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College Essays

Williams is among the most selective colleges in the country. In 2022 , its acceptance rate was only 8.5%. As part of your Williams application, you’ll need to respond to the Williams writing supplement.

In this article, we’ll cover the question that makes up the Williams writing supplement, offer suggestions for what to write about in your essay, and give you tips for crafting the best essay possible.

The Williams Writing Supplement

The Williams writing supplement includes one required “long answer” question (150-300 words). You’ll need to respond to it as part of your application!

Williams believes that in a residential learning community, some of the most important experiences happen while living and learning alongside those different from oneself. Please describe a time when you learned or grew through the process of interacting with someone whose background, identity, lived experience or perspective differs from your own.

As we mentioned, Williams instructs applicants to respond to this question in 150-300 words. Writing this essay is not optional , so you’ll need to make sure you write a thoughtful response before you submit your application!

What Should I Write About in My Williams College Supplement?

Let’s take a look at the Williams College supplement question and discuss what you could write about in it. To recap, here’s how the prompt reads on the application: 

Let’s take a look at the Williams College supplement question and discuss what you could write about in it. To recap, here’s how the prompt reads on the application : 

Williams believes that in a residential learning community, some of the most important experiences happen while living and learning alongside those different from oneself. Please describe a time when you learned or grew through the process of interacting with someone whose background, identity, lived experience or perspective differs from your own. 

The residential learning community program at Williams is designed to help students plug into the Williams community and give you the support you'll need to be successful during your first year. Knowing that, it makes sense that admissions counselors would want to know more about how you'll fit into both your residential community and the Williams student body! Especially since you’ll likely be living among people who are different from you. 

The first step to answering this prompt is choosing a person/community and experience to focus on in your essay. You should pick an experience that has both impacted your personal growth in a meaningful way and taught you how to have positive interactions with people who are different from you. 

Most of us have had multiple learning experiences with people who are different from us. For instance, you may have had experiences in school, church, clubs or extracurriculars, or even in your family or friend group that brought you in contact with people and perspectives that differed from yours. Try to pick out the experience where you learned something really important–and that taught you something that’s stuck with you over time. 

From there, it's time to tell a story . Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you have to help others understand your values and experiences. That's why we recommend that you tell a story that helps illustrate how the experience you've chosen impacted your life and perspective!

For example, let's say you immigrated to the U.S. as a kid and just recently became a U.S. citizen. Telling the story of what you learned by coming into contact with people who are different from you during that experience will help admissions counselors a) get to know you better, and b) understand your values. 

In telling that story, make sure you don't forget to explain how the experience changed your perspective or impacted who you are . This prompt is designed to help admissions counselors get to know you better, so don't be afraid to be authentic and honest! 

UPDATE for 2022-2023 Williams Applicants

For students applying to Williams during the 2022/2023 school year, there’s an additional optional writing supplement. This essay is separate from the required long answer question we mentioned above. It appears at the end of the Williams application, and you must submit all required parts of the Common App (including the required long answer response!) before you can upload an optional essay. 

On their website , Williams states:

Some students feel they do their best writing in an academic context rather than through narrative pieces like admission applications. If you are interested in submitting an example of your academic writing from the last year, you may share a 3-5 page paper. The paper may be creative or analytical, can cover any topic, and need not be graded. We ask that you include a description of the assignment or prompt. Please do not submit lab reports. Students can apply and submit this optional writing supplement using the Common Application or QuestBridge Application.

As this supplement is optional, you can choose whether or not you want to submit something for it. If you choose not to, it won't negatively affect your application. If you do decide to submit a paper, don't write something new just for this prompt. Choose a school paper you think is a great example of your writing skills, and submit that. You may want to choose a paper that relates to the subject you want to major in at Williams, but that isn't required. Remember to include a description of the assignment, as Williams requests.

Should I Write an Essay for the Optional Williams Writing Supplement?

When you’re working on your Williams College application, you’ll notice that the Williams Academic Writing Supplement is entirely optional. So should you write an essay? Or skip it altogether?

It would be a huge mistake to not write the Williams College supplement. While the instructions do say optional, the statement isn’t really optional. Choosing not to write an essay will make you look like you don’t care that much about being accepted to Williams.

Along the same lines, your Williams writing supplement is a great way to show the admissions committee aspects of your personality that aren’t highlighted in the rest of your application. Take that opportunity! Show the admissions committee why you belong on Williams’ campus.

What Should I Write About in the Optional Williams Writing Supplement?

If you do choose this prompt, there are a few things to consider. First, your paper needs to be A+ level excellent (though it doesn’t necessarily have to be a graded paper!). If there's a paper you have in mind, we recommend talking to your teacher about it before you decide it's the paper you want to submit. They will be able to give you honest feedback and encouragement about your paper and help you ensure it’s in tip top shape before you send it in.

Second, make sure you edit your paper before you send it to Williams. That doesn't mean you need to completely rewrite your paper, but you should make the revisions your teacher mentions on your essay. Also, make sure you proofread, proofread, proofread. Williams will expect your paper to be free of typos and grammatical errors! 

Tips for Writing a Strong Williams College Supplement Essay

To write a strong Williams College long answer and optional supplemental essay, you need to make sure your essays are the best possible example of your work. Follow these three tips for writing amazing Williams essays to wow the admissions committee!

#1: Be Authentic

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you’re presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don’t try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you’re not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Williams wants you to be.

#2: Play With Form

The Williams College supplement essays leave a lot of room open for creative expression - use that! You don’t need to stick to a five paragraph essay structure here. You can play with the length and style of your sentences — you could even dabble in poetry if that makes sense!

Whichever form you pick, make sure it fits with the story you’re trying to tell and how you want to express yourself.

#3: Proofread and Polish Your Essay

Your Williams essay should be the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It’s a good idea to have someone else read your Williams College supplement essay, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven’t missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it can possibly be.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re writing the required long answer response or the optional academic supplement, there are a few rules of thumb that apply if you want your responses to be the best they can be. 

When writing your Williams College supplement response,

• Be authentic and true to yourself.
• Tell stories that are meaningful to your identity and experience.
• Lie or exaggerate to seem more important.
• Forget to proofread or polish your essay.

What’s Next?

Wondering how to ace the Common Application? No problem! We’ve got you covered with tips and tricks to make your application stand out from the crowd .

Starting your essay is often the hardest part.  If you're unsure where to begin, check out this guide to starting a college essay perfectly , and don't be afraid to just dive right in!

If you're applying to Williams College, you're likely applying to other colleges on the East Coast, too. Check out our expert guides to the Duke essay , the Tufts essays , and the Harvard essay .

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Williams College 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 9

You Have: 

Williams College 2022-23 Application Essay Question

The Requirements: 1 upload

Williams does not require a writing supplement. However, students who are interested in submitting an example of their written work have the option of sharing an academic paper completed within the last year, ideally 3-5 pages in length. The paper does not need to be graded, and can be creative or analytical. Please do not submit lab reports. If submitting this optional paper, please include a description of the assignment or prompt.

This year, Williams did away with their optional essay prompts and are instead offering applicants the opportunity to upload an academic paper completed within the last year. While this is completely optional, we always recommend that students take advantage of every opportunity to flesh out their application and make an impact with admissions. If you’ve written a paper within the last twelve months that you’re particularly proud of, this is the place to share it.

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Williams College Supplemental Essay Prompts

Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Williams College is a private liberal arts college with a 9% acceptance rate . This means that it’s important to set your application apart and you can do that by completing the Williams supplements in a stellar way. Keep reading to learn more about the prompts and get tips on how to write your essay. 

The Williams prompt

Williams College offers students the opportunity to submit an optional “paper of choice.” For this option, we go over how to choose an essay that’s a reflection of your best self. For a small selective college like Williams, it is always in your best interest to submit any optional materials. It is just one more opportunity to share about who you are as a person. For a deeper dive into the Williams supplemental essay prompt, keep reading!

“ Optional: Williams does not require a writing supplement. However, some students feel they do their best writing in an academic context rather than through narrative pieces like admission applications. 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. Please do not submit lab reports.”

Williams advises their applicants to submit essays that are from the humanities or social sciences, which can include psychology, economics, history, English, and more. Ideally, you should choose an essay that you’re proud of that’s on an interesting topic or has a unique thesis. 

Students can work with a guidance counselor or teacher to fine tune their essays before submitting them, especially if they weren’t happy with the grade received.  Three to five pages double-spaced is about 1500-2500 words. Keep that in mind just in case you have to add or take off a paragraph or two.

Questions to consider:

• How is this paper a representation of you?
• Does this paper enhance your application?
• What makes this particular essay stand out?

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Next steps for applicants

Once you’re done writing your Williams supplement, you should complete your FAFSA and CSS Profile . These two applications can come in handy and play a major part in colleges deciding your financial aid package. Williams also offers their applicants a chance to connect with current students to talk about their experiences and answer any questions. Don’t forget to schedule a campus tour as well to get a feel of the campus before you decide to enroll.

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

Additional resources

Congratulations on finishing up your Williams College supplements! Since this might not be the only school you’re applying to, check out some of these Scholarships360 resources to help out as you prepare for college.

• Compare your financial aid award letters
• Learn more about writing supplemental essays
• Figure out your future major

Frequently asked questions about the Williams College supplemental essays

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Williams College Essay Example

Williams College is a highly-selective school, so it’s important to write strong essays to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll share an essay a real student has submitted to Williams College. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Williams College es say breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: The first-year Entry–a thoughtfully constructed residential microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience–brings together students from around the world with different perspectives, interests and backgrounds. Imagine having a late-night conversation with your Entrymates about a community that you value. Describe that community and why it’s important to you (300 words).

I used to face two paths: one flocked with taxis, staccato shouts, the smell of pizza, and people blurring together. The other was a road of motorcycles rolling over wet cement, cicada symphonies, and the aroma of beef noodle soup. It always felt easier to walk the streets of Taiwan, where everyone looks like me, speaks meekly as I have been taught to, and steers away from confrontation. PBS created a documentary in 1988 titled Tug of War: The Story of Taiwan , and I grew to believe that I embodied the little potato island since I was raised in the thick of New York (where people argue, think, and exist fearlessly), resulting in a “Tug of War” within myself. Although I am proud to be Taiwanese, New York has cultivated an unbridled emotion and passion within me that I pour into my words. It encourages me, against my inherent modesty, to be a bold author, a shameless poet, and a strong-willed advocate for Asian-American youth. The similar passion and confidence of Williams students will challenge me to continue growing as a writer, reader, and human being. I am excited by the vibrant discussions and meshed ideas I might find at a place as diverse as Williams: perhaps with Professor Anthony Kim about the illustration of alienation in Asian American literature or an intimate conversation about identity with my professor and peer in a Williams Tutorial. I can integrate myself in a community that supports students struggling with their own “Tug of Wars” by telling my story through Asian American Students in Action, and learning the stories of my Entrymates by curating pieces for Williams College Literary Review . Williams provides the best of not both, but all worlds through their determined inclusion.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay does a great job of establishing this student’s background and the distinction between their two cultures. There is a great use of imagery, especially at the beginning, which displays this student’s strength as a writer and highlights the internal “Tug of War” they experience. It is evident how their past community has shaped their perspective and identity. Knowing how their background shaped these things makes it easy for admissions officers to see what type of student they would be adding to their campus.

Additionally, through this tug of war metaphor, the student was able to effectively answer the prompt in a creative way. The reader learns what this student’s two communities look like and the impact both of these communities had on the student’s personality and perspective. The most important part of the prompt is why the community is important to the student, so this essay did a good job focusing on the effects of being caught in the tug of war to fully flesh out the why .

The essay also goes above and beyond by mentioning resources at Williams that they hope to engage in. The prompt doesn’t specifically ask for students to discuss opportunities that excite them, but by including a professor this student wants to work with and extracurricular activities they want to join, this student shows that they have done their research about Williams and have a genuine interest in attending. Going the extra mile to show how this student’s community has shaped their college goals is sure to leave admissions officers with a positive view of this student.

What Could Be Improved

One thing that could improve this essay would be to split it into two paragraphs. Reading one large block of text gets tiring for admissions officers who spend all day reading. Dividing the essay into paragraphs would provide a clear delineation of where new information is being presented, thus helping admissions officers stay focused on the essay.

The most natural spot for a paragraph break would be right after the sentence where the student discusses being an advocate for Asian-American youth. If the essay was split up here, it would have one paragraph focused on the student’s background and one paragraph focused on opportunities at Williams that this student wants to take advantage of. In general, it’s normally better to have more smaller, more focused paragraphs in college essays, so if there is a natural change in direction there should probably be a new paragraph.

Where to Get Your Williams College Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Williams College  essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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How to write the williams college essays, updated for 2023-2024, optional essay prompt:.

Williams does not require a writing supplement. However, some students feel they do their best writing in an academic context rather than through narrative pieces like admission applications. If you are interested in submitting an example of your academic writing from the last year, you may share a 3-5 page paper here. The paper may be creative or analytical, can cover any topic, and need not be graded. We ask that you include a description of the assignment or prompt. Please do not submit lab reports.

Explanation:

Williams provides some guidelines for their optional writing supplement, it must be an academic paper completed in the last year, ideally 3-5 pages long, and cannot be a lab report. These guidelines are still very open ended, so how do you choose which paper is best?

Williams does not require that you submit a graded paper, but selecting an essay on which you received positive feedback can help assure you’re putting your best foot forward. While you should select a paper you did well on, small grade fluctuations shouldn’t be the final deciding factor for the paper you choose to send. Instead, consider whether paper best demonstrates your writing skills and showcases engaging, well-organized content. This content should also be highly original, so avoid papers that contain large quotations of other texts or rely heavily on outside sources, as these won’t be the most thorough examples of your writing abilities!

At Williams, emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary learning, taking control over one’s own education, and deeply exploring topics of interest. When selecting your academic paper, try to find essays that reflect at least one or more of these values. Did you write an English essay that also demonstrates a nuanced understanding of history or science? Did you design your own creative writing project that allowed you to engage with one of your passions? Or maybe you explored a niche subject in great detail, writing a paper that demonstrates your ability to dive into an unfamiliar topic. Take time to go through the papers you’ve written in the last year, and see which align best with Williams’ academic values.

In summary, your Williams essay should

• Be well-written and organized
• Demonstrate original thinking
• Address at least one of Williams key academic values such as interdisciplinary learning, taking control over one’s own education, or deeply exploring a topic of interest.

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Williams College Essay Guide 2020-2021

In this Williams College essay guide, we’ll focus on how to tackle all of the Williams College supplemental essays. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Williams College is a small liberal arts college in the western Massachusetts mountains with a purple cow mascot named Ephelia. The Williams writing supplement is optional, but if you have your heart set on the Purple Valley, take some time to infuse your application with further personality.

General Advice on Writing Supplements

Be specific.

I always tell my students that if you can replace the university name in your supplement with any other and it reads just as well, you haven’t done enough research into the specifics of the school. Which courses are you invested in? Who are the professors that you’d want to work with? What are the programs that the university offers that you can’t find anywhere else?

Take this as an opportunity to truly figure out if you’d like to attend the school – speak to some alums or current students, take an in-person or virtual tour of campus, or even reach out to the faculty. The admissions office can generally tell if your essay is a copy-pasted supplement for every other college. Avoid vague statements and ideas. Bottomline: do your research!

Treat it as an opportunity rather than a task.

The supplement is not typically an essay where you need to prove your academic credentials or worth to the college: instead, admissions officers are giving you another opportunity to share a few more of your values, personality traits, and interests . Have fun with it! What are some of of your core qualities or activities that you simply could not fit into the Common Application? What is something that your friends love about you that a resume cannot communicate?

And write it in your own voice: don’t try to be hilarious and quirky if you do not feel those are fundamental parts of your personality. Be honest with yourself and try not to perform a version of you that you think might be more appealing to the school. You are more than enough.

Write More, then Edit.

Typically, when beginning to tackle the supplements, students find that the word limit constraints of the essay restrict their writing abilities. Often capped at 150 to 300 words, supplements feel too short for any major ideas or revelations, yet too vital for generic thoughts.

My advice? Read the prompt, then set a timer for yourself (5 – 10 minute intervals) and simply free-write whatever comes to mind. Eventually, you will have enough material to begin cutting down, selecting content based on what feels fundamental to your answer. The essay you end up with will be short and concise, with each sentence communicating the details most significant to you.

Show, Don’t Tell.

You may have heard this statement before — the rule that all college advisors swear by, and one piece of advice you will certainly continue to receive throughout the application process. Basically, impactful essays will show the reader the story — a bead of sweat rolled down my cheek — rather than tell the reader the story — I was anxious . The first is a narrative, the second is an analysis. Show us the story in anecdotes and specifics as much as possible so that the reader can do the analysis. This concept is a bit difficult to grasp at first, but is by far the most vital in college applications (and in all applications as a whole).

The first-year Entry–a thoughtfully constructed residential microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience–brings together students from around the world with different perspectives, interests and backgrounds. Imagine having a late-night conversation with your Entrymates about a community that you value. Describe that community and why it’s important to you. (300 words)

Williams College deeply values community: after all, there are approximately 2000 students on campus, surrounded by a town that contains a single main street. In particular, this question focuses on the experience and background that you will bring as a community member and a student.

The admissions team crafts the campus community as a whole and puts care in each entry. An entry is a group of thirty to fifty first-year students living together with three or more “JAs” — Junior Advisors — that are there to guide their entry through potential questions about navigating Williams College and facilitating community-building among the group.

When considering which community to discuss, remember that it doesn’t always need to be something large or what is typically considered “community.” It can be quite specific to you and insular as well. For instance, a community could be your third period pottery class, your extended family, your origami-making lunch group, your ice-skating team, or your co-workers. It truly doesn’t need to be something impressive or something that sets you apart — the most vital part of the question is how you speak about the community and why it’s vital to shaping your identity . Remember, details and specificity is key here: illustrate anecdotes that have created this microcosm in your life. The more specific you are in describing your community and its importance, the more information the reader can learn about you.

All-Campus Entertainment (ACE), a student organization, hosts events called “Stressbusters”–an opportunity for students to focus on self-care by stepping away from their typical routine and enjoying some unscheduled time (and snacks!) with friends. Weekly Stressbuster activities might include a concert, playing with a therapy dog, painting pumpkins, building with Legos, etc. What’s your version of a “stressbuster,” and how does it help you rejuvenate in the midst of a hectic week? (300 words)

Williams College is a rather intense school, both in education and extracurricular life. Stressbusters are a chance for students to avoid burnout by hanging out with friends and doing an assortment of oddly satisfying activities. Let yourself be creative with this one: Williams appreciates divergent thinking, so a touch of quirk never hurts an application. What kind of activities do you already do to allow yourself to de-stress, and what are the small pleasures you want to have more time for? What are the ones you’d like to share with a larger community? An Avatar: The Last Airbender night? Finger-puppet making? Poetry and hot chocolate campfire? One of my personal favorite Stressbusters was succulent planting.

As to the second part of the question, how does this particular activity allow you to leave a constant work-study mindset to carve out time for personal fun and exercise for the brain? The Admissions Office is asking not only how you take care of yourself and avoid burn-out, but also, what are your interests and passions that don’t fit into what is seen as “valuable” in school or workplace? What do you value when you step outside of resume activities?

Remember to always orient your essay back towards the school in the end! Why are you thrilled about creating a grilled-cheese festival at Williams College? Be sure to explain how you’d like to share your experiences and ideas with the Williams campus community.

At Williams we believe that bringing together students and professors in small groups produces extraordinary academic outcomes. Our distinctive Oxford-style tutorial classes—in which two students are guided by a professor in deep exploration of a single topic—are a prime example. Each week the students take turns developing independent work—an essay, a problem set, a piece of art—and critiquing their partner’s work. Focused on close reading, writing and oral defense of ideas, more than 60 pre-determined tutorials are offered across the curriculum each year. Imagine yourself in a tutorial at Williams. What topic would you be most excited to study in that setting and why? (300 words)

For this prompt, reference our previous advice — research, research, research. Look through the Williams College course catalog and find a specific professor and tutorial they teach that you’d be thrilled to take. It is always impressive to an Admissions Office for a student to spend the extra hours investigating Williams and what it has to offer. This is also an opportunity to peruse Williams’ academic offerings and figure out exactly what appeals to you in the departments you look forward to working with.

In supplemental essays, especially the ones that feel most “objective,” it is necessary to continue to make it personal. Why do you want to take this tutorial? What in your life connects you to this topic? Show us. The reader is not interested in being convinced why a particular area of study is fascinating — they are invested in the reasons that you feel the subject shapes your perception of the world . They do not need a dissertation on why neuroscience is vital to understanding the human existence, but rather how and why you are drawn to neuroscience and how it shapes the way you operate in the world.

And of course, don’t forget to answer the second part of the question: why are you seeking an intimate experience with this area of study? In a tutorial, you have a partner to bounce ideas off of, disagree with, and learn alongside. Why would delving intensely into this topic with a professor help you open up your understanding?

On that note, why not reach out to that professor to have a conversation about their specialty if you’re feeling adventurous? The best-case scenario is that you learn more about the faculty at Williams and their particular interests. Worst-case scenario, the email simply is lost in their inbox. Go out on a limb! More likely than not, you’ll come away with even more insight to the Williams College experience.

As part of your application, you’ll have the option of uploading an essay from a humanities or social science course.

This question in particular is rather straightforward: if you have a paper you are particularly proud of from your last year of high school, the admissions committee would like to investigate your academic writing. This can be a piece of writing from any humanities or social studies course that you feel accurately represents your best writing.

Try not to submit essays that you are not confident about or essays that you and your teacher disagreed upon — even if you believe you wrote an incredible essay on Moby Dick , but your English teacher did not appreciate your analysis of Ahab’s anti-religious fervor, you might want to try submitting a differing piece of writing.

Make sure that the essay is an appropriate length — two pages is likely too short and ten likely too long. Attempt to give the admissions team a thorough, but not indulgent, look into your work as an academic writer.

Final Thoughts

– Be specific.

– Always relate the question back to you.

– Take a risk and let your personality and voice take center in these essays.

– Do your research into the school: know why you want to go.

– Let yourself free-write and then cut to word count.

– Show, don’t tell.

The college applications process is certainly one that invokes quite a bit of stress for any high school senior. Just remember that Williams College is grateful that you are applying, and your readers are simply looking for your story. Write with honesty, confidence, and invention: you don’t have to be a world-class champion or even know exactly what you want to major in.

Finally, remember to take care of your mental health, and see you on Spring Street next year!

This Williams College essay guide was written by Nadiya Atkinson, Williams College ‘21. If you want to get help writing your Williams application essays from CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, williams college essay tips.

Hey everyone! I'm working on my Williams College application and I need some advice. What are some tips or key aspects to keep in mind while writing the essay? How can I make it unique and engaging? Any help is appreciated!

Hi! Great to see you're working on your Williams College application. Here are a few tips and aspects to consider when writing your essay:

1. Be authentic: Admissions officers want to get to know the real you, so be genuine and express your true thoughts and experiences. Avoid trying to impress the reader with exaggerated claims; instead, focus on conveying your unique perspectives and insights.

2. Show, don't tell: Instead of simply telling the reader about your qualities or experiences, use vivid and descriptive language to create a picture in their mind. For example, if you want to showcase your leadership skills, you can describe a specific instance where you led a team or organized an event.

3. Do research on Williams College: A well-informed essay that demonstrates your knowledge of and interest in the college will go a long way. This could include mentioning specific programs, clubs, or opportunities offered by Williams that align with your interests and aspirations.

4. Emphasize personal growth and self-reflection: Colleges like to see applicants who are self-aware and capable of growth. Discuss the lessons you've learned from your experiences, how they shaped your values, and how you plan to apply those lessons to your time at Williams.

5. Stay focused: A focused essay will be more engaging and easier for the reader to follow. Avoid jumping between multiple unrelated topics; instead, choose one specific aspect or experience to focus on and build your narrative around it.

6. Begin with a strong hook: A unique or impactful opening sentence will grab the reader's attention and set the tone for the rest of the essay. Think about starting with a quote, a question, or a vivid description that ties into your overall story.

7. Revise and proofread: To make your essay as polished as possible, take time to revise and proofread. This means not only checking for grammar and spelling errors but also looking at the structure, organization, and overall coherence of your essay. It's helpful to have someone else read your essay as well for a fresh perspective.

8. Don't be afraid to take risks: A memorable and engaging essay sometimes requires stepping outside of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to explore unconventional topics or use a unique narrative style, as long as it stays true to who you are and ties back to the overall theme of your application.

Remember, the essay is just one part of your application, but it's an important opportunity to showcase your personality, experiences, and goals. Good luck, and have fun with your writing process!

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