<p>Any info on the physics program in Middlebury ???
is it good ? how are the professors ?? and how is Middlebury compared to Williams ?</p>
<p>Both schools have very good undergraduate physics programs. Williams is probably better known for physics, because the Williams program is larger and has won more Apker Awards (a national prize issued for undergraduate physics research). </p>
<p>Williams, in general, has a stronger science/math orientation than Middlebury. For example, I count 7 tenure-track faculty in the physics dept. at Midd., vs. 12 at Williams. Furthermore, the physics dept. at Midd includes astronomy, while Williams has a separate astronomy dept. with 2 more faculty. So Williams has significantly more physics/astronomy faculty, even though it is the smaller school overall. Williams probably has more physics/astronomy majors as well. </p>
<p>It’s also worth noting that physicists play an unusually prominent role in the Williams administration. The new President of Williams (Adam Falk) is a physicist from Johns Hopkins, and he promptly named a physics professor (Sarah Bolton) as Dean of the College. Both also serve as members of the physics faculty. </p>
<p>These points don’t necessarily mean that Williams is a better choice for a prospective physics major – you would get a fine undergraduate physics education at either school.</p>