<p>Izz that story happens at every school. Some people find their group right away, other people take some time.. It has more to do with you, and..well, blind chance, than the school.</p>
<p>it all depends on who you have your floor, who you meet at orientation, etc... in terms of that, it's hard to compare schools.</p>
<p>bowdoin's gov dept. is definitely awesome.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers and help from current students. Its actually making me feel great about the school.</p>
<p>Here's my two cents:</p>
<p>My brother is a senior at Williams and he plays on the Lacrosse team, so he has what you might call a "social group," HOWEVER, he does have MANY other friends that are both athletes and non-athletes that are all great kids. I have been up there with him a few times (once over a Thanksgiving break in 2008 and actually last month for a weekend) and I can tell you that the social scene was great! The kids are all extremely nice, and both times I went to awesome parties where everybody was having a good time and being responsible. Yes, the crossing a "highway" was not the safest at night, but the drivers are all well aware that they need to be cautious for the bumbling drunks on Saturday nights. Because of my experiences, I don't understand why somebody would say that the social life at Williams is "terrible." It's certainly all a matter of opinion and perspective, considering that every individual has a different experience. From what I witnessed, there are more happy, socially normal people than not at Williams.</p>
<p>I will be attending Bowdoin this fall (class of 2013!) and have only heard great things about the school. The campus is beautiful and the surrounding town of Brunswick provides a great downtown with shops and restaurants. The proximity to Freeport and Portland is also very attractive :) Yes, drinking plays a big part in the social scene, but the same goes for almost every other school I've heard of. In short, it's all what you choose to make of it (as I believe somebody mentioned earlier).</p>
<p>My experiences at Middlebury are limited. I toured in the summer and, despite what I had been told numerous times about the campus' beauty, I was really not all that impressed by the architecture... but that's just me, personally. I do have a few friends that go there (all athletes) and they love it there.</p>
<p>Somebody before said something along the lines of "these schools are more alike than they are different," which really does accurately sum up my point. The social scene combines so many different elements (like the student body, the activities you are involved in, your friends, your location, etc.) that it would be impossible for any one person to tell you how it will be for you. The experience is all what you make of it and how you choose to spend your time. You could be extremely happy at Williams or miserable at Bowdoin, or visa versa. It all depends on your personal preferences and experiences. The best way would be to do an overnight. Those are extremely helpful in deciding.</p>
<p>Hope this was somewhat helpful!</p>
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My experiences at Middlebury are limited. I toured in the summer and, despite what I had been told numerous times about the campus' beauty, I was really not all that impressed by the architecture... but that's just me, personally.
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<p>I agree that preferences for campus aesthetics can be very subjective. I’ve met many people who don’t like the fact that Middlebury’s architecture is homogenous. Nearly every building is constructed from white or gray limestone, granite, or marble, and the campus has a very open feel to it. It’s also spread out over a large area. Personally, I think Middlebury is the best looking campus I’ve seen, with the possible exception of Princeton. I love the old New England mill style architecture, and that everything sits neatly on huge expanses of lawn. I also love the mountain views. I really didn’t like Bowdoin’s campus nearly as much. There are some very nice old buildings, but I thought many were run-of-the-mill. I especially didn’t like the Cole Tower brooding over the historic part of campus. And some might like the hodgepodge of architectural styles, but I found it disharmonious. To each their own!</p>
<p>Aesthetics are so subjective - I didn't apply to Middlebury because I didn't like the look and feel of the campus. I didn't like the gray stone of the buildings and their bulkiness and similarity and I felt the buildings were too spread out. Bowdoin, on the other hand, is, to me, a gem, with the perfect quad and the interesting and diverse array of architecture from all eras and the class brick dorms with the great chapel in the middle . .</p>
<p>one can certainly feel history and tradition at bowdoin. going to the top floor of mass hall and sitting in the same room as hawthorne, longfellow, and so many others, is inspiring. same at hubbard and searles and the chapel and the bricks. bowdoin is not flashy, it's very understated, but it's substance and quality are real and profound. those kind of things stick with you as life unfolds in later years. i loved the scale of the campus, walking through the quad. the fact that the quad is level and those great structures surround and inspire, so elegant, so simple. also, the smell of the pines and ocean make you realize it's in a diverse and dynamic (ecologically speaking) location. . .it's been wonderful, expanding experience for my son.</p>
<p>Exactly! The extent to which a campus is aesthetically pleasing depends entirely on personal preferences. As this thread deals with general social life, I feel that where you are and what your school looks like has a huge impact on your mindset. There's something about the way a school looks that has always strongly influenced my decision, as the general look of the campus tends to suggest that I will love my experiences. So far, that has proven true. </p>
<p>As you see here, everybody has a different opinion. While many people love Middlebury's architecture, others don't. That doesn't make it right or wrong, good or bad. It all comes down to the individual.</p>
<p>Either way you choose, you're picking between not only some of the top liberal arts colleges in the country (Williams being tied with Amherst for #1), but you're choosing between some of the best colleges period. Even if you get into just one of these schools, you've already won.</p>