<p>I am so indecisive! I managed to narrow my list down to Dartmouth, Carleton, and Williams, but I like each of them for different reasons and am having trouble determining what I really want. I plan to major in art, art history, history, or anthropology. I know Williams is the best among these three schools in art and art history, but I prefer Carleton's and Dartmouth's atmospheres and locations to those of Williams. If I were to "go with my gut instinct" and choose the school I am most comfortable with, I would choose Carleton. But the art department at Carleton isn't fantastic, and I worry that I wouldn't get enough training there. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.</p>
<p>I think Carleton's art department is fine. I don't know what training it is you don't think you'd be getting.</p>
<p>Carleton has recently started upon a major undertaking to vastly improve their fine arts. Art museum, new buildings, etc.</p>
<p>Right, I had completely forgotten about the middle school they bought and are turning into some kind of art center.</p>
<p>If art is your serious passion, you should go to Williams. It has arguably the best art/art history program and faculty in the country, and I am including HYPS in this discussion. The list of Williams alums curating at major museums, from MOMA to the Guggenheim to the National Gallery, may open doors for you. Three major museums--the WCMA, the Clark Art Institute, and MassMOCA--are a short walk or bikeride from your dorm. All are accessible behind the scenes to Williams students. </p>
<p>While there are certainly differences in atmosphere between C, D and W, I wonder how appreciably different they are. (None approaches the stark contrast of going to school in Cambridge, NYC, or Philadelphia, for example.)
The ruralness of small LAC towns like Williamstown or Hanover (have not visited Carleton) is over-hyped as a concern, IMO. Unless you are a bonafide citycrawler, the benefits of a tight-knit college community tend to outweigh the perceived cost (loss of certain urban options). For example, in Williamstown, if you get stir-crazy, you visit NYC or Boston for a weekend. Otherwise, you are too busy to notice; there are plenty of on-campus parties, lectures, concerts and other events to attend, and before you know it exams are upon you, the semester or year ends, and you go home.</p>