Anonymous wrote:One thing to note about the top NESCAC schools as well as Swarthmore is the significant cultural differences between athletes and non. Our DC is Lax, and their experience is that the athletes are great students, but are more “normal” socially than the hardcore grinder kids. He’s got a friend at Swarthmore which has a reputation for being insanely hard, but his friend said all the NARPs do is complain about how little time they have. Meanwhile the athletes get same grades, workout all the time and even go to parties!

So at least for lax boys, top academic SLAC kids still have a good time.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to note about the top NESCAC schools as well as Swarthmore is the significant cultural differences between athletes and non. Our DC is Lax, and their experience is that the athletes are great students, but are more “normal” socially than the hardcore grinder kids. He’s got a friend at Swarthmore which has a reputation for being insanely hard, but his friend said all the NARPs do is complain about how little time they have. Meanwhile the athletes get same grades, workout all the time and even go to parties!

So at least for lax boys, top academic SLAC kids still have a good time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Someone is on an anti-SLAC rampage tonight. Their loss.

Not arguing that Williams is laid back - it's not. But this is way overblown. It is no more intense than any other top tier school these days.

But you go around with your agenda. Not sure who from a SLAC pissed in your Cheerios.

Maybe a booster from ASP?

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Someone is on an anti-SLAC rampage tonight. Their loss.

Not arguing that Williams is laid back - it's not. But this is way overblown. It is no more intense than any other top tier school these days.

But you go around with your agenda. Not sure who from a SLAC pissed in your Cheerios.

Anonymous wrote:How are Amherst and Swarthmore in comparison?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams alum here- my experience might not be relevant 30+ years later, but I found it to be very friendly and laid back. People worked hard but it felt collaborative. I loved that people there could be serious about their academics without taking themselves too seriously, if that makes sense.

My best friend attended in the 90s and I agree it was like this then. My oldest is a sophomore now and it’s quite different. The workload and peers are very intense (CS major) and I would add the academic calendar can make it seem like even more of a slog, since it’s a bit different and longer than most schools.

So..it's intense. I don't know why people are beating around the bush. It's a rural liberal arts college that is known for its academic quality. Williams is as intense as it comes. If you want la di da, don't go to a top liberal arts college. Even students at the "fun" LAC -Pomona- spend a bunch of time studying. It comes with going to a rigorous school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams alum here- my experience might not be relevant 30+ years later, but I found it to be very friendly and laid back. People worked hard but it felt collaborative. I loved that people there could be serious about their academics without taking themselves too seriously, if that makes sense.

My best friend attended in the 90s and I agree it was like this then. My oldest is a sophomore now and it’s quite different. The workload and peers are very intense (CS major) and I would add the academic calendar can make it seem like even more of a slog, since it’s a bit different and longer than most schools.

Anonymous wrote:Williams alum here- my experience might not be relevant 30+ years later, but I found it to be very friendly and laid back. People worked hard but it felt collaborative. I loved that people there could be serious about their academics without taking themselves too seriously, if that makes sense.