What Makes Williams Special??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
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<p>Williams sounds amazing! I've read up on it, talked to current and former students, and plan to visit campus. But I was curious to know what sets Williams apart from other amazing LACs?</p>

<p>I'm deciding between Williams, Middlebury, Wesleyan, and an exceptional women's college that gave me merit aid. </p>

<p>I'm not athletic, so I was wondering what the social atmosphere is like for non-athletes. Can anyone speak to this? Is the social scene overly dominated by athletic teams?</p>

<p>I'm also really interested in science, specifically biology and chemistry, and plan to dabble in a little computer science as well. What's the atmosphere like in the sciences? Are most science students pre-med or planning to go to graduate school? How hard is it to get a research position as a freshman or sophomore?</p>

<p>Also, I don't drink and do not plan on drinking during college. Is there a social scene at Williams for non-drinkers?</p>

<p>Thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>The partying scene is not overrun by athletes (it’s usually hard to tell who is an athlete unless they are really tall/built). Teams do like to host parties, but the don’t dominate it. Making friends with athletes wouldn’t hurt your quest for a fun weekend night. I don’t drink, and I still go out some weekends. There is also Williams After Dark that puts on fun events, and there are events at Goodrich hosted by various groups almost every weekend.</p>

<p>There are plently/lots of pre-med students here. It’s safe to say that a first year taking Bio and Chem is probably pre-med. Not sure about the rest</p>

3

<p>My S doesn’t drink and is a happy junior at Williams.</p>

<p>Here are some of the things that make Williams special:</p>

<p>1) Orientation trips that are fabulous.
2) Entry system that immediately creates a social network.
3) Opportunity to have a single, even as a frosh, if that’s your thing.
4) Tutorials.
5) Gorgeous mountain scenery.
6) Winter Study which has enhanced my s’s experience immeasurably.
7) Emphasis on the arts – vibrant music scene, two museums on campus, awesome
drama building. Williamstown Theater Festival, Williamstown Film Festival (during
school year.)</p>

<p>Your other schools are all excellent choices, and one may be better for you, but I know the above list makes my s’s experience wonderful and unique, and I don’t think he could have had the same experience at another school.</p>

4

<p>Williams is special in that there is no equal to its environment. No equal to its encompassing commitment to the needs of our general student body.</p>

<p>Now if you require a social life that accepts you unconditionally, then these illusions will haunt your respective stay. There is no Williams ideal, but there is a Williams idea, if you so choose to embrace it. It is what you make of Williams, and there is something here for everyone.</p>

<p>The sciences here are spectacular. Certainly, not an MIT, in an applied sense, but if finish here, in the sciences, and do well, there is no school that will not value your accomplishments, as WIlliams has no pretensions as to abilities to be the best within what if offers. Examine our graduates within the sciences.</p>

<p>The special that Williams represents, lies more within the quality of its students, faculty and staff. We Williams students love this place and show our affection in all that we do and in the school we call our home.</p>

<p>You raised the competitive equation of athletics. Williams is the best because it tries to the best in all that we individually do. Athletics is part of it. Perhaps you can appreciate the best in your neighbor, particularly if they are an athlete. Perhaps you could learn something or two.</p>

<p>Reaching out to test your limits is what we are about.</p>

<p>If you are up to this challenge, then Williams is for you.</p>

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<p>^ Loved the post.
Could you also comment on their Economics department?</p>

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<p>Another thread on point:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/williams-college/796079-only-williams.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/williams-college/796079-only-williams.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And this page from the college will also be of interest:</p>

<p>[Williams</a> College | Admission | Explore | Academics | Williams Difference](<a href=“http://www.williams.edu/admission/academics_difference.php]Williams”>http://www.williams.edu/admission/academics_difference.php)</p>

<p>In my mind, and this is all pretty much repetitive, the things that makes Williams unique are: (1) just how loyal / involved / committed alumni are (from coming back to campus, to being at or near top of donation percentages, to the insanely loyal network, to reunion participation to Ephblog, etc), (2) the entry and J.A. system, (3) tutorials, (4) the Oxford study abroad program, (5) the art history excellence / tremendous local art museums, (6) the sheer number of cool / quirky traditions, Mountain Day, Trivia, and Winter Carnival foremost among them (7) the beauty of the setting, (8) the rare triple-excellence in academics, athletics, and arts, and (9) Winter Study.</p>

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<p>Since you didn’t post a similar thread on the boards of your other schools, I’ll say something about Middlebury here. What makes Midd unique?</p>

<p>1) Its campus is breathtaking and facilities are top-notch. You’ll find very few schools with the same abundance of new/renovated facilities. New library, science center, new center for humanities, two new dining halls and one renovated dining hall, three new dorms, a renovated student center and book store…the list goes on. And you won’t be far from Burlington, VT—one of the coolest small cities in America.</p>

<p>2) Midd’s international focus and vibe is unmatched among LACs. With an international student population hovering around 10%, you’ll live, eat, play, and study with people from around the world. Add Midd’s strength in foreign language instruction and international studies, combined with the recent acquisition of the Monterrey Institute of International Studies and the schools abroad, and you can’t get much better when it comes to developing a well-balanced world view.</p>

<p>3) Middlebury’s commitment to the environment extends to nearly all aspects of campus life. Midd was the first college or university in the nation to offer a major in environmental studies (way back in 1965), and the program is widely recognized as among the finest in the country. With Vermont as your classroom, opportunities for studying the natural world abound.</p>

<p>4) Loyal alumni—this past year, Middlebury set a record for alumni support. In fact, a greater percentage of Middlebury alumni donated to the college than did alumni of any other college in the country. </p>

<p>5) Snow Bowl. ‘Nuff said.</p>

<p>6) J-term (which you’ll also find at Williams) offers you the chance to take classes you ordinarily wouldn’t in an intensive one-month program.</p>

<p>7) Middlebury also offers excellent athletic teams with lots of school spirit and awesome facilities (inc. a new pool and hockey rink). We often give Williams a run for their money.</p>

<p>8) Middlebury’s size is (IMHO) perfect—at around 2,500 students, you’ll have small classes and get to know most of your classmates, but still meet new people all the time. Plus Midd’s residential college system, modeled after the systems at Oxford and Yale, create smaller communities within the larger community.</p>

<p>9) Middlebury’s dining services (along with Bowdoin’s) are amazing. All you can eat, with lots of vegetarian options. Plus a student-run full service restaurant (Dolci) right on campus.</p>

<p>I’ll stop there. You have a difficult choice ahead of you…</p>

8

<p>Thanks to all of you!! I really appreciate your responses.</p>

<p>Arcadia: the Middlebury response was a nice surprise! I did not post on the other boards because I know A LOT more about Wesleyan and Middlebury and have visited both, while I know comparatively little about Williams. But I really enjoyed reading your viewpoint!</p>

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<p>This is a great thread :)</p>

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<p>Middlebury does have a beautiful science facility, but only about 10% of the students are science majors versus approximately 24% at Williams. That’s a huge difference IMHO</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>15% of Middlebury students major in the hard sciences. An additional 6.3% major in Environmental Studies (which provides a balance of hard science coursework combined with study in other disciplines), and an additional 3% major in Neuroscience (which, like ES, is considered an interdepartmental division. So the difference is not as significant as it first appears.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/56041/original/Fall_majors-all.pdf[/url]”>http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/56041/original/Fall_majors-all.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Horseradish, could you please explain what you mean by this?</p>

<p>“Now if you require a social life that accepts you unconditionally, then these illusions will haunt your respective stay. There is no Williams ideal, but there is a Williams idea, if you so choose to embrace it. It is what you make of Williams, and there is something here for everyone.”</p>

<p>I’m not sure what this means. What would you say the 'Williams idea" is and what would it mean to ‘embrace’ it. And what are the “penalities” for NOT embracing the Williams idea? Why wouldn’t you want a social life that accepts you unconditionally? Personally for me (and I’m not my D), I would really dislike a place I had to change myself in order to fit in; I WANT a place that accepts me unconditionally. I also accept others unconditionally. So could you please clarify here? What are your impressions of ‘fitting in’ at Williams? What is the “Williams idea”? THanks.</p>

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<p>Hoveringmom, </p>

<p>I think that one should take horseradish’s views with a grain, or two or three, of salt. Much flowery language with varying degrees of substance. (I am putting this in polite terms.)</p>

<p>Check out his/her other posts not only about Williams but about other schools and get a sense of the tone before worrying about whether or not what he/she says has relevance.</p>

14

<p>There is no wrong answer here. They are both great schools. My S applied to Williams ED despite taking a very hard look at Middlebury. In addition to his sense that Williams attracted stronger students (at least from his high school) and the strong science program, he was very taken with the Oxford tutorial program and the extremely supportive Frosh housing system. He did not dislike anything about Middlebury; he just loved Williams.</p>

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<p>I think Middlebury has made a firm commitment to boosting the quality of its science programs, and the most tangible evidence of this commitment is Bicentennial Hall. The college is actively recruiting more students interested in the sciences, and this effort seems to be paying off. From this week’s Campus:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>[The</a> Middlebury Campus Blog Archive Admissions rates dip to 17.5 percent](<a href=“http://middleburycampus.com/2010/04/07/admissions-rates-dip-to-17-5-percent/]The”>http://middleburycampus.com/2010/04/07/admissions-rates-dip-to-17-5-percent/)</p>

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<p>Oh dear. We don’t have to argue about this. Midd is great. Williams is great. Let each student choose the environment best suited if lucky enough to be admitted to both.</p>

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<p>I don’t think that anyone is arguing, and I think we all agree that both schools are wonderful. It’s just helpful to have a more balanced discussion when comparing schools.</p>

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<p>Dear hoveringmom & arcadia:</p>

<p>Williams College bears the legacy of a great American educator, Mark Hopkins, who was president of Williams College from 1802 to 1887. He came to symbolize this school through his moral philosophy coupled through his Christian piety and his concepts of manliness. He believed that its graduates would have sound character and a disciplined mind. It is from these foundational beginnings that we find ourselves within its traditions and values as when we speak about the Log.</p>

<p>From the general tenor of this blog, I presume you are the mother of your prospective daughter. Unconditional acceptance is important in evoking one’s positive self and is often substituted when speaking of love. But this unconditional acceptance must start in the subjects acceptance of themselves. Asking others to that for them, often creates the cult of “self-esteem” and often we as students are not deep feeling therapists peddling love as a technique in our numerous social settings and through our mutual intercourse. Unconditional acceptance must start with the individual first. With that in mind, your daughter is most likely a balanced person and should suffer no condemnation but experience a positive environment in which to grow.</p>

<p>We here are generally a very happy lot for we foster support for one another and emphasize team spirit. I believe your daughter will do just fine, but as for you best wishes and cheers.</p>

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<p>omandad, did your son get in to W? I saw that you said he applied ED. out of curiousity, what were his numbers, test and gpa? also, if accepted, what kind of FA did you get, if applicable in your case?</p>