Torbay student accepted to top U.S. liberal arts college

EF Academy congratulates Eduardo Oliva Blanco, an IB Diploma student at EF Academy Torbay, on his acceptance to Williams College – currently the #1 liberal arts college in the U.S. for 2017!

“We are thrilled that Eduardo has been accepted to Williams – ranked the #1 Liberal Arts College in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges. Williams is a fantastic ‘fit’ for Eduardo, who has a keen interest in environmental and ecological issues. We could not be more excited for or proud of him,” said Katherine Lloyd Clark, UK Director of University Guidance at EF Academy Torbay.

Eduardo, originally from Venezuela, is one of only 12 international (non-U.S.) students who were accepted to Williams. A total of 728 students submitted Early Decision applications, of which 257 were offered admission. The other countries represented are Bangladesh, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Of the students who were admitted who reported class rank, 83 percent were among the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

In a press release published by Williams on Dec. 12, the Director of Admissions, Richard Nesbitt, said, “Students are drawn to Williams primarily for its fine academic reputation and the opportunity to engage in small classes, Oxford-style tutorials, and extensive undergraduate research opportunities. Equally attractive, however, are the exceptional co-curricular offerings on the stage, the playing fields, and the community at large.”

Williams College, founded in 1793, is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts and has 2,000 students.

We are proud of Eduardo’s amazing accomplishment and wish him the best of luck for his final terms at EF Academy, and beyond.

What is “Early Decision?”

“Eduardo received his offer through the highly competitive Early Decision process. Early Decision means that applicants submit before the main application round and are guaranteed a response in December. This year, Williams experienced a 25% increase in Early Decision applications. Only 257 places were awarded and only 12 of these went to international students,” Ms. Lloyd Clark explained.

Applying to a university or college with an Early Decision (ED) application means that you commit to one school and you submit your application in early November (deadline depends on school) instead of January. By submitting an ED application, you agree to attend the school if you are accepted. You also agree to withdraw any pending applications you have open when you are accepted.

If you are not accepted, you will be either rejected or deferred. Rejected applicants will have to wait until the following year to apply again, while deferred applicants will be reconsidered during the regular admission period and they are free to apply to other schools

ED applications are appropriate for students who have researched their options extensively and are 100% sure that their selected ED school is their first choice. They should also meet or excel the admission profile for the school (exam scores, GPA) and have an academic record that is consistently solid over time.

Alternatively, students can apply to schools with Early Action (EA) applications. This action differs from ED because it is non-binding, which means that if you are accepted to the school, you are not required to attend. You are also allowed to apply to multiple schools. Deadlines usually fall around the same time as ED applications.

You can find more information about Early Decision applications on College Board or by meeting with your EF Academy university advisor.