hi, I’m currently decided between these two schools. I’m planning on going to graduate school after undergrad, into something related to either molecular biology or computer science. How do the programs, opportunities, and graduate school admit rates compare? Any other comments on how they compare? I know a good deal about uchicago, but not as much about williams, and I’m still very much undecided. Thank you for any responses.
So you’ve chosen two very different schools. In terms of grad school acceptance rates, I’m sure that at both schools you’ll have no trouble getting into pretty much any program you want (I’m sure about Williams, less sure about UChicago), and you’ll be working hard at both schools. I’m quite familiar with the biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry programs at Williams, and, although there’s no molecular biology major specifically, bio major with a biochem concentration should fulfill all your needs. Compsci is a program that has gained a lot of traction in recent years, and it looks like it may get its own building at Williams soon along with the classic three sciences (bio, chem, and physics). I know of more than a few people who already know, as freshmen, that they’re going to major in it, which speaks to the strength of the program. In terms of opportunities - by which I think you mean research opportunities, as the job opportunities after Williams are notoriously exceptional - you’ll probably have better luck at Williams since all science professors do research and there are only undergraduate students here. That means that there are no grad students to top the hierarchy, and if you ask a professor to help with their research the chances are really good that they’ll say yes. In fact, most profs at Williams will reach out to students for research assistants as a paid position. I don’t know about UChicago, but the presence of graduate students probably means that the undergraduate research opportunities are slimmer. That being said, UChicago probably has more major choices, so you could potentially major in molecular biology right away.
However, these differences are pretty minor. They’re both excellent schools with excellent programs, and any decision you make should be based on the more macroscopic differences: how does each school make you feel when you visit? Do you care about class size or getting to know your professors, even in huge intro-level classes like bio 101? Do you want to be in a city? Do you want to have a core curriculum or be more open? These are the decisions that you should base your choice off of, not minute differences in grad school acceptance rates or program strength. They’re both great schools and all their programs are excellent (again, I know this to be true at Williams, but UChicago may have a few programs that aren’t very good). Liberal arts college vs. bigger university; the differences between them are huge, and your preference therein should be your deciding factor.
@mj571295 - read that comment carefully. It’s spot on.
@jersey454 Thank you very much for your thoughts! you’re right, I should definitely focus more “fit”–just wanted to get an idea of how they compare academically. I’ll be visiting both soon, and I suppose I will see then. Again, thank you!
Chad Orzel (Williams '93 and now a professor of physics at Union) weighs in on [Why Small Colleges Are Great For Science Students](Why Small Colleges Are Great For Science Students):
Congratulations on having this decision to make!
Marvin 100’s “spot on” comment and link are excellent suggestions.
I only add focus on what are the Positives for YOU when you visit and reflect on your choice; try to set aside personal negatives. The positives will most likely be pieces that will keep you engaged as you study on either campus. As an undergraduate, if you continue to want to “do science,” then I highly recommend you do a senior thesis.
As background, my son also narrowed his decision down to Williams & UChicago. Chose Williams, doubled majored in 2 Div III departments, completed a senior thesis, and is working in a major lab in Cambridge, MA. His work is helping him decide his next path, graduate school.
Good Luck!
You might check other comments that jersey 454 wrote here in the Williams forum. The ones that I’ve read are excellent.
Having gone to Williams for undergrad and UChicago for grad school, I’d also say that Jersey454 nailed it. Based on my personality, interest set, and what I envisioned for my undergrad experience, Williams was perfect, and UofC, I’m confident to say, would have been far from perfect. For other students, the opposite will hold true. You’ll be able to do virtually anything you want as a science-major graduate of either, and neither holds any real advantage in terms of caliber of students, faculty, or reputation, other than the fact that at Williams you will have more opportunities to work closely on research with professors, while at UChicago professors will be more famous in their fields, based on their research (which, again, rarely if ever will involve undergrads). But by far the biggest difference between the two are the differences in the types of students who attend, and if you visit both, you’ll quickly get a feel for where you believe you fit in better.