<p>I cannot seem to get a sense of the differences between these too. I've heard that Williams is more of a jock school, and while I know that both are great academically, I really want to know the different types of students they attract. A fun-loving, relaxed student body is very important to me, as is a safe and pretty surrounding area. If anyone has any advice or knows about links to videos/tours of these schools, I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Look at Carleton</p>
<p>There are many threads about this very topic, if you just search around.</p>
<p>I think the schools have remarkable similar student bodies. In fact, at Amherst recruited athletes are an even larger percentage of the class.</p>
<p>Many people apply to both and end up at one or the other due which school admits them. I have also read that in cross acceptances about 50% choose each.</p>
<p>I would make this distinction if I had to (though many might not agree with me.) The kids at Amherst are a tad more oriented toward social science and are a tad more outward in their orientations and the kids at Williams are a tad more oriented toward the sciences and arts, and thus maybe a bit more inward. The Williams' kids are very humorous and ironic. Don't know if this is true of Amherst kids. It might be.</p>
<p>Well, there will be 75 recruited athletes in every entering class at both Amherst and Williams. But, as was mentioned, Williams has a slightly larger class size to compensate. However, Williams is also fond of artsy folk, from my experience. Of the dozen or so people who were admitted from my high school, all of them had been heavily involved in theater/drama some time or the other. </p>
<p>Amherst has a thing for diversity, for sure: socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographic. So, that certainly helps to counterbalance the athletic culture that persists there in many respects.</p>
<p>Thus, both are jock schools, but both attract a great variety of students that keep sportiness from over-dominating. </p>
<p>Both jeffs and ephs are down-to-earth, but at quality schools like W & A, you're bound to find a fair share of competitive, neurotic types.</p>
<p>Both campuses are safe, and both are beautiful. If you can, definitely visit to get a feel, so as to better figure out at which you'll see yourself more comfortable spending the next few years.</p>
<p>You can't go wrong choosing either.</p>
<p>Williams is for people who like being in the mountains. Amherst is for people who prefer to stay close to civilization. That was the difference in 1821, and it's still the difference today.</p>