Williams vs. Bowdoin (and maybe Rice or WashU)

College Search & Selection
1

Basically, of the schools I’ve gotten into, Williams, Bowdoin, and Rice are my top choices. I’m from the Pacific Northwest and I’m most interested in majoring in political science, but I’m also interested in economics and history, and I’m interested in exploring other fields during my time in college. Because of these two factors, I think Rice is more of a third choice, since it’s more STEM focused. Basically, can anyone help me choose between Williams and Bowdoin? I feel a lot of pressure to pick Williams from my parents and relatives, who regard it as more prestigious, more academically rigorous, and “smarter.” I admit this is probably true.

If you look at both schools’ common data sets, Williams has an ACT range of 32-35, while Bowdoin’s is 30-34. Also, Williams has a better student-teacher ratio, a significantly larger endowment per student, better career and grad school placement, etc. The one academic area where Bowdoin is better is its political science program, which is generally regarded to be very good and probably a bit better than Williams’. Still though, I don’t know what this would concretely mean for my education, and Williams seems stronger in other areas that I might want to explore. Overall, I’m pretty sure my education at Williams would be superior.

In terms of quality of life, I am a little bit skeptical about Williams. Williamstown is tiny and very isolated (unlike Brunswick), the food struck me as kinda average when I visited (unlike Bowdoin’s), the housing also seemed fine but unimpressive (unlike Bowdoin’s), and from reading reports online and talking to students, it seems like the overall campus atmosphere might be not as good. I have the impression that Williams is very intense, while Bowdoin is more laid back, fun, and overall healthy. A Bowdoin student I talked to said Bowdoin students were generally very happy, while Williams students were more “depressed.” I have no idea if any of this is true or not.

Thank you for any input you can give.

Oh also I got into WashU but for whatever reason I haven’t looked at it at all. Am I making a mistake? I was under the impression it was a little too regional and pre professional for my tastes but I could be wrong.

2

WashU has decent programs in History and Political Science-son’s other major at WashU is History.

Although WashU is probably better known for its medical school, social sciences are quite good there.

3

Forget common data sets at this point. It’s not like your future employer or grad school whips them open to determine who is actually “smarter”. Lol.

All four schools are great, not good.

You will have a significant weather adjustment and possibly cultural as well.

Wash U and Williams will be the most intense environments. Not that they aren’t full of cool and interesting students too. And this is very generic.

Bowdoin is the most remote but perhaps the best blend of academic intensity, a little of the sjw vibe and a caring community. Heck they assign you local “parents” for all four years. to help you when you need it and a place to stay when you don’t have time on the holiday weekends to get home. Nice option for a student so far from home.

Rice is just like that, I’ve heard. But a little bigger and in a more metropolitan region. And better collegiate sports to follow which can be a fun activity. And the residential college approach to housing gives you a built in, non Greek, student fellowship.

So you can choose from any and be perfectly situated. Aside from the academics, which I would call equal at all four schools. Look at size, location and vibe.

I personally would choose in this order. Bowdoin Williams rice wash u. For the reasons stated.

4

In terms of scholarship in one of your areas of interest, economics, Williams is for real: https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html. In this and other examples, I think you will find your assessment of Williams with respect to its superb academics to be on target.

5

Agree with @merc81 on this.

Pure academics. Williams, in this major.
Most caring and school spirit. Rice.
Best blend. Bowdoin

School is a community. And you will spend much more time out of the classroom than in it. Pay close attention to the social vibe and access to breaks from the stress at these small schools.

6

All 4 are great schools but very different. Williams and Bowdoin are liberal arts colleges, while Rice and Wash U are research universities. The focus at Rice is mostly directed towards the undergrad program, while Wash U has a law school etc. From your posts, it sounds like Bowdoin might be the best personal fit for you, but your parents are pushing for Williams. I assume all of the schools are equally affordable. You should focus on where you would feel the most comfortable for 4 years. Big city, small town, or remote location.

It sounds like you have written off rice. Although many students at Rice are STEM focused, there are many social science majors also. Rice is in the process of building a new Social Sciences building. The Rice political science program is very strong. Rice is located in Houston which has lots to offer in terms of culture, great restaurants, shopping, professional sports teams. Rice gets high ratings for quality of life and happiest students.

7

I am a Williams fan, but Bowdoin and Williams are peer schools in every way, despite tiny meaningless differences in US News rankings. It sounds like you felt Bowdoin was a more comfortable fit for you. Sometimes, that feeling is all you need! You will be living there for four years. Go ahead and pick Bowdoin if you like it better, and do not look back!

But I do not agree that Williams students are depressed. There are great bonds among students there, starting with the amazing Ephventure and freshman “entry” (dorm group) experiences. Kids love their time at Williams so much that they go on to become very loyal alumni who help out students and grads.

8

Disagree with the characterization of Bowdoin as ‘remote’. Brunswick is a small town but actually bigger and more vibrant than a lot of the towns where lacs are located and it is very close to Portland which is a great little city. Proximity to a beach community is also a plus.
Congrats on having 4 excellent choices.

9

St Louis is a fantastic location, and Wash U bigger socially than the two LACs and Rice . Sports, restaurants, the Mississippi River front, Forest Park, and fantastic social sciences at Wash U, I would choose that school over all the other four, for social, academic and location. St. Louis has a younger vibe than it used to.

LACs are sometimes difficult to socialize at because everyone is so intensely focused on academics, and everyone knows everyone else, so its so small, there is no feeling of privacy. Williamstown is small and some students suffer there very silently. One of my relatives tried to transfer out of Williams and was unsuccessful. This student did not adjust to Williamstown, and took buses to Boston to get away from it. This student also started to find other places to go over January, since Williams has a 4-1-4 calendar, you don’t have to stay there in January. Also study abroad helped this student get through the long four years at Williams. Its very athletic at Williams. This student was not athletic, and was fooled by the campus tour. Now this student will move to a city and knows him/herself better. Its a growing up experience to be in isolated Williamstown for 4 years, and having to struggle with that location for some.

10

@wisteria100 It’s pretty remote for a student from Seattle. That was my point and compared to wash u and rice it certainly is more remote. And remote doesn’t mean isolated to me. Brunswick is a nice small town. I think they have something like 50 restaurants. Williams is both remote and isolated.

But I have said earlier that Bowdoin would be my first choice. It’s an awesome place. Portland is fun too. But it’s not like a quick Uber ride either.

11

Go for Bowdoin. You like it better. The academic rigor is exceptional. It’s a peer school with Williams.

12

Some of your points of comparison between Williams and Bowdoin are factual: e.g. USNWR rated Williams #1 and Bowdoin #5 among liberal arts colleges. But some, both positive and negative, are subjective and arguable. I’m also a Williams fan. My son had a wonderful experience there. But I believe the quality of education at Bowdoin would be comparable to Williams’.

I find myself saying this over and over again, but since it seems to apply in your case, I will repeat it again: My observation is that the students who do best at Williams are those who choose it BECAUSE of its insular mountain environment, not INSPITE of it. If you prefer Bowdoin’s location and took away the overall impression that you would be happier at Bowdoin than you would at Williams, then for heaven’s sake choose Bowdoin!

13

OP - IMHO, a willingness to spend four years at any of these schools, without merit aid, reveals an admirable commitment on the part of your family to provide the best for you within their means. Factor in the all the trouble you’ve gone to flying clear across the continent to visit each campus in order to compare them, and it just seems silly to leave it all up to a few points on the ACT scale or the USNews poll. Even the magazine editors, if you catch them in an unguarded moment (after maybe a few drinks), will tell you that’s the wrong way to use the polls.

14

@bigtuna1284: It seems obvious to me that you applied to 3 schools too many. You seem to realize that but are confused as to which three schools you should not have applied.

I love lobster & I love the ocean. But I prefer National Universities. Nevertheless, my preferences should not matter to you. My point is that you have not shared enough information about yourself in order to equip one to make a meaningful recommendation.

If I were to pick based on quality of life, attendance at either LAC would have to include at least a year away from campus in a study exchange program or in a study abroad program. Both Williams College & Bowdoin College participate in such programs. Have you thought about the smallness of living in an LAC community ? See @Coloradomama’s post #8 above.

In general, I think that the transition from high school to an LAC is easier than to a National University during one’s first year. After the first year, there is a risk that the LAC environment becomes too small & lacking in privacy. But that is my perspective, and I am not you.

In short, you have four outstanding choices.

15

If you want to explore several majors and minors, Rice is very flexible and not only you don’t have to declare your major first year (unless music or architecture), most students add double triple majors or couple of minors. It’s easy to add or drop if you like or dislike something after trying it.

16

Sounds like you’ve visited both Williams and Bowdoin. Did you get a gut feeling while you were on either campus? Our S19 decided on Bowdoin because, during his visit, he just knew it felt like home. He had a lot of options that were academically comparable to Bowdoin so going through pros and cons stopped being helpful because he was comparing apples to apples. He just ended up going with his gut.

17

Love Rice the best. Even for non STEM. Nicest school I’ve ever seen. Between Williams and Bowdoin, I prefer Williams. But that’s all personal preference though that Rice is a major university gives it some push in resources and name recognition as well as big city locale

You won’t lose. All great schools

18

WashU is pretty flexible about exploring multiple majors and you don’t declare until second semester sophomore year.

About 3/4 of the student body has some sort of combination of multiple majors/minors. My kid is a double major (Biology/History) with a Computer Science minor.

Your mileage may vary but go with the school that has the best fit.

19

@bigtuna1284 What school did you choose? All of them would be lucky to have you.