Williams College Office of Admission
As we begin the first school year after the Supreme Court’s decision to limit colleges’ ability to consider racial identity as an admission factor, I’m writing to emphatically restate Williams’ commitment to diversity, inclusion and access as core values of our community. The following are concrete ways that we turn that commitment into action.
Our Historic All-Grant Financial Aid ProgramWilliams’ All-Grant Financial Aid Program, the first of its kind in the U.S., goes far beyond traditional financial aid to provide every student with the wrap-around support they need to really thrive. One hundred percent of our financial aid is given to students as grants that do not need to be repaid. That means:
|
|
To get a sense of how affordable Williams can be, please encourage your students to check out our Quick College Cost Estimator.
Guaranteed Financial Aid Despite FAFSA DelayRest assured that the FAFSA delay and changes will not negatively impact the financial aid your students receive from Williams. Whether they apply through QuestBridge, Early Decision or Regular Decision, they'll receive a comprehensive, guaranteed financial aid award. We recognize that the completion of the CSS Profile can be onerous, but please know that we use the Profile to provide financial aid packages that are more generous than using FAFSA alone. Students for whom the CSS Profile fees pose a financial hardship can access guaranteed fee waivers in just two clicks.
Test-Optional PolicyWilliams has a truly test-optional admission policy. In fact, in an effort to remove testing bias and minimize the role testing plays in our admission process, application readers do not have access to applicants’ test submission status or their SAT/ACT scores. Instead, your students will be evaluated through a fully student-centered, holistic evaluation process.
No Supplemental EssayBecause of the additional burden supplemental essays place on students during an already stressful process, Williams will not require a supplemental essay for the 2023-2024 admission cycle.
Opportunities to Explore WilliamsThe range of opportunities to get to know Williams can be found on the “Connect & Visit” tab of our website. Williams doesn’t use demonstrated interest—attendance at school visits, college fairs, campus visits, emails to admission representatives, etc.—in any way in our admission process. We’re excited to connect with your students if it’s helpful; we understand if their college search takes a different form.
