<p>If money was not an option, which would you choose and why?</p>
<p>It would depend entirely on personal preference. None of these schools is "better" than any of the others. Do you want to be in New England/the South? Do you want a big sports culture? Do you want a good art program? Will you go into medicine or law? Do you prefer universities or LACs?</p>
<p>I chose Amherst over Williams (I loved them both) and never applied to Duke because I wasn't interested in it.</p>
<p>wow! that's a tough choice. all three are great schools and you will get a first rate education and college experience at any of them. i would visit the schools to get a good feel for the general campus culture and i would talk with the head of the department in your intended major. i think with those choices it comes down to a matter of feel or personal preference. congratulations on your superb results.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your kind replies! I'll give you more information about myself, because I am agonizing over this decision:</p>
<p>I know that weather should not be a "deciding factor," but I come from South Florida, and there's almost no comparison between Raleigh-Durham and inland Massachusetts. </p>
<p>I would be attending my school on a financial aid package because I'm low income, and I have heard that this would cause me to be outcasted at Duke because of the "old money" that's there. </p>
<p>I am really social, and I love meeting people. Williams may be too isolated for me, Duke seems awesome, and all of the students that I've talked to from Amherst don't seem to use the 5-College Consortium often at all. </p>
<p>I have visited all 3 campuses, but I haven't been to Duke's in 4 years, and when I was there it was for a summer program, so I didn't get to see/meet actual Duke undergrads. I liked Williams more than Amherst, but Amherst seems more practical because of its location (geographically and among the 5-College Consortium).</p>
<p>I don't know what I want to major in at all.</p>
<p>I want to sing acapella. </p>
<p>That's about all I can think of for now. If you want anymore information, I'd be happy to let you all know more. Thanks for your help; this is, after all, the first "adult decision" that I'm making in my life, and I want to look back with no regrets! I feel as if no matter where I go to school, I'll feel like I'm giving up something, whether it is a better education at a LAC, or a better social scene at Duke. Thanks!</p>
<p>Am very familiar with Massachusetts. Believe it or not, there is a difference in weather between Williams and Amherst, with Amherst having the better weather. Amherst is also a very liberal town and it is just not "PC" to flaunt money there, so that makes the "class" issue less relevant. Any of these schools would be excellent choices, so it comes down to where you would be most happy. Given that weather and money are concerns for you, just wanted to add some info for your decision.</p>
<p>I am an Amherst student and I use the 5-college consortium and love it. It's what you make it, some people don't use it at all, but it's a nice option. Amherst is a pretty good place for low-income people (I am one of them) and the administration is working very, very hard to make it even more so. Amherst is a very liberal town, as admisscouns said, and you may or may not like that, but the school itself (as with Williams and Duke, I assume) is less liberal (still very tilted to the left). The weather is nicer in Amherst than in Williamstown, which is up in the mountains in a very beautiful, quaint, quiet area, but even more so than that, it feels much less isolated in the cold, I think.</p>
<p>One thing to consider is that Williams has a January term (which many of its students seem to love) where you would be required to be on campus during January. Amherst has optional non-credit January classes (as do the other 5 colleges, and you can take them) but also sets up January internships in NYC and DC, gives students fellowships to travel/volunteer, and has a ton of options (or, you could spend January back in sunny south Florida if you prefer). </p>
<p>You have three fantastic choices, good luck!</p>
<p>Edit: Both Williams and Amherst have great a capella groups, some of Amherst's are very famous...it is known as "the singing college".</p>
<p>WILLIAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>lol it is pretty social and preppy if that's what you are into!!</p>
<p>Thank you both for your replies!</p>
<p>When I visited Amherst, the students seemed very studious and not too social, generally. The school spirit seems to be lacking at Amherst, from what I have observed. Is it true that Amherst students tend to be more "chill" and "laid-back" than Williams or Duke students, who live by the "work hard, play hard" mentality?</p>
<p>I don't think you could really say that. It's easy to see a few kids studying and jumped quickly to a conclusion, or perhaps you visited Amherst at a time during a heavy exam week/when a lot of papers were due. I think the students at Amherst and Williams will be very similar. It's sad by many (I don't know how true this is) that Swarthmore has a reputation for being more intellectual and studious, Williams students more jocky partiers, and Amherst students half and half. I don't know if this has any merit, I think you'll find plenty of both. I'd say most of us are social and studious.</p>
<p>You're a junior right? If you qualify, I would check out Questbridge. It's a program for low income students that leads to a full ride at top schools. I know Amherst definitely uses it, and I would guess Williams and Duke do as well, though I'm not 100%.</p>
<p>I would choose Duke.
It is the most prestigious school out of the trio, better climate, and ACC athletics. The last two reasons are the reasons that really distinguish Duke from the others. I just wouldn't want to go to a school in New England though.</p>
<p>Duke may be the most prestigious to you as a North Carolina resident, but up north it certainly wouldn't be. Climate and athletics may be issues, though.</p>
<p>Sonata, have you been accepted to all three? If no, then I'd wait until that happens before stressing over the decision.</p>
<p>If yes, then I'd say the first fork in the road that you come to is do you want big, research university or small liberal arts college? If big, then there you go -- it's Duke. If you're leaning toward an LAC, then the choice is Amherst or Williams. </p>
<p>There ARE major overlaps between these two schools and I contend that a student could be equally happy at either. </p>
<p>Williams is a insular, inward looking campus but there's plenty to do and a lot of social activity. The other points of differentiation are the January Winter Study term, the tutorial program (two students/one professor) and the firstyear entry system in the residence halls. </p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I would be attending my school on a financial aid package because I'm low income, and I have heard that this would cause me to be outcasted at Duke because of the "old money" that's there.
[/quote]
The number of students receiving financial aid is 46.6% at Amherst, 43.5% at Williams, and 42% at Duke.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I want to sing acapella.
[/quote]
<p>I'm a senior in high school, and I've been accepted to all three already. Actually, Catfish, I was a Questbridge College Match Program finalist, and it was between Amherst and Williams for me this past fall. I chose Williams over Amherst because I had a better "gut feeling" when I visited there, but, as unregistered wisely noted, the timing of my campus visits was a huge influence of the students' attitudes and activities that I observed. At Williams, the students were only one month into college, and they were all so happy, friendly, and carefree. At Amherst, meanwhile, midterms were around the corner, over a third of the students were off campus for the weekend because of away sports games, and there was a cold front, so the campus was much colder than usual. Thus, at Williams, I had a great time, while at Amherst the campus was desolate. </p>
<p>As far as LAC vs. big research university is concerned, I haven't seen a big research university "in action": I've only casually toured big universities over the summer, while I had the opportunity to see Williams and Amherst during the school year. For me, there are a lot of unknowns about Duke. When trying to make such an important and difficult decision, one becomes a "nit picker." </p>
<p>I feel like while I experienced a "real" weekend at Williams, I witnessed an "off" weekend at Amherst. </p>
<p>As far as Duke is concerned, I feel as if I simply don't have enough information about the school, because I have never actually visited while school there has been in session. </p>
<p>Also, I can't afford a trip up to any of the 3 schools, which makes my decision even harder. I'd appreciate any links to helpful webpages and articles as well, because only browsing the schools' websites probably doesn't do the institutions justice.</p>
<p>They will probably pay to fly you up to visit, no?</p>
<p>Amherst and Williams both already have. Plus, I won't be able to make it to any of the visitation days because I'll already be busy...</p>
<p>"Williams has a January term (which many of its students seem to love) where you would be required to be on campus during January."</p>
<p>Only as a first-year. The other years, you can propose what's called a "99" and apply for funding to pursue an off-campus winter study of your own design.</p>
<p>Amherst & Williams are pretty similiar sorts of schools, but Duke is completely different. You need to think about what size school you'd like to go to. I personally only applied to Duke & Williams out of those three (I didn't much like Amherst), and Duke was always higher on my list than Williams. I know a handful of students at Williams, and while they certainly enjoy it there, they've admitted that the school just feels so small. There's a big difference between going to a major research university and a small liberal arts college, so you need to think about what sort of atmosphere you'd like.</p>
<p>And, while unregistered would have you believe that Amherst is well-beyond Duke in prestige in the Northeast, keep in mind that "prestige" is completely subjective--I'm from MA, and at my school, at least, Duke is considered more prestigious than Amherst. Don't base your decision around which others consider the best-name school out there; think about what sort of student body and environment suits you best.</p>
<p>"I'd say in New England, Amherst is more prestigious (Duke is far more prestigious in the south, I'd assume) Don't let it be a deciding factor, though. Go to Duke if you love Duke." (My exact and only, to my recollection, quote on the prestige factors of the two schools.)</p>
<p>Why do you insist on spreading lies about me? You really do have horrible reading comprehension skills. I said no such thing, though you have said the exact opposite. Really, now, it's crass.</p>