<p>Okay so I am an international student who got accepted to both. I want to study Political Science with a focus on the Middle East (culture, language, and history included)... I also happen to enjoy philosophy. </p>
<p>So for these interests, which college will be able to offer me a "better education."</p>
<p>Given that you have come this far in the process with acceptances to both, I assume you have evaluated the course offerings, graduation requirements, faculty profiles, administrative priorities, your particular financial arrangements, and those extracurricular aspects of campus life that will contribute to what you make of the “better education” you seek.</p>
<p>So you might as well take the exercise to the next level, right? Take your specific questions, the more prescriptive the better to the source- both schools’s admissions offices sponsor links for the purpose- and sort their respective responses. That’s the track I would take if I were you.</p>
<p>Good luck with your selection. You are truly in an enviable position!</p>
<p>You’re in a position many students would envy. Both Williams and Colgate are rural small-town isolated schools with Williams’ town being a little more upscale, I’m told. Hamilton, N.Y. is pretty and very nice, but still kind of a polished up farm town in some ways. I attended Colgate and my daughter does now, and we both loved Colgate, but
Williams ranks higher on most lists. To most people the appeal of the area Williams is in in western Massachusetts is probably greater than the Utica-Syracuse area of upstate New York which is not as polished, more like real farm country. My opinion, anyway. So, Williams would seem to win on these accounts. And most people choose the school that ranks higher on the well-known lists if they care about rankings. I think it’s a lot better to make an effort to decide based on what each school really is like. </p>
<p>The ideal way is to visit both schools and decide which you like more – after spending some time there and talking to people. But in your situation that might be hard. </p>
<p>I would do what markham suggests and contact both schools and find out what each program allows. The interest you have in the Middle East, for example, might be dealt with better at one school than the other. My impression of Colgate’s poli sci progam (I don’t know anything about Williams’ program) is that it is excellent. My daughter is majoring in Political Science at Colgate and has found it excellent and interesting. My impression of philosophy at Colgate is less clear, but I’ve been told it’s also excellent. But you’d have to find out about that to be sure–and maybe it’s not. </p>
<p>And, pay attention to everything else. Do you play sports or just like athletics? Colgate most likely wins easily on that account. Do you like art, theater, music? I think Williams might be a little better in this area. Do you want to get involved in off-campus and overseas study programs around the world? Colgate has a very large number of such programs that involve many students. And so on down the list of what appeals to you. </p>
<p>Either choice would be a good one, but only you know which school will serve your needs best. Talk to them and find out. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hello markham and ColgateDad, </p>
<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to write me and offer your recommendations. I truly wish it was a possibility to visit both campuses; however, I am an IB diploma candidate with exams in less than one month. So, sadly that option is unavailable. </p>
<p>I will, however, call both colleges and inquire about their respective political science and middle eastern studies programs. I will then report my findings here for any future reference!</p>
<p>Again thank you guys! :)</p>
<p>I believe the philosophy program is quite strong as well. Some of my friends who were philosophy majors at Colgate have gone on to get PhDs/Masters at top philosophy programs (University of Chicago, Harvard, Cambridge).</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to contact professors directly - they teach at Colgate because they like interacting with students.</p>