Bowdoin vs Williams

[Anonymous]

can someone compare and contrast? ds likes them both.

he's not an athlete and both have sizable athletic populations. so if there's a big divide, that may be an issue.

he's social but not a huge partier. will be happy as a clam if classes are interesting and he can hang with 3 or 4 people. he's my easy kid, and first one interested in a SLAC so this is new to us. his HS seems to have a good relationship with Williams so he'll know a couple kids there. I think the ED boost at Bowdoin might be real. will probably major in Econ.

[Anonymous]

Have you visited? My kid had a strong preference for one after visiting both.

[Anonymous]

Two great schools. A lot of people are likely to opine that Williams is "on another level," but that's an exaggeration. Both are great all-around schools that offer a classic, well-rounded liberal arts education and embrace the outdooriness of their locations. Both have huge endowments and extensive resources. The student bodies at both will be very similar in terms of diversity and caliber although Williams might have a small, marginal edge overall. Both have substantial portions of athletes (~30%), but I suspect the athlete divide is often overstated.

Williams is much more rural and isolated. Williamstown is tiny and surrounded by lovely hills. IMO, Williams has the more impressive campus. It probably has the stronger econ department, although most econ students at Williams will be more focused on getting high-paying jobs on Wall Street, for which Williams places as well as most Ivies. Williams also has cool opportunities like its Oxford tutorials and winter term. ED will not help the odds of admission and, in fact, it's possible that ED is actually a disadvantage at Williams. For its pedigree, Williams is odd in that it's application is so minimal--no supplemental essays, no video, no interviews, etc.

Bowdoin has a nicer, larger town in Brunswick and fairly easy access to Portland, which is a pretty cool place. The campus is quite nice and well-appointed, but it felt smaller and less grand than Williams. Bowdoin has some of the best food and nicest dorms anywhere. In terms of rigor, students work extremely hard at both schools, but Bowdoin has an enduring reputation for being a little more friendly and laidback. Bowdoin's econ department is good and students who want jobs on Wall Street can definitely get them, but Williams has a much more established pipeline. Bowdoin's AOs insist that ED doesn't provide any advantage, but I think it probably provides at least a small advantage given that Bowdoin considers demonstrated interest. Bowdoin's application is the opposite of of Williams in that it has supplemental essays, a video component, and interviews. I actually prefer this, as (a) it allows genuinely interested students to stand out and (b) shows the school's emphasis on fit.

If I were attending college, I'd probably pick Bowdoin mostly because I like it's friendly vibe, but Williams would be very tempting. But I think it's critical to visit both schools. Many students are immediately put off by their size and (more so for Williams) isolation. You might also consider checking out Middlebury, Amherst, and Wesleyan in New England and, if you're open to California, CMC and Pomona. All have strong econ departments.

[Anonymous]

Both schools are super hard ED. The numbers don't reflect that the athletes, Questbridge kids, legacy kids, etc. are all in ED. At the end of the day there are virtually a handful of spots left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you visited? My kid had a strong preference for one after visiting both.

Yeah, we saw and liked both

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two great schools. A lot of people are likely to opine that Williams is "on another level," but that's an exaggeration. Both are great all-around schools that offer a classic, well-rounded liberal arts education and embrace the outdooriness of their locations. Both have huge endowments and extensive resources. The student bodies at both will be very similar in terms of diversity and caliber although Williams might have a small, marginal edge overall. Both have substantial portions of athletes (~30%), but I suspect the athlete divide is often overstated.

Williams is much more rural and isolated. Williamstown is tiny and surrounded by lovely hills. IMO, Williams has the more impressive campus. It probably has the stronger econ department, although most econ students at Williams will be more focused on getting high-paying jobs on Wall Street, for which Williams places as well as most Ivies. Williams also has cool opportunities like its Oxford tutorials and winter term. ED will not help the odds of admission and, in fact, it's possible that ED is actually a disadvantage at Williams. For its pedigree, Williams is odd in that it's application is so minimal--no supplemental essays, no video, no interviews, etc.

Bowdoin has a nicer, larger town in Brunswick and fairly easy access to Portland, which is a pretty cool place. The campus is quite nice and well-appointed, but it felt smaller and less grand than Williams. Bowdoin has some of the best food and nicest dorms anywhere. In terms of rigor, students work extremely hard at both schools, but Bowdoin has an enduring reputation for being a little more friendly and laidback. Bowdoin's econ department is good and students who want jobs on Wall Street can definitely get them, but Williams has a much more established pipeline. Bowdoin's AOs insist that ED doesn't provide any advantage, but I think it probably provides at least a small advantage given that Bowdoin considers demonstrated interest. Bowdoin's application is the opposite of of Williams in that it has supplemental essays, a video component, and interviews. I actually prefer this, as (a) it allows genuinely interested students to stand out and (b) shows the school's emphasis on fit.

If I were attending college, I'd probably pick Bowdoin mostly because I like it's friendly vibe, but Williams would be very tempting. But I think it's critical to visit both schools. Many students are immediately put off by their size and (more so for Williams) isolation. You might also consider checking out Middlebury, Amherst, and Wesleyan in New England and, if you're open to California, CMC and Pomona. All have strong econ departments.

ITA agree. My summary would be, I'd rather spend 4 years at Bowdoin, but the job prospects out of Williams might relieve some outward stressors during college years and that shouldn't be discounted. I know nothing about the ED rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two great schools. A lot of people are likely to opine that Williams is "on another level," but that's an exaggeration. Both are great all-around schools that offer a classic, well-rounded liberal arts education and embrace the outdooriness of their locations. Both have huge endowments and extensive resources. The student bodies at both will be very similar in terms of diversity and caliber although Williams might have a small, marginal edge overall. Both have substantial portions of athletes (~30%), but I suspect the athlete divide is often overstated.

Williams is much more rural and isolated. Williamstown is tiny and surrounded by lovely hills. IMO, Williams has the more impressive campus. It probably has the stronger econ department, although most econ students at Williams will be more focused on getting high-paying jobs on Wall Street, for which Williams places as well as most Ivies. Williams also has cool opportunities like its Oxford tutorials and winter term. ED will not help the odds of admission and, in fact, it's possible that ED is actually a disadvantage at Williams. For its pedigree, Williams is odd in that it's application is so minimal--no supplemental essays, no video, no interviews, etc.

Bowdoin has a nicer, larger town in Brunswick and fairly easy access to Portland, which is a pretty cool place. The campus is quite nice and well-appointed, but it felt smaller and less grand than Williams. Bowdoin has some of the best food and nicest dorms anywhere. In terms of rigor, students work extremely hard at both schools, but Bowdoin has an enduring reputation for being a little more friendly and laidback. Bowdoin's econ department is good and students who want jobs on Wall Street can definitely get them, but Williams has a much more established pipeline. Bowdoin's AOs insist that ED doesn't provide any advantage, but I think it probably provides at least a small advantage given that Bowdoin considers demonstrated interest. Bowdoin's application is the opposite of of Williams in that it has supplemental essays, a video component, and interviews. I actually prefer this, as (a) it allows genuinely interested students to stand out and (b) shows the school's emphasis on fit.

If I were attending college, I'd probably pick Bowdoin mostly because I like it's friendly vibe, but Williams would be very tempting. But I think it's critical to visit both schools. Many students are immediately put off by their size and (more so for Williams) isolation. You might also consider checking out Middlebury, Amherst, and Wesleyan in New England and, if you're open to California, CMC and Pomona. All have strong econ departments.

OP really appreciate this. a big help

[Anonymous]

Given that he liked both, I really don’t think it’s a question for Econ:Williams. Especially if his HS has a good track record (ours does not). He should check with his GC to see how he compares to previous admits.

[Anonymous]

A friend’s DS was at Williams 2019-23 and he said the students were very cliquish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend’s DS was at Williams 2019-23 and he said the students were very cliquish.

I think at some of these small SLACS a huge majority are on the sports teams and there can be a cliquish culture because of it.

[Anonymous]

I was an econ major at Williams, and I guess fit the stereotype b/c I then worked on Wall St for years. If he's interested in Wall St, then I'd encourage Williams. None of the places I worked at in NYC actively recruited or had an alumni network from Bowdoin, which comes in to play for summer internships, too.

I had also visited both schools and really liked both of them, but when I went back to admitted student days at both, oddly the Bowdoin campus paled, and the students seemed a bit more segregated by sports, majors, etc. I didn't find the students at Williams to be cliqueish at all. I know it's tough as far as which to ED at, so perhaps he could go back and visit each one this fall and spend a night with an alum from his high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you visited? My kid had a strong preference for one after visiting both.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Would a non-sporty girl find her place at Bowdoin, given size or just better to avoid a small SLAC’s where 45% of kids are athletes. We would have crossed it off the list except that it seems to have a reputation as being an especially warm and welcoming community. Interested in Education & Env Studies and Bowdoin has both. Any info appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would a non-sporty girl find her place at Bowdoin, given size or just better to avoid a small SLAC’s where 45% of kids are athletes. We would have crossed it off the list except that it seems to have a reputation as being an especially warm and welcoming community. Interested in Education & Env Studies and Bowdoin has both. Any info appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would a non-sporty girl find her place at Bowdoin, given size or just better to avoid a small SLAC’s where 45% of kids are athletes. We would have crossed it off the list except that it seems to have a reputation as being an especially warm and welcoming community. Interested in Education & Env Studies and Bowdoin has both. Any info appreciated!

This.