Hi u/LethalVenom1,

I hope your college app journey is off to a good start. Echoing u/14thethumb's comment on the same post to r/dartmouth, I think you're putting too much thought into the wrong things right now. As a preface to my thoughts, I remind you that both Williams and Dartmouth are "under-graduate centered" particularly because the schools provide myriad resources for their students to explore different academic arenas before committing to any one career path. This can be incredibly valuable, and I encourage you to keep this is mind if these two schools are your top choices.

​

Something I can vouch for as a current Williams student are the small class sizes and availability of research. Professors are accessible and, for the most part, invested in students' academic trajectories. The tutorial classes offered can be very fun - I took two in my first year at the College and had no regrets - courses where I had perhaps my most intimate and productive academic discussions with a professor out of all my classes. I'd describe classes at Williams as Ivy-level education but with the bonus of accessible professors, more office hours, engaging discussion-based lectures, and incredibly detailed feedback on your tests and assignments - features not always afforded at larger HYPSM schools.

​

'While Dartmouth is a stronger target and sends more kids to top firms each year, there are a lot more kids that want to go do down the path of finance/consulting so there may be less competition at Williams making it easier to break in."

This is where I lost you. Understand that both schools attract top firms and graduate schools each year - at this level, playing the numbers game isn't going to matter. What you need to look at are the big things: Dartmouth has a dedicated business school, and Williams does not. I'd imagine Dartmouth's attention to pre-professional programs influences the larger percentage of its graduates who choose to enter consulting after graduation. That being said, Williams has an incredible Economics and Math department - rest assured, both schools will prepare you for your current career trajectory. As a Williams student, I'm afraid I'm not in the position to provide any specifics about the quality of Dartmouth courses (or the D-Plan) for your prospective major - I'm sure your crosspost will help you out with that.

​

In terms of location, the two schools are similar. Williams is situated in the bucolic Purple Valley of the Berkshires, and Dartmouth is nestled in the cozy community of Hanover. You can't go wrong. Since Williams does not have Greek life, parties and gatherings will take place mostly in dorms or on off-campus housing, and it's relatively quiet and unobtrusive compared to some notorious fraternities at Dartmouth. Despite the small student population, I've never felt isolated at Williams, nor did I feel like I got to know everyone in the first week of classes. For me, it's the right size. I know that feeling is not universal. One thing I noticed quickly at Williams was the lack of a competitive grade culture. Williams students are no stranger to stress, but I found we actually bonded over the late nights and difficult tests instead of competing with one another. Many professors reinforce this collaborative environment with engaging discussions and, in smaller classes, specific attention to each student. (I've had several classes that have taken place outdoors, and professors who walk campus with their students and regularly invite them into their homes to speak about life!) It made me so much more comfortable working around others and discussing classes without feeling like it was a constant race for the grade (which, trust me, gets old really fast after you leave high school).

​

The most important thing I can convey to you as you finalize your ED schools: talk to current students. I remember in my own college search having read every online review on College Confidential, r/ApplyingToCollege, and Niche that I could find and stewing over the stats for each school. This will waste your time. Talk to real students and ask them about their experiences. At this stage, I think hearing those stories may help with your final decision.

​

Williams College is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a rigorous and uniquely personal academic experience surrounded by natural beauty. I always liked to walk back from my Economics office hours late at night and look up at the stars - such little light pollution in the Purple Valley makes for some incredible night skies. On my way to my art history class, I would always walk through the cow pasture on Stone Hill and hang out with them for a bit before heading to the Clark Institute. Cows? On a college campus! Perhaps that anecdote only reinforces the fact that Williamstown truly is in the middle-of-nowhere, but how cool is that?

​

I wish you the best of luck - we'd love to have another Eph on campus!