<p>I've heard great things about Williams College, but this is my second day of looking over the school. My grandfather taught there and has property in Williamstown but when I asked him how the community is, he told me "Williams is the community." Can anyone give me an idea of this school as far as size? What makes it such a great academic school?</p>
<p>And Haverford, I've had even less experience with. Aside from the Honor Code, I have heard next to nothing about it academically so anything you guys say will be helpful.</p>
<p>I live in California and have never been on the East Coast, so I don't know much about these two schools.</p>
<p>Williams is relatively easy if you are that ambitious to go for Harvard. So that would mean you have good test results I guess. Personally, I would recommend Harvard but it depends on your major. Hope I helped. =)</p>
<p>Haverford: beautiful campus in a beautiful area a short train ride from Philadelphia. Adjacent to the Bryn Mawr campus and any classes can be cross-registered. Also close to Swarthmore, where students can cross-register. Many activities are run jointly with Bryn Mawr, and some with Swarthmore. At Haverford, 40% of the students are varsity athletes and classes actually stop at 3 PM so that the athletes can practice or go to games; thus athletes have full choice of classes. It’s easy to make the teams; many don’t cut but rely on the athletes themselves to quit if they are not getting playing time. Honor code is all-encompassing; some students even take exams in their own rooms or elsewhere on campus; they are trusted to do this. Because of this, students have a lot of pride in their work. Very small classes, lots of interaction with professors, professors invite students over for dinner, get to know them well, mentor them. Fairly large numbers of students attended private school for high school. Easier to get into than Williams but academically excellent. I would say a major advantage is proximity to Philadelphia, and I have heard that it is even possible to take classes at Penn (although this is logistically a little more difficult). It seems like most students are campus-focused in terms of activities. It is easy to start activities. Idealistic student body. Good luck!</p>
<p>any particular major? williams science facilities and opportunities for research are very good. also tutorials seem like the best thing since sliced bread</p>
<p>Both schools have excellent academic reputations. Williams is especially noted for art history, math and science; the school has study abroad ties with Oxford and an Oxford-style tutorial system (<a href=“Williams College”>http://www.williams.edu/admin/news/chronicle/</a>). Haverford reputedly has an excellent astronomy program as well as top-notch pre-med counseling. Neighboring Bryn Mawr (where Haverford students can enroll in all classes) is known for classics, anthropology, and “Growth of Cities” (urban studies). Haverford students can enroll in classes at Swarthmore, too. This compensates for the fact that the college is small even by LAC standards.</p>
<p>Haverford (like Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore) was founded by Quakers (who were once a dominant social force in the Philadelphia area). Although Haverford no longer has administrative ties to the Religious Society of Friends, the school remains influenced by Quaker faith and practices (particularly in its Honor Code, which was drafted by an prominent Quaker, Rufus Jones). </p>
<p>Williamstown is a small, rural, relatively isolated New England town (good if you like hiking and other outdoor activities). Haverford is in an old suburb of Philadelphia with easy rail access into the city.</p>
<p>^^ I would not rely on interesteddad’s opinion without a lot more research of your own. He thinks Williams is full of drunken athletes and that Swat is the most perfect place on earth with an absence of drunks and serious athletics.<br>
Williams does have somewhat of a preppy, athletic culture and is very isolated. It’s a wonderful school and would have possibly been my first choice for my son, but he wanted D1 athletics (he was a recruit) and a larger city/town.<br>
Haverford has easy access to Philadelphia and is located in a wealthy suburb right near the rail line.</p>
<p>^^^yea, he’ll try to razzle-dazzle you with all sorts of accounting wizardry to argue that College A is superior to College B because it has a bigger endowment and spends more money on luxuries (much of which is being trimmed back as the world-wide financial crisis didn’t seem to care how big a college’s endowment was – they were all vulnerable to the same cut-backs.) Haverford can’t hope to win head to head competition on endowment size, but, IMHO, it doesn’t have to. It’s a great school with great ambience. If people are a college’s main product then Haverford’s and Williams’ are both top-notch.</p>
<p>What is the “athletic culture” you referred to in regards to Williams? Both Williams and Haverford are recruiting me for track so that would definitely be relevant. Haverford’s program is one of the best in D3 but Williams is a better academic school from what I gather.</p>
<p>I will major somewhere along English, Literary Studies, Political Science, or Philosophy with the goal of going into Law School.</p>
<p>My D was just accepted ED at Haverford, her first choice. She loves it. Outstanding academics, beautiful campus in a quiet, leafy suburban setting yet only 20 minutes by train from Center City Philadelphia, easy cross-registrations with Bryn Mawr (actually their course registration systems are completely integrated and their class schedules synchronized so you can take as many or as few classes as you like at BMC w/o any red tape). It’s also possible to register for classes at Swarthmore and/or Penn, though the travel logistics get slightly more complicated there. The defining feature of Haverford is its Honor Code which informs and infuses every aspect of campus life, and which the Haverford community takes very seriously as central to its identity. Read and think about what Haverford says about its Honor Code on its website. Some people love it, some can’t stand it; few are indifferent. If you’re the type that loves it, then Haverford’s for you. If you’re in the “indifferent” or “can’t stand it” category, don’t bother to apply; you won’t be happy there, and they probably won’t want you anyway. </p>
<p>Williams obviously has first-rate academics, as good as you’ll find anywhere. My D found it a little too isolated geographically and a little too jock/preppy culturally for her tastes, but several of my colleagues and other friends are alums and speak very highly of it. Athletics in general are bigger at Williams than at Haverford which doesn’t even have a varsity football team, but Haverford always has good track and cross-country teams.</p>
<p>I know people who have run track and cross country at both schools. I know Williams had a recent coaching change, but it is an excellent program and it was my first choice for my son. I think your running experience would be great at both schools. I think Williams is the perfect place to train (except for the winter issues). Haverford is OK, and I suspect they spend some time out at Valley Forge and on the bike trails. Haverford coach is excellent.
It’s really going to depend on which school feels right to you. Williams felt too small and isolated to my son.</p>
<p>The NACDA Directors’ Cup, formerly known as the Sears Cup, is given each year to the
top overall athletic program in the nation in Division I, Division II and Division III. The Division III cup has been in existence 14 years; Williams has won it 13 times. Williams and Haverford are the epitome of undergraduate colleges in the U.S. I don’t think you could choose one over the other on the basis of academic quality. The settings, as noted above, are quite different, and with 2,000 students, Williams is nearly twice the size of Haverford.</p>
<p>Wizzle, these are both great schools academically but quite different both in culture and physical location. If you are accepted to both I hope you would be able to visit before making a decision. </p>
<p>My son is a Williams alum. After his first visit he knew that Williams would be his first choice. His reaction to Haverford was just the opposite: Get me out of here! From reading this board over the years it’s evident that many kids have the same immediate reaction to Williams – love it or hate it.</p>
<p>Williamstown is a pristine mountain village. The Berkshires mountain area is culturally sophisticated – art, theater, dance – with profoundly beautiful scenery, but there’s no doubt that it lacks urban amenities. Haverford has more of a suburban feel. Philadelphia is certainly accessible, but which may or may not be a big draw.</p>
<p>Because of its location the Williams community is self contained and insular. There’s a lot of focus on physical activity – sports, for sure, but also outdoorsy pastimes that take advantage of the mountain location and personal fitness. These are energetic, multifaceted kids. It’s quite common to excel in academics, sports and arts.</p>
<p>Haverford’s reliance on the consortium to “enlarge” its academic and social offerings may or may not be an advantage. My son felt the option of taking certain courses at Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore more of a negative. He liked Williams’ self contained insularity.</p>
<p>My question to you would be why these two schools? Is it because you’re being recruited? If you like Williams you might consider Amherst, Dartmouth, Hamilton, Bowdoin. Haverford would have a different set of overlaps.</p>
<p>You couldn’t do better in terms of academic quality than either Williams or Haverford. </p>
<p>I diasgree slightly with momrath in that Williams and Haverford are significant overlaps with one another. But, if you mean schools with similar cultures for Haverford it might be Carleton, Brown, Pomona, and Wesleyan. (IMHO, although, Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin wouldn’t be out of place).</p>
<p>But I certainly agree with her, that if you can visit, you should. There are lots of students at each who turned down the other.</p>
<p>Oh and my other piece of advice is to read the Fiske Guide.</p>
<p>point, I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I agree: Williams and Haverford are NOT overlaps. Aside from academic excellence and LAC learning style they have little in common. </p>
<p>That’s why I questioned why the OP’s #1 choice would be between these two, unless, as it seems, athletic recruiting was the common denominator.</p>