Is the graded paper supplement to the application truly optional? Or does it signal lack of interest if you don’t include one? Thanks for any advice!
I don’t know if it is possible to get a definitive answer to this question absent an unusually forthcoming Admissions Officer from Williams chiming in.
But in my circles, all the Williams applicants submitted a paper, because they all had one that fit the parameters and that they were proud to submit. And I would think the only reason not to do it would be if you simply did not have a paper like that to submit.
5 Likes
Almost always, optional is not really optional. You can make an argument that tests are actually optional, but even though you always find someone who says “I didn’t and I got in,” IMO not submitting an optional piece is to an applicant’s detriment. In the case of a graded paper, it is particularly true of someone not submitting scores. I would say if TO, the essay is a must.
FWIW, no one asks for a (already written) paper for demonstrated interest. Williams is trying to gain insight into an applicants actual writing/analytical ability. This is much more valuable than carefully curated, crafted, and overly edited supplemental essays, and something I believe was implemented with the elimination of supplements and test scores.
2 Likes
And the parameters are guidelines to a certain extent. IIRC they recommend a somewhat recent 5 page paper, which my kids did not have at the time, so they submitted something a bit shorter, and that is fine.
Yes, here is the current prompt:
If you are interested in submitting an example of your academic writing, you may share a 3-5 page paper written in the last year. The paper may be creative or analytical, can cover any topic, and need not be graded. Please include a description of the assignment or prompt and do not submit lab reports.
In my circles it was obviously ideal if you had an A-graded paper that fit all these parameters. But if you had to stretch a bit, that was not discouraged. Like if your best paper was 2.75 or 5.5 pages, you would not likely be told not to submit that. If it was from early junior year and so technically more than a year old, you would not likely be told not to submit that. And so on.
The things I would personally suggest NOT doing, though, would be submitting lab reports (I am amused they have to be so explicit), submitting something that was not in some way assigned, submitting something from before junior year, or submitting something that was much longer than 5 pages (not sure where I would draw the line exactly, but you don’t want to test their patience).
1 Like
Our guidance is similar. Obviously you want a good paper but a well earned A- can be a great choice too. I think colleges are less interested in the grade itself than what it took to get that grade. This is where teacher comments come in.
1 Like
Thanks all! I asked because my daughter’s English teacher is hospitalized and she was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to give her a graded hard copy. So to learn that it need not be graded makes this a non-issue, with the only real issue being my 17 year old’s reading comprehension!
3 Likes
Sorry to hear about the teacher. It does not need to be a graded hard copy. Most of our papers are submitted, graded, commented on GoogleDocs and that is fine. I think my oldest attached an email from the teacher stating the grade and comments.
1 Like
That was my daughters take on this as well when she was in the application process at Williams.
2 Likes
My DS who was accepted RD submitted the “optional” graded paper.
2 Likes