<p>I got into Williams, Swarthmore, Brown, Dartmouth, and Carnegie Mellon, but I basically ruled out the last three because I really enjoyed the LAC experience. However, I am not able to pick between the first two. </p>
<p>One major advantage that Swarthmore has is that it's much much closer to home, but other than that, I can't really split them apart. </p>
<p>I am still undecided about a major, but it will probably involve math, biology, physics (maybe engineering in Swarthmore's case), or economics, and it will most likely be interdisciplinary.</p>
<p>LAC’s are like Baskin Robbins: 37 flavors, but they’re all ice cream. Some one likes mint, but someone else likes pistachio. They’re both green and the third person can’t tell the difference between them just by looking.</p>
<p>This is not a decision anyone outside you can really help you with. Each school with have its partisans. I know two folks who chose Williams over Swat; I’m sure Swatties know as many or more who chose Swat over Williams.</p>
<p>Factors in my son’s decision were 1) The “click” at Williams; 2) The mountains; 3) The strength of the music department.</p>
<p>Swarthmore is much less remote and part a consortium so there are more resources there, and Philadelphia and Penn are close. However, when one is one the campus it feels very much like a campus bubble, whereas Williams is in a town, albeit a tiny town. Whenever I visited, I felt like I was in a small town and not on an isolated college campus. Others feel the opposite.</p>
<p>Both are great schools.</p>
<p>I think this is one you’re just going to have to decide yourself.</p>
<p>Oh, I can say that my son is NOT AN ATHLETE and was perfectly comfortable at Williams. He is not prep, and he does not drink.</p>
<p>mp, my son had a great experience at Williams. What attracted him were the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside, the dyamic art and art history programs and the overall character of the community: smart, friendly, outgoing, energetic, confident, multi-talented.</p>
<p>He looked at Swarthmore but didn’t feel the right fit. The ambience and personality are so different that it seems that you would prefer one over the other.</p>
<p>You will get an excellent education at either, but for math and sciences I’d give Williams the edge. For economics about equal. For engineering, no contest, Swarthmore.</p>
<p>You don’t mention the money, but this may be a factor too.</p>
<p>Well, if you are highly interested in engineering, as you know, that is something Swarthmore offers, but not Williams. But I will say that your other academic interests coincide incredibly well with Williams’ strengths. Williams has three national math professors of the year on faculty and the math department is absolutely amazing. Williams was the only liberal arts college which placed in the top ten in the Putnam competition this year. Williams also has a small but fantastic physics department (and it doesn’t hurt that the college President is a top-notch Physicist :)). Four Williams students have won Apker awards over the past dozen years, out of only 24 awarded nationally: [Chris</a> Chudzicki awarded Leroy Apker Award | Office of Communications](<a href=“http://communications.williams.edu/news/chudzicki-apker/]Chris”>http://communications.williams.edu/news/chudzicki-apker/). And Econ and Bio are two of the biggest and most popular majors on campus.</p>
<p>I’m sure, however, that Swarthmore is great in these areas as well, so what is more important is which campus you feel more at home at, and which students you tended to prefer, personality-wise. The differences aren’t huge given that both are liberal arts school, but I did find the campuses to have a materially different vibe during my visits. Have you visited both campuses while school is in session? If not, you should most definitely try really hard to do so in the next week before making your decision. You certainly can’t go wrong. It would be helpful to know what your social / extracurricular interests are …</p>
<p>For Biology or Physics, I’d say Swarthmore. For math, definitely Williams. That said, they are very different schools with very different vibes (although both among the best of the best)- you should definitely visit/spend a night or two if you can.</p>
<p>Lucky to have such a choice. If you feel better a bit closer to home, go to Swat. If one is substantially cheaper, go there. You can’t screw this one up, it’s all good!</p>