<p>Which is more isolated?</p>
<p>Both schools are relatively isolated. Degree of isolation is subjective, but most people would probably regard Williams as more isolated.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is located in Hanover NH. The adjoining communities of Hanover NH, Lebanon NH and White River Junction VT form a small but significant regional center. Obviously no one is going to confuse greater Lebanon with Boston or New York, but it is still the most important urban area for people in several surrounding counties in NH and VT. It has the best shopping, the major hospital, the regional airport, etc. </p>
<p>Williams is located in Williamstown MA. Williamstown is smaller than Hanover, and (apart from the College and the Clark Art Institute) does not have many features of general interest or importance; neither do adjacent towns such as North Adams or Pownal. Furthermore, the Williams College community (students, faculty, and staff) is considerably smaller than Dartmouth’s. So the surroundings of Williams, relative to those of Dartmouth, are significantly smaller in population and offer fewer services, and would therefore probably feel more isolated to most people.</p>
<p>Hanover is located near the intersection of two interstate highways. People who drive in northern New England routinely pass through the Hanover area. Williamstown, on the other hand, is located miles from the nearest interstate; you can only reach it via slow 2-lane highways. People rarely pass through Williamstown, unless they specifically intend to visit the College or the Clark. If you ask around, you will probably find a lot more people that have been to Hanover than have been to Williamstown.</p>
<p>Both schools, being isolated, are known for proximity to the forests and mountains, and tend to attract outdoorsy people. However, the natural [url=<a href=“http://www.wrlf.org/pinecobble.html]scenery[/url”>http://www.wrlf.org/pinecobble.html]scenery[/url</a>] within walking, hiking, or biking distance of the campus is arguably better at Williams. So isolation has its advantages, at least for some people.</p>
<p>I’ve spent a lot of time in both Hanover and Williamstown. I agree with Corbett’s description and comparison, and would add 2 brief points.
Considering its size and location, Hanover has become somewhat cosmopolitan in recent years; in other words, it’s filled with New Yorkers, and has a growing number of franchise stores, pricey restaurants, and other such characteristics of larger New England / New York towns, and believe it or not, has plenty of traffic jams and parking problems. Williamstown has some nice amenities but has much more of a small-town feel.
Also, though Williams has its fare share of snow, Hanover is much farther north and its winter is much longer. It can (and does) snow in early May.</p>
<p>It [url=<a href=“http://www.exploredowntownhanover.com/index.php?id=138&page=Parking%20%26%20Maps]appears[/url”>http://www.exploredowntownhanover.com/index.php?id=138&page=Parking%20%26%20Maps]appears[/url</a>] that you have to pay to park in downtown Hanover these days; they have parking meters, hourly lots, and even a real parking garage. Haven’t been in Williamstown lately, but my guess is that they have not yet achieved this level of urban sophistication. On the other hand, I think Williamstown does have a traffic light.</p>
<p>lol, corbett</p>
<p>Anyways, snow offerings near Williamstown are actually better, because of elevation and weather patterns. (the snow in late may comment was a load of ****, btw…)</p>
<p>I went to a school to be there, not to be planning to get away. If I had wanted to get away from Williamstown, I would have found mid-county and south county appealing, I could have gone to Albany, I could have gotten a ride over to the Pioneer Valley ad the five colleges, and I wasn’t all that far from either New York or Boston (and Montreal was a great Winter Study road trip). I really enjoyed immersing myself in the small town, in the community, in the natural offerings, in all the cultural and intellectual opportunities at Williams, and in the rural setting.
I would ask “Isolated from what?”
I would also ask “What are you looking for?”
The older I get, the more I notice how homogenized America is becoming, architecturally, in its foods, etc., and I value my exposure to a piece of rural New England and to an “isolated” set of strong traditions even more.</p>
<p>Pawn, you’re not only rude, you’re wrong.</p>