Frequently Asked Questions
Who should apply?
Williston is looking for academically motivated students who are interested in being challenged by a variety of academic, athletic and extracurricular opportunities.
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Where do Williston students go to college?
Diverse in talents and interests, Williston graduates are regularly accepted at many top colleges and universities, both in the United States and abroad, including many of Barron's Most Competitive American Colleges. Recent graduates have matriculated at the following colleges and universities: Amherst College, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Haverford College, Bowdoin College, Johns Hopkins University, Middlebury College, Stanford University, and West Point Military Academy, among others.
Read the full list of recent college acceptances.
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What happens on the weekends?
Williston's ideal location in the Pioneer Valley provides students with a wide range of activities on weekends. On campus, you may go to a school dance or gather with friends for a pizza party in a dorm. Off campus, you might attend a concert or go whitewater rafting, go out to dinner and a movie or take a trip to a local mall - there's always something to do.
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How often can I go home for the weekend?
While Williston does not limit the number of weekends that a student may leave campus, we try to encourage our students to participate in the wide variety of on-campus and off-campus activities that are sponsored each weekend by the Student Activities Committee. Each semester there are several "closed" weekends when students are not allowed to sign out for the weekend (usually the first and last weekend of each semester and the weekend following a long weekend).
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Are sports required?
Each student is expected to participate in some type of afternoon activity. The vast majority of our students opt to take part in some level of interscholastic sport. As a result, Williston offers over 31 different sports teams, with several different levels of experience. Williston encourages students to try new sports and activities. However, if a student is not an enthusiastic athlete, there are sports alternatives available such as Modern Dance, Aerobics, Fitness Training, Judo, Self-Defense for Women, Horseback Riding, as well as Community Service, Theater Tech, Music and Art.
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What are the vacation periods like?
The school is officially closed for Thanksgiving, winter vacation, spring vacation and summer vacation. During those breaks, students must leave campus. Winter break and spring break are each approximately two weeks long. Summer break is about three months and Thanksgiving is the shortest break at only only 8 days. There are also three long weekends per year. The school remains open during those breaks, however, and there are various activities provided for students who choose not to leave campus.
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How do I schedule a campus visit?
The Admission Office at The Williston Northampton School is open Monday through Friday and on class Saturdays. Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call the office at (413) 529-3241 to schedule your appointment or
complete this form and we will contact you.
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How do I get to and from campus?
Bradley International Airport is located 40 minutes south of Williston in Windsor Locks, CT. For personalized service, many students use Archer Airport Limousine (archerair@verizon.com). A more economical option is the shuttle service Valley Transporter (www.vallytransporter.com). In addition, there is a bus terminal in Northampton, MA (3 miles from campus) and an Amtrak Railway station in Springfield, MA (20 minutes away).
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What is the Dress Code?
The Dress Code is best described as "neat and presentable." Students are allowed to wear collared shirts (oxfords or polos), sweaters, blouses, dresses, jeans, skirts or dress pants. Students are not allowed to wear T-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, or any clothes that are ripped, patched, or dirty. The Dress Code is in effect from the beginning of school at 8:00 a.m. until the end of the academic day.
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How much is tuition?
Tuition for the 2011-12 Academic School year is:
Upper School Boarding Student: $47,900
Upper School Day Student: $32,800
Middle School Student: $27,000
Read more about affording a Williston Education
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What are the dorms like?
Dormitories range in size from 6 to 50 students. Most students will have a roommate. Roommates are chosen for you the first year. In subsequent years, you may select your own roommate as well as the dorm in which you would like to live. Each student has telephone and Internet access directly from his or her room.
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Why Boarding School?
Think you know what boarding school is all about? The best way to find out is to visit the campus, sit in on classes, and talk to those who know the experience best: the faculty and students.
In the meantime, you might want to check out the comprehensive study conducted by The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), which provides information about the many positive, long-term, and life-changing effects of attending school in a residential setting. Click on the image to read the study.
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Do you have more questions?
Do you have a question that needs an answer? Send it to us in an email at admission@williston.com.
International students, read our answers to your frequently asked questions.
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NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
The Williston Northampton School admits students of any race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation in the administration of its to educational policies, financial aid program, scholarship programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.
The Williston Northampton School's residential and academic facilities are increasingly wheelchair accessible. We encourage individuals needing special accommodations to identify themselves during the application process and let us know the type of accommodation they require.