Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 17:13     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
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.


Exactly. - Another Williams alum
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 17:12     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:the pc answer here is none

however, the truth is there is a huge difference, that will follow ur kid his whole life

Williams is at least two notches above Bowdoin - and people who will be important in your kids life will know that - whether it’s hiring managers, grad school admissions, coop board approval team, blah blah - the difference is tangible and will impact his life


The real answer here is that you have no idea what you are talking about. You are blithering aimlessly. Listening to you is about as smart as letting children play with knives. You are a fool, an utter clown.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 17:09     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a nephew who is facing this decision. He has visited both schools and preferred the environment and students at Bowdoin College. His father and most of his friends (he attends an east coast feeder school that sends many to Ivies/top SLACs) are telling him it would be foolish to turn down Williams for Bowdoin. They are roughly the same cost. Could someone with real world experience share if there's something significant that really sets Williams College apart? Thank you.


Curious which feeder school ? Deerfield Academy ?

Career goal of the student ?

In what fields do the parents work ?

How many students does he know or has he met at each school ? Is the student's experience at each school just a one or two day visit ?

Prestige of LACs only matters in the Northeast US. In other regions of the country many may wonder why he didn't go to a National University.


Nobody that matters would question why the student didn’t go to a National University. Only mindless folks on places like DCUM and Reddit would be that dim.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:59     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:I have a nephew who is facing this decision. He has visited both schools and preferred the environment and students at Bowdoin College. His father and most of his friends (he attends an east coast feeder school that sends many to Ivies/top SLACs) are telling him it would be foolish to turn down Williams for Bowdoin. They are roughly the same cost. Could someone with real world experience share if there's something significant that really sets Williams College apart? Thank you.


Curious which feeder school ? Deerfield Academy ?

Career goal of the student ?

In what fields do the parents work ?

How many students does he know or has he met at each school ? Is the student's experience at each school just a one or two day visit ?

Prestige of LACs only matters in the Northeast US. In other regions of the country many may wonder why he didn't go to a National University.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:47     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:the pc answer here is none

however, the truth is there is a huge difference, that will follow ur kid his whole life

Williams is at least two notches above Bowdoin - and people who will be important in your kids life will know that - whether it’s hiring managers, grad school admissions, coop board approval team, blah blah - the difference is tangible and will impact his life


As would believing that his parents trust his judgement and self knowledge.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:46     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
If the kid prefers Bowdoin, for God’s sake let him go there.

It was also my daughter’s first choice.

How sad that his father is valuing prestige over his kid’s opinion about where he would be happiest.

They are both excellent schools. He has obviously worked very hard, and should be allowed to choose his own next home.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:39     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Being consistently ranked #1 LAC is meaningful. Williams has far better name recognition than Bowdoin, presumably for this reason.


I’m not sure the average person has heard of either one. And depending on the audience, I’m not sure Williams always comes across as superior academically. As reflected in some of the jealous posts on this board, Williams has an only-somewhat-deserved reputation of being obsessed with athletics in its admissions decisions. I’m sure there are serious academics who discount Williams grads’ smarts for that reason.



Someone's kid didn't get in.


Worse than that, he didn’t even apply, despite the legacy preference!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:37     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:I have a nephew who is facing this decision. He has visited both schools and preferred the environment and students at Bowdoin College. His father and most of his friends (he attends an east coast feeder school that sends many to Ivies/top SLACs) are telling him it would be foolish to turn down Williams for Bowdoin. They are roughly the same cost. Could someone with real world experience share if there's something significant that really sets Williams College apart? Thank you.


Prestige isn’t what should drive a decision. Your nephew should of course go to Bowdoin if they prefer it. A happier student is usually a more motivated and (more importantly) a healthier student. What actually happens in college is vastly more important than school name. They are both incredible schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:25     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
I think so. I don't think that Bowdoin is that prestigious.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:18     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
For premed, prelaw, Ph.D. Tracks, your advanced degrees come into play. Undergraduate prestige between the two are reduced further, whatever the differences exist at the first place. For Wall Street bound, the difference may be more pronounced.

I can’t imagine what difference it would make if one is pursuing a phd in environmental science.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:08     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
the pc answer here is none

however, the truth is there is a huge difference, that will follow ur kid his whole life

Williams is at least two notches above Bowdoin - and people who will be important in your kids life will know that - whether it’s hiring managers, grad school admissions, coop board approval team, blah blah - the difference is tangible and will impact his life
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 16:00     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Being consistently ranked #1 LAC is meaningful. Williams has far better name recognition than Bowdoin, presumably for this reason.


I’m not sure the average person has heard of either one. And depending on the audience, I’m not sure Williams always comes across as superior academically. As reflected in some of the jealous posts on this board, Williams has an only-somewhat-deserved reputation of being obsessed with athletics in its admissions decisions. I’m sure there are serious academics who discount Williams grads’ smarts for that reason.



Someone's kid didn't get in.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 15:59     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Williams has a better yield when compared to Bowdoin so that says it matters to most applicants. However if a student prefers Bowdoin for some personal reason, its fine to let them pick it, no big loss.


It actually doesn’t, Bowdoin has the highest yield of any east coast co-ed SLAC.


+1

Bowdoin consistently has a much higher yield typically in the low to mid 50s while Williams is in the mid 40s.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 15:46     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:Williams has a better yield when compared to Bowdoin so that says it matters to most applicants. However if a student prefers Bowdoin for some personal reason, its fine to let them pick it, no big loss.


It actually doesn’t, Bowdoin has the highest yield of any east coast co-ed SLAC.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 15:41     Subject: Is there a huge difference in prestige between Williams and Bowdoin?
Anonymous wrote:Being consistently ranked #1 LAC is meaningful. Williams has far better name recognition than Bowdoin, presumably for this reason.


I’m not sure the average person has heard of either one. And depending on the audience, I’m not sure Williams always comes across as superior academically. As reflected in some of the jealous posts on this board, Williams has an only-somewhat-deserved reputation of being obsessed with athletics in its admissions decisions. I’m sure there are serious academics who discount Williams grads’ smarts for that reason.