I was admitted into both Amherst and Williams College this year, and I am super grateful to be in this situation. My initial top choice was Amherst College. However, I slightly liked Williams Previews more than Amherst’s overnight program and ultimately decided to commit to Williams College based on my gut feeling. However, I am facing buyer’s remorse and still can’t get over the fact that I turned down the opportunity to attend Amherst College. How do I look forward and stop thinking about Amherst? The location of Williams College still bothers me, although I didn’t notice its remoteness when I was there. What I particularly like about Amherst is not only the vast population of college students, but its sanctuary (meaning I can explore nature if I wanted to). However, Williams College is surrounded by nature, and it would be awesome if I could spend my four years away from the fast-paced, busy environment of an urban city. I also never felt more at peace when I was at Williams in my whole life. However, I am afraid that I may regret my decision later on. I would love to get some insight on this topic, especially those who attends/attended Williams College or Amherst College. I would love to hear from others who were accepted into both these schools and decided to pick one over the other. Any insight is helpful.
Hey, @duhherro, I’m sorry you’re feeling this way! Personally, I’d rather see you take action than deal with buyers’ remorse. If you truly feel you made the wrong decision for yourself based on substantive – rather than psychological – aspects, you might want to consider a Monday morning call to Amherst College.
You were admitted to two extraordinary schools. Either one would be amazing, and I imagine you would experience some FOMO either way. That’s the downside of having choices. You clearly had a very positive and visceral response to the natural beauty around Williams. Trust those gut feelings!
You said no to one school and yes to the other. The deadlines have passed. You can call but I would say trust your initial instincts. Like changing the answers on a test. Usually a bad idea.
I expect you’d feel some buyer’s remorse if you’d chosen Amherst instead. Two great schools. You are overthinking now. Just get ready to go to Williams and have a great four years. There is NOTHING you could accomplish at Amherst that can’t be done at Williams.
Lol. Good point. Realistically try to change them back after the test is already graded. Give them a call. But I wouldn’t expect much. They’ve probably already gone to the waiting list. They are not going to unenroll anyone for the op. This is silliness.
Op. You’re going to Williams. Put on the sweatshirt tomorrow and rock it.
So lucky. But the quest is over. And the adulation you obviously felt as the results rolled in is now reality. It’s ok to miss the chase. But it’s over. Move forward.
intparent and Lynnski: You definitely are right about experiencing FOMO either way. I did an activity where I imagined myself at either college for about 10 minutes, and the feeling of missing out of the opportunities at the other school came up for both.
privatebanker: Maybe you are right. I made my guess on the test by thinking that Amherst was my top choice before I checked or visited both colleges. After visiting, I ultimately decided that Williams would be the better option for me. It is just hard for me to move forward because I keep on thinking about the other school. This feeling, I know, I will get regardless of the path I decide to take. I just don’t know how to just move forward.
Enjoy the peace for two years. In your second year, apply and prepare for a junior year abroad (or intercollegiate exchange) in a really exciting city. Enjoy the energy of the city. Happy but exhausted come back for your forth year and enjoy the peace immersing yourself in a research project and tutorials while applying for jobs or grad school, which are likely to be, again, in an exciting but exhausting city.
Buyers remorse is normal, and will come back on bad days, and will go away again It will be okay.
“After visiting, I ultimately decided that Williams would be the better option for me.”
Williams is a superb LAC. I have a daughter attending a relatively small school, and I have become a very large fan of what the US calls liberal arts colleges (she is at a small school in Canada where they don’t use the “LAC” term, but otherwise there seems to be quite a bit of similarity).
Between these two schools there is no bad choice. There is no “meh” choice. There is no “only just good” choice. Both are superb. You cannot attend both, and the one that you chose is really a great choice.
OP, @intparent is right. It’s typical buyer’s remorse.
Williams is not all that remote, and is within a relatively short distance from a number of colleges and universities. At Williams you are only an hour drive away from Troy, were RPI is, and Albany, which has a SUNY and a couple more colleges. To the North, there is Bennington College less than half an hour away. So there are also many college students in fairly close proximity, as well as decent sized urban area an hour away.
You wrote that “I also never felt more at peace when I was at Williams in my whole life.” Just that sentence would be enough to tell me that Williams is, indeed, the place for you. The fact that a place make you feel at peace is not something that happens often, and not something that will disappear when you start attending. Peace plus intellectual challenge sound like the ultimate dream college experience.
I seriously cannot imagine that you would not have an absolutely amazing time at Williams.
@Tigerle@MWolf@DadTwoGirls Wow, you all gave me fantastic advice and input. Thanks so much for it, that was really helpful and much needed. I live in the Bay Area in California, and everything is so fast-paced with events happening non-stop. It is fun, but it is very exhausting and stressful. When I was at Williams, I experienced an unusual, but nice change in pace. Everything was much more laid back and slower. I think the reason why I wanted a suburban or urban environment in a college is mainly because it is what I am used to. I grew up in an environment that doesn’t allow for much self-reflection or personal growth. You guys made me realize that the rural aspect and remoteness is actually a major plus. I think your responses combined made me realize that I indeed did make the right decision. Although I will never know what it’s like to attend Amherst College, Williams College will be a unique and fantastic experience itself.
MWolf: Thanks so much again for your input. You are right. I am realizing now that peace is not something I am used to growing up in the Bay Area. It would be so so so so nice to be in a place that not only allows for intellectual curiosity, but personal growth.
TigerLe: Now realizing that all I really needed was for someone to say that it will all be okay, thanks so much man.
DadTwoGirls: Thanks for your reassurance. You are definitely right of the fact that I can’t really go wrong. It’s like I’m picking the same side of the coin.
Much love to you guys and gals, I am more happy and satisfied with my decision
@duhherro Like you, my son had only ever lived in big cities so we were surprised that he was drawn to Williams and other insular rural colleges. Williams wasn’t even on his list. We just decided to drive over the mountain because the weekend we had chosen to get to know Amherst turned out to be, of all things, the town of Amherst’s teddy bear festival!
Williams spoke to him from the minute he set foot on campus — in the midst of a terrific thunderstorm— and even though he now lives in another big city, the time he spent in the purple valley will remain an important part of his life. The mountains, the peace and calm, the starflung nights and snowy white mornings are an integral part of the culture. You’ll have a wonderful experience!
If you choose Williams you will get to campus, settle in, take advantage of its incredible offerings and never give Amherst a second thought. If you choose Amherst, you will get to campus, settle in, take advantage of its incredible offerings and never give Williams a second thought. There is no bad decision here. Both are amazing places.
FWIW, last year my son(also from big metro area) made the same decision between Amherst and Williams (and was slightly concerned about the remoteness of Williamstown) . He selected Williams and has never looked back. I even asked him that very question near the end of fall term and he is so happy he selected Williams. You are going to have a great time!
Several years ago, I toured the two colleges on the same day with my son, Williams in the morning, and Amherst in the afternoon. If it were me, I’d chosen Williams.
I had relatives who worked at Williams, & visited there many times over the past 55 yrs. It’s always beautiful & lively. Not “big” cities, but if you go a few miles east from Williamstown, you’re in North Adams; a few miles north, Bennington; to the west is Albany; to the south is Pittsfield. These should provide at least a change of scenery if you start to feel trapped in Williamstown.
I’m not certain, but knowing how territorial people & colleges can get, I’d be surprised if the interaction of Amherst students with UMass & Hampshire students is significant.
Just to add on here… My daughter is finishing up her sophomore year at Williams and loves it. Sometimes she complains about the workload, but I hardly think that would be any different at Amherst. She has often said there is so much to do on campus that the only problem is that there aren’t enough hours in the day. Never once have I heard her say that it feels too remote or isolated. Congratulations on your acceptances and decision!
