Williams or Wharton (Penn)?

<p>Okay, so when it comes down to it I am pretty much deciding between Williams or Wharton (having been accepted to both). I know I will have more fun at Williams, being a more laid back atmosphere in a rural atmosphere, smaller class sizes actually taught by professors, more liberal etc. etc. Wharton on the other hand has amazing career prospects, more opportunities because of its great facilities and more students means more student-related things going on. However, I do not know if I can handle the intensity that is associated with Wharton and all the intense business classes. However, when I think about it, I will probably be taking the same types of classes in Williams anyways (business classes that is).</p>

<p>To give a little perspective here, my interests are...
International business, with a focus on the more human side of business (working and communicating with other people, etc.) as opposed to number crunching. I am very, very interested in languages and traveling. My main language right now is Spanish, but I'm working on Chinese (and hope to be more fluent in Spanish and become fluent in Chinese) as well as develop moderate proficiency in languages like Italian or Arabic of French (not sure which at this point). I am not as terribly interested in business as I used to be, and don't know if I'm willing to sacrifice my own enjoyment in a career for it. However, I know that I will get great money going to wharton (though I don't care as much about money as I used to).</p>

<p>Anyways, give me some guidance here! I'm pretty lost and this is gonna be a very tough decision for me. I feel like I'll lose something major going to either school over the other.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot,</p>

<p>~ Alex</p>

<p>“I will probably be taking the same types of classes in Williams anyways (business classes that is).”</p>

<p>Williams College does not offer business classes. Go to Warton if you want to spend your undergraduate years studying accounting, finance, marketing, and management. Go to Williams if you want to study subjects like history, political science, economics, English literature, foreign languages, music, art, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology…</p>

<p>Your basic decision is whether you want an undergraduate business education (Warton) or if you want a broad liberal arts education (Williams). I am a big proponent of liberal arts education and believe that it can provide an excellent foundation for a happy and productive life. Others may disagree.</p>

<p>I kind of agree with you there but I also kind of feel like that is what high school is for. Out of there, I know I want to study economics (or need to, at least), foreign languages, math, and stuff like that. I know I don’t want to study history, english literature, music, art, chem/bio, etc. I’ve taken all of that in high school, and I know I either don’t like it, or do it on my free time (art for example).</p>

<p>A good liberal arts education will go way beyond what you learned in high school.</p>

<p>A good, and operating word “good”, liberal arts education goes well beyond the bounds of high school. If you plan on getting any masters or doctoral degrees, I would go to Williams. As you said, your opportunities may be better going to Wharton, though. I think you can also take courses at the CAS if you are in at Wharton (correct), so you can get your liberal arts there.</p>

<p>Williams and Wharton are SO different. Wharton is very pre-professional and prepares you for, essentially, a trade. I’m not knocking it, but it is a different kind of college and learning experience. I know several kids who bailed out of Wharton because it wasn’t what they expected. Most high schoolers really have no idea what it really means to study business at a place like Wharton. It is right for some students but not for others.</p>