<p>I’d second what Weskid says and add that:
Every school has bad stories or experiences associated with it. There are bad reputations and stories for every school. What matters is how you felt. Sure, some of the tales may be true, but if you spent some time there and it felt like a good fit, don’t discount it because of what “people” say. Also, you could talk to a few students (through emails, if you have any, or online chat) about your concerns and see how they feel.</p>
<p>Second, I can’t tell exactly what your experiences with Williams and Amherst were, but if you had a problem with Williams in general, but just had a bad experience one-time problem at Amherst, I’d say go for Amherst. If you don’t enjoy it, then you’ve eliminated a school, if you do enjoy it, it will discount your bad experience. It kind of seems like you already know Williams may not be right for you–sometimes the “idea” of a school isn’t the reality–at least not for everyone. Again, I don’t know the situation, so I could be wrong, but if you feel that Amherst is more compatible and it seems more likely that your experience there was an anomaly, I’d give Amherst a second chance over Williams.</p>
<p>Also, I second weskid–just out of curiousity, what about Wesleyan? </p>
<p>Finally, I don’t think you’re being whinny. It’s exciting to get in–but it’s also scary thinking that now you have a choice but might not pick the best school for you. Luckily, you’ve got good options, and it seems like a pretty good sense of your experiences and yourself. Good luck!</p>