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My college couns. told me to apply to Williams
( i did) but I dont know much about the school.

Why should I choose Williams?

I dont know much about it, but I like what I have heard so far.

By Medusa2003 (Medusa2003) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 04:20 pm: Edit

Check under Individual Schools, Top LAC's for further info.

By Medusa2003 (Medusa2003) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 04:21 pm: Edit

Check under Individual Schools, Top LAC's, there are over 150 posts concerning Williams. Williams along with Amherst and Swarthmore are commonly considered to be the three "best" liberal arts colleges in the US.

By Haon (Haon) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 09:20 pm: Edit

Williams is an amazing college...among academic circles it is just as prestigious as HYP. However, unlike HYP the college's first and only priority is the undergraduate students. You'll get an absolutely fabulous education at Williams and enjoy yourself thoroughly at the same time.

By Jmancer (Jmancer) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 10:33 pm: Edit

thats the thing, amoung academic circles...what about out side these circles (ie employeers or grad schools)

and what about regions of the US

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Sunday, February 08, 2004 - 10:57 pm: Edit

Employers and grad schoolsdefinitely know about Williams's prestige so you definitely won't lose anything career-wise by going to Williams. (Grad schools are by definition in the academic circles of which you speak and if going to a prestigious school matters for your employment Williams will serve that prestige factor quite nicely) The only thing is that in the general public it is not as well known as the Ivies. So when you say that you went to Williams it won't get the same reaction as Harvard or most of the Ivies even though it is harder than half of the Ivies to get into.

By Haon (Haon) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

I was referring to employers and grad schools mainly when I said "academic circles."

If you go to Williams don't expect your neighbor, auto-mechanic, or grocer to have heard of it...but expect almost any prospective employer or grad school to be incredibly impressed.

What Williams lacks in general public name-recognition they make up for with their alumni network. Williams has quite possibly the strongest and most loyal alumni network in the world.

By Collegeparent (Collegeparent) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 03:24 pm: Edit

Gotta agree with Haon about that -- also, Williams sets up its undergrads with internships in selected fields of study, setting you up with terrific contacts, based on your performance.

Like all the Magnificent Seven colleges and top LACs, Williams has a terrific network of alums who help place recent grads in jobs & grad schools. These networks are stronger among the LACs than among the Ivies because they're more passionate usually about their undergraduate experinences.

But Jmancer, of course with all of this, you've got to get in first. Hope you're not counting your proverbial chickens --

By Jmancer (Jmancer) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit

what are some of the major weaknesses of williams

i know, but I want to have an idea where to visit if things end up in my favor

By Coureur (Coureur) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 10:56 pm: Edit

One of Williams' weaknesses is its location: in the middle of nowhere. It is rather isolated.

If that's not an issue for you, then no problem.