<p>I really love Williams for everything it has to offer academically, but for a social person, is Williams going to be unfulfilling? Now, let me clarify that I find challenging academics very fulfilling, but I also understand the importance of being happy and having a good time while doing so. I would describe myself as a very social person who loves to drink and hang out with friends. Obviously, i'm not expecting a "night life" or "club scene" because c'mon.. we are talking about Williamstown, but I would love to hear from past/present students on their social lives! </p>
<p>Would I be better served at Middlebury?
ps. I love the athletic aspect of both of these colleges</p>
<p>I would imagine that the social scene of these two colleges are pretty similar. We visited both colleges last year with my D, I am a Williams alum from back in the day and have relatives and friends who attended Middlebury. Of course, I don’t have first hand, current experience with either but these two colleges seem awfully similar to me…I am thinking if you like one, you will probably like the other (and if you like athletics, academic, drinking and hanging out with friends you will probably be just fine at either).</p>
<p>^^Seconded. You can have a good time on the weekends if you’re looking for it at either school. To talk about the differences would be splitting hairs, in my opinion. But between Williams and some other NESCACs and other northeastern LACs, there can be sizable differences due to varying workloads and athletic cultures. </p>
<p>I assume you’re basically talking about the party scene. At Williams, lectures, concerts, film screenings, etc. are also considered social events because it’s such an intellectual campus. But yes, there are a few bars within walking distance, all-campus dance parties almost every weekend, and small parties in dorms.</p>
<p>OP, in the post where you are agonizing over the Brown vs Dartmouth decision, you say you want to join a sorority. If that’s the case, you will not be “better served” by Middlebury or Williams as neither has Greek life at all. And if you worry about the lack of a vibrant social scene in Providence, Williams and Middlebury are probably not good choices for you. </p>
<p>In any case, you haven’t been accepted to any of these schools, or Tufts, UChicago or Wake Forest. You should wait and see where you are admitted in the spring, attend preview days, and discover for yourself where you find the robust party scene you are worried about. Right now, without having being admitted anywhere, this is a pretty pointless exercise.</p>
<p>OP might want to “love to drink” a little less, considering she’s in high school. Seriously.</p>
<p>Let’s be honest, Spring Street does not have much to offer. The school itself is big on its community and sports stuff, but the town doesn’t have much to offer. I can’t speak for Middlebury, but one of my friends who got in ED was struggling between Williams and Middlebury. </p>
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<p>Wait… what about the Purple Pub?</p>
<p>The Purple Pub is there, but I doubt that as a college student you’ll want to fork over $13 for a salad. Besides, the food on Spring Street is alright. I like TunnelCity and Papa Charlie’s. The Indian Place is fine too. If you’re going to apply to Williams, make sure that the school’s social activities will be enough to sustain you, because the immediate area doesn’t offer much. The nearest major city (Boston) is a 2.5 hr drive. </p>
<p>If you’re going to the Purple Pub for a salad, you’re doing it wrong.</p>
<p>As soon as I read OP’s question, I knew that people were going to start lecturing. Yes, the question made it seem like she wanted to party, but let’s be honest. This is college, and even at amazing schools like these, it’s almost always a factor. If OP’s considering schools like these and all of the ones that Honeybee63 listed, she’s clearly doing something right. </p>