Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2011 - (Page 45)

which are hotbeds of late-night intellectual discussion and provide a common experience that enables new students to come together.” of the things that makes Williams so “One interesting is how each student is involved in a diverse and eclectic range of activities. There are football players in the Latin dance ensemble, frisbee players in the choir, etc.” “Williams is a very active, outdoorsy campus with organized hikes, kayaking, canoe trips, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the surrounding Berkshire Mountains. The winters are cold; but a wonderful thing about our location is that there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors all year long, and many students remain active all winter, going skiing, snowshoeing, running, sledding, etc. WSP also leaves you time to take advantage of how beautiful Western Massachusetts is in the winter.” “Williams is a great choice for the strong athlete who does not want to sacrifice academics. About a third of students play a varsity sport, and many more participate in intramurals.” cherished tradition is Mountain “A Day—a Friday in October when classes are cancelled and the entire school hikes up Mt. Greylock, the tallest mountain in Massachusetts and one of the best places in the country to observe the fall colors. When you reach the top, you are rewarded with not only stunning views, but also warm local apple cider, crisp apples, and an all-school sing-along of the college song.” “Williams is quite isolated, and this should be a factor one considers seriously. However, it’s not necessarily a negative. I now live in a large city, and while I enjoy the opportunities a city has to offer, I very much miss the sense of community that an isolated environment provides.” “Advanced undergrads have no opportunity to take graduate-level courses, and some courses are not offered every year. Students with specific academic interests should look carefully at the catalog and verify that courses of interest to them will be available.” “While fall semester is beautiful, the winter can be long, muddy, dreary, and depressing.” Williams College Williamstown, MA 01267 www.williams.edu • 4-year coed private college • Campus in a small town in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts • Full-time undergraduate enrollment 2010-11: 1,047 men; 1,126 women. • Special features: Numerous junioryear-abroad programs; Clark Art Museum, with a famous collection of Impressionist paintings. cherish close personal relationships tend to thrive in a small, tight-knit community like ours.” people are so friendly. Everyone is “The supportive. This sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s true. People work hard, but they don’t feel the same stress that my friends at other colleges complain about.” love Winter Study Period. If you’re “I fascinated by the class you’re taking and sufficiently disciplined to fill your free hours well, WSP can be tremendous. This is the time for lingering conversations over meals and quality time with a book in front of the fireplace. For some, though, WSP is spent getting drunk to fill the hours of free time. If nothing else, WSP teaches that you are responsible for how you spend your time.” Who Would Be Most Compatible with the Academic and Social Atmosphere at Williams? “Someone who doesn’t need the excitement of a city, who enjoys the beauty of nature (even in winter!), who values time spent in deep conversation, and who seeks not merely a degree but also knowledge and self-discovery.” “Williams is an extremely accepting place. We have wonderful cultural diversity and awareness. Politically conservative students are a vocal minority, and some have found the curriculum and student body too liberal.” If You Had It to Do over Again, Would You Go to Williams? All reviewers enthusiastically said yes. “Without question. Williams deserves its years-long tenure as the #1 ranked liberal arts school in the country. I absolutely loved my four years there, and remain close to the friends I made there and to the institution.” “Definitely! I’ve visited other schools, and nowhere else have I found people to be as happy, friendly, and comfortable as they are here. The work is tough, but the personal support from both professors and peers makes the challenges exciting rather than frustrating.” “Absolutely. Once you accept the limited social opportunities, it’s fantastic. People are happy to be here. It’s an open, accepting campus where faculty care and students matter.” Even coming from sunny Southern “Yes. California, the winters were worth it.” Note: The reviewers quoted in the Students Review series are expressing their own views, which are not necessarily those of JHU or CTY. What Do You Like Best about Williams? What Do You Like Least about Williams? “Without question, the best thing is the people. Both faculty and students are intelligent, thoughtful, and eager to help. Everyone comes to Williams excited about something, and for me this excitement was contagious. People who “Williams is strong because it’s such a small, self-contained community, but this can also be a liability. It can feel confining—parties can seem very repetitive—and the physical isolation limits off-campus social opportunities.” www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine imagine 45 http://www.williams.edu http://www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2011

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2011
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Problem Solving
Orange County Math Circle
Number Theory
Count Me In
National Mathematics Competitions
Math at the Science Fair
Just My Speed
MathPath
When Origami Meets Rocket Science
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Making a Difference
High School Options for Gifted Students
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2011