<p>I am absolutely torn between Williams and Haverford and am on the verge of doing ini mini minee moe (flipping a coin is so passe') to determine my fate. I live five minutes from Haverford and my bro goes there so i know quite a bit about the school and love the campus' feel and their sense of community. However, I plan on majoring in history or possibly econ and as I looked through the course catalogs, I can't help but notice that Williams' class offerings are simply more enticing and cover more areas that I'm interested in. Regardless of the course offerings, academically these two schools seem identical to me and I will have to work real hard at both. Haverford already feels so comfortable for me and I feel that I will be taking a big risk by going to Williams (a school I know less about). I really don't know what to do and some comparisons and contrasts between these two schools would be very helpful to me and I would appreciate it (especially comparing the student bodies and social atmosphere). Thanks so much</p>
<p>french, you would get an excellent education at either school. I'd give Williams somewhat of an edge academically and in graduate and professional school admissions. </p>
<p>Haverford is suburban with Philadelphia at its doorstep. Williamstown is an insular New England village. The physical environoment will affect the social atmophere, but at the end of the day most of the students at both schools are friendly, outgoing middle-class kids.</p>
<p>To me your real decision is whether you want to break out of your comfort zone -- your neighborhood, your family -- and launch into the unknown. You're the only one who can answer that question.</p>
<p>I can assure you that Williams will offer a warm welcome and you will quickly become acclimatized. There a lot of programs in place that help with the transition from living at home to college: orientation programs, the entry system, plenty of academic support. The social network is very tightly knit.</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know what you choose.</p>
<p>I have a child who is a first year at Williams and loves it there. Profs are very approachable and helpfull. Very easy to get to know them. The work is hard and the grading is stern but fair. Turned down H & Amherst and could not be happier. Lots of friends. A personal opinion, I am not a fan of Phili, but I know many are. Both are excellent schools but I think Williams is a notch above.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much for explaining the discrepancies between haverford and williams and assuaging my fears of going into the "unknown" for college. Fortunately I have received an extension for both schools so I still haven't chosen but your posts have been very helpful.</p>
<p>I think Williams has a bit more academic renown in the academic community... to the rest of the world you may as well be speaking tongues. I agree with icantfindaname that Williams' location is better. I also would add that I think Williams has a greater emphasis on a sports atmosphere, and a greater emphasis on the outdoors. Haverford is also supposed to have substandard food.</p>
<p>Should have been clearer the H my child turned down was Harvard not Haverford. Good luck.</p>