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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

Just trolling then.....we have our answer, thank you for playing this episode of "talking just to talk"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

Just trolling then.....we have our answer, thank you for playing this episode of "talking just to talk"

You're disconcertingly temperamental. Wishing the best for you, since this has nothing to do, at all, with Williams College, and everything to do with your ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

How do you feel about academic rigor at Middlebury relative to the others? There are people here that feel Middlebury is unfairly ranked relative to WASP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

How do you feel about academic rigor at Middlebury relative to the others? There are people here that feel Middlebury is unfairly ranked relative to WASP.

I wouldn’t say fair/unfair. I think it’s up to USNews to do whatever it wants with its magazine publication. I will say middlebury has had a few financial changes, which may have hurt them, and it doesn’t have the same endowment as WASP colleges do. It’s a great college for the social sciences and humanities, and I particularly love this article describing a solution to what you’re hinting at: https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2024/09/the-customer-is-wrong-middlebury-is-failing-us-by-listening-to-us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

How do you feel about academic rigor at Middlebury relative to the others? There are people here that feel Middlebury is unfairly ranked relative to WASP.

I wouldn’t say fair/unfair. I think it’s up to USNews to do whatever it wants with its magazine publication. I will say middlebury has had a few financial changes, which may have hurt them, and it doesn’t have the same endowment as WASP colleges do. It’s a great college for the social sciences and humanities, and I particularly love this article describing a solution to what you’re hinting at: https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2024/09/the-customer-is-wrong-middlebury-is-failing-us-by-listening-to-us

I’ll also say, pick the college that’s for you. I got into Amherst and was rejected by Pomona. Any path wouldn’t have significantly changed my life for the worse.

[Anonymous]

How do people have such fine-grained and confident opinions about stuff like this? I taught at Bowdoin for two years at the beginning of my career, and I've taught at two other LACs mentioned in this thread. I haven't taught at Williams, but my kid is now making a down-to-the-wire decision whether to go there (which is why I clicked on this thread). I've chaired grad admissions committees with quite a few applicants from both schools over the years. But I have no idea -- couldn't begin to tell you -- whether Williams or Bowdoin is generally better. Given my kid's interests, Bowdoin looks less good -- for him. So he didn't even apply there. Is Williams therefore the better school? In my own academic field, Bowdoin is better than Williams. You'd think I'd have a more general opinion, but I have no idea which school is 'more prestigious.'

If, by contrast, the question is about the attitudes of people who know little about the schools apart from rumor and branding impressions, why care about that?

[Anonymous]

If you’re going through all the trouble of getting into a top lac just to worry about prestige, go to a damn Ivy or top research university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do people have such fine-grained and confident opinions about stuff like this? I taught at Bowdoin for two years at the beginning of my career, and I've taught at two other LACs mentioned in this thread. I haven't taught at Williams, but my kid is now making a down-to-the-wire decision whether to go there (which is why I clicked on this thread). I've chaired grad admissions committees with quite a few applicants from both schools over the years. But I have no idea -- couldn't begin to tell you -- whether Williams or Bowdoin is generally better. Given my kid's interests, Bowdoin looks less good -- for him. So he didn't even apply there. Is Williams therefore the better school? In my own academic field, Bowdoin is better than Williams. You'd think I'd have a more general opinion, but I have no idea which school is 'more prestigious.'

If, by contrast, the question is about the attitudes of people who know little about the schools apart from rumor and branding impressions, why care about that?

There is no way for anybody to have a fine grained opinion about these schools. There are basically 15 of so LACs with virtually identical student bodies. They overlap with probably 20/25 Universities with the same virtually identical student bodies.

Why people keep thinking that one is better than another or that they can be stack ranked is frankly stupid. Yet here we go again year after year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not buying. Anyone who went to Midd wouldn't refer to Williams as "just another liberal arts college." They know better. None of those schools are better than Williams and Williams isn't better than any of those schools. You can add 10 more schools (including Midd) to that group and there would be zero discernable difference in student quality and if your background is what you imply you would know that. Are you somehow bitter towards Williams? Or are you just trolling? Based on your response we've narrowed the list.

You're reading into a situation that doesn't exist. I don't put Williams on any pedestal, just cause USNews puts it at the top spot. To me, academic rigor shows in other institutions. Nothing bitter about it.

How do you feel about academic rigor at Middlebury relative to the others? There are people here that feel Middlebury is unfairly ranked relative to WASP.

I wouldn’t say fair/unfair. I think it’s up to USNews to do whatever it wants with its magazine publication. I will say middlebury has had a few financial changes, which may have hurt them, and it doesn’t have the same endowment as WASP colleges do. It’s a great college for the social sciences and humanities, and I particularly love this article describing a solution to what you’re hinting at: https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2024/09/the-customer-is-wrong-middlebury-is-failing-us-by-listening-to-us

I wholeheartedly agree with the premise of the authors.

[Anonymous]

I think, but do not know, that on-campus recruiting options for banking and consulting would be decent at Williams and non-existent at Bowdoin. This is the only factor I can think of that might differentiate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think, but do not know, that on-campus recruiting options for banking and consulting would be decent at Williams and non-existent at Bowdoin. This is the only factor I can think of that might differentiate.

Good thing a majority of students at both institutions don't touch banking a day in their life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re going through all the trouble of getting into a top lac just to worry about prestige, go to a damn Ivy or top research university.

This.
Most people do not know these schools from Adam, so if it’s the approval of randos you’re after, go to an Ivy and drop it into conversation every chance you get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re going through all the trouble of getting into a top lac just to worry about prestige, go to a damn Ivy or top research university.

+100