The Williams Private School

• Location: New London, Connecticut,
• Age of students: from 10 to 16 years old,
• Type of education: mixed,
• Language of instruction: English.

The Williams School is a prestigious educational institution that offers full-time preparation for international students in grades 6-12 for college.

The Williams School is located on the campus of Connecticut College. The school was originally located at 110 Broad Street, New London, but moved when it merged with Connecticut College in 1954. Despite the merger, it remains legally a separate organization. The original building became the Connecticut Courthouse in 1972 and was purchased by the state in 1997.

Williams School offers students the best conditions to prepare for college on the Connecticut coast. Williams students are successfully integrated into a harmonious and inclusive community, where they receive quality guidance from teachers and older students. Junior high school students prepare smoothly and efficiently for the transition to high school, giving them a competitive edge in college preparation and successful careers.

Williams combines a classical liberal arts education with cutting-edge programming to prepare students for a happy and fulfilling life in college or university. Experienced teachers stimulate the development of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and creative imagination. The choice of courses is based on students' individual interests and abilities, and the flexibility of individual schedules helps them follow their passions and achieve their goals.

There is an opportunity to obtain an interdisciplinary certificate or continue your studies at Connecticut College, starting in the first year of the accelerated program, it is possible to join the New London Scholars program as a graduate or participant in a special department.

At Williams, all members of the community work together to maintain an open atmosphere of mutual respect, creating a supportive learning environment that motivates students to take meaningful risks appropriate to their development to achieve their own academic, artistic and sporting goals.

The educational process of The Williams School is conducted in the following departments:

• Art;
• English;
• History;
• Foreign languages;
• Mathematics;
• Science.

The Williams School assists international students in finding comfortable and safe off-campus housing. The guesthouses that are offered for accommodation are located in safe areas and provide the necessary comfort and convenience for the children.

In addition to finding housing, The Williams School also assists foreign students in adapting to new living and off-campus living conditions. Students can ask for help from staff who are willing to provide information about local services, public transportation, and other important aspects.

One of the benefits of placing students in off-campus boarding is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and society, interact with locals, and broaden your horizons. This practice contributes not only to language learning and intercultural understanding, but also to personal development and adaptation to a variety of circumstances.

Through the arts education programme, Williams students can develop the self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation and self-motivation that are essential to everyday life. Thanks to this opportunity, foreign students with different skills and levels of ability can implement their ideas, become active listeners and observers, develop critical thinking and innovative methods of solving problems, learn to find information that enriches their lives. This set of skills and experience helps them identify life challenges and achieve personal goals.

At The Williams School, sports are an integral part of the educational process and are actively promoted among students. The school provides a wide range of sports - among the most popular sports disciplines are football, lacrosse, tennis, basketball, swimming, cross-country and sailing.

The Williams School offers a variety of circles of interest and organizations for students to reach their potential, enjoy participating in a variety of activities, and make friends with like-minded people.

List of the most popular clubs are represented by:

• Chess;
• Badminton;
• Board games;
• "Dungeons and Dragons";
• Yoga Club;
• Classics Club (Greek and Latin, Ancient World);
• Harvard Model Congress;
• Legenda Annual Magazine;
• "Ni Hao" is a club of Chinese language and culture;
• Opus Club (founded in 2020, during the pandemic);
• PSA (Political and Social Awareness Club);
• Stock market and securities.

The school is located on a spacious 750-acre property at the southern end of Connecticut College, near the Palmer Auditorium. The architects responsible for the design are Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, who designed the buildings for Connecticut College. On November 24, 1964, the building was expanded to accommodate more students.

The Williams School has modern facilities, classrooms and laboratories are spacious, equipped with the latest technologies that meet modern requirements. Foreign students get access to libraries, laboratories, a tropical garden and sports facilities. Next to the school campus is the Williams Sports Complex, which covers an area of over 170 acres. Here everyone can find something to do according to their strength and physical condition: modern simulators, which include both multifunctional power stations and cardio equipment, you can work out on treadmills, elliptical trainers, Concept 2 rowing machines, exercise bikes. Basketball classes are held in the Leonard H. Bulkeley Hall, and in the training room. After graduation, students can use the Dayharsh Fitness Center to develop healthy habits and keep themselves in good physical shape.

A year of study at The Williams School is divided into two semesters of about 15 weeks each. The fall semester begins in August and lasts until December, while the spring semester runs from January to May.

Some services are paid additionally to tuition fee, such as:

• Entry fee;
• Registration fee;
• Visa (F-1)'
• Flight tickets and transfer spendings;
• Accommodation;
• Life insurance;
• Nutrition;
• Educational materials;
• School and sports uniforms;
• Accelerated Learning Program (optional);
• Activities and excursions;
• Personal expenses.

An international student needs to take the following steps to successfully enter The Williams School:

1. Fill out an application for admission and pay the application fee;
2. Submit official transcripts with your application;
3. Get recommendation letters from teachers in English and mathematics from the current school;
4. Prove your level of English with documents (the school accepts TOEFL test results);
5. Sign up for a campus tour and an interview;
6. Provide a copy of an identity document (passport);
7. Document your solvency (bank statement, sponsorship letter).

Every year, about 180 children aged from 10 to 16 years old join educational programs at The Williams School.

One of the main advantages of graduating from The Williams School is the presence of a strong academic foundation: international students gain fundamental knowledge in various subject areas, which allows them to continue their studies at the world's leading universities or start their own projects.

During their education, students develop creative thinking and the ability to solve problems independently, thanks to which they can contribute to science and art in the future, create innovative projects and be in demand as specialists in any field.

Throughout their studies, from admission to graduation, Williams' counselling team works closely with both foreign students and their parents. A team of experienced specialists provides all possible assistance to students in choosing the best path in education, in determining their future profession and in applying to a college or university.

Williams alumni can be found in educational institutions such as:

• Boston College;
• Connecticut College;
• New York University;
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
• University of Chicago;
• University of Pennsylvania;
• Yale University.

Language requirements: TOEFL — from 80 points.

List of the required documents includes:

• Filled online application form;
• Translations of the documents;
• Recommendations letters from mathematics and English teachers.

Each candidate will have to be interviewed by self or via Skype.

The Williams School has a program to help foreign students and their families whose financial income will not be able to fully cover their school education.

SCC Merit Award Grants are given to new students who have demonstrated a high level of achievement in the core values of Williams – Scholarship, Character and Community – even before they enter the school, and are willing to make a pledge to continue their successful studies at Williams. Applications for SCC Merit Award Grants are not submitted by the students themselves. The Williams Student Grant Admissions Committee and other committees determine recipients after a comprehensive review of each candidate.

Merit Grants (in the form of a scholarship) are available to qualified students at the time of admission – provided the recipient continues to demonstrate a high level of achievement in Williams' core values during their studies. SCC Merit Award Grants will be awarded each year when a student re-enrolls at Williams.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision