<p>NPI-
I'm getting the impression that you haven't visited Williams yet. If so, once you see the two art museums up there, visit the department, get a feel for the students and the community....I don't see how you turn down an early write there with generous financial aid, as an art history major. You've found Nirvana. Of course, Lafayette's Marquis scholarship can go anywhere from half-tuition (minimum) to full ride, if the financial need is great enough, but unless that is an overiding issue, I think it's a slam dunk for Williams (sorry.....sports analogy) :)</p>
<p>Lafayette was my daughter's safety as well, and I'm a firm believer in the "love your safety" axiom. She liked the campus, and would have been happy and well served there with her math/science/engineering interests. It's a great school. However, I've found the students at Williams to be a truly remarkable group of individuals, and their personalities and attributes have much to do with the overall feel of the place, which is vibrant. Lafayette is really no less "isolated" than Williams, and the scenery at Williams wins hands down. It may be an hour further from your house than Lafayette, but it will be an exceptionally beautiful hour as you drive up the scenic Taconic Parkway and then slip in to town through the mountains. It's become one of my favorite destinations, and not just because my daughter's there.</p>