At Williams they're likely to be doing something active: playing broomball, hiking, performing music, dancing, skiing, painting, running, acting -- and yes hanging out with friends and partying. That may not be the case at the so-called intellectual schools.
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<p>And that's exactly what I mean. I agree with you entirely. My definition of intellectual is more "sitting around and discuss Dostoyevsky" than "go hiking and discuss Dostoyevsky." But the OP may disagree.</p>
<p>Also, are there any cheap Chinese restaurants in Williamstown, or in walking distance of the college?</p>
<p>Carleton really has most of what you are looking for and is especially strong in sciences and in developing the potential of women in science. Northfield is a cute college town that is also home to St Olaf, and it's an easy drive up I-35 to the Twin Cities. Your winter trimester will have some cold days, but also days with bright blue skies and sunshine--nothing really stops because of weather in Minnesota.</p>
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Also, are there any cheap Chinese restaurants in Williamstown, or in walking distance of the college?
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No Chinese and the Asian is decidedly Berkshire-fusion. The civilian population of Western Massachusetts is not particularly ethnically diverse.
For the occasional dinner out, the kids gravitated toward the Spice Root Indian , Sushi Thai Garden, and The Water Street Grill for hamburgers. These were generally affordable, although that description may not fit all.
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definition of intellectual is more "sitting around and discuss Dostoyevsky"
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<p>Of course Williams kids sit around and discuss Dostoyevsky -- and Shroedinger -- and of course Swarthmore/Reed/Chicago kids get some exercise and talk about television shows. My comparison between my son's Williams friends and his Swarthmore friends is that the Williams kids tend to be less overtly PC (though they are still plenty liberal and socially conscious) and they tend to take a wry-er view of the world we live in. Exactly what Mythmom said: "The humor is probably the salient trait."</p>
<p>^ Williams is not for me on two counts (Chinese and humor), but the OP may fare differently. It's definitely a great school and an academic powerhouse.</p>
<p>amherst is a pretty awesome college town, since it's also home to the flagship state school. way better than williamstown. and the cool part of town is within walking distance. </p>
<p>I wouldn't go so far as to call amherst "quirky," but it's no more straight than williams is. </p>
<p>Ha, I think both Williams and Amherst students are "quirky," i.e. really weird and at times awkward, but not always "intellectual," or at least to the degree that Swatties are. They seem to love enveloping themselves in this air of intellectualism, so it's kinda stuck in everyone else's mind too.</p>
<p>Williams is less quirky and more sciencey than the others (perhaps they are negatively correlated?). It is more regarded for math/science than humanities. The same can be said for Carleton.</p>
<p>Pomona+Harvey Mudd, Amherst and Swarthmore are jacks of all trades. As strong in humanities as in math/science/engineering.</p>
<p>I don't know enough about Reed to comment, but sense it's underrated.</p>
<p>I think you're going to have to pick your poison!</p>
<p>Actually think there is a positive correlation in general. Carleton's science and math/CS majors add up to about 35% of the student body, more than any LAC outside of Mudd. Carls pretty much define quirk (with Mudders probably not far behind).</p>
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Williams is less quirky and more sciencey than the others (perhaps they are negatively correlated?). It is more regarded for math/science than humanities.
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<p>Quirky is in the head of the beholder so I'll let that go, although from personal experiece I'd rate Williams kids high on the quirk scale.</p>
<p>I would disagree, however, that Williams is less strong in humanities -- or social sciences. Williams has excellent English, History, Philosophy, Religion, Political Science. Its art and art history department is one of the best in the country, stronger than that of any of the other LACs on the OP's list.</p>
<p>I mean, the fact that Williams’s mascot is a purple cow and the fact that this mascot idea came from some random nonsense poem should shed light on the fact that Williams, indeed, is quirky. Even the acceptance folder says, “Likelihood this big purple folder means what you think it does: 100%”.</p>
<p>Also, how are Williams’s foreign language departments?</p>
<p>I heard (from an alum, IIRC) that Williams’s Romance languages are not the strongest. A cursory look at the French and Italian offerings seems to substantiate this.</p>
<p>^ Other posters will disagree, I’m sure, but I actually do like Williams a lot–at one point I was seriously considering applying, and I visited. The tutorials are awesome and envious. However, I do think there are a LOT of Williams cheerleaders on CC who neglect to mention the downsides (drinking scene, Romance languages–the latter of which came from mini, I believe, who has a more balanced opinion of Williams). But those, plus isolation (which can be a plus or minus), are really Williams’s only negatives. It’s a great school.</p>