Hello Adaanists,

So, you’re looking at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and thinking: “Okay, small liberal arts school, great campus, tight community - but what about the price tag?” Fair. HWS isn’t cheap. The total cost of attendance is well over $80,000 a year.

But here’s the thing: you can get a full-tuition scholarship - and no, you don’t have to win a Nobel Prize to do it.

We know because someone from the Adaanist Team actually did it. And he is going to walk you through exactly how.

HWS isn’t about perfect scores and flawless résumés. They’re looking for smart, curious, driven students who show up - in the classroom, in their communities, and in how they talk about themselves.

To land the biggest merit awards (including full tuition), here’s what you need:

You don’t need a perfect GPA, but you do need to be a strong, motivated student who took the most challenging courses available to you.

Here’s the GPA breakdown for all enrolled students:

If you’re sitting at 3.75 or above, you’re solidly in the running. Even a 3.5+ GPA is competitive, especially if you pair it with rigorous courses - AP, IB, Honors, or dual enrollment.

HWS is test-optional, but submitting high scores can seriously help - especially when you're aiming for big merit aid.

Here are the most recent test score ranges for admitted students:

If you’ve scored above 1390 on the SAT or 33+ on the ACT, you’re in an excellent spot for full-tuition scholarship consideration.

Let’s be clear: test scores won’t get you the scholarship alone, but combined with strong academics, leadership, and essays, they push you into top-tier territory.

This part matters more than people think. HWS wants students who go deep, not wide.

They’re looking for:

Whatever you do - own it and make it count.

This is where you separate yourself from other applicants.

Your essays should:

Your Common App and HWS supplement are your chance to stand out - take the time to get them right.

I applied Early Action (EA) and highly recommend it. It let me show strong interest without locking me into a binding commitment - and may have helped with scholarship consideration.

But if you know HWS is your top choice? Go Early Decision (ED). Whether ED I or ED II, here’s what you get:

If you’re sure, hit the ED button. Just be ready to commit.

According to HWS’s own Common Data Set, these are the most important admissions factors:

They’re looking for students who challenge themselves, write well, lead intentionally, and bring strong personal qualities to campus.

Here’s some inside knowledge I picked up during the process:

👉 If you're a woman applying to Computer Science, you could stand out. As far as I heard, HWS had no women majoring in CS until 2023. So if you apply as a woman in a male-dominated field, especially something like CS or Physics, you could help HWS build a more balanced, diverse class - and they care about that.

👉 HWS also has a comparatively new Robotics major - and very few people know about it. If that’s your thing, this is a great opportunity to stand out. Apply to something unique and actually be excited about it - that kind of authenticity shows up in your application.

👉 Now about the interview: technically, it’s listed as only “considered” in the 2024-2025 Common Data Set. But from my experience, it made a huge difference.

I was frank, honest, and enthusiastic in my interview - and it paid off. My interviewer ended up personally advocating for me and highlighting my strengths to the admissions office. So yeah, don’t underestimate the interview. Treat it like a real opportunity to show who you are.

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