<p>I have been lucky to receive early admission at both Amherst and Williams.
I know the schools are almost identical and it is very difficult to make a choice. I thought the rate of acceptance in top grad schools (law and business) could be a good way to do that. Where can I find this info ?</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal ranked schools by admittance into “top” grad schools. It’s a little subjective but the pdf should be here:
<a href=“Redirect Notice”>Redirect Notice;
<p>Hadn’t seen that list before. Thanks.</p>
<p>The schools are not almost identical. There are several key differentials which should allow you to make a choice. If I were in your position, I’d feel more comfortable with Amherst and the flexibility it affords to you if your objectives change in the middle of your education but the choice is ultimately yours.</p>
<p>If you know anything at all about the two schools, you’ll realize that they are not identical in any way, shape, or form.</p>
<p>It’s like asserting that Harvard and Yale are identical because they’re commonly recognized as the two premiere universities–except the differences between Amherst and Williams are far more pronounced.</p>
<p>You might check out Amherst’s Career Center website. I don’t see anything about acceptance rate to graduate school, but here’s the link to their page abour grad schools. There is some good information if you click through the links about the types of schools/programs Amherst alumni attend. </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/students/gradstudy[/url]”>https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/students/gradstudy</a></p>
<p>While the previous posters have correctly noted that Amherst and Williams are distinct institutions (and if you’re interested in exploring more of the differences between the two schools, you should definitely check out some of the other threads), it is true that they are rather similar schools when considered in relation to institutions higher education as a whole.</p>
<p>Um, yeah. Amherst and Williams are certainly not identical in every respect (and all of the differences obviously favor Amherst :p), but I can’t think of a pair of schools that are more similar.</p>
<p>kwu, Amherst and Williams are very, very similar in most ways, shapes and forms.
You have succumbed to what some social scientists call “the narcissism of minor differences.”
Yes, yes, I understand the differences you may be thinking of - Williams is jockier, preppier, whiter, more physically isolated, lower ratio of hipsters and poor kids, etc.
To those who are immersed in the world of elite liberal arts colleges - and already are inclined to accept that model as the baseline, then yes, I suppose there are differences.
But try to look at it from a more global perspective - as compared to the universe of colleges and universities, they are strikingly similar, as are most other elite, northeastern liberal arts colleges. Same size student body, more or less; same large percentage (35-40%) varsity athletes, same draw of students primarily from the northeast (with NY and Boston metro predominating, with a large California contingent), same percentage of full-pay students, same initmate classroom settings, a very large overlap in the applicant pool, feeders to many of the same grad schools and jobs, and on and on. Not to mention the same dean of admissions (not at the same time, of course)
I understand that some people will be attracted to one and not the other for a number of reasons, but really, in the scope of all things college, these two schools are peas in a pod.</p>
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<p>That wasn’t what I was thinking at all, but I will refute your claims nonetheless.</p>
<p>Amherst, Williams, and Wesleyan have agreed to limit the number of recruited athletes in each entering class to 66. Thus, recruited athletes make up a greater proportion of Amherst’s class (66/465, 14.2 percent) compared to what they make up of Williams’ class (66/550, 12.0 percent).</p>
<p>One cannot say that either school is “preppier” than the other, but both welcome large numbers of prep school brats every year.</p>
<p>Non-white students made up 40 percent of Amherst’s most recent class, and 33 percent of Williams’ most recent class–but, we all know that it’s not the color of one’s skin that matters but the perspectives that one brings to the table.</p>
<p>18 percent of Amherst students receive Pell Grants compared to 15 percent of Williams students. But, again, it’s not one’s modest means that matters, but what one can contribute to the community and the classroom.</p>
<p>Fine, fine.</p>
<p>But, location and student body/campus size are factors which must be taken into consideration. Williams is completely and utterly isolated, at the bottom of a precipitous valley on all sides. Amherst is located in a medium-sized town full of its own residents, young and old, and students from all Five Colleges. There are four other colleges within reach, and entire malls, restaurants, and shops within reach. Williamstown is one street. There are ~2125 students on the the enormous and expansive Williams campus, and ~1750 students on the tiny, close Amherst campus. ~400 additional students is significant, offers a completely academic and social experience.</p>
<p>This is not about “the narcissism of minor differences”–I could also conjure up esoteric mumbo-jumbo to feign learnedness–this is about potentially ruining one’s life or finding one’s paradise.</p>
<p>The bottom line is, and I should have made my point clear in the first place, that it’s damned stupid to choose a school solely on one truly negligible factor when it could mean spell disaster.</p>
<p>Perhaps under the blurred lens of graduate school admission committees, Harvard and Yale are one and the same, Amherst and Williams are one and the same, but we are talking about the lives of real human beings here.</p>
<p>I would add: Amherst’s notable strength is in the social sciences. Williams’ strength is in the sciences/math and the arts.</p>
<p>The difference is not extreme, but it is present.</p>
<p>Williams is also not as isolated as described. North Adams, a larger town than Amherst, is ten minutes away. It is much more isolated in feel.</p>
<p>The grad school acceptance rates are a wash: Williams, 5th, Amherst, 9th, not an appreciable difference IMO.</p>
<p>Look at pictures on the website if you can’t visit and compare course offerings in your desired department; look at number of faculty.</p>
<p>I’m sure the tone of the descriptions varies; see which piques your interest more. Number of faculty may not be significant large departments like economics or English but may be critical in small departments like Music or Classics.</p>