Colby vs Macalester vs Williams

College Search & Selection
1

As the deadline to make a college decision approaches I have yet to settle for one. I have narrowed my options to the above-mentioned colleges (Yes, I have been admitted). The financial aid I will receive is very similar with a marginal difference of $3,000–so the cost of attendance is no longer a factor in my decision. Being a first generation college student and a son of Mexican immigrants living in a Hispanic dominate community (basically 90% latinos, 8% black, and 2% white), I know that I will be in for a huge culture shock at whichever college I choose to attend. I am also not exceptionally intelligent nor am I naturally adept at learning, so I am a bit worried that perhaps the New England colleges will have the stereotypical preppy, highly intelligent white kids that will undermine me (I am a bit paranoid due to prior experiences, but I’m sure this may not happen).

I will be visiting Colby and Williams soon so I hope that will help too. Unfortunately, Macalester is the only college I will not be able to visit.

I know that these colleges are very similar in many aspects so I was hoping current students or alumni can give a take on their personal experiences!

2

I seriously would consider Macalester. For a LAC, it is very diverse, both socioeconomically and racially/ethnically. The school’s ethos is built on global citizenship and inclusion. In addition to having a relatively high % of non-white domestic students, it also has a sizable international student population. Compared to small town New England, the Twin Cities are also relatively more diverse with the largest Native American population of any major metropolitan area in the US. When we toured there, one of our student guides was a first generation Latino college student from the south side of Chicago. Another was from Vietnam. And the third was white and female from a farming community in the western US.

BTW, these are very competitive schools and they don’t admit students that won’t be able to handle the workload. I’m sure that you are more than intelligent enough!

3

Some relative differences between the three:

  • Mac is in an urban environment
  • Colby is (near) coastal Maine
  • Williams is probably the most rural and features tutorial-style learning (which I think really sets them apart)
4

If you were accepted, you can do the work. Put that thought away!

I think your visits to Williams and Colby will be helpful. See how you feel at each. Both are pretty isolated. Pay attention, in particular, to things that interest you on each campus that would involve you with the community. If you are worried about feeling like an outsider, the fastest way to get inside is to get involved.

If you don’t like the vibe at either of those, Mac might be worth the visit as it is different as mentioned above.

5

I will comment about Williams, since that is the only school where I have first hand experience.

You will be assigned to a freshman entry, where you will quickly build a strong sense of community and friendships. I found everyone at Williams to be warm and friendly. It is a warm, supportive environment.

Williams has a lot of academic support available to students, from peer writing tutors to super accessible professors who will work hard to help you succeed. (Ask admissions about support programs. I am not sure, but I have a vague memory that some people I knew at Williams may have attended a summer program before freshman year that was special for students from first gen/ minority backgrounds? Maybe science oriented?)

This is the type of place where professors will welcome students into their homes.

As someone noted above, you should not doubt yourself. You were accepted because each college is confident you will both succeed and contribute to the community. Congratulations! Remember that these colleges have amazing resources which they will use to help you. They don’t want you to fail-- cynically, you might note that it would mess up their graduation rate and post-college placement success rate, but I also think they truly do care about students. Help will be available, if you talk to your professors and advisers and say what you need.

You have three wonderful choices. I am sure you will get an amazing education at any of the three, as well as finding friends.

6

Williams is the strongest academically. Can’t be beat for a LAC education, I think.

7

You wouldn’t have been accepted if the admissions committee didn’t think you could succeed. Don’t sell yourself short!

How do you feel about living in a more urban setting vs. more rural?

I’m glad you’re visiting the two New England colleges. Definitely kick the tires and think about your comfort level, granted as humans we learn to adjust with time. Perhaps you can ask admissions to put you in touch with current students with a similar background to you so you can get some inside scoop.

You will find resources such as writing centers and such for academic support at any of the 3 schools.

One clarification to a comment made above: Colby is indeed in Maine but around a 45 min to 1 hour drive from the coast.

8

Mac isn’t in a gritty urban area. More of a benign medium sized city in a mainly residential area. We’re not talking NYC here. It certainly is an attractive option for some due to the large amount of things going on off campus should you wish.

9

Did someone imply Mac was in a gritty area? Definitely not – I used to live about 6 blocks from campus. Urban, but not downtown. One side of campus is bordered by Summit Avenue, a tree lined boulevard with large old houses that stretches from downtown St. Paul to the Mississippi River.

10

@doschicos, us midwesterners would think that 45 minutes to the coast means you’re practically on the beach. hehe

(well, except for areas with a high concentration of lakes, but that’s a different type of coast…)

11

Those are three wonderful choices. Williams is the small liberal arts college version of an Ivy league school – it is considered in the top 3 of small liberal arts colleges, along with Amherst and perhaps Swarthmore. In my mind, arguing about which of those small schools is “better” is the equivalent of arguing whether Harvard, Princeton or Yale is better – they are all superb, but one may be a better fit for a specific student. At Williams, the education and opportunities can be transformative for a student who is coming from a first gen background, and they would not have admitted a student they did not know would succeed. The focus on community at Williams as described above, can really help a first gen student be welcomed, and feel integrated. Williams is a distinct physical experience – a beautiful location in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, remote from the bustle of city life.

Colby has been making a strong push to develop a more diverse student body, I heard last year they had something like 20 Posse scholars. One question with Colby, since it is making a push on diversity, is to find out whether the school is also offering support, programs and funding to help first gen or low income students whose families may not have the experience in navigating the way through higher education in the States – advising, course selection, access to professors, resources for summer internships, study abroad etc. (Those are questions to ask at about all the schools, really, but it seems like Colby is relatively a newcomer to increased diversity on campus, you would want to see if the programs have caught up with the increased diversity in enrolled students).

Mac is known for its global focus and has a higher percentage of international students. It is also the only school located in an urban area (though hardly like an NYU) – more of an urban residential area, with access to all the arts, culture and diversity of the Twin Cities available.

Since you are able to visit Williams and Colby, see how each feels. As between those two, Williams probably has a longer track record of working with 1st gen and students from diverse experience, and with the distinct structure of the community, might provide a smoother transition to college. But it is possible Colby could just “feel” right, in which case, trust your instinct. Mac is a wonderful school, but academically not at the level of Williams (and people could argue whether it is at the level of Colby). Perhaps if neither Williams nor Colby “feels” right, then turn to Mac as an option. But if it were me, I’d suggest Williams is the overall top choice, with perhaps Colby and then Mac.

Congratulations, and good luck!

12

Use your visit to figure it out.
All things being equal, I’d pick Williams. They’re the LAC equivalent of Harvard or Princeton so that name and network will help you build a web of contacts that’s hard to match anywhere else. Their resources are also greater, meaning better financial support for unpaid internships or less well paid summer positions you may want to take… Finally, they’re used to admitting Hispanic and first generation students, and have an excellent track record with ensuring their success through graduation and beyond.

13

I am not sure where you live now, but if it is not in the northeast, I just wanted to share that people at Williams routinely, over shorter holidays like Thanksgiving, bring home friends who live too far away to afford a plane ticket home, so that they don’t have to stay on campus when many of their friends are away. I had a friend from Alaska and a friend from Kentucky who often came home with me, since I lived ‘only’ a five hour drive away. I imagine this is typical at many schools. People look out for each other.

14

See if Macalester would fund plane tickets for you.

I vote for Mac. The Latino community in St Paul has been established since at least the 1920’s. There are plenty of places to get authentic foods (something that both my latina kids looked for when homesick), church services in Spanish, places to dance, music venues, and the easiest airport connections of the three. I know latinas attending and they are having a good experience.

15

To @Midwestmomofboys ’ point, Colby matched 30 students in the Questbridge match for the class entering in September. I think last year was the same.

16

I just checked and Williams has the largest Hispanic population of the 3 schools. Over 12%. The other two schools have around half that or less. That might make a difference to you. GL

17

@gardenstategal I must have confused Questbridge and Posse at Colby – I remember hearing it was a big number. And @citymama9 – that’s interesting to know about Williams’ Hispanic population, thanks for tracking that down!

18

You have three great choices. It will come down to fit.

In your shoes I’d lean towards Mac due to that famous MN niceness and the safety valve of being located in a city. No, it isn’t a gritty city, it is a nice, neighborhoody area. But you could get a job or volunteer in the larger municipality and it is the state capitol and is near some other campuses.