In keeping with the mission of our school, the goal of college counseling is to find the right match for each student—one that will continue to foster students’ intellectual and moral development in preparation for college, a lifetime of learning and active participation in a changing society. The college counselors offer students and families personal and professional guidance throughout the college search and selection process.

While all upper school students meet regularly with their advisors to map out a personalized course selection of appropriate rigor, formal college counseling begins midway through the junior year with a College Information Night. From this point forward, our relationship-based program involves regular individualized meetings with students, during which the student and counselor work together to craft a list specifically targeted for each student based on his or her specific academic performance, goals, interests and talents. Visits from college admissions representatives each fall are opportunities to gather specific information about colleges as well as to demonstrate students’ interest in a school.

Our expectation in approaching the college admissions process is that families remain open minded about exploring a range of colleges as we work together to find the right “match” for each of our students. Our goal of helping to empower students during this process necessitates that students advocate for themselves; this involves taking initiative and ownership by following a timeline and meeting deadlines. The College Counseling Office provides timely information, advising and support to each student in order to complete all phases of the college process successfully.

Williams’ counselors are in regular and direct contact with college admissions officers so that they may best advocate for our students during this most competitive college admissions landscape. Typically, one hundred percent of our graduates attend four-year colleges and universities including Ivy League institutions, selective liberal arts colleges, large research universities and the United States service academies.