<p>I'm having a hard time deciding between these. I know Williams has a good Art History department, but is it the best of these? I'm also really concerned because Williams seems to be reallyyy isolated, nowhere near any big or medium sized cities, and seems to lack community or traditions. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I think you first need to decide whether you want to go to a women’s or coed school. They are all excellent schools. </p>
<p>I’m a Williams grad. It is isolated, but that was (at least for me) a great thing. There’s no lack of stuff to do. There’s lots of community and traditions, no worries there.</p>
<p>Earth, All of the schools on your list have good art history departments, but Williams’ is VERY good, with access to three world class museums on or near campus and an equally strong studio art program. Placement for jobs, internships and graduate schools is also excellent, and the alumni/ae network with museum connections is superb.</p>
<p>I see from your other posts that you still have a couple of years before you have to make a college decision. In that time perhaps you could do some visiting to see how you feel about Williams’ insular rural environment. For many it’s a plus, but if it’s not for you, there are plenty of urban and suburban schools that offer strong art history departments.</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean about Williams lacking “community and traditions.” Williams has plenty of both.</p>
<p>As econ notes you should also think about whether you want a women’s college or a coed environment. It’s okay to apply to both, but Williams seems out of place on your list.</p>
<p>Some other LACs with good art history and studio art: Wesleyan, Oberlin, Hamilton, Skidmore, Vassar, Kenyon. Many medium sized privates are also good choices: Brown, Yale, JHU, Virginia, NYU.</p>
<p>There is a term they use in NY galleries, museums and auction houses-- The “Williams Mafia.” </p>
<p>But everyone is right–coed or all women. That is your first decision. As to spirit-- They don’t call it the “Purple Bubble” for nothing.</p>
<p>@momrath: Note: Virginia is a public institution. As is William and Mary. </p>
<p>Art history is very strong at Williams, although it is the one field where one might be taught as a TA. I had a grad student as my section teacher for Art History 101 there. Of course the “main” professor (E.J. Johnson) was amazing…</p>
<p>Williams offers the best undergraduate art history program (and features the most successful alumni in that field, as noted above) of any college or university in the nation. Wellesley is also extremely strong in that area. I, like others, are perplexed by your tradition / community comment … the exact opposite is true, and very few if any colleges feature a more vibrant sense of community, or more interesting and quirky long-standing traditions (e.g. Mountain Day, Trivia, Winter Carnival, watch-dropping / ivy-planting at graduation, Green Chicken, etc.) than Williams. Read more here:</p>
<p>[Groups</a>, Symbols and Events](<a href=“http://archives.williams.edu/williamshistory/groups.php]Groups”>Groups and Events – Special Collections)
[Williams</a> firsts](<a href=“http://archives.williams.edu/williamshistory/groups/firsts.php]Williams”>http://archives.williams.edu/williamshistory/groups/firsts.php)</p>
<p>IN sum, of that group, if you want to study art history and tradition/sense of community is important to you, and all other things are equal, Williams is a pretty obvious choice.</p>
<p>BUT, I also agree with others that the more important decision is whether you want single-sex or co-ed education. If the latter, pick Williams. If the former is important to you, well, you have three great choices. Considering that all four are highly-regarded liberal arts schools, that is by far the biggest distinguishing factor between Williams and the other three. Also, in terms of personality, I know that Smith and Wellesley are very, VERY different places which attract very different types of students. Williams is kind of in the middle of those two, personality-wise. I know less about Bryn Mawr.</p>