What is the party scene/social life like at Williams? Is it a problem with the school being so small and remotely located?
The party scene and social scene at Williams are two very distinct entities, so they should be addressed separately. If you’re looking to go crazy every night of the week, don’t come to Williams. If you’re looking to go to clubs and meet lots of random people and take every possible drug, don’t come to Williams. There are basically three types of parties at Williams: off-campus parties, dorm pregames, and school-thrown dance parties (which everyone pregames with their friends). I’ve found that most people who want more traditional college parties go to the off-campus parties. They’re filled with people, the music is loud, and some people love that. However, I prefer a) not to drink and b) to be able to talk to people, so I mostly hang around the dorm pregames. There’s never any pressure to drink - seriously, there isn’t, you do you - and it’s generally a very chill atmosphere. I also enjoy the school dance parties, where you get to just… dance. Parties tend to end pretty early as college parties go, as people want to get snackbar before it closes at 1 or 2. In essence, Williams parties can be as relaxed or as crazy as you want - to a point.
The social scene is totally different. With parties and nightlife, being removed from a city can be limiting in certain ways if you’re into that kind of thing, while with social life the self-encapsulation is a really positive effect. I feel very much a part of a community at Williams. Whenever I walk somewhere, I’ll be friends with someone I pass, and in all my classes I make friends to study with readily. The entry system really helps with that as well. Friendships are made quickly and strongly, and usually last throughout your time at Williams. By the end of your time here, you’ll know probably half of your class personally and know about another 30-40% by face and name. This can be a double-edged sword in some ways; if you want anonymity, you probably won’t get it here. However, there are always new people to meet in the classes above and below you, so that’s not an issue, and I love being known and knowing everyone in my year. I don’t feel stifled by the size at all, and, in fact, it makes the social scene perfect for me. People here are courteous, intelligent, and personable, and I wouldn’t trade the student body for any other.
Are you worried that there will be too many parties or too few?