<p>SgtP, My son is a graduate of Williams so I’ll start with the disclaimer that I am prejudiced in that direction. </p>
<p>But . . . and this is a big but . . . Williams (and Swarthmore and Amherst and Wesleyan) are not for everyone. Each has a distinctive personality. The physical surroundings alone are vastly different. </p>
<p>So you’ve already too many good choices. And my guess is that your life will only get *more *complicated when the ivy league acceptances come out. If something about Swarthmore and Amherst appealed to your gut, then go with those two and give Williams and Wesleyan a miss. </p>
<p>My son’s ranking was exactly the reverse of yours – Williams, Weselyan, Amherst, Swarthmore. There were factors that pushed Williams into top place but I have no doubt that he would have enjoyed his four years at any of the four (or for that matter a couple of less selectives as well).</p>
<p>Trust in what you see when you turn out the lights.</p>