I saw a thread from 3 years ago about reccomended classes to sit-in during previews. I figured that it might be a bit outdated. What are good classes to sit in? I am looking mainly at math/science classes.
Also, what would be good parts of the college and the town to visit?
Hi Shinpachi! I’m a freshman, tour guide, and chem major at WIlliams, so I feel pretty qualified to answer your question. There are a lot of sides to Williams academics, so I suggest sampling all of them, if possible. Here are my recommendations:
Either bio 102 or chem 156 (orgo). Both are the largest kind of class you’ll experience at Williams, and both are exactly what you’ll take if you’re interested in premed or being a bio or chem major. While not representative of Williams academics as a whole - the average class size at Williams is 13, while my orgo class currently has around 115 kind in it - it’s good to see the worst of what you can expect in terms of lecture size. Although I’m trying to be impartial if possible, I will say that although the class is so big, the professor is still extremely accessible.
Any math class. I would recommend Colin Adams’ knot theory class, as he’s a great prof and is a leader in the field of knot theory.
A discussion-based history or English class. These courses are classic Williams, and - bonus! - you’ll probably be able to understand everything they’re saying, which may not be true for higher-level div3 courses.
As for visiting, the town is obviously small, so wander around down Spring Street - the “downtown” of campus - and be sure to get a meal in one of the dining halls, like Paresky or Mission, and to go on a tour. Williams tours are known for being excellent, and I promise we do a good job of showing you around the campus. If you need any more info, feel free to PM me and I’ll fill you in further.