<p>Especially in math, but can anyone tell me what really sets Williams apart from all the other Northeastern LAC's? Thanks for any replies.</p>
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<p>Most of the differences among the NE top LACs are going to be feel, IMO. You have to check them out for yourself. Colgate's a great school, and was on my daughter's list. Since you asked about math, I think they all have very fine math departments, but I think that's one area, along with Physics, where Williams really stands out. Both schools are big into sports; Colgate has a greek scene, Williams doesn't. I think the Williams environment is prettier--lots of real mountains, closer to good skiing. But Colgate's pretty too.</p>
<p>Some anecdotal stuff: Our HS guidance office keeps a rolling 5-year collection of reports on the freshman college year of our graduates. They're very helpful in lots of ways, not unlike CC. One thing I noticed about kids who went to any of the top rural LACs was that they often said they felt isolated and bored. I never saw that on the reports from any of our grads who went to Williams, and pointed this out to the GC--a very savvy former Ivy admissions officer--who said "Good point, I can't explain it." Then he said that he thought that Williams did a good job of selecting kids who wanted to be in the Purple Bubble, and that they were an extremely interesting and diverse group of personalities. We've hosted 50 or so Williams students in our home over the past 2-1/2 years, mostly for sports purposes, and I have to say that they really were a terrific, interesting bunch of students (I had two here just last night, interviewing for grad schools in Philly). Best advice--go visit them.</p>
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<p>Here's my view (as a Williams alum and parent of a Colgate student!): there are lots of similarities between Williams and Colgate (rural location, strong academics/small classes, strong athletics, beautiful campuses, very loyal alumni network, active students). Many students have both schools on their college lists. As with any two schools, there are plenty of differences too (no frats at Williams, more emphasis on the arts at Williams, Colgate is bigger, Colgate has Div I sports). </p>
<p>I think both math departments are well-regarded, but if you are a math guru you should of course look into the course offerings carefully. (I think both schools - and the other LAC's as well - have course catalogues online). </p>
<p>Have you visited? I agree with driver that it's really a matter of personal preference/feel when it comes to picking among many of these schools. An overnight visit would give you the best insight. </p>
<p>My personal bias is that Williams is very very good at what it does best, and thats why it is perennially at the top of the LAC list.</p>
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<p>You definitely should visit and see for yourself which you like better.</p>
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<p>Certainly, if one needs to be in a city, neither of these schools would be good options.</p>
<p>My sense is that Williams is more academically focused than Colgate, though both are very good schools. Williams is about two rungs above Colgate in the academic food chain. Students who get rejected from Williams tend to matriculate at places like Bowdoin and Middlebury. People who get rejected from Bowdoin and Middlebury attend Hamilton and Colgate.</p>
<p>Students who find Williams remote would find Colgate unbearable. When I was at Williams and got cabin fever, I made day trips to Boston and New York. Yes, they were long days! When I was a senior, I went clubbing in Albany (1 hour by car) about once a month, and the Hudson valley offers a surprisingly large number of cultural attractions. </p>
<p>The nearest city to Colgate is Syracuse, and day trips to the "big cities" are less doable.</p>
<p>That said, I don't think that I am the type of person who needs to have the "big city" at his fingertips.</p>
<p>That's a good point. Even before comparing schools academically, you should get an idea of what kind of environment you want (city/rural). If you want to be near a city, neither of those are good options; however, if you'd prefer a rural setting, then check out both.</p>
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<p>I think the first step is to determine whether being in specific type of environment is important to you. I would be happy to live in a rural area or an urban area. If the geographic environment is unimportant to you, you should go right to the academics.</p>
<p>However, like Williams07student noted, if you do not want to be in a big city, you should avoid Columbia. Similarly, if rural environs are not your cup of tea, you should avoid many of the New England small colleges</p>
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<p>Williams has a GREAT math program - that's partly why I'm applying there early - but it's also a great all around school.</p>
<p>US News 06 ranked it as the top liberal arts college in america - similar schools would be amherst, probably (which is slightly more preppy), but colgate is fairly consideralbly under it</p>
<p>Reykjavic, while Williams is certainly more selective than Colgate and in many academic areas a front runner, from an admissions perspective for a non-hooked student I wouldn't say that Colgate, or any of the other selective LACs, is "fairly considerably under it". My kid had pretty high stats (2260 SAT on the new scale), and he's not unique at Colgate by any means. Anyways, good luck with ED!</p>
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<p>Reykjavik, are you from Iceland/have you been there before?</p>
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<p>unfortunately i haven't - but i'm going there this winter/spring for an xc ski training trip - it should be sweet</p>
<p>and yeah, Colgate is not at the same level as williams - it is a small LAC, true, but accademically it's not the same as williams - that is not to say at all that colgate is bad, not at all, it's just that williams is better. it's like harvard and dartmouth - both are ivys, but harvard is much harder to get into, and better accademically - but again, both are still great.</p>
<p>Iceland is ---without a shadow of a doubt --- the most beautiful place on earth. You're a lucky person.</p>
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