Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 22:03     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:NP: this is a spinoff question for the Williams alums (OP hope you don’t mind)

Having gone to such a small undergrad in a remote location, do you sometimes wish you went to a larger college and had a larger friend pool to choose from?


Class of 1990 alum here. For me, the answer to your question is "no." My class had almost 500 people in it (not to mention the other classes around mine), so there were plenty of people to know and meet. And the size generates, in my perception anyway, a greater sense of community, both while at school and in the decades afterwards that I don't think people at larger schools have. So for me, the size was a big positive. I will note that the night before graduation in 1990, as I was standing around talking to my friends, I realized that I was ready for something different (I was headed to NYC for law school), but I never felt that way during my time at Williams. As I say to anyone who asks, its not for everyone (primarily because of its location), but for many (and for me), it was an amazing experience and education.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 22:01     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: My heart breaks for DC. I know nothing is promised/guaranteed/entitled, but almost all DC's math friends (school, camp, etc) got into top schools (Ivys, MIT, Stanford, etc). Like, almost.every.single.friend (all of them are great kids, smart, worked hard. so did DC).

DC seems to be the only one not going to one.

DC's a tough cookie and a trooper. But I can see the disappointment. DC worked so hard (and has a 2+ plus commute to school everyday on top of the academics and ECs, all of which DC did because enjoyed them, and not for the sake of college).

I just don't understand why.

Sorry for the long vent. Thank you for listening. Need to get it out...

OP as a math major at Williams, I hate how you are implying that dc didn’t get into any top schools. I think you are missing that many people consider Williams & Rice top schools. I turned down Ivys, as did most of my Williams friends. This will be shocking to you, but a few friends were sad they didn’t get into Williams and ended up at an Ivy.
It doesn’t sound like Williams is the right fit for your family, and the spot probably should go to someone who is thrilled to be accepted. That said, one of the reasons I chose Williams was for the unprecedented professor access. The tenured professors teach even the freshman math classes, and you are invited to discuss anything in their office hours, assist with research, create your own independent study class, etc. I met with professors at Princeton, etc and the access and opportunities weren’t there in undergrad.

NP. My older two went to Rice and Stanford, and we were surprised by how much more impressed we were by Rice. Our youngest may ED to Williams next year.

Op, congrats to your child. These are all amazing schools.


Can you say more about this?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 21:35     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
NP: this is a spinoff question for the Williams alums (OP hope you don’t mind)

Having gone to such a small undergrad in a remote location, do you sometimes wish you went to a larger college and had a larger friend pool to choose from?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 14:11     Subject: Re:Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
I have many friends who went to Williams and it seems like an incredible experience. They include athletes, theater kid types, and everything in between. All loyal alums who adored their experience.

Personally, I love that area of western Mass and southern VT, collectively known as the Berkshires. Yes parts of it are working class, but it’s also got world class cultural institutions and great natural beauty. In addition to the Clark and Mass Moca, check out the town of Lenox if you have time/ on a future visit. It is the home of the Boston Symphony’s summer home (Tanglewood), Edith Wharton’s home/ museum, a world class dance venue, lots of good restaurants and nice hotels etc. There’s loads of interesting history in that area.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:38     Subject: Re:Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:DC is choosing between Williams and UVA in-state. Leaning to Williams, by junior year a recent alum told us campus feels incredibly small and many feel a need to study abroad to get off campus. DC is intending to study abroad regardless, but can anyone speak to the upper class years at Williams socially speaking?


I studied abroad junior year when I was at Williams. The campus can feel small to some by Junior year, but that can happen at a lot of smaller liberal arts colleges. That being said, I had several friends who didn’t study abroad due to academic and athletic commitments or because they were serving as JA’s (junior advisors) in first year dorms. . Some juniors who stayed on campus jokingly called themselves “generic juniors” . There were some social shifts with some juniors being abroad or busy with their JA commitments but I found it easy to pick up where I left off socially when I returned from abroad (and this was pre-internet). I’m not sure if that same sense of isolation and smallness is there there, with the internet.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:23     Subject: Re:Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
DC is choosing between Williams and UVA in-state. Leaning to Williams, by junior year a recent alum told us campus feels incredibly small and many feel a need to study abroad to get off campus. DC is intending to study abroad regardless, but can anyone speak to the upper class years at Williams socially speaking?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:16     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:Piggybacking for the Williams alums: if we *can't* make admitted students visit, but are going after, anything in particular we need to make sure to see?


Williams class of 1990 here, so it's been a while, but I was back in Williamstown last summer for reunion. But make sure to see the new Science Center, and the Paresky Student Center. Not sure if its arrangeable, but its worth trying to see some of the dorm rooms if you can.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:38     Subject: Re:Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
*It is not an easier acceptance than the Ivy League schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:37     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: My heart breaks for DC. I know nothing is promised/guaranteed/entitled, but almost all DC's math friends (school, camp, etc) got into top schools (Ivys, MIT, Stanford, etc). Like, almost.every.single.friend (all of them are great kids, smart, worked hard. so did DC).

DC seems to be the only one not going to one.

DC's a tough cookie and a trooper. But I can see the disappointment. DC worked so hard (and has a 2+ plus commute to school everyday on top of the academics and ECs, all of which DC did because enjoyed them, and not for the sake of college).

I just don't understand why.

Sorry for the long vent. Thank you for listening. Need to get it out...

OP as a math major at Williams, I hate how you are implying that dc didn’t get into any top schools. I think you are missing that many people consider Williams & Rice top schools. I turned down Ivys, as did most of my Williams friends. This will be shocking to you, but a few friends were sad they didn’t get into Williams and ended up at an Ivy.
It doesn’t sound like Williams is the right fit for your family, and the spot probably should go to someone who is thrilled to be accepted. That said, one of the reasons I chose Williams was for the unprecedented professor access. The tenured professors teach even the freshman math classes, and you are invited to discuss anything in their office hours, assist with research, create your own independent study class, etc. I met with professors at Princeton, etc and the access and opportunities weren’t there in undergrad.


OP: Hi - I'm sorry if I/we came across as entitled or un-appreciative. I absolutely know DC has great choices. But yes, DC did have higher hopes (from peer pressure, influenced by prestige, etc). Not necessarily right, but it's what all the ambitious/driven kids want. DC knows 12 friends going to Princeton this year (yes 12!!! from school/summer camps/math comps/childhood friends/etc), Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, etc. You name it. There's at least a friend going.

I agree that name-chasing is not necessarily right, but DC feels inadequate (IMO wrongly so, to a certain extent). I think that's a valid feeling.

We're excited about Williams this weekend! All I've heard about Williams is the amazing undergrad focus and experience, and can't wait to hear more. Despite not having access to grad classes, I think Williams is a real contender and DC is still un-decided!


Williams *is* a prestigious school. It is not a harder acceptance than the Ivy League schools.

Your son's feelings of inadequacy are not valid because they are not based on facts. As a parent, I would never validate them.

Then again, as a parent, I would not encourage chasing schools for their name brands, either.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:32     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:Piggybacking for the Williams alums: if we *can't* make admitted students visit, but are going after, anything in particular we need to make sure to see?



Clark Art Institute
If your kid is STEM, tour the science buildings and more importantly, talk to current STEM students. Williams offers a lot for STEM majors and can be a good fit if your kid likes the campus culture.z
Pappa Charlie’s
The library
Time permitting, Mass Moca and the Norman Rockwell Museum (both outside Williamstown)
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:03     Subject: Re:Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Which other schools are still in the running along with Williams?


OP: just answered above as well. It's between Rice, CMU and Williams. Leaning Rice vs CMU (kid is an advanced student in pure math. either going to PhD or quant after undergrad).

We visited Rice Owl day over the weekend and I think DC loved it a lot - all the students there were great. Spoke to several math profs and math major students. I think the visit made the Rice vs CMU decision harder for DC!!!

Williams is still in the running for now, even though the lack of advanced/grad-level math classes is a major drawback. But I keep hearing the education is amazing at Williams so we have to go see it for ourselves, and give it a fair chance, at least!


^^ OP: want to add DC was shut out of all Ivys+MIT+Stanford+Caltech sadly. Decision week was really tough, and surprising since between (a substantial scholarship and financial aid) made Rice almost free, so we thought DC had a real chance with at least one Ivy. Nope. ZERO.

DC very disappointed - I think the big part that bothers us is that IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!!!


Course rigor? Private high school or public? AP's taken? SAT's? What were EC's?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 09:54     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Piggybacking for the Williams alums: if we *can't* make admitted students visit, but are going after, anything in particular we need to make sure to see?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 09:01     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: My heart breaks for DC. I know nothing is promised/guaranteed/entitled, but almost all DC's math friends (school, camp, etc) got into top schools (Ivys, MIT, Stanford, etc). Like, almost.every.single.friend (all of them are great kids, smart, worked hard. so did DC).

DC seems to be the only one not going to one.

DC's a tough cookie and a trooper. But I can see the disappointment. DC worked so hard (and has a 2+ plus commute to school everyday on top of the academics and ECs, all of which DC did because enjoyed them, and not for the sake of college).

I just don't understand why.

Sorry for the long vent. Thank you for listening. Need to get it out...

OP as a math major at Williams, I hate how you are implying that dc didn’t get into any top schools. I think you are missing that many people consider Williams & Rice top schools. I turned down Ivys, as did most of my Williams friends. This will be shocking to you, but a few friends were sad they didn’t get into Williams and ended up at an Ivy.
It doesn’t sound like Williams is the right fit for your family, and the spot probably should go to someone who is thrilled to be accepted. That said, one of the reasons I chose Williams was for the unprecedented professor access. The tenured professors teach even the freshman math classes, and you are invited to discuss anything in their office hours, assist with research, create your own independent study class, etc. I met with professors at Princeton, etc and the access and opportunities weren’t there in undergrad.


OP: Hi - I'm sorry if I/we came across as entitled or un-appreciative. I absolutely know DC has great choices. But yes, DC did have higher hopes (from peer pressure, influenced by prestige, etc). Not necessarily right, but it's what all the ambitious/driven kids want. DC knows 12 friends going to Princeton this year (yes 12!!! from school/summer camps/math comps/childhood friends/etc), Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, etc. You name it. There's at least a friend going.

I agree that name-chasing is not necessarily right, but DC feels inadequate (IMO wrongly so, to a certain extent). I think that's a valid feeling.

We're excited about Williams this weekend! All I've heard about Williams is the amazing undergrad focus and experience, and can't wait to hear more. Despite not having access to grad classes, I think Williams is a real contender and DC is still un-decided!



+100. Williams alum here. I can understand your kid’s disappointment but give Williams’ admitted student weekend a chance. I’m grateful my mom insisted that I go to admitted students weekend and at least see what it’s all about before I decide. So glad I did!
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 08:21     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:If a male, you don't want to go to Williams unless you're an athlete.


Tell us more!
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 08:20     Subject: Williams Admitted Students day - recommendations needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: My heart breaks for DC. I know nothing is promised/guaranteed/entitled, but almost all DC's math friends (school, camp, etc) got into top schools (Ivys, MIT, Stanford, etc). Like, almost.every.single.friend (all of them are great kids, smart, worked hard. so did DC).

DC seems to be the only one not going to one.

DC's a tough cookie and a trooper. But I can see the disappointment. DC worked so hard (and has a 2+ plus commute to school everyday on top of the academics and ECs, all of which DC did because enjoyed them, and not for the sake of college).

I just don't understand why.

Sorry for the long vent. Thank you for listening. Need to get it out...

OP as a math major at Williams, I hate how you are implying that dc didn’t get into any top schools. I think you are missing that many people consider Williams & Rice top schools. I turned down Ivys, as did most of my Williams friends. This will be shocking to you, but a few friends were sad they didn’t get into Williams and ended up at an Ivy.
It doesn’t sound like Williams is the right fit for your family, and the spot probably should go to someone who is thrilled to be accepted. That said, one of the reasons I chose Williams was for the unprecedented professor access. The tenured professors teach even the freshman math classes, and you are invited to discuss anything in their office hours, assist with research, create your own independent study class, etc. I met with professors at Princeton, etc and the access and opportunities weren’t there in undergrad.


OP: Hi - I'm sorry if I/we came across as entitled or un-appreciative. I absolutely know DC has great choices. But yes, DC did have higher hopes (from peer pressure, influenced by prestige, etc). Not necessarily right, but it's what all the ambitious/driven kids want. DC knows 12 friends going to Princeton this year (yes 12!!! from school/summer camps/math comps/childhood friends/etc), Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, etc. You name it. There's at least a friend going.

I agree that name-chasing is not necessarily right, but DC feels inadequate (IMO wrongly so, to a certain extent). I think that's a valid feeling.

We're excited about Williams this weekend! All I've heard about Williams is the amazing undergrad focus and experience, and can't wait to hear more. Despite not having access to grad classes, I think Williams is a real contender and DC is still un-decided!