<p>No (not here) - just to say that in my work in the Third World - I have. There’s blood on their hands.</p>
<p>Re IMF disastrous policies in underdeveloped world: agree emphatically. (But don’t wish to highjack thread.)</p>
<p>Also agree, though with only third hand knowledge unlike the two above posters.</p>
<p>Davis Scholars need to attend a United World College. [UWC</a> | UWC](<a href=“http://www.uwc.org/]UWC”>http://www.uwc.org/)</p>
<p>There is one in the UK too that offers the IB Diploma. </p>
<p>Many of the schools that we have talked about here, such as Williams, Middlebury and Wesleyan are academically comparable so I would again advise you to factor in the advantages of the varying student bodies. I believe that the international scope of the middlebury curriculum and community and its longstanding focus on internationalism make it an outstanding choice for finance. But I am not contending that Mid is “better” than “williams” or any other institution. These are fantastic and incomparable institutions and to artificially cross compare them would do them all a disservice. All I am saying is that for finance in the 21st century I think the Mid experience will be beneficial. When I faced the choice of Williams and Mid the defining factor for me (another friend chose Williams for the absolutely fabulous and unparalleled music department) was the international culture and my interest in international finance. If you choose to visit Middlebury please do let me know. I would love to show you around our beautiful campus and talk more over a cup of steaming Indian “masala” tea. </p>
<p>Also, I really recommend watching "waiting for superman " and documentaries about the educational opportunities others face. The fact that we are or were able to choose among such fine institutions should make us happy and grateful in itself.</p>
<p>Regarding the IMF and Third World debt, here’s an excerpt from a book co-authored by a Mount Holyoke professor of international politics: [Global</a> Debt and Third World Development](<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/globdebt.htm]Global”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/globdebt.htm)</p>
<p>I am a Williams 1950 economics major. My Daughter graduated from Williams and my Granddaughter will be a Freshman this fall.<br>
It is certainly true. Williams is: Rural, somewhat isolated and its economics Department is more to the left than most prospective parents. Twas always thus.
Amherst was founded by Williams Men (including its President) because they thought Williamstown was too far West and would never overcome its isolation!
When I went to Williams, the nearest women were in Benington and students were not permitted to have cars until they were Juniors. At least that problem has been addressed.
The Economics department was outstanding but thought by some to be radically leftish–there was no bronze monument to John Maynard Keynes, but the text for Economics 101 was the “General Theory…” in its original form.
I later went on to get a Ph.D. in Economics and have always been grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from an outstanding faculty and a great school!
Just as important, its a community that breeds and nurtures excellence.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>We live in the south and D is a Williams student. The biggest struggle for us was to find warm clothing for her sport as well as for general use. We bought a lot of stuff on-line once she got there and found out what the NE natives wore. D loved winter study and learned to ski. She did find the unrelenting cold and length of the winter a problem. But, close friends around her really helped.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great posts everybody. Williams is definitely at the top of my son’s list!</p>
<p>I just finished my first year at Williams, and I am studying economics (along with History), so hopefully I can be of some help. The econ department here is pretty great and I think rather large for such a small school- though econ is the 2nd largest major I believe. Williams has a great relationship with Morgan and Goldman, so I think coming with a Williams degree definitely helps you to get into those sorts of areas. All of the investment banks recruit on campus as well as the major consulting firms, and the career counseling office at Williams is pretty huge and helpful. In terms of location I think it depends what you like- Amherst has more “happening,” Williams is quiet but arguably the prettiest, Weslyan is maybe a combination of the two (though I would say worst looking). I think they all have a similar social scene- Weslyan is incredibly liberal which could be good or bad depending on how you see it, Amherst has a single dining hall which I think is probably a drawback in terms of dining options. Amherst also has U-Mass which makes the town more lively, but not necessarily better.</p>
<p>runxc6792 - Thanks for the informative post. Just a quick follow-up question. Are there many students in your freshman class who are from the UK? If so, are they mostly American kids who attended an American school in London or are they actually British? I am just trying to gauge what sort of local competition my son will have when he applies. Thanks.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would argue that with recent construction and a considerable nod toward modernistic architecture, the gap has narrowed considerably between the three. One of the under-appreciated advantages of having less endowment money than Williams or Amherst to throw around has been Wesleyan’s propensity to render a virtue of necessity and recycle its older buildings when the need for more space arises. The result is a campus that pretty nearly resembles its old postcard images. Not sure you can say the same for Williams, although of course, there’s no bull-dozing those purple mountains!</p>
<p>We are from the South and hope to cover visits to lots of colleges in the East during a two week period beginning May23 -June when our Daughter Zo</p>
<p>Amherst has the best overall QOL.</p>
<p>Again, individual taste plays a part here. I read my initial post, and man, I hate the tone I took: kind of superior and chauvinistic.</p>
<p>My S has graduated from Williams, and apparently I have become more open minded. All the schools mentioned are excellent. It really is a matter of individual taste.</p>
<p>S chose Williams for the strength of its Music major and then majored in something else. He is now going to grad school in a third discipline that was nurtured in him at Williams but not a factor in his decision. It was just dumb luck.</p>
<p>Each school has its intense partisans and its few detractors.</p>
<p>@zoeisadora. One of the important things to do is to make sure that you at least are able to do the tour and information sessions at schools. This is especially important if it is a down time on campus, but even at other times you get a much better view of what each school feels is important. We did Amherst and Williams the same day, but you can’t do that on a weekend, because Williams doesn’t have tours scheduled on Saturday. We are further away, but did 19 schools in 14 days. But we went as far south as Baltimore. You are right about the jigsaw, but it is definitely doable.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@Zoe my D thought that she would DEFINITELY attend a urban university until she visited Williams when (she was one of the 7 sec kids) she KNEW she was “home.” She then told the folks who were recruiting her from these universities you mentioned (as well as UofChi) that she decided on a LAC. What sold her was what she perceived as the intellectual excitement (different than being academically brilliant) among the students she met. </p>
<p>Now she is an artist and writer and Williams Art Department both History and Studio is top flight. But the Math Department just had a top 10 placement for the Putnam beating out all Ivies but Harvard (which won–again) and the other sciences are very strong at an undergraduate level as is econ. There are opportunities to take tutorials (the website will tell you all about it) as well as lots of study abroad chances (esp the official program with Oxford).</p>
<p>She is a swimmer and while the culture isn’t “dumb jock” at all there are a large percentage of students (more than most other schools) that play some sort of sport at either an intercollegiate or inter mural basis. Even those that don’t frequently enjoy the outdoors and hike, snowboard, ski etc… </p>
<p>If I read like a Purple Cow booster–well, I suppose I am.</p>
<p>Zoe - we are from the south and flew in and out of Hartford. D looked at Wesleyan, Amherst, Williams, Darmouth, and Bowdoin at the same visit during a 3 day tour. She felt she had a good sense of the feel of the campuses during that time. She ended up applying to just Wesleyan and Williams.</p>
<p>As far as politics go, are Wesleyan and Amherst so politically liberal that differing views are ridiculed? Is Williams better in this respect, or is it mainly just more apathetic?</p>
<p>Redman, I wouldn’t call Williams students apathetic as to politics, but politics is not so much a priority as you may see at other schools. It may be that they are so busy with studies and activities or the relative geographic isolation makes it more difficult to be involved with larger political groups. D’s friend thought it was due to the fact that Williams students are fortunate in that they get to go to a great school with great financial aid. Most Williams students are able to graduate in 4 years with little or no loans. </p>
<p>They will rally to support perceived injustice that they see on their own campus as being part of a community is very important and I doubt opposing views are “ridiculed.”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Justice Scalia spent an entire day on the Wesleyan campus recently and everyone, including the president, fell all over themselves demonstrating how respectful they could be. Honestly, even the demonstrators in the audience were escorted out mainly in silence.</p>