Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., March 27, 2013—Williams College has extended offers of admission to 1,157 applicants for the Class of 2017. They were selected from a total applicant pool of 6,853, for an overall acceptance rate of 17 percent.
“Given the extraordinary quality of the applicant pool, it was as difficult as it’s ever been to make selections,” said Richard Nesbitt, director of admission. “In the end, however, we were thrilled with the outcome and anticipate a superb class entering in September.”
Of the admitted students, 597 are women and 560 are men. Ninety-six students, or eight percent of the group, are non-U.S. citizens, representing 40 different nationalities. Among American students, 183 are African American, 220 Asian American, 145 Latino, and 13 Native American. Seventeen percent (193) would be the first in their families to attend college.
The top 10 states represented are New York (182), California (165), Massachusetts (91), New Jersey (64), Florida (55), Connecticut (41), Pennsylvania (40), Texas (39), Maryland (39) and Illinois (34). Regionally, 29 percent hail from Mid-Atlantic States, 19 percent from the West, 15 percent from New England, 13 percent from the South, 9 percent from the Midwest, and 5 percent from the Southwest. An additional 10 percent live overseas. One admitted student is from the Virgin Islands, and three are from Puerto Rico.
The admitted students’ academic profile is exceptional, with average SAT scores of 731 in critical reading, 725 in math, and 734 in writing. The average super-scored ACT is a 32. Fifty-four percent of the students who submitted high school rank are projected either to be valedictorian or to graduate in the top one percent of their class.
The students possess a wide diversity of interests—academic, artistic, athletic, and more. Nine percent of admitted students are highly rated musicians, studio artists, thespians, or dancers. Thirty-one students are interested in pursuing a non-science Ph.D., and 225 want to obtain a doctorate in science or math. Forty-five demonstrated extraordinary commitment to serving the needs of others, and 46 were noted as “bridge builders,” showing a longstanding commitment to activities that span racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Twenty students received national recognition for writing talent, and 282 were noted for “intellectual vitality,” meaning that they showed signs of “extraordinary academic depth/talent” or promise as a “classroom catalyst who would have a significant impact in labs or class discussions.”
Williams’ strong financial aid program is critically important in encouraging outstanding students to apply. Admissions decisions are need-blind for U.S. students, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of every student for four years.
Students who choose to come to Williams say they were attracted by its academic reputation, size, academic facilities, and the attractiveness of the campus, in addition to the personal attention and extracurricular opportunities it offers.
The target size for the Class of 2017 is 550 students, as it was last year. Two-hundred forty-nine applicants were admitted to the class through the college’s early decision process, making up 45 percent of the class. The remaining admitted students received their acceptances by March 27 and have until May 1 to decide whether to enroll. All accepted students are invited to attend the Williams Previews program April 15-16 to explore the college and meet many of their future classmates.
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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college’s 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students’ educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom.
To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu Williams College can also be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/williamscollege and Twitter: twitter.com/williamscollege
Published March 27, 2013
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