Amherst/Wellesley/Williams

Ephman
Thu, 27 Apr 2006 06:24:55 +0000

a good fit for Williams. In terms of avoiding math and econ, easy to do, you do have to take at least three semesters from Division III, which is math and science, but you can take all classes from sciences like biology, geology, comp sci, etc. But at Amherst you have no reqs whatsoever, I believe, so you do have slightly more flexibility.

Dating scene – as you are obviously a woman, Williams may be the best fit for you there. There isn’t much of a true “dating scene” at any of those colleges. Like most liberal arts colleges, the small size of the student body leads to two types of relationships dominating – random hook-ups or serious, committed couples. Casual dating is just so tough because of the rumor mill and so on. Amherst is probably better for men as they have Mt. Holyoke and Smith to draw from, but that may make it tougher for women. Of course, there is UMass but to be honest I have rarely heard of many UMass/A.C. relationships forming, although they must exist. Wellesley, well, unless you like being bussed to Harvard parties and oggled by Harvard/MIT guys, the dating scene is certainly the worst of the three.

I think Wellesley, yes or no, should be an easy choice – the academics and environment are similar enough at all three that whether you want to be in a single sex environment, or not, should really be the determinative factor. Amherst and Williams are both slightly more prestigious among grad schools and employers, but not so much so that, if you really want a single sex environment, you should forsake Wellesley.

As for A vs. W, that is a much tougher call. I think Williams has a definite edge in campus beauty owing to its Berkshires location, but both have gorgeous grounds; kind of a personal call that you can answer easily enough with campus visits. I also believe that Williams has, along with Haverford, the friendliest, most laid back student body of any of the colleges I’ve been to (a product in part of choosing to live in the mountains with 2000 peers for four years, and just kind of the outdoorsy, jeans-and-sweatshirt, slightly goofy kind of kids that Williams tends to attract), including Amherst, but Amherst kids were very cool as well and I don’t think they are generally pretentious.

I think first years at Williams have a much better chance of getting a single than almost anywhere, particularly now that Mission is becoming first year housing (I believe). Over half of Williams frosh have singles in suites, which is highly unusual. Amherst has some absolutely gorgeous newly renovated first year dorms that are insanely nice, but I think they are mainly doubles. Also, at least some Amherst frosh have been living in glorified trailers due to the reconstruction. I am not certain if that will continue next year or not, but easy to find out.

For you, Williams will probabaly have the overall facilities edge. Williams will be opening a gorgeous new student center next year, and recently renovated a smaller, more intimate student center. Between those two and the gorgeous brand new theater, there are tons of great venues for concerts, shows, movies, and just hanging out available on campus, which I think will really facilitate campus social life. The new student center, for example, will have a very cool snack bar, pub, movie theater, and “great hall”, and Goodrich, renovated around 2000, also boasts a very cool space. Pretty much every dorm at Williams has been renovated w/in the last 12 years.