Visit to Williams College leaves a great impression

Editor’s note: On Oct. 25, several HVCC students visited Williams College in Williamstown, MA to explore transfer opportunities. The trip was coordinated by Lamyaa Hassib, director of the HVCC Honors College.

Left to right: Elyxis Moton, a Veteran attending HVCC; Lamyaa Hassib, director of the Honors College, and Layan Radi and Dane Wiedman visited Williams College to explore transfer opportunities.

Nestled in the Berkshires of northwestern Massachusetts, Williams College is a small-town college with a large, supportive community. The visit to Williams started with a comprehensive campus tour, highlighting the inclusivity of the campus and the richness of academic programs.

Students at Williams pursue studies in the three academic divisions, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Math & Science, giving them a more wholistic academic experience. Transfer students have the opportunity to transfer many college credits, but are also given the option to relinquish credits and immerse themselves in a variety of interdisciplinary courses. Williams College is the first school in the country to offer “all-grant” financial aid, with no loans or required earnings contributions. The application is free to all transfer and veteran students.

One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to engage in conversation with faculty, administrators and students during the lunch hour and during a panel discussion. This gave unique insight on how engaging the community is and how intentional the college is to make everyone feel welcome. Having coffee with alumni right down the street, going to a professor’s house for dinner with their family, or having lunch with other students and the college president is the norm. A robust network of support exists to help students adjust to campus life, manage their mental health and explore diverse extracurricular opportunities. As Dean Tamanika Steward, director of Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Services, said, “We have resources to help you find resources,” affirming the many layers of support available at Williams College.

For more information about the Williams College transfer admission process, please visit the Transfer Student FAQ page, send an email to Dean Mendes, associate director of Admission, or book an appointment.

Williams College Chapin Hall
Williams College Zilkha Center
Williams College Library