How to Approach the Williams Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
Williams College has ranked first on US News’ Best Liberal Arts Colleges list for 17 years in a row. Once you’ve worked up the courage to apply to such an excellent school,it’s time to put your best foot forward and tell the admissions officers more about yourself through the Williams supplemental essays 2020-2021.
You might be used to writing two or three essays for each of the colleges on your list, but for Williams, you get just one. You get just one shot to distinguish yourself from your peers. Here’s the good news – you get to pick from three different prompts in order to write a response that brings out the most powerful essay possible. To help guide you through these questions, I’ve outlined them, the dos and don’ts for your responses, and additional tips to ensure you take full advantage of the Williams supplemental essays 2020-2021.
Prompts for the Williams Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
This is an opportunity for you to present another writing sample. It’s entirely optional, and you can either respond to one of the prompts below in an essay of no more than 300 words, or you can upload an academic paper (preferably in the humanities or social sciences) completed in the last academic year.
Prompt 1
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.
Since the prompt clearly states that there are no specific boxes which your choice of community has to check, think about a place where you’ve actually made an impact and vice versa. Think about how to differentiate yourself – while your debate or MUN club may have been a key part of your high school career, they won’t paint a memorable picture of you because many students participate in them. You could write about the smaller circles such as your family, friend group, or neighborhood. Williams wants to know what’s important to you — be as authentic as possible.
To think about the kinds of community to elaborate on, ask yourself the following questions:
- Where do you spend the most time outside the classroom?
- Which aspects of your life have particularly shaped your identity?
- If you could only pursue one of the extracurriculars on your activities list which would it be?
- Which of your communities could you passionately talk about for a long time?
- Is there something you can participate in without ever feeling bored?
- Why do you care about this community? How have you shown it?
- Have you spearheaded any initiatives?
Consider if there is a community or group which has played a strong role in solidifying who you are. If the answer is yes, there’s your clue. Start your essay by introducing the chosen world – keep it brief as you have another segment to cover. If you choose a larger community – like your whole school or city – make sure your essay still focuses on why it’s valuable to you. A response to such a prompt needs to follow the classic “show, not tell” advice. Admissions officers won’t be satisfied with just “I value my family.” You need to dig deeper and convince them through the Williams supplemental essays 2020-2021 that you are the kind of hardworking and passionate individual who can bring a unique point of view to campus.
