<p>About that WSO discussion, evidence of a student's balanced opinion: </p>
<p>"Ralph White's contract was under review and a panel chose not to renew it. There is no way this could have been an arbitrary decision. Not only would that be unfair to employees but it would expose the college to the possibility of some seriously damaging legal action--they don't want that.
Either way,
'All the senior members of the athletics department participate in the process of evaluation and collectively make the recommendation to the CAP, and the CAP gives great weight to this evaluation and recommendation in coming to its decision.'
< <a href="http://www.williamsrecord.com/wr/?view=article§ion=news&id=8993%3E">http://www.williamsrecord.com/wr/?view=article§ion=news&id=8993></a>
...
I think a lot of people are confusing 'lack of transparency' with 'discretion.' The decision by the college may affect this guy's career, and so they have to be responsible about how much information they release about it.
...
It is so disappointing to me when parents insist on involving themselves in their children's activities when their children have progressed on to college. Why are outspoken parents getting involved with a new track? Is that fair to much smaller groups/sports teams with considerably less influence?
What will really happen if this employee doesn't continue working at the college? Will Williams never win again? Will we lose our number one ranking? Anything?
... why did you start this ridiculous discussion? How does this make any difference to you? ..."</p>
<p>In terms of the quality of undergraduate academics, I would put Williams about on a level with Dartmouth and significantly better than most of the Ivies, except for Yale and Princeton, which have significantly more resources, stronger alumni networks and smaller classes even than the "AWWWS" LACs. Harvard has incredible resources, too, but it is much larger and honestly I'd probably give Williams an edge, at least for most people.</p>
<p>Socially, you really need to visit each school for 2-3 days, take a few classes, talk with students and socialize to see what kind of environment is right for you. A lot of people find a large university to just be more exciting and stimulating than a smaller LAC like Williams (though, thankfully, Williams isn't as small as many of its LAC peers).</p>
<p>
[quote]
But when I become sophomore or junior, I'll start working at a lab, like students at LAC do, and I'll get to know my lab advisor well.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I posted this on another thread, but it bears repeating here:</p>
<p>From a former Yale Professor, regarding undergrad science research:</p>
<p>"There were only two of us in the lab, so we received a great deal
of personal attention from our professor. She was always there for
us. We have great students here at Yale, too, but they are handed
off to a graduate student or postdoc for their research. It doesnt
compare with the quality of the research experience I had at (a top LAC like)
Pomona."</p>
<p>All the people I know who did research work at Yale as undergraduates (a good number) worked directly with a faculty member and many published papers on the subject. They ended up going to all of the very top graduate programs in their fields.</p>
<p>Since there is no shortage of research work (in terms of research expenditures per science student, Caltech and Yale are the tops in the country), undergraduates actually find it easier to do cutting-edge research with profs at Yale/Caltech than they do at almost any LAC.</p>
<p>Doesn't seem to work that way in physics, at least.</p>
<p>Since 1978, the American Physical Society has presented the LeRoy Apker Award for "outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students". Apker Award totals to date:</p>
<p>Caltech: 4
Williams: 3
Yale: 0</p>
<p>Seems likely that Williams has the smallest physics department, and the fewest physics majors, of the three schools.</p>
<p>But haha seriously.. a lot of it really matters by fit.
Many of the liberal arts schools such as Swarthmore & Amherst have a more intellectual feel towards them than the "Ivy-caliber" schools, but if you think you are going to be bored by a small school.. then it may not be the best place to spend your four years.</p>
<p>Since 1978, the American Physical Society has presented the LeRoy Apker Award for "outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students". Apker Award totals to date:</p>
<p>Caltech: 4
Williams: 3
Yale: 0</p>
<p>Seems likely that Williams has the smallest physics department, and the fewest physics majors, of the three schools.
<p>The current APS policy (which awards one Apker award to a doctoral institution, and the other to a non-doctoral institution) was instituted in 1995. It did not exist for most of the history of the award, which was started in 1978.</p>
<p>If you want to evaluate only pre-1995</a> Apkers, then the "Top LACs" (as defined by College Confidential) still figure prominently. For example, I count 4 pre-1995 Apkers to "top LACs" (Amherst, Hamilton, Reed, Macalester) versus 6 for the entire Ivy League and 5 for Caltech and MIT combined. I emphasize again that the LACs have very small numbers of physics majors compared with the average research university.</p>
<p>As for the current APS policy, it would be reasonable to regard it as a tribute to the LAC's success at promoting undergraduate research. The LACs must only account for a tiny fraction of all physics majors nationwide, yet APS currently reserves 50% of all Apker awards for them.</p>