<p>My friend is a rising senior in HS, and he's looking to study math/physics and perhaps minor in philosophy. He doesn't want to go to a big city or a big research school; he prefers a small, close-knit and intellectual college environment. From my own college searches, I thought Williams seemed like a pretty good fit for him, but I'm not sure about the strength of Williams' science/math departments. How would you assess the strength of Williams' physics and math programs as compared to bigger research universities like MIT, Cornell, Stanford, Berkeley, Cal Tech, etc?</p>
<p>The Williams physics and math programs are very strong -- if you browse through old threads (here and on EphBlog), you will find several discussions of this. Several current Williams students were also accepted at MIT but enrolled at Williams because of its superior strength in the social sciences, arts, and humanities. And according to the well-publicized "Revealed Preference Ranking" (December 2005) among "students who plan to major in engineering, math, computer science, or the physical sciences," Willliams ranks eighth (behind Harvard, Cal Tech, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Princeton and Wellesley [women's college]). Williams students also enjoy successful matriculation into good graduate programs in various fields of their choice.</p>
<p>Williams also offers extensive research opportunities, with 10-15% of the students employed as "fellows" with professors in funded research on campus every summer (starting as early as following freshman year).</p>
<p>Williams might have the best teaching math department of any school in the country, including MIT and the Ivies. I hear physics is pretty strong too.</p>
<p>What about chemistry?</p>
<p>Sounds like a pretty good fit. The lab sciences at Williams are all very good. There is also a great deal of opportunity for research.</p>
<p>Anecdote:</p>
<p>I asked a colleague, math professor, about best colleges for a prospective math major who might be interested in subsequent advanced study. He listed the usual suspects of top universities.</p>
<p>When I then asked about LAC's his response, paraphrasing, was "Well, Williams, of course", then a long pause "I don't really know about any others". </p>
<p>He had gone to MIT and was tenured at a top university.</p>
<p>If he can, he should visit. It's really important that the academics fit, of course, but everything else needs to fit as well. We found that some students who thought they'd love a small rural school weren't as comortable there as they expected to be and then were greatly surprised to fall in love with a big urban research university. It goes both ways -- we've seen the opposite happen, too.</p>
<p>Here's my advice:
Visit. Stay overnight on campus. Go to classes. Try to attend a club meeting in an interest area. Talk with a lot of students (this should be much easier now that the new student union building is open). The online events calendars may suggest events to attend. Look for posters around campus. too. Contact club heads.</p>