<p>I am an enthusiastic champion of Williams- it is a great school. However, I would re-state my (informed) opinion that the median level of social (not necessrily academic) happiness will be higher for the large cohort of varsity athletes and the smaller cohort of theater people than the rest of the student body. Not to say that non-athletes and non-thespians can’t have a wonderful experience, but this definitely sets Williams apart from some other peer institutions (Swarthmore, Yale, Columbia, et al), where sports are less dominant in the student culture.</p>
<p>I’m going to respectfully disagree with Dad2 as the parent of 2 recent non-athlete Williams graduates. Both son and daughter loved their experience at Williams and neither did any organized sports. They definitely did not suffer socially at all, and were very involved in other activities. Many, many non-sports oriented activities. I will say that Williams has only a very small geeky or nerdy contingent. Kids are very social and are all very involved in something–it’s not the school for the stay in your dorm room and study all day type. We thought they had an amazing time and an amazingly good education.</p>
<p>treefarmer, i hope you are right. Williams students sound like the kind I would like to live with for four years. I love the outdoors too. It is pretty easy to walk on to sports like track, swimming, tennis if you were a good high school athlete but worked more on academics than getting recruited for these sports?</p>
<p>treefarmer1- Thanks for the reassurance. I like Williams in every way the best of all the LACS. Except I DO WANT TO HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE, and do interesting, and meaningful things in groups, even if I am not all that well coordinated physically! ( I mean I’m normal, but…) Thanks</p>
<p>Yes, Dad2 is overstating it. There are many, many students without sports interests who have plenty of social life.</p>
<p>Any thoughts as to the possibilities of walking on to the lower profile sports?</p>
<p>Definitely doable depending on the sport. I ran varsity track and played rugby (starting first side) and was not recruited.</p>
<p>Redman - I don’t think Williams recruits enough athletes to fill their rosters for most sports (maybe all?) and walk-ons are welcome. There are several teams that anyone can walk-on and participate without recruitable skills/times which include track, cross country, rugby, and crew. But non-recruited athletes play on most teams. You mentioned tennis which I’m not sure about. Williams is strong in tennis, particularly the women. My D participates as a walk-on in a sport and I know several students who play in several sports but were not recruited. In my mind, it’s one of the advantages of a small LAC.</p>
<p>I say take up Ultimate. It’s a club sport pretty much everywhere, so no one’s recruited. And it’s awesome :)</p>