Hi everyone! So I only have a few weeks left to put down an enrollment deposit. I love Williams and that is definitely where I am leaning. I like that I have the opportunity to study many different areas and thus have a greater degree of academic flexibility. On the other hand, I just received an invitation to the honors global business program at Fordham LC. I know that this is also an amazing opportunity with subsidized travel, small classes, etc. I also initially wanted to be in an urban center for college. But I can absolutely see myself at Williams after visiting, it’s stunning. Williams will also cost about 15k more than Fordham annually. But both are affordable. Should I even be hesitating with these two choices? Any comments would be appreciated.
Also for interests (academic, ecs, etc):
Chinese, Russian, polisci, Econ
Politics
Catholic organization/comm service
Again, any comments would be appreciated!!
Fordham LC is about as urban as u.can get; Williams is very far from anything urban. That difference dwarfs any differences in academics. For your field, having the United Nations so close is quite an advantage. If you really really LOVE urban, then go with Fordham. If money is even s small concern, go with Fordham. Otherwise, Williams seems like a good option…people seem to come out of there all polished and ready to take on any challenge.
@nsliyromanov, I think you have good reason to “hesitate” as Fordham’s GBhP has a lot to offer. The structured exposure to business in New York and internationally is especially appealing. I would like to know more about how long this program has been operating and what its students have done after graduation.
$60K may be an enormous amount of money or it may be a manageable sum. Only your family can judge what’s affordable.
I’d say the major point of differentiation (aside from location) is whether you want your undergraduate experience to focus on business or on the liberal arts as a whole. The GBHP is part of the business school and the curriculum is heavily business focused. At Williams you will get a Bachelor of Arts – in one or two disciplines – and will take a wide range of courses across humanities, social sciences and math/science.
Williamstown and the Bronx couldn’t be more different environments! You visited Williams and felt comfortable in the mountains, and you might want to try something different. New York will be there when you graduate, plus Williams students manage to get to Boston or New York once or twice a term. Study abroad for one or two terms is common and there are further funded travel opportunities during Winter Study and summers.
Though Global Studies is a concentration not a major at Williams Economics and Political Science are an outstanding departments supported by several interdisciplinary programs and the Center for Development Economics.
At Williams all of your classmates will be academic high achievers (presumably like you). The GBHP is a small group of high achievers, but overall the university attracts a wider rage of accomplishment.
I appreciate “fit,” really, but turning down Williams for Fordham if “they’re both affordable” seems shortsighted, especially if, as the title suggests, your interest is IR rather than business.
Fordham LC is very urban. I’ve visited, it’s definitely not the average college campus.
If the extra $60,000 is affordable, choose Williams, which you prefer. If not, choose Fordham.
I appreciate everyone’s comments. We won’t be paying full ticket price at Williams, but it will be about 10-15k more a year. I really am not sure whether I want to go into business, so I feel like the Fordham opportunity would put me in a corner if I end up going there. I really love the small class/scholastic culture of Williams, and the fact that it is purely undergraduate focused. I have an overnight visit this week. Thank you everyone for your comments
Also, GBht started in 2007, and from what I dug up the first trip to London is a week long (not very long I was surprised) and is subsidized by the school.
IR is one of those fields that is VERY prestige-bound. Therefore, choose Williams if you intend to have a career in that field.
^agreed