<p>1) How intellectually intense is Williams? I've heard that its one of the hardest schools to graduate from (in the sphere of liberal arts anyways). True?</p>
<p>2) What is the core like at Williams? What classes will I be required to take? (I couldn't find this when I searched online for some reason)</p>
<p>3) What is the social scene at Williams? Will I fit in if I don't drink</p>
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1) How intellectually intense is Williams? I've heard that its one of the hardest schools to graduate from (in the sphere of liberal arts anyways). True?
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<p>Williams is a very strong school academically, so you should expect to be challenged. But, it has one of the highest grad rates in the country, the average GPA is among the highest in its group of peers (according to an article in this week's college paper). I have seen nothing to suggest that Williams is notably difficult.</p>
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2) What is the core like at Williams? What classes will I be required to take? (I couldn't find this when I searched online for some reason)
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<p>It's in the course catalog on-line. Without looking it up, it's your basic couple of science/math, couple of humanities, couple of social sciences type distribution requirements. Nothing terribly restrictive.</p>
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3) What is the social scene at Williams? Will I fit in if I don't drink
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<p>There are 4000+ colleges and universities in the United States. If fitting in as a non-drinker is something that you would ask about (and more students should, IMO), why would you consider colleges that are known for their heavy drinking social scenes? Wpuldn't it make more sense to consider more moderate drinking schools? I mean, if you didn't want to do math, you probably wouldn't be considering MIT and CalTech, right? It's just common sense.</p>
<p>Um neither my S or his GF drink at all and they preferred Williams to any other school they were accepted at including U of Chicago, Swat, Haverford, and Brown. (Two had acceptances from two of those and two from the other.) They were not GF and BF when they made their decisions so being together was not a factor.</p>
<p>Another friend, who is now a senior, chose Williams over Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, Swat, Haverford, Wes. Yes, she had quite a array to choose from. She was the Val. She does not drink either.</p>
<p>I am not saying that Williams is the school for you. Nor am I saying that it's the school for anyone else. Any of the above schools might fit you more.</p>
<p>I am saying that many, many students are at Williams who don't drink. As for why they chose it? Who can explain affinity. They just felt it "fit" them. </p>
<p>The three students I have mentioned are not a big sample, true, but all of them are ecstatic at Williams and so are many other kids who don't drink I have spoken to.</p>
<p>Actually, I think I can speak for my S. He loved Williams because the kids had the same droll, quirky, humorous sensibility he did, and he loved the music department and the any opportunities offered a music student. For example, they all the performing groups are going to Argentina for their winter study if they choose.</p>
<p>About grades -- like most elite schools, not hard to get into the B range, very difficult to get into the A range. I've heard the same from all schools of this caliber. </p>
<p>Of course, there are some students who have the "academic gene" and easily get A's, but that is not the experience of most students.</p>
<p>"How intellectually intense is Williams?"<br>
Based on the experience of my two children, it's as intellectually intense as you want it to be. There are tutorials available, which can be quite challenging. There are many exciting research opportunities, which can result in publishable material and presentations at conferences. But, it is perfectly acceptable not to participate in such hard-core academic pursuits and to spend your time involved in other types of activities that may be more meaningful to you. You decide what you want your college experience to be. Even if you don't live an academically-intense existence at Williams, there will still be many exciting opportunities available to you after graduation.</p>
<p>"What is the core like at Williams? What classes will I be required to take?"
The nice thing about Williams is that you have MANY options for fulfilling your distribution requirements. It is usually pretty easy to find classes that relate to your interests or are interesting to you, even though they are outside of your major(s). Or, you can use the requirement to dabble in areas with which you are not familiar. You might find some exciting new interests to pursue. </p>
<p>"Will I fit in if I don't drink?"
Although Williams has a reputation for being quite a drinking school, you can definitely find students who don't. My son does not drink, even though he is old enough to do so. I don't sense that he feels any pressure to. However, he is not involved in athletics (he's a musician like mythmom's son). My daughter was, and there was definitely a lot of social pressure on her to fit in at parties where heavy drinking was going on. It might be an issue depending on the group with whom you choose to socialize.</p>
<p>if you do not drink=do not go to Williams</p>
<p>Hey mythmom,</p>
<p>Your posts are very insightful. You have piqued our interest in Williams!</p>
<p>We visited the campus last weekend and didn't see much after hours activity. My son was a little concerned that the social scene might be somewhat lacking. There were a few stragglers, but there didn't seem to be much going on.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>(I'm thankful that my happy Eph wasn't subjected to idad's "advice" during the college search process -- and wasn't interested in colleges in PA.)</p>
<p>Well, I really like the colleges in PA, but the two bridge thing, not great. Have to get onto Staten Island and then off to Jersey.</p>
<p>I was willing, but kids didn't want that. Still Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and Haverford all seem worthwhile enough to suffer their geographical unattractiveness for LI'ers. We are geographically challenged here.</p>
<p>NYC where D is -- one bridge.</p>
<p>Williamstown -- no bridge. We take the ferry.</p>
<p>Although it may be geographically "challenging," it sounds lovely and idyllic, mythmom.</p>
<p>Oh, I meant on LI, not Williamstown. We need a bridge to go anywhere.</p>
<p>Absolutely. Williamstown is lovely and idyllic.</p>
<p>Mythmom, I knew you meant your place of residence was a challenge, well worth the extra "work."</p>
<p>Agreed that Williamstown is as well.</p>
<p>Well I also meant to say that Swat, Haverford and Bryn Mawr would be work the extra work, too, but the kids weren't interested.</p>
<p>NYC is our family's second home. D wanted to go there because she feels more comfortable in NYC than anywhere else she's been.</p>
<p>S loved Wiliamstown and Williams the minute we walked up to the admissions office. I do think he felt connected with NE. My mom grew up less than a half hour away from Williams in Bennington, VT, so it was like coming home.</p>