Williams College is extremely difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at Williams College is 8%. Out of 15,321 applications received in 2023, 1,302 students were offered admission.
If you are thinking about applying to Williams College, the regular decision application deadline is January 9 and the fee for the application costs $65.
Students who apply to Williams College for fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.
Williams College Admissions Stats at a Glance
Here's an overiew of some of Williams College's admissions stats.
| Williams College 2023 | Admissions Statistics |
|---|---|
| Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 87% |
| Mean SAT Score | 1512 |
| Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
| Applicants Who Submit SATs | 41% |
| Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 21% |
| Waitlist | Yes |
Williams College Application Deadlines
These are the application deadlines for Williams College.
| Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | Yes | November 15 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II | – | – | – |
| Early Action | No | – | – |
| Regular Decision | Yes | 1 9 | April 1 |
Applying Early to Williams College?
Williams College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.
The early decision acceptance rate at Williams College is 31%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 8%. In 2022, Williams College admitted 254 of the 814 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply early because they hope it will help their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.
➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
More on Williams College Admissions
Transferring to Williams College
It is extremely difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
For Students Waitlisted to Williams College
In 2022, Williams College waitlisted 2,241 students and 860 accepted a place on the waitlist.
What Does Williams College Look For in an Applicant?
Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.
Admissions Factors at Williams College
Curious about the factors that are considered by Williams College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
| Admissions Factor | Level |
|---|---|
| Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
| Class Rank | Very Important |
| Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
| Academic GPA | Very Important |
| Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
| Application Essay | Important |
| Extracurricular Activities | Important |
| Racial/Ethnic Status | Important |
| Talent/Ability | Important |
| Volunteer Work | Important |
| Work Experience | Important |
| First Generation | Important |
| Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
| Geographical Residence | Considered |
| Religious Affiliation/Commitment | Considered |
| Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
Make sure to check with Williams College for more information on admission factors.
Williams College 2022-2023 Application Requirements
To apply to Williams College, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Williams College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
| Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter(s) of Recommendation | 3 | – | – | – |
| Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | – | – | – |
| Other Requirements | √ | – | – | 1 counselor recommendation and 2 teacher recommendations |
| Transcript of High School Record | √ | – | – | – |
GPA and Testing
What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Williams College?
Williams College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.
Out of all students that were admitted, 17% submitted a class rank. At Williams College 87% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 98% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.
GPAs of Admitted Students
At Williams College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
| GPA | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 GPA | – |
| 3.75 and 3.99 | – |
| 3.50 and 3.74 | – |
| 3.25 and 3.49 | – |
| 3.00 and 3.24 | – |
| 2.50 and 2.9 | – |
| 2.00 and 2.49 | – |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Williams College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Standardized Test Scores
Williams College has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 41% of Williams College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 21% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
What is a Good SAT Score for Williams College?
To be competitive with other Williams College applicants, you should aim to score between 1490 and 1550 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Williams College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1550 and 25% of scored lower than 1490, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Williams College student is 1512.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Williams College students scored 790 or higher and 75% of students scored 730 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Williams College students scored 780 or higher, and 75% scored a 730 or higher.
To be most competitive at Williams College, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Williams College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.
A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Williams College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.
More Information on Transferring to Williams College
For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Williams College.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by April 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Williams College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Winter Term
• Spring Term
• Winter Term
• Summer Term
Williams College Admissions FAQs
Can I defer my acceptance to Williams College?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Williams College.
Does Williams College accept transfer credits?
✅ Williams College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Do I have to submit test scores to Williams College?
❌ No, Williams College is test optional, so you can decide if you want to to send your ACT or SAT scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.
What is Williams College's acceptance rate?
✅ Williams College's acceptance rate is 8%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Williams College?
✅ Williams College's early decision acceptance rate was 31% in 2021.
Want To Learn More About Williams College?
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