Hi all,
Out of curiosity, how do Harvard students/alumni view Williams College? Do they feel that Harvard is a better school/more prestigious? Is there a healthy respect?
This is an inane question. Do you think Williams students care? People who actually are a part of excellent institutions don’t pull out measuring sticks. Outsiders’ views of the “hierarchy” is tons of baloney. Stop believing this drivel.
I agree that the question is completely inane. Once a student makes a decision to matriculate to a college, they tend to think of their college (whichever one they choose) as the best one.
That said, my son was admitted to 10 colleges including Williams, but Williams was pretty low on his list due to fact that Williams’ financial aid was not as generous as HYP (and included loans). and my son felt Williams was too isolated. I’m sure some students every year choose Williams over HYP and are very happy, but I would be surprised if it was more than a handful did so every year.
“Why should all of the creative and liberating ideas for liberal education be left to the small residential liberal arts colleges such as Ursinus, Bates, Williams, and Amherst? The only reason that that is so is that we think it must be so, and therefore we act accordingly. With Harvard’s resources and opportunities we could be both Harvard University and Williams College.”
–Professor Peter Gomes from MODESTY, AMBITION, AND IMAGINATION: AN ESSAY ON CURRICULAR REFORM IN HARVARD COLLEGE
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic733185.files/Gomes.pdf
@Endurance10 I see that you’ve asked this question elsewhere too. Williams is a top liberal arts college but is less well known outside academia than Harvard or Princeton. If you’re planning to apply to top graduate schools eventually, coming out of Williams instead of Harvard or Princeton won’t make any difference (assuming comparable grades, extracurriculars, etc., at all three–which may or may not be a valid assumption)–Williams is extremely highly regarded within academia. If, however, you’re planning to enter the job market, many more employers will recognize the Harvard and Princeton names. From what I’ve heard, this is even more true if you plan to work outside the United States. So that may be something to keep in mind if you end up having to decide between these three schools.
I’d go further to say that if you are coming out of U Wisconsin Madison, Kenyon, Reed, Davidson, or 100+ other fine schools instead of the 3 you mention, it won’t make any difference, if you have made the most of your experience there and have looked for grad dept. fit.
I’d make a distinction between the instrumental and the intrinsic value of attending various colleges. You can get there from a variety of heres. But there’s something to be said for the road less traveled.
Really, OP?