<p>I just got one of the early write letters and I'm very excited but I'm still not sure about Williams. I have not had a chance to visit the school yet, so I only know what I've heard second-hand, but are Williams students as sport-obsessed and preppy as their stereotype suggests? I'm not from a very wealthy family and I'm into music, arts, and "alternative" culture, and I have little or no interest in sports or jock-culture, so I'm worried that if I attend Williams I may be stuck in the mountains for four years with people I cannot relate to. Is this a legitimate concern, or am I looking to much into a stereotype?</p>
<p>We sound like we are in similar positions</p>
<p>I haven't visited either-the school seems really great, but the environment that I've heard about gives me second thoughts.</p>
<p>I'd love to talk to you about it sometime-im me at c0ldplay21 (thats a zero, not an oh)</p>
<p>I really don't think that there is a prevalent culture at Williams. There certainly are sports afficionados and jocks, but Williams also has very large numbers of students interested in the arts/theater/music- certainly more than many other top LACs.</p>
<p>Both Williams and Amherst are making strong pushes towards becoming more socioeconomically diverse. Of the students offered early admission this year at Williams, 49% are receiving institutional financial aid. My recommendation would be to wait until you hear from all of the schools to which you applied, visit, and make a decision based on your gut instincts, rather than what you might hear from anonymous CC posters with distinct agendas.</p>
<p>Williams has a vibrant arts scene better, in my opinion, than any other East Coast LAC with similarly rigorous academics.</p>
<p>There are many performance opportunities for students in music, dance and theater, even if they are majoring in other fields. The college just completed a $40 million performing arts center and is eager to recruit performers. My son has several friends who are serious musicians jazz and classical and who are involved in drama and dance. The kids take an interest in each others activities and attend their classmates plays, musical and dance performances and art shows. </p>
<p>Williams grads are so influential in museums across the country that they are known as the Williams mafia. (Currently they hold top positions at the Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim, The National Gallery, The LA County Museum and scores of regional museums.) There are three world class museums on or near campus which offer on-site curatorial experiences and just the chance to see good art. Williams has one of the best equipped art studio departments, small but well funded. The art professors are accomplished artists themselves and teach a wide range of media. There are also several well known writers and poets in the English faculty. </p>
<p>So in short, Id say that at Williams you can get both the arts and top notch academics.</p>
<p>Williams IS insular. This is a plus as it is a close knit community and there are tons of on-campus activities every weekend to the extent that its hard to pry the kids away. When you need to escape however there are lots of opportunities for trips to New York or Boston either social or course related.</p>
<p>The mountains, the weather, the snow what can I say? you either love it or hate it. The area is profoundly beautiful, but without doubt its a long, cold, snowy winter. It helps to have an activity that you like to do in the snow.</p>
<p>Williams kids are energetic and physically active, even if they are not involved in an organized sport. They are often multifaceted artist/athlete, musician/scientist and attack all of their activities with enthusiasm. Again, if youre a self-described couch potato this may not be the place for you, but if you run, ski, dance, workout, play tennis, swim anything that gets you moving youll find a lot of accomplices.</p>
<p>Preppy? All of the New England colleges have changed considerably over the last three decades, but old stereotypes die hard. Williams kids are not particularly into clothes as interest or income indicators (theyre wearing those anoraks and boots, remember?) but youll find a wide range of intellectual thought. Yes, there are still rich, white prep school kids as there are at every East Coast selective college, but diversity has definitely taken hold, not just racial but economic, religious, political, sexual and intellectual.</p>
<p>Ironically the insular location is a great equalizer: theres virtually nothing to spend money on!</p>
<p>So, visit! You may love it; you may hate it. The reaction is often emotional, but once there, Williams kids are a happy group. Good luck on your search and let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>thank you, i greatly appreciate all the replies so far. i will certainly visit the school before i make any decisions, but what i'm talking about is something that is hard to pick up on through a short campus visit. i should have been more specific when i said the "arts" and "alternative culture." i'm aware that any college will have programs for official academic jazz and classical music, but what i want to know has more to do with what students are up for doing. i have played in bands all through high school, bands that are generally offbeat or "experimental." playing in these groups is a very important part of my life--i make records and all that--and i hope to form new groups in college. i also participate a lot in situationist, or "experimental theatre," organizations. in any event, my real question is, is there any sort of bohemian scene at williams? do students have bands? are there "happenings?" </p>
<p>and in case this sounds like a picky thing to care about, it is. academics will override anything to do with student culture in my college decision--i'm just understandably curious about each place.</p>
<p>Commandeconomy:
People describe Williams as 'warm and fuzzy.'</p>
<p>Btw, that's an interesting screen name u have there. Hehe. Are you a supporter or command economies? Just curious.</p>
<p>i was someone who wanted a preppy atmosphere and didn't find there to be very much of it lol... there did seem to be a lot of artsy people, more so than preppy, or maybe that's just who i met. but yea, people seem to like to work out and there are a lot of jocks but i think you'll fit in just fine. one thing williams can be stereotyped as is an intellectual community.</p>