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

[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.

🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Someone is inhaling a lot of “copium” this morning.

Your response is very compelling and well thought out. Which LAC did you attend ?

/s

[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.

When the Wall Street journal and the Times Higher Education together published a joint ranking which combined LACs and National Universities, Williams College was either the first or second highest ranked LAC. Williams College was ranked in the 20s.

Amherst College was the highest ranked LAC at #22, Williams College was at #23, U Michigan at #24, and Bowdoin College at #38. Rice University was ranked #18.

https://timeshighereducation.com/rankings/united-states/2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You clearly followed your own advice, to less than impressive results.

[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.

When the Wall Street journal and the Times Higher Education together published a joint ranking which combined LACs and National Universities, Williams College was either the first or second highest ranked LAC. Williams College was ranked in the 20s.

Amherst College was the highest ranked LAC at #22, Williams College was at #23, U Michigan at #24, and Bowdoin College at #38. Rice University was ranked #18.

https://timeshighereducation.com/rankings/united-states/2022

#27 UCLA & #33 UNC were both ranked ahead of #38 Bowdoin College. Rice at #18 and U Michigan at #24 were also ranked ahead of Bowdoin College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You clearly followed your own advice, to less than impressive results.

Another well reasoned response based entirely on your personal opinion. /s

Again, which LAC did you attend ?

[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.

When the Wall Street journal and the Times Higher Education together published a joint ranking which combined LACs and National Universities, Williams College was either the first or second highest ranked LAC. Williams College was ranked in the 20s.

Amherst College was the highest ranked LAC at #22, Williams College was at #23, U Michigan at #24, and Bowdoin College at #38. Rice University was ranked #18.

https://timeshighereducation.com/rankings/united-states/2022

Pomona and Williams have been ranked #1 in the Forbes's mixed university/LAC rankings in the past 12 years. The lesson, as always, is that such rankings are mostly fickle and confirmation bias continually clouds our comprehension.

[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.

Middle 50% SAT scores from 2019 when schools were test required.

1290-1510 UCLA
1300-1470 UNC
1310-1480 Georgia Tech
1340-1500 UVA
1420-1540 Williams College
1470-1570 Rice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also a professor and I’m not that impressed by Williams. Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, or Reed are rigorous to me. Williams is just another liberal arts college.

[Anonymous]

This is so stupid. Both Williams and Bowdoin are schools where smart kids go and can thrive. My daughter chose Bowdoin over Williams. One of her closest friends is at Williams. Both seem very happy with their choices and are thriving. Why not consider where your kid will be happiest and not which school you can brag about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so stupid. Both Williams and Bowdoin are schools where smart kids go and can thrive. My daughter chose Bowdoin over Williams. One of her closest friends is at Williams. Both seem very happy with their choices and are thriving. Why not consider where your kid will be happiest and not which school you can brag about?

Then stop bragging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so stupid. Both Williams and Bowdoin are schools where smart kids go and can thrive. My daughter chose Bowdoin over Williams. One of her closest friends is at Williams. Both seem very happy with their choices and are thriving. Why not consider where your kid will be happiest and not which school you can brag about?

Then stop bragging.

?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also a professor and I’m not that impressed by Williams. Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, or Reed are rigorous to me. Williams is just another liberal arts college.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also a professor and I’m not that impressed by Williams. Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, or Reed are rigorous to me. Williams is just another liberal arts college.

I can tell you when I see a response like this I can quickly ascertain that the poster isn’t impressed by Williams because they weren’t able to get into a NESCAC LAC. They instead attended non-selective schools for their entire education. How do I know this? Because, nobody with a working brain cell in education would make such a statement because they know it is foolish. That means we have three choices; poorly educated, bitter, or just a common troll. Which one shall it be my little turd blossom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Someone is inhaling a lot of “copium” this morning.

Your response is very compelling and well thought out. Which LAC did you attend ? /s

I didn’t. I attended a non-selective public but trust me I’m far more successful than you. I started with nothing yet none of my children would ever have to work if I let them go that path.

I couldn’t resist because this LAC focused thread was cruising along with the typical foolish WASP commentary when a SLAC hater couldn’t help themselves and had to drop in. And given the schools that they named they became quickly identifiable as someone Asian and someone who definitely doesn’t understand American education to the extent that they believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also a professor and I’m not that impressed by Williams. Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, or Reed are rigorous to me. Williams is just another liberal arts college.

I can tell you when I see a response like this I can quickly ascertain that the poster isn’t impressed by Williams because they weren’t able to get into a NESCAC LAC. They instead attended non-selective schools for their entire education. How do I know this? Because, nobody with a working brain cell in education would make such a statement because they know it is foolish. That means we have three choices; poorly educated, bitter, or just a common troll. Which one shall it be my little turd blossom?

I went to Middlebury and then did grad school at Princeton and Yale for history. I really don’t need lectures about how educated I am when you have not shown to know much of anything, at all.