. Our last Williams experience was 2022 when they had it.
I am surprised the Dean of Admissions would state in a recent article that a supplemental has a “suppressive” effect on applications. Perhaps for those who want to blast out a bunch of apps, but not for those really focused on Williams.
I know a lot of people that “panic applied” because there was no essay. This is NEU’s strategy.
I am conflicted about this because I don’t like this effect, but I am also not a fan of supplementals. I say this as a parent of equally accomplish students, one is a gifted writer - there was no ding against her for not being stellar at math - the other finds writing quite painful and is very STEM oriented, yet for him a great essay matters.
I think Common App Essay and recommendation letters should suffice.
It’s best to focus on strengths, you seem to agree. ACT/SAT have a math section though, so unless a perfect score is less than stellar it does hurt generally anyone who is not stellar at math. If you don’t submit test scores, it’s a slight disadvantage to those who submitted presumably very high scores.
Don’t get me wrong. I am firmly on the in favor of test score camp. (Sorry!) But that plays equally on both sides. Essays don’t.
I don’t even have an issue with a graded/academic paper—that is not what college essays are. College essays require a very particular set of skills IMO, that have nothing to do with college/academic/life performance.
The Cross Country NESCAC Championships were this past weekend. On the women’s side, here are the quick points about it:
What happens next: The NESCACs head off to their respective NCAA Regional Meets on Nov. 16. The different regions: Mideast (most NESCACs), East (Maine schools + Tufts), Niagara (Hamilton). Performance at the regionals determines who gets invited to the NCAAs.
I see what you mean. I honestly thought the tests were more skewed than they are, they do seem fairly even. I’d agree that for a mathematically minded person, the essay shouldn’t be as important - are you sure that it is? Or you’re saying it shouldn’t have any effect whatsoever, I do think that performance on any academic task will be somewhat predictive.
Also thought I should say that I don’t think the essays are graded in the same manner as a normal assignment or in some cases even graded at all. They may just hope you can tell them more about yourself as an applicant.
Elite colleges like us to think so. Yes, at this level essays are important. And it’s about the quality of the storytelling not so much the quality of the writing. This last piece is just a given, and not an issue. AOs are constantly going on about “you want your essay to be memorable” blah blah blah. I stand that the CA Personal Stamenr should suffice. (Plus LOR, tests, and yes… an academic paper if you want to know how the student ACTUALLY writes).
I can add some color on the men’s side:
Shout out to my guy Malcolm Oakes of Williams. The freshman was #6 for the Ephs, and he finished ahead of Amherst’s #5 runner, hanging an additional point on the Mammoths’ team score. In a one point win for Williams, it was a good performance by him.
In other news, proud of the high rate of voting among the NESCAC colleges! The governor of Maine visited several colleges this past week: Governor Janet Mills Visits Bates to Encourage Voters – The Bates Student
I’ve been impressed with the nonpartisan student-driven get-out-the-vote efforts and speaker series at Williams this fall. https://today.williams.edu/stories/promoting-voting/
And I’ll add some color on the women’s side:
Williams women won for the 5th(?) time in a row, and this time the margin of victory was larger than it has been in 20 years!
All season Amherst freshman Flora Biro was the dominant freshman woman. But Hamilton freshman Rogan ran right on Maclean’s (Middlebury) shoulder and finished second. She earned freshman of the year honors. Williams’ top freshman, Tuttle, was 4th, just a hair behind Wesleyan’s Ager. Biro ended up the 3rd freshman in 7th place overall. Watching these 3 women (plus Tufts’ Margolies) battle it out for 4 years will be such fun!
Audrey Maclean is a legitimate contender to be NCAA champion. And Keira Rogan ran stride-for-stride with her all the way until the end of the NESCAC Championship. Keira is amazing.
She is in my dorm. Super sweet girl. She’s actually a walk on….which is nuts.
Nice football play clip from last weekend. Another nailbiter in a typical hotly contested showdown between Wes and Williams football. Wesleyan won the Little Three for the third straight year. At 7-1, Wes has a big showdown at Trinity, also at 7-1, this Saturday for the NESCAC crown.
In football, the NESCAC conference title is mostly the thing because the NESCAC football programs don’t usually threaten for the national title in this sport. Winning NESCAC is the brass ring for these guys.
Sorry @gotham_mom . Next year.
Hamilton’s coach seems asleep at the switch, so that doesn’t really surprise me. I think people fall into his lap because Hamilton is such a good school.
We were on campus for family weekend, and, boy, football at Wes really is a unique experience! Happens literally in the middle of campus and feels really lively and celebratory—but also doesn’t feel overwhelming. We didn’t attend the game, just walked by it a few times on the way to and from other things and enjoyed the spirit/feel of it.
What a cool place!
Right? This is what I’m always saying. It’s a rather uniquely collegiate setting. My kid never cared about the games or the team, even though she herself was a varsity athlete, but it is a fun atmosphere to be around. The Williams game, more so than even the Amherst and Trinity games, bumps it up another notch. Lots of Williams people show up and there are several great joint tail gate functions happening with good natured ribbing bounced around. Wesleyan does Homecoming very well. It’s a great time to be there.
There’s an idea. Go around and experience the various NESCAC homecomings. Maybe in retirement.
Here’s a great clip with some screen shots below:
