<p>I applied RD to Amherst, Williams, Midd, and Bowdoin. I have visited Bowdoin, Midd, and Williams and I'm pretty sure I want to stick to small LACs. </p>
<p>I have been looking into each schools academic offerings for my intended major or Anthropology/Sociology and am having a rough time making distinctions.</p>
<p>So far, all I can tell is that Bowdoin has a pretty strong Soc/Anthro department for its size and that Williams and Amherst comparatively have smaller ones with a lower percentage of students in each major. </p>
<p>Any ideas on which school is best for these social sciences??</p>
<p>Generally, in the case of LACs, it’s pretty hard to differentiate individual department quality among schools of similar quality. In the case of anthropology in particular, two LACs do seem to have especially outstanding departments: Beloit and Bryn Mawr. I’ve never heard Amherst, Midd, Bowdoin or Williams singled out as being especially excellent in that field (they are famous for others, and considered excellent all around). So I’d recommend choosing, from the ones that accept you, on some other basis.</p>
<p>You should probably choose based on the overall quality of the academics because you could change your mind about a major. For example, anthropology could turn into more of an international studies interest. Middlebury has an international studies major that is extremely popular in which you choose a regional specialty and a substantive focus which can be anthropology, literature, history or a few others.</p>
<p>Another factor to consider is the consortium advantages you get at Amherst. In particular, you get access to extensive course offerings at UMass. That could be a significant advantage for anthropology.</p>
<p>And, they’ve always been known for their pioneering in Ethnomusicology which combines its strong bench in cultural anthropology with musicians recruited from around the world.</p>
<p>Along the lines of Hitch123, which schools (maybe not specifically for Soc/Anthro) have the strongest social sciences in general? I feel like I am being too specific/picky but I think it may come down to the school with the most/best interdisciplinary social sciences offerings. </p>
<p>I have also considered American Studies, which is offered at all three except Bowdoin. There are huge differences in the programs though. Williams graduates 12 students yearly in that major and Amherst graduates only 2. I don’t know about Midd.</p>
<p>Any other suggestions for obscure, interdisciplinary fields? I like the idea of Intl studies at Midd - I have never looked in to that. The main draw to these programs for me is the junior and senior level seminar style required classes as found in American Studies or Wesleyan’s College of Social Sciences. Is there a school that emphasizes this approach in their majors?</p>
<p>Swarthmore’s honors program is a bit similar to the style of classes in the College of Social Studies (both modeled after Oxford’s tutorial system).</p>