<p>If you want a more urban experience, Swarthmore is only about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia, which provides many more options than do Williams or Amherst. Additionally, unlike the consortium at Amherst where the other schools are of a 'lesser quality' than Amherst, Bryn Mawr and especially Haverford are excellent institutions, and Swarthmore has access to UPenn – a school that can offer the range of classes that UMass-Amherst can, but at an 'ivy' quality. So at least in terms of a range of resources, and an ease of access to these resources, Swarthmore wins over Amherst and Williams.</p>
<p>I don't know that the threesome of which Swarthmore is a part is superior to the Five College Prorgam of which Amherst is a part. Both Mount Holyoke and Smith are on a par with Haverford and Bryn Mawr academically and, as larger schools, likely provide more course options. Both Smith and Mount Holyoke are, for example, really strong in the arts.</p>
<p>I'd say Haverford is better than both Holyoke and Smith, and UPenn beats UMass Amherst any day. And the only reason you go to Haverford is for their language classes. More, and better quality resources, bottom line, albeit maybe kind-of-dotted line.</p>
<p>USNWR rankings aren't going to mean much of anything in terms of course offerings, etc. Haverford is a tiny school while Smith and Mount Holyoke are much larger and likely to beat Haverford hands down in terms of actual course offerings. Of course UPenn is better than UMass but do Swarthmore students have the right to take classes there??</p>
<p>Yes, they do. It's only Swarthmore students, and not Haverford nor Bryn Mawr students (at least as far as I'm aware), that can take classes at UPenn.</p>
<p>How close are Swarthmore and UPenn? </p>
<p>Smith and Mt. Holyoke are both extremely strong academically, and UMass has many top-notch programs (though the school itself is not fantastic, it is our flagship state University).</p>
<p>" So at least in terms of a range of resources, and an ease of access to these resources, Swarthmore wins over Amherst and Williams." </p>
<p>You're forgetting that only one inferior school is UMass. Anyway, few students at Amherst take classes at any of the four other colleges b/c the commute makes it impractical. I expect the same is true at Swarthmore - you're not going to commute by train to class except in a few special cases. So these beyond campus resources are not that tremendous and it would probably be a mistake to base your decision on this.</p>
<p>I don't know - I've taken a few classes through the consortium, and it's been great. It's easy to ignore, though.</p>
<p>UPenn is about 30 minutes away by train, and really, all you have to do is hop on the train which is right outside of the school and get off at UPenn. Very convenient. </p>
<p>LordJeff - that is fair. I guess I felt like I needed the resources of a city, and Amherst and Williams only had access via car... which I probably wouldn't have given my Midewest location. </p>
<p>One reason, however, to choose Amherst would be the sledding hill. I am jealous. :-)</p>
<p>30 minutes by train? Is the train free? It doesn't sound so convenient to me. Yeah, the bus between Amherst and Smith takes longer than that - but it's free, and the drive is 15 minutes. </p>
<p>Northampton is a lively arts town and the large student population in the 5-college area gives it most of the resources available in a small city (lots of musicians, theater troupes, shows, museums...)</p>
<p>Swarthmore subsidizes the train fee... regardless of need. So yes, it is free. And the train is literally a 1-2 minute walk from the front of campus. </p>
<p>Philadelphia has more resources than the surroundings of Amherst. Absolute bottom line.</p>
<p>Well, I absolutely wouldn't deny that....but who wants to live in Philadelphia?</p>
<p>ME!!!, if it means I don't have to live in Middle-of-nowhere-ville! hehehehe</p>
<p>;-)</p>
<p>Well have fun with that!</p>
<p>Hey man, I'm living in St. Paul now - I think Philly will be fine. And it's not like you're FORCED to live in the same city as where you get your undergrad degree....</p>
<p>I meant "live" during your college years - you will be living at your college for four years.</p>
<p>Fair enough. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here. I need a city... apparently it's not so important to you.</p>
<p>Swarthmore feels smaller than Amherst, though. So you get the resources of a city, but at Amherst you might not even feel the need to leave.</p>
<p>ummm yeah you do^
When i visited Amherst early July I was bored out my mind. I was in a program though but when it came to evening time, it was so boring I couldn't even imagine</p>
<p>I geuss its because I'm so used to manhattan. && you know what manhattan consisit of right?</p>
<p>Trains Trains Trains!!!</p>
<p>That take you anywhere & everywhere.
Amherst has a boring setting but I love the school so much.</p>
<p>So you visited a college when classes were not in session and you were bored? I went to disneyland when it was closed.....totally overhyped.</p>