<p>Hey, i was hoping someone could help me out:</p>
<p>Here’s the deal: I was waitlisted at a couple of schools, including Brown and Georgetown, which I plan on staying on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Of the schools I’ve been accepted into, I cannot decide between Boston College and Williams. Both are excellent academic institutions, but i just can’t decide. Can current students/recent alums give me the “real scoop” about these 2 schools? I’m most interested in:</p>
<li>student-teacher ratios, class size, student-teacher connections</li>
<li>availibility of career counseling</li>
<li>diversity on campus</li>
<li>integration of minority students</li>
<li>cliquiness of students</li>
<li>weekend activities</li>
</ol>
<p>THANKS SO MUCH TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO REPLIES!!!
–i’m going crazy trying to figure out where I’m going to put my deposit, and I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>you'd be struggling to decide considering that these schools are very, very different. If it comes down to a coin toss, you should definitely go with Williams because it is a significant step up in prestige and quality of undergrad education / student body credentials. But, that is only if it is an absolute toss up, which I can't imagine if you have visited both environments.</p>
<p>You're talking huge, catholic university with prominent grad programs in the suburbs of Boston, with a top-notch Division I athletic program, and a student body featuring a ton of white / asian catholic kids from the suburbs, versus a tiny division III liberal arts school in the mountains, with essentially no grad programs, a much smaller but proportionally more diverse student body. I'd day BC is probably a much bigger party / social school, while Williams has a pretty big edge in terms of quality of undergraduate classroom experience. </p>
<p>Talking diversity, BC is so much bigger that there are MORE of everything, but proportionally, Williams is definitely more ethnically, geographically, and religiously diverse. Student-teacher connections are of course much easier to forge at a place like Williams. I'd say post grad opportunities are a little better as well, just because Williams produces so many fewer grads, and it gets a little more recognition from grad schools, etc. Weekend activities: at Williams tend to be oriented around campus cultural, social and athletic events. BC you've got Boston right there, so I imagine kids spread out a lot more on weekends and engage more in city life. Basically, the environments are very, very different and you have to decide which is right for you -- do you want small class sizes, intimate relations withi profs and a close-knit student body nestled in the Berkshires, or a huge university with a suburban campus right outside of Boston?</p>
<p>Not really any comparison. Williams is by far the better choice. Boston College is quite possiby the school that has benefited most from the flood of applications that have been seen this year. Over 28,000 apps for 2500 or so spots, but that is just supply and demand. Williams is undoubtedly one of the 10 best schools in the country, maybe 5th or 6th. BC is not in the top 40. BC is just as costly as the top schools without many of benefits. You would be better off at a flagship state school. If you like big they have more resources and better research facilities at a much lower price point. Williams has it all, for the highest quality undergrad education available anywhere.</p>
<p>If you have the sort of credentials that got you into Williams (are you a legacy?), then I would have expected an acceptance from Brown (probably) and Georgetown (definitely). If you prefer one of those schools, you should make a pitch to them, indicate that it is your first choice and so on.</p>
<p>Although I'm not saying Williams isn't an amazing school, don't be putting BC down either! It depends on what you're looking for. Academics are important yes, but also a campus life with great access to a city and so on. It's important to go to a school that you want to stay at, or else you won't want to stay for four years and finish!</p>
<p>No doubt Williams is a top tier school. And I think it would be alot more religiously and ethnically diverse than BC. I also think Williams has a stronger academic focus but all in all it's what you reall make of it.</p>
<p>.. and BC was ranked #34.. hmm under 40. check your resources.</p>
<p>Would not have thought of appying to BC but that's beside the point. BC is a very good school however BC is only 34 if you don't count LAC's and there are at least 6 LAC's that are more highly regarded than BC. Now had one asked Georgetown vs Williams that would be a much more interesting comparision. Jesuit school, division 1 sports, big city access, and academics more on par. No insult at all intended to BC. Both schools have graduation rates near 99% so that should not be an issue at either.</p>
<p>Lol. What about Georgetown vs. Williams vs. BC (honors) vs. Stern? I would say Williams is my #1 atm; it mostly depends on how the preview goes. Georgetown gave me a near irresistable offer though and I'm really torn between Georgetown (LA College) and Williams. I currently live in NY and I have heard that the Georgetown alum society is most strongly based in the VA/D.C. area. I'm not sure how this would fare, say, if I would like to pursue a career in Wall Street. Because I'm so unsure of any potential fields that I would like to pursure, I feel a liberal arts education would suit me best, followed by a graduate education in a top program (in which case Williams would be the best option). Hopefully I enjoy the preview this weekend and I attend Williams; however, I will not be able to visit Georgetown so I may be making a mistake =[.</p>