Williams vs Bowdoin?

[Anonymous]

We visited both. DC liked Bowdoin’s town and location more. The academics at Williams were more of a fit in terms of most popular majors, but DC felt it was simply far too isolated and the town too small. So they ended up not applying to either, preferring an LAC in a different region. They are both great schools though.

[Anonymous]

Both great schools - trust your gut on feel. Williams has marginally better name recognition, alumni network, etc. Bowdoin is in a better town. Williams is near skiing. Lots of Williams kids from NY area so not that hard to get a ride down there for a weekend. Also, the relative proximity means interesting guest visitors - check out some of the instructors for January classes.

Historically there were a lot more kids who chose Williams over Bowdoin if they got into both. I think the gap has closed but Williams is still ahead. But you can't go wrong with either.

[Anonymous]

Williams is the only LAC my kid is considering, the tutorials really set it apart. But that won’t appeal to every kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is far more well regarded

No it’s not, people who know top LACs will know both

Know both and will regard Williams better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the only LAC my kid is considering, the tutorials really set it apart. But that won’t appeal to every kid.

The tutorials are great, but every good LAC makes it easy to do something similar, like an independent study. My third year student (attending a different school) is on their 4th at the moment, with at least 2 more happening next year. Tutorials have the benefit of being well structured by the prof ahead of time, but an independent study can demonstrate greater ability to navigate the unknown on the part of the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t they the same size? Both are relatively isolated so go with where your kid likes best. Econ is a strength at Williams.

Bowdoin has an Amtrak station one block from campus. Literally 15 minutes from Freeport, quick trip to Portland or Boston. Small town Maine does not = isolation.

Brunswick downtown is also a walk from campus. Williamstown has no downtown to speak of — 1/2 a block of retail, on one side of the street. They are not a wash in terms of isolation. Yes, they are isolated both, but Williamstown is way, way more isolated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of our kids chose Bowdoin over Williams. Both exceptional schools. In terms of claustrophobia, Brunswick is larger than Williamstown and has more to offer, Portland is nearby, and Boston is a 2+-hour train ride from campus. But a substantial number of students at both schools, including athletes, spend at least a semester abroad. Our kid, also an athlete, found the students, professors, coaches, and staff at Bowdoin to be open, friendly, and welcoming — obviously a subjective impression, but one that held up through three visits to campus. Good luck. Don’t think you can go wrong.

OP here - thank you for this - what did your DC consider when making this decision, and what ultimately tipped the scale for Bowdoin?

Different poster, but same decision. My child really clicked with the coach and team at Bowdoin on a recruiting visit. She also liked the town and being able to just walk right off campus into it. But she didn't have anything negative to say about Williams. it was a personal preference on where she thought she could see herself being happiest.

If your kid is being recruited by both and is unsure, I'd definitely recommend doing recruiting visits at each school next fall. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the only LAC my kid is considering, the tutorials really set it apart. But that won’t appeal to every kid.

The tutorials are great, but every good LAC makes it easy to do something similar, like an independent study. My third year student (attending a different school) is on their 4th at the moment, with at least 2 more happening next year. Tutorials have the benefit of being well structured by the prof ahead of time, but an independent study can demonstrate greater ability to navigate the unknown on the part of the student.

You can do an independent study anywhere, including universities, but the tutorials are unique to Williams among US schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t they the same size? Both are relatively isolated so go with where your kid likes best. Econ is a strength at Williams.

Bowdoin has an Amtrak station one block from campus. Literally 15 minutes from Freeport, quick trip to Portland or Boston. Small town Maine does not = isolation.

Brunswick downtown is also a walk from campus. Williamstown has no downtown to speak of — 1/2 a block of retail, on one side of the street. They are not a wash in terms of isolation. Yes, they are isolated both, but Williamstown is way, way more isolated.

It is small but more like two blocks, both sides of the street, hand picked to have everything a student will need. Nearby North Adams has a big art scene, and grocery stores, etc. To me, Maine seems more isolated but I think that’s just a function of it being further away, we were surprised how quickly we could get to Williams from Manhattan (4 hours door to door). YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is far more well regarded

No it’s not, people who know top LACs will know both

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is far more well regarded

No it’s not, people who know top LACs will know both

Know both and will regard Williams better.

That's fine but why? It can't be the student population, they are basically identical. The tutorial system is pretty unique but fundamentally the schools are far more alike than different except for "feel". The same goes for Swat, Amherst, Midd, Pomona, CMC, Wellesley. If you are looking for IB Williams is better (Midd and Amherst as well) but otherwise the school which feels best is the right one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the only LAC my kid is considering, the tutorials really set it apart. But that won’t appeal to every kid.

The tutorials are great, but every good LAC makes it easy to do something similar, like an independent study. My third year student (attending a different school) is on their 4th at the moment, with at least 2 more happening next year. Tutorials have the benefit of being well structured by the prof ahead of time, but an independent study can demonstrate greater ability to navigate the unknown on the part of the student.

You can do an independent study anywhere, including universities, but the tutorials are unique to Williams among US schools.

The branding is unique to Williams. Their tutorials can have up to 10 students. So by that criteria my kid’s LAC has roughly 50 tutorials, they just call them courses.

I think highly of Williams but I have never heard of someone applying there and no other LACs simply because of its “tutorials.” Some depts, like CS, offered none this year. Some, like Math, offered only 2. Chem offered one.

Independent projects offer more personalization, but if looking for small discussion type classes, Williams is not unique.

Don’t fall for marketing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t they the same size? Both are relatively isolated so go with where your kid likes best. Econ is a strength at Williams.

Bowdoin has an Amtrak station one block from campus. Literally 15 minutes from Freeport, quick trip to Portland or Boston. Small town Maine does not = isolation.

Brunswick downtown is also a walk from campus. Williamstown has no downtown to speak of — 1/2 a block of retail, on one side of the street. They are not a wash in terms of isolation. Yes, they are isolated both, but Williamstown is way, way more isolated.

It is small but more like two blocks, both sides of the street, hand picked to have everything a student will need. Nearby North Adams has a big art scene, and grocery stores, etc. To me, Maine seems more isolated but I think that’s just a function of it being further away, we were surprised how quickly we could get to Williams from Manhattan (4 hours door to door). YMMV

that big mountain looming in the distance makes it feel like siberia in the winter lol - it’s no joke in williamstown between November and March. At least Bowdoin is near the water, which to me always felt less smothering or trapped than I did in Williamstown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the only LAC my kid is considering, the tutorials really set it apart. But that won’t appeal to every kid.

The tutorials are great, but every good LAC makes it easy to do something similar, like an independent study. My third year student (attending a different school) is on their 4th at the moment, with at least 2 more happening next year. Tutorials have the benefit of being well structured by the prof ahead of time, but an independent study can demonstrate greater ability to navigate the unknown on the part of the student.

You can do an independent study anywhere, including universities, but the tutorials are unique to Williams among US schools.

The branding is unique to Williams. Their tutorials can have up to 10 students. So by that criteria my kid’s LAC has roughly 50 tutorials, they just call them courses.

I think highly of Williams but I have never heard of someone applying there and no other LACs simply because of its “tutorials.” Some depts, like CS, offered none this year. Some, like Math, offered only 2. Chem offered one.

Independent projects offer more personalization, but if looking for small discussion type classes, Williams is not unique.

Don’t fall for marketing.

+1

If you want small discussion type classes, consider U Chicago, Northwestern, Columbia, Claremont McKenna, and many others. The Williams college "tutorials" bs is getting old.

[Anonymous]

The OP was asking about claustrophobia on a small campus, but people seem to be going off like every other Bowdoin v Williams thread about how much better one is vs the other. Invariably, a Williams person will go on and on about how it is so much more prestigious and well-regarded. Let's say goodbye to 1990.

Today, the schools have more similarities than differences, and almost certainly have a large overlap in applicants. The students at both schools are excellent and selectivity is basically the same.

For class of 2029, Williams accepted 8.5% of applicants.https://williamsrecord.com/469492/news/college-admits-8-5-percent-of-applicants-to-class-of-2029/

For class of 2029, Bowdoin accepted 6.8% of applicants. https://bowdoinorient.com/2025/04/04/acceptance-rate-falls-to-6-8-percent-for-the-class-of-2029/

If you are accepted to either, congratulations! They are excellent schools.