I’m seriously considering going to Williams College because I was accepted on a full ride scholarship However, as I narrow down options, Study Abroad as an undergrad is very very important to me. I was searching and apparently, my fin aid would follow me @ Williams if I choose to study away. This is an amazing opportunity no other school is offering.
My question is, how common is Study Away at Williams? Is this an opportunity that is widely encouraged and “pushed” or is it hard to get into and not encouraged for students? I know all school’s websites will give copypaste positive answers but I’d like a realistic opinion from a Williams person.
For comparison, one of my other options is NYU, and it’s enticing me because they boast their study away programs. Is Williams just as encouraging of Study Away, or is this not a huge part of the school, ect…?
p.s. if it relates, I was accepted into Global Studies @ Williams.
D '20 had planned to study away, but now she’s looking at a double major. She says this is the only reason why more students don’t study away: they’re busy completing double majors. Otherwise, the school makes study away easy.
Its JMHO but I think you should base your decision based on finances and geography. NYU and Williams couldn’t be more different in terms of locations. NYC or a depressed town in MA that has beautiful scenery in the fall and winter (if you like winter)? Which environment do you want to live in? Financially…full ride…wow! Study abroad…you can do that at either schools and it will work out.
As noted, many students study away for a semester or year. I knew students at Williams who spent some time at Oxford, in Africa, in Mystic, and all over the world. But the popular Junior Adviser program also attracts a lot of juniors to stay on campus junior year.
(Note: “Depressed”? I am surprised by that description. Williamstown is a small, charming, mountain village with great art museums and a theater festival, as well as mountains and hiking, largely populated by people who work at the college and their families. Nearby North Adams-- to which one would have to drive-- is more of a mixed income area, which is being revitalized.)
@ivegraduatedmom
Your daughter might consider doing Winter Study abroad.
My son double majored in 2 stem areas & did a thesis. He also was interested in visual art & explored that with a Winter Study course in Egypt.
(If she’s a math major, Budapest for a semester is a possibility)
I’m an alum. Many of my classmates went abroad junior year. Williams has its own house/residence in Oxford and even stations a faculty member over there for the year as an advisor. If you want to go abroad, there will be ample opportunity and support to do so.
The median family income in Williamstown is just under six figures, at $99,267. This is significantly higher than the statewide average of $84,900 – and note that Massachusetts is one of the highest-income states in the country. The median family income in Williamstown is also higher than the comparable values for other college towns in western Massachusetts, such as Amherst, Northampton, or South Hadley.
However, as I narrow down options, Study Abroad as an undergrad is very very important to me. I was searching and apparently, my fin aid would follow me @ Williams if I choose to study away. This is an amazing opportunity no other school is offering.