<p>"Also, kind of a weird question, do either one of the schools have a more "cozy" feel? I know that most people are very familiar with only one school, but just curious." I am familiar with both schools as a parent and visitor. They are both what I'd call happy schools. Williams feels cozier because it is smaller and because Williamstown itself, although on a main east-west state highway, is so small (and in a way more remote because it isn't on a superhighway to anyplace larger). Dartmouth is several times larger, has a medical school and business school to add to the undergraduate mix, and is in a much larger small town. Dartmouth may seem remote to people who look at Hanover's size and location and don't know the area, but when you spend time there you realize that Hanover is a very public and vibrant place, somewhat in the way Northampton (Massachusetts) is. Hanover is right off the interstate and is a regional cultural and medical center for people from all over the Upper Connecticut River Valley (and beyond). That does not of course mean that Dartmouth itself isn't a lovely little world (though much bigger than the Williams world), but it is less of a bubble. Certainly Wiliamstown is a cultural center too, thanks to the art museums (and in summer the theater festival), but if you walk down Main Street or Spring Street in February you will see mostly students. On the other hand, I have been in Hanover at virtually every season and it is always filled with people, not just students and their families but other visitors and people going about their daily lives or just enjoying the place, so in that sense it feel less cozy and private, though wonderful. If you are lucky enough to be able to choose one of these schools over the other, you'll have to get a sense of which one feels best to you. Certainly theyare both academically excellent, really hard to get into, beautiful, and and relatively removed from urban bustle. Right now all you need to consider is whether you want to be in small school or relatively smalls chool in a fairly rural setting at least two hours away form any major metro area, and you sound as though you do.</p>
<p>D- accepted Dartmouth over both Williams and Amherst (It wasn't a matter of choosing the best Ivy she got into because it was the only one which she applied to. While both are great places and you will get a wonderful education, the decision was very hard for her. While Williams is a great place one of the negative things that she heard was with all there is to do at Williams, Williamstown can feel a little small. </p>
<p>On her first visit to Dartmouth, she made the statement that "I can go there the people are so great, down to earth, they work hard, but they are also very helpful and unpretentious" </p>
<p>She really liked Williams and stated that if Dartmouth buned down (heaven forbid) and the students had to go to another school, it would be Williams because it is most similar to Dartmouth. </p>
<p>What won her over was the fact that Dartmouth is bigger, the flexibility of the D-plan and the wonderful 08's that she got a chance to connect with here, on the yahoo board and the Dartmouth board. </p>
<p>When she went to Dimensions and Dartmouth, she talked about how the upperclass men really reached out to them to make them feel welcomed and part of the Darmouth community. She called home to say Dartmouth is where she wanted to be, because they are really great people.</p>
<p>I get the idea that you have to go to the schools to get what you want. I would like to apply ED somewhere, so how do you get organized visits where you go to classes and live with students if you dont know anyone at the schools?</p>
<p>Also, how does Bowdoin fit in with WIlliams and Dartmouth?</p>
<p>Call them and there are students who act as hosts for prospectives. Bowdoin is even more remote than these two, smaller, less vibrant social scene. And of course its perhaps a level below in prestige if that matters.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, application and selection for the Bowdoin Invitational has just passed.. I will be going this November to check Bowdoin out..</p>
<p>I hear it's great, though.</p>
<p>I went to the Bowdoin Invitational last year as a senior. (I'm a frosh at Williams now) Bowdoin has some really excellent food, pretty good frosh housing, and a nice outlet store area a few miles from campus. Nightlife revolved heavily around drinking, though the same could be said about many of the schools that you're looking at. I just feel that Bowdoin lacks the size and scope of Williams as a whole. It's a good school though, especially if you're looking to get into government studies.
If financial aid is a concern to you,...Williams will probably give you more aid. I received several thousand more dollars at Williams than Bowdoin.</p>