Anonymous
Post 06/19/2026 07:44     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Williams has a shockingly abysmal yield for RD - meaning, many kids choose other schools who gain admittance - Vassar is definitely at the peer level so go with it!!


I know kids in the class few cycles who got into williams RD. it's not usually a x or williams decision. kids who get into williams also have other great options at various price points so if your choices are UVA, Rice, CMU, Brown, Pomona, Swat and Williams - and choose UVA (like a kid I know this year), it's hardly a knock on williams.


Among those, UVA would literally be the last school I hope my kid would pick
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2026 07:37     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:I’d go to Williams and transfer to a top program after. The Williams prestige and not having the appropriate major will lock you in to at least one top 20 university. Your chances for a top 10 are very good as well. Know some Williams students who transferred into Yale, UPenn, and Columbia.


To the outside non-DCUM world, are Columbia and UPenn objectively considered better than Williams? Honestly asking. I know Yale would be, but Columbia too?
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2026 07:32     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
NP this tells me the OP has spent too much time on DCUM and counting rankings. In real life, people don’t think there is a difference between Williams and Vassar. In fact, if you live in NY, CA, TX and some other big states not near MA, it’s more likely most people you come across, including accomplished professionals, would have heard of Vassar and not Williams and Amherst. No one has heard of Swarthmore.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 23:28     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:It’s like choosing Brown over Princeton. Whatever.



Crazy Williams booster is
not getting as much traction on the Top 30 LACs thread as they’d hoped for, so they necro this old thread? Slow night? Are you well?
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 17:28     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
It’s like choosing Brown over Princeton. Whatever.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 17:26     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:A very stupid decision that your child hopefully didn’t take


A very stupid comment that readers hopefully didn’t read.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 17:24     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
A very stupid decision that your child hopefully didn’t take
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:22     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the Williams appeal. So many peer schools with better campuses, opportunities, and environments. Somehow DCUM attracts every williams alum too.


It’s more the opposite. There’s a consistent anti-Williams bias on this forum. As far as I can tell, it stems primarily from a need to take down the #1 rated SLAC.

I’m not an alum but strongly considered Williams. As far as SLACs go, it’s certainly not for everyone but it also comes about as close as a school can get to embodying the idea of an “academic village.” And while I turned Williams down for a more accessible and less remote Ivy, I certainly observed that Williams grads were extremely well prepared for law school.

I’m confused. Every lac is talked about on here and when Williams is presented, the overwhelming idea is it is some Mecca amongst lacs in its own league. This is the only thread where I’ve seen open and accurate criticism of Williams.


+100


I'm beginning to think Jeff is Williams Mom
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:17     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the Williams appeal. So many peer schools with better campuses, opportunities, and environments. Somehow DCUM attracts every williams alum too.


It’s more the opposite. There’s a consistent anti-Williams bias on this forum. As far as I can tell, it stems primarily from a need to take down the #1 rated SLAC.

I’m not an alum but strongly considered Williams. As far as SLACs go, it’s certainly not for everyone but it also comes about as close as a school can get to embodying the idea of an “academic village.” And while I turned Williams down for a more accessible and less remote Ivy, I certainly observed that Williams grads were extremely well prepared for law school.


The thread isn't anti-Williams; it's anti-parent-refusing-to-listen-to-a-young-adult-making-a-good-decision-about-their-own-education.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:13     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does DS actually want to go work as an art historian? if yes, that would be a reason to pick Williams otherwise sounds like Vassar is a better fit. Williams seems like a tough school to be at if it is not a good fit - it is so small and remote.

Williams undergrad art history and Vassar art history are the same. It’s not till the masters program that Williams stands out.


I gather as a SLAC, Williams does not offer a PhD program in Art History. Just wondering why anyone would get a Masters at Williams, and then I guess you apply for a PhD after your Masters, or is there some commercial value to just a Masters degree?

Art history is a difficult field to get admission to a PhD and stand out in the crowded field. Williams masters program offers a lot of unique resources that you’d expect for a PhD program and has the prestige to get you into a shiny PHD program.

It used to be just go to Williams for your masters and get a job, but art history is more competitive than ever.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:10     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does DS actually want to go work as an art historian? if yes, that would be a reason to pick Williams otherwise sounds like Vassar is a better fit. Williams seems like a tough school to be at if it is not a good fit - it is so small and remote.

Williams undergrad art history and Vassar art history are the same. It’s not till the masters program that Williams stands out.


I gather as a SLAC, Williams does not offer a PhD program in Art History. Just wondering why anyone would get a Masters at Williams, and then I guess you apply for a PhD after your Masters, or is there some commercial value to just a Masters degree?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:05     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:Does DS actually want to go work as an art historian? if yes, that would be a reason to pick Williams otherwise sounds like Vassar is a better fit. Williams seems like a tough school to be at if it is not a good fit - it is so small and remote.

Williams undergrad art history and Vassar art history are the same. It’s not till the masters program that Williams stands out.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 10:16     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Does DS actually want to go work as an art historian? if yes, that would be a reason to pick Williams otherwise sounds like Vassar is a better fit. Williams seems like a tough school to be at if it is not a good fit - it is so small and remote.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 08:44     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
because it's a kid making a decision on their own, which should be supported. this is why there are revisit days.

if the question was more general, most people would say williams is better. but it's late April and this kid has made a decision and it's great! vassar is great!
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2026 23:38     Subject: Vassar Over Williams?!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the Williams appeal. So many peer schools with better campuses, opportunities, and environments. Somehow DCUM attracts every williams alum too.


It’s more the opposite. There’s a consistent anti-Williams bias on this forum. As far as I can tell, it stems primarily from a need to take down the #1 rated SLAC.

I’m not an alum but strongly considered Williams. As far as SLACs go, it’s certainly not for everyone but it also comes about as close as a school can get to embodying the idea of an “academic village.” And while I turned Williams down for a more accessible and less remote Ivy, I certainly observed that Williams grads were extremely well prepared for law school.

I’m confused. Every lac is talked about on here and when Williams is presented, the overwhelming idea is it is some Mecca amongst lacs in its own league. This is the only thread where I’ve seen open and accurate criticism of Williams.


+100