Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?

[Anonymous]

For a few subjects yes- Math, economics, and physics have much better outcomes at Williams than Bowdoin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being consistently ranked #1 LAC is meaningful. Williams has far better name recognition than Bowdoin, presumably for this reason. We visited both and though we were very impressed by Williams' academics, DC found the vibe a little snobbish and not so friendly. Decided to go in a different WASP direction ultimately. Loved the Bowdoin visit, all positives there.

I think it's important for a kid to pick where he feels he will be happy and thrive across the board. The specific academic differences are not really at that meaningful.

Does Williams really have better name recognition that Bowdoin? I'm not sure that I would agree with that. Bowdoin is a pretty unique name and I think many have heard of it even if they don't quite understand it's high position among elite SLACs.

The top 4 NESCAC schools (Amherst, Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Williams) have student populations which are virtually identical in terms of academic profiles.

In terms of Wall Street and Consulting recruiting Bowdoin does have some success but the other three are considerably more successful with Williams and Amherst traditionally leading the group. Over the past few years Middlebury has passed Amherst and is now close to Williams likely because of the success of Ted Pick at MS and John Waldron at GS.

A student cannot go wrong with any of these schools and they should decide based on where they see themselves happiest for the next four years. If that place is Bowdoin they are giving up nothing by attending Bowdoin provided that IB and MBB aren't their goals.

I wouldn’t consider either to have name recognition. They’re known schools in elite circles, and someone who knows Williams will also know Bowdoin and Vice-versa.

[Anonymous]

Williams is much better known. It’s also particularly good for math, which Bowdoin is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is much better known. It’s also particularly good for math, which Bowdoin is not.

Williams really isn’t that amazing at math. Is it a great place to begin your mathematics career? 100% yes, but it doesn’t have any unique resources that bowdoin lacks. There’s many lacs much better than Williams at mathematics, and I’d say a big step difference for math compared to bowdoin would be a school like Harvey Mudd or, if including Universities, Caltech or Princeton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is much better known. It’s also particularly good for math, which Bowdoin is not.

Really?

I think you’re wrong. Most people have never heard of either one and those who have heard of one of the 2 almost certainly know the other one too since they’re in the same tier of schools.

[Anonymous]

Among older people, Williams tends to resonate more. Among younger people, Bowdoin probably has the edge these days - at least in terms of desirability. But the reality is that 99 percent of people on Earth have never heard of either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Among older people, Williams tends to resonate more. Among younger people, Bowdoin probably has the edge these days - at least in terms of desirability. But the reality is that 99 percent of people on Earth have never heard of either school.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, knowing the differences between Bowdoin and Williams (the differences are pretty tiny) is a sign of cultural literacy. It is a sign of mixing in elite circles.

There is nothing wrong with not knowing this. Most people don't. But if you are someone who manages to make the leap from a random state school to an elite law school but then go interview at elite law firms and don't know what these liberal arts colleges are that many partners attended, it will hurt you.

I know I sound like a snob.

As far as snobs go, my neighbor only wanted her daughter at Yale, Princeton, Harvard or Williams. Bowdoin definitely not on the list. (And btw her daughter did get into 2 of these schools!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, knowing the differences between Bowdoin and Williams (the differences are pretty tiny) is a sign of cultural literacy. It is a sign of mixing in elite circles.

There is nothing wrong with not knowing this. Most people don't. But if you are someone who manages to make the leap from a random state school to an elite law school but then go interview at elite law firms and don't know what these liberal arts colleges are that many partners attended, it will hurt you.

I know I sound like a snob.

I’m a professor at a private R1. When I see Williams on a grad application I do think, oooh Williams. (I also feel that way about Yale and Princeton, in terms of the intellectual rigor I feel the students bring.) I don’t have that reaction to Bowdoin. But truly at the end of the day it’s the quality of the applicant that matters and each applicant is very seriously considered on their own merits. Where they went to school doesn’t really play into the final decision.

[Anonymous]

I’d choose Bowdoin. Similar in “prestige” but much better location

[Anonymous]

As you know, they are both LACs so there is little name recognition. To most in the US and worldwide, I suspect that a degree from the University of Michigan carries much more name recognition and prestige than either Williams College or Bowdoin College.

To those in the know, I suspect that Williams College is the more prestigious between the two small schools.

[Anonymous]

Continuing:

If Williams College was listed among National Universities, it probably would be ranked about #30 to #40. Georgia Tech, U Virginia, UNC, UCLA, Rice, etc. are more prestigious and certainly have better name recognition.

Once outside the snobby Northeast US bubble, reality sets in and LACs prestige diminishes greatly.

Nevertheless, both are solid schools which prepare students well for grad school.

[Anonymous]

Williams grad. Bowdoin and Williams were discussed in the same breath back in my day. I loved Williams, but I never thought Bowdoin was a step down in prestige and tried to encourage my kid to apply to Bowdoin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Continuing:

If Williams College was listed among National Universities, it probably would be ranked about #30 to #40. Georgia Tech, U Virginia, UNC, UCLA, Rice, etc. are more prestigious and certainly have better name recognition.

Once outside the snobby Northeast US bubble, reality sets in and LACs prestige diminishes greatly.

Nevertheless, both are solid schools which prepare students well for grad school.

You are conflating name recognition based on size and sports with prestige. Williams is much more prestigious than any of the schools you've mentioned with the possible exception of Rice.

Prestige really is based on the views of those familiar with all the relevant facts, not the reponses to a Gallup poll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Continuing:

If Williams College was listed among National Universities, it probably would be ranked about #30 to #40. Georgia Tech, U Virginia, UNC, UCLA, Rice, etc. are more prestigious and certainly have better name recognition.

Once outside the snobby Northeast US bubble, reality sets in and LACs prestige diminishes greatly.

Nevertheless, both are solid schools which prepare students well for grad school.

You are conflating name recognition based on size and sports with prestige. Williams is much more prestigious than any of the schools you've mentioned with the possible exception of Rice.

Prestige really is based on the views of those familiar with all the relevant facts, not the reponses to a Gallup poll.

No, not conflating prestige with name recognition.

But, you do you; whatever definition of prestige gets you the answer that you want, then enjoy your rationalization.