limetime

How about in terms of getting attention from professors? My assumption -- and it is just an assumption as of now -- is that Williams students probably get a little more attention from the professors because the school is so small. I know that at Dmouth, TA's are minimal and the professors teach, but would it still offer the same amount of attention as Williams?

slipper1234

I'd say they are about the same in this regard. Both function as undergraduate driven schools. Dartmouth also has almost twice the number of professors as williams.

2924SW

Jiminy Peak is a way better alpine ski hill than the Dartmouth Ski Way, steeper, longer. The Skiway has one of the worst race hills of all college ski race hills. Ask any ski racer.

IvyIsGreen

^remember, Dartmouth is on the Vermont border. A lot of students go to hills in VT. ex., Okemo

gellino

I meant Dartmouth's proximity to Killington, Sugarbush, Stowe, Okemo. Williams doesn't have any equivalent to that.

2924SW

Williams is also on the Vermont Border, and you can go north on route 7 (north south in the NE is way faster than east west) or up route 100, and get to Stowe, Killington, Okemo (who would want to go there though--it sucks), Suicide Six, Sugarbush in totally reasonable time---And, Jiminy Peak is much better hill than the Skiway. I don't buy the Hanover is closer to better skiing, and I've driven those routes to a ton of eastern ski resorts---though I do agree maine and attitash are closer to hanover in a meaningful sense, if you want to ski there, but the vermont resorts are aperfectly reasonable distance/drive from williamstown
Between the two schools, probably the most important thing is the difference in the "feel", ie the vibe, but make sure you are with like-kind when you walk around the school, eg, if you are an athlete hang out with teammembers--find out what they do for "fun" and join in. The tutorials are a big deal at Williams--really small classes with amazing profs who are not also teaching grad students, no snobbishness toward undergrads who just aren't as serious as the grad students perhaps in the prof's eyes

johnleemk

That's probably a much more meaningful difference if you're looking at Harvard/Yale (I have friends there who can't believe I've never had a lecture with a TA). With Dartmouth, I think Williams is virtually on par as far as undergrad education goes. Dartmouth is very explicitly undergrad-focused, and it shows, especially in the classroom and in terms of research opportunities.

But again, yes, visiting is usually the best way to size up which college is the best fit for you.

ncram65

No serious skier would spend much time at the Dartmouth ski way or Jiminy Peak. Both are fine for beginers or low intermediates, or to kill a couple of hours on a beautiful day, but not for much else.

Dartmouth is much closer to quality skiing (Stowe, principally) than Williams. I've made the drive to Stowe up Rte 7 from NW Mass many times and it's brutal (Maybe 3.5 hours?) You really can't do a Williamstown/Stowe daytrip. That's easily done from Hanover.

Also, Killington is less than an hour away from Hanover. Maybe 2 hours from Williamstown.

smog

OK the NE has a few good schools, but skiing generally sucks. If that's the main criterion for school selection, may I suggest CU-Boulder or UBC.

Although Williams campus struck me as that of a really nice prep school, it is distinguished from other micro-schools by having a really fabulous amount of money in its endowment. I think you're safe making the decision solely on personal comfort issues.

gellino

Killington, Sugarbush, Stowe are at least twice as far from Williams than they are from Dartmouth. I don't see how there even could be a debate.

2924SW

you must drive slow or not know all the back roads--we make it to stowein february from williamstown in half that amount of time, but then I was driving with ski team members who know the fast way to all the resorts---

ncram65

Williamstown to Stowe in less than two hours? No way.

It's well over 150 miles, over half of which is on Rtes 7 and 4.

gellino

To get from Williamstown to Stowe in 1 hr 45 min you would have to average 88mph, including large chunks where the speed limit is under 55mph. Mapquest (which I usually find to be ~ 10% too high) estimates 3h 14m. For Hanover to Stowe, it estimates 1h 28m.

commserver

I am the father of a daughter who will be going to Williams class of 2013. Even though shw didn't apply to Darthmouth she did apply and got accepted by Washington University in St. Louis. I am trying to draw an analogy.

St Louis ia a major urgan center. The school is in the city itself. This means that my daughter would have been exposed to the temptations that a urban center has. Transportation is readily available to the various attraction. There will be too distractions.

Williams in contrast is in very isolated area. There isn't much in the way of clubs, bars, etc. Since 1st year students aren't allowed to have cars, transportantion is an issue. There will therefore be no distractions.

As a parent who is responsible for paying a major portionn of her tuition/room and board/misc, I want to make sure that not being distracted is important..

I am not a year person. I am 58 years old. In order to pay for this I have to take out loans. In order to pay off the loans I will have to work until I am at least 70. I don't a pension plan since I can't afford to contribute.

My daughter going to Williams is a great sacrifice on my part but I feel that it is worth it. For her it is the right school since she will be able to concentrate on studying.

Being in an isolated area isn't so bad in this context.

BalletGirl

commserver,

You must be very proud of your daughter. Williams is a great school and I am sure she'll do very well there. I hope she appreciates what a great Dad she has.