Dear Anxious Student,
Congratulations on your excellent college options. Either one can lead to a rewarding career in “non-profit/management consulting or public service/marketing.”
I would choose Williams. The smaller classes and supportive faculty will give you a superior academic experience. Also it is the more affordable option, especially compared to the high cost of living in Berkeley and in London. Furthermore many, many Williams alums enjoy success in the business world.
I want to allay your fears about Williamstown’s rural location. Spring Street runs right through the Williams campus and offers a post office, bank, pharmacy, Images Cinema, two bookstores, coffee, a half dozen restaurants, and more. These conveniences are close at hand and most students need little more in the way of urban amenities. Students fill their time with classes, studying, talking with friends, making music, writing for the newspaper, playing sports, hiking in the surrounding hills… In short they are busy! The college provides so many things to do that students can find fulfillment on campus or very nearby.
If you are hankering to shop at Target, it is in Lanesboro 26 minutes away by car, so get to know someone with a car. A Walmart Superstore is closer and the college runs a free shuttle bus there on Sundays.
Best of luck with your decision!