<p>I applied to both schools, but the college counselor at our school wants us to rank our choices. So, for those of you that attend one or the other, or those that prefer one over the other, what's the difference? Which programs are better at each school, respectively? Which has better food, residence halls, social life, etc? Please help!</p>
<p>i dont really know anything about either school.. but i think williams is more isolated?</p>
<p>Williams has more of a "smart jock" reputation in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>Yeah, Amherst is THE student-athlete college.</p>
<p>I think of Williams as THE student-athlete college!</p>
<p>i would say williams is SLIGHTLY preppier/more conservative and amherst might be SLIGHTLY artsier/more liberal?
williams is much more isolated.
williams in general has the edge in sports teams, and i found more of an elitist attitude (mind you, i really liked each school)</p>
<p>you would have to visit each to get a sense of the 'feel.'</p>
<p>either way, you would receive an education on par with any school in the country.</p>
<p>It depends on what you want to study. If you are look at art/art history then hands down it is Williams as they are famous for their Art Mafia.</p>
<p>There are a lot of similiarities between both schools, and it is not suprising to find students that apply to to both or end up chosing between both come april.</p>
<p>Amherst has the 5 college consortium with umass, smith, mtholyoke and hampshire.</p>
<p>WIlliams has an exchange program with Oxford, Williams participates listed below:
Williams-Mystic Seaport Program (Semester) in American Maritime Studies
Williams in New York
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole (Semester)
Howard University, R.P.I., Cal-Tech, or Pomona College </p>
<p>Both are part of the 12 college exchange program: Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, Wesleyan,Wheaton, National Theatre Institute </p>
<p>Either school will provide you with a great education.</p>
<p>they are both purple!</p>
<p>Some good, solid op-ed in this thread from last fall.</p>
<p>Williamstown, MA is much more geographically isolated than Amherst, MA. There are 4 other colleges virtually surrounding Amherst and a huge student-age population to support student related activities. Williams is in the extreme northwester corner of Massachusetts, a long way from Boston or New York. Having a car is a more valuable commodity at Williams. Williams has incredible hiking, skiing, mountainering opportunities practically on campus. Mt Greylock, the highest point in MA, rises out of the back of the Williams campus.</p>
<p>Amherst is also part of the 5 College Consortium, so you have the ability to take classes at UMass, Mt. Holyoke, Smith, and Hampshire. Opens up more possibilities, both academically and socially.</p>
<p>wow! thanks everyone. it is all very helpful, especially that link to that other thread. i guess now i just have to decide what it is that i want!</p>
<p>I really think the two schools are a lot alike. I visited both and decided I liked Amherst more but I think that is just based on personal choice. I would suggest visiting and deciding which school feels better to you.</p>