<p>JackTornson mentions on another post that he is also prospective Williams student (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/williams-college/1544005-am-i-good-fit-williams.html#post16298408[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/williams-college/1544005-am-i-good-fit-williams.html#post16298408</a>). Therefore, he can’t possibly tell you whether you have a good chance at getting into Yale or Williams. Coming to College Confidential is not a good place to come to get an evaluation of your admissions chances, especially since most of those who will evaluate you are high schoolers.</p>
<p>I’m not an admissions officer either, but have been an alumni interviewer for more than 30 years for another Ivy school, which has very similar admissions standards to Yale, and can tell you that you do have a shot at Yale, although everyone who doesn’t have a Likely letter in hand should consider Yale a reach, because no one has a high chance of getting in.</p>
<p>Regarding Yale vs. Williams, the difference is really night and day. Yale is in New Haven, a gritty city. Williams is in a picturesque town, surrounded by mountains. Some will find Williams’s location to be boring and Yale’s to be exciting, while some will not want to be in a downtrodden city like New Haven, and would prefer to hike the Appalachian Trail after class.</p>
<p>Yale is larger and has numerous graduate schools/programs in addition to a great undergraduate program. Williams has no graduate program, but a great undergraduate program. Williams will have no grad students teaching, while Yale will have some. By the same token, there will be far more internationally-prominent professors at Yale than at Williams.</p>
<p>Visit both to learn more, and also think about which environment best suits you.</p>