Williams for a male/non athlete.

[Anonymous]

Wondering about Williams for a kid who isn’t an athlete, not super outdoorsy, not theater kid, or activist type.

He does debate. Hangs w friends. Big reader, academically strong.

I just worry about social groups at these small schools. Don’t want to be the only guy not on the road for a game on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Same concern here. I think the athlete/non athlete NESCAC divide is overstaded but I'd love to hear from some people with children there now.

[Anonymous]

My non athlete boy took all the SLACs off his list bcs of this concern. I worry he’s missing an opportunity, but it is what it is.

It’s funny, because he likes sports and would love a college team to root for. He felt like this SLAC combo of student athletes but no real team to cheer for was the worst combo. Hes going for schools like Duke, GU, northwestern, rice instead

[Anonymous]

I went to Williams and several of my close friends from college have kids there (lots of legacy admits). Report is that it can be hard for non-athletes/non-outdoorsy kids - social life revolves around teams pretty often. One friend has a musician kid who has been happy - but it does sound like you need to have a passion to find your social group. And for many kids, that is their sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Williams and several of my close friends from college have kids there (lots of legacy admits). Report is that it can be hard for non-athletes/non-outdoorsy kids - social life revolves around teams pretty often. One friend has a musician kid who has been happy - but it does sound like you need to have a passion to find your social group. And for many kids, that is their sport.

What if its a club team? Is that enough socially?

[Anonymous]

It’s a very intense school academically, with a a very high workload, so if he’s driven by academics it could be ok. But it doesn’t sound like a particularly obvious fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Williams and several of my close friends from college have kids there (lots of legacy admits). Report is that it can be hard for non-athletes/non-outdoorsy kids - social life revolves around teams pretty often. One friend has a musician kid who has been happy - but it does sound like you need to have a passion to find your social group. And for many kids, that is their sport.

What if its a club team? Is that enough socially?

I am the PP - yes, absolutely the club teams are a strong social network. Rugby, ultimate, crew (I think still club?) and other club sports are very popular and have similar bonds to the organized teams.

[Anonymous]

I know three kids, all girls, at Williams now, and only one was a recruit. The other two weren’t, but I’d describe both as ultra sporty even though AFAIK they aren’t playing their sports there. Could be involved in club sports I guess.

[Anonymous]

Do sports take walk ons? Specifically, if you're a male cross country runner with 5k time sub 16 and mile time of 4:30 good enough to walk on?

[Anonymous]

this is the problem with SLACs in general imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is the problem with SLACs in general imo

It really is. They are far too small to have so many teams. Particularly Williams where roughly 40 percent of all students are recruited athletes. That's a no thank you for most non-athlete boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do sports take walk ons? Specifically, if you're a male cross country runner with 5k time sub 16 and mile time of 4:30 good enough to walk on?

I might be wrong, this was nearly ten years ago, but I think the cross country had runners who were not on the official team. Know a relative who did not have the stats to make team as a frosh, but was on it by senior year. They ran every day with the team. Perhaps it has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is the problem with SLACs in general imo

It really is. They are far too small to have so many teams. Particularly Williams were roughly 40 percent of all students are recruited athletes. That's a no thank you for most non-athlete boys.

I know 1 male at Williams who plays on neither a team or a club, but is involved in jazz as well as a student organization based on identity. That may make the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is the problem with SLACs in general imo

There’s quite a range though. Williams and a few others are at the high end in terms of athletes being around 40%. A school like Carleton will be around 20%. I personally think athlete v non-athlete is less of an issue than recruited athlete vs non-athlete. It’s not easy figuring out what % are walk-ons vs recruits but all have some walk-ons, probably more than lots of people realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do sports take walk ons? Specifically, if you're a male cross country runner with 5k time sub 16 and mile time of 4:30 good enough to walk on?

I might be wrong, this was nearly ten years ago, but I think the cross country had runners who were not on the official team. Know a relative who did not have the stats to make team as a frosh, but was on it by senior year. They ran every day with the team. Perhaps it has changed.

Good to know, thank you for your response.