Hello. Williams alum and parent. I would say to really consider the environment-how will she feel about the relative isolation (a + for some a - for others) vs. being in a location with other colleges. The Williams community is very tight-could be perfect for some or claustrophobic for others. Either way-congratulations!
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@VTquest - Congratulations! You can’t go wrong. Both choices are excellent.
Amherst has the advantage of the five college consortium, which provides more course options and more social options, aa well as a more accessible location.
Williams is an absolutely wonderful academic experience set in a gorgeous mountain setting. The two-student tutorials are an amazing learning opportunity unique to Williams. The freshman entry system is also a great way to get to know a group of people right upon your arrival.
There is not really “pre-law” at Williams, but you could major in anything and continue on to law. The history department is extraordinary: great professors, courses, readings, discussions. Poli sci has some great options, too. But you also could major in art history or physics and go on to law school, of course! Take advantage of the opportunity to explore broadly within the liberal arts during your four years, for the sheer joy of learning!
There is a Law Society with a Mock Trial Team you might want to join if you go.
Williams courses teach you to read and reason, which can lead to a very high LSAT score and good preparation for law school. Expect to emerge from Williams with reading, writing, and thinking skills that will help you succeed in many different possible career paths.
Both colleges will give you a superb learning experience in small classes that feature ample opportunity for discussion. You also will get to know your professors extremely well. At Williams, Pre-Covid, it was not uncommon for professors to invite students to their homes for dinners— another advantage of small class sizes!
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IF anyone of you will be reappyling to williams for Fall 2022 or 2023 admissions, send me a message ASAP.
Anyone getting excited about the virtual previews this weekend? 
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Hope everyone’s taking advantage of the virtual classes, too. We sat in on an English class last week that was fantastic. The next classes are April 19 and 20 Virtual Classes
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Yes, D21 sat in on one that she really enjoyed and has a few more lined up. She has also been paired with a current student that seems like an excellent match up.
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I was wondering if anyone had any insight to share about what budget a typical Williams College student might need. With meals/room and board part of tuition and limited outside needs for expenses-I am imagining personal expenses, going out occasionally for a meal with friends. My daughter went to a city school which made budgeting more complicated. She had pets as well. It all got very complicated. Thankfully she has a job and will be fully independent as of September! I want to handle it better this year. I want my son to start to think about what he might need, what he can afford from his summer job and I want to think about what might be typical to supplement. I realize this is personal and of course variable but I am hoping to get some suggestions if only as to how to proceed. Any ideas?
Hi, @sadieshadow - my freshman son at Williams has barely spent any money. Books and course packets and few take out meals from the Thai restaurant on Spring Street. This semester, he went to Walmart once to pick up some snacks. Spent money on nothing else! Granted - he’s a boy and very frugal. But with the restrictions and the remote nature of the campus . . . there’s not a lot to spend on! My daughter on a different campus . . . that’s a different story! 
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@sadieshadow Went back to my records. In the fall, he spent about $375 on books and course packets (4 classes). His English class had a lot of books, and this is a kid who wants to buy them and keep them and not rent them. This spring (3 classes), $130. Hope that’s helpful!
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This was my instince . . books, course packets I am fine with . . .snacks and an occasional meal out sounds perfect. No UBERS!
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Thanks a lot.
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Books are crazily expensive. Figure about $400 per semester. (Unless you are on any financial aid at all, in which case they are covered.)
Other than that, expenses are minimal. We got our kid a bank account at a bank on Spring Street. Now a junior, he has never once withdrawn money from it, LOL!
I think during his first semester freshman year, he and his friends ate out a couple of times at local restaurants, visited an art museum, and went apple picking. Other than that, they mostly kept busy with on-campus events, which are either free or for a nominal fee, and some local outdoor activities like hiking.
Skiing or snowboarding could be expensive if you want to try those, but one trick is to sign up for a college PE class for one of these; if you are on financial aid, the college will cover all your expenses for it!
One advantage of a rural college compared to an urban one is that generally there are not expensive local activities that a kid with less money might not be able to attend.
As per Meddy’s post… Admitted students, if you get an email from a current Williams student this week, take advantage of that opportunity to ask your questions about the college experience.
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Already did! It was incredibly helpful!! Also, thank you for the PE tip.
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DS has sat in on 2 classes and found them to be wonderful. Also, was able to meet up with a professor and listen to him speak about a program he is interested in. Should be talking to his matched student tomorrow. Sat in on a club meeting yesterday. He has been thrilled to be able to learn so much virtually. Every single opportunity he has had has been wonderful. He has found everything incredibly worthwhile. We are all excited over previews this weekend.
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I don’t know Williams that well. My younger brother went to Amherst and from there to Stanford Law. He really liked Amherst and it did well by him in terms of applying to law school. He had a number of really great choices.
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I should add that having visited him, I really liked the town of Amherst. There was a lot going on and having all those other colleges in the nearby area made it feel more cosmopolitan than some LAC (not commenting on Williams bc I have never visited) that are in middle of nowhere. I went to college in NYC so I get a little nervous when it’s just me and some cows.
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Yeah. I heard that Amherst (and Williams) is really good for grad school admissions, which is really exciting for me as someone who wants to go to an epic grad school!
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Hey everyone, I’m going to be a senior soon and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing their stats and secs - so I could get a sense of the level of students who get admitted.
Use the common data set, and Williams’ own press releases, to determine average GPA and test scores of Williams admits, as what you see here will be incomplete. Williams is a reach for all applicants (excluding recruited athletes, which probably comprise around 12% or so of each class), what that means is that even students with 4.0 GPA, high rigor, and high test scores are routinely not selected for admission.
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Hello! Thank you for that - I took a look at that and my stats are right around that area. I was more so wondering the caliber of EC’s those who get admitted have.