College admissions is competitive,

Students here are certainly athletic. Many people participate in varsity, club, and IM sports. In addition, lots of students love the outdoors. People here spend a good deal of time hiking, biking, and rock climbing, as well as skiing and snowboarding (during the winter months). Furthermore, you don't have to look very hard to find preppiness at Williams. Boat shoes and Hunter Boots abound. However, it rains a good deal in Williamstown, and we are in a valley, so those rain boots due come in handy. Plus, just because a lot of the student body is usually clad in boat shoes and Hunter Boots does not take away from the student body's vibrancy. Finally, everyone here is smart. It's nice to have so many witty people (students and professors alike) in one place.

Most students are happy to be here. People are always wearing some form of purple (even purple cow print) and or yellow. The campus and student body are both small, but this just means you can make it to most classes in about five minutes and see a few friendly faces as you run across the quad. People might not know what you're talking about when you say you go to Williams (we sometimes get mistaken for William and Mary, Hobart and Williams Smith, even a community college from time to time), but Williams grads and their families are always enthusiastic about meeting a fellow Williams student. Basically, the people in the know about Williams more than make up for the people out of the loop.

Classes here are challenging. The workload is substantial for many (but certainly not all) courses. Professors push their students and try to get students to do their best work, but they almost always ask for work that is within reason. Professors here really want to get to know students. I've had professors learn the names of every student before the first day of class (even for a lecture with one hundred and twenty students), take me out to breakfast, take me out for dinner, and I've even been to the President of the College's house.

Students are not competitive. I always see people studying together in groups at the library, at the coffee shop, and in various study areas around campus. There isn't always as much intellectual discussion as I would like, but I find as I get into smaller and smaller classes, that intellectual discussion happens more frequently, easily, and often spills out of the classroom.

There are a lot of students here from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California. Yet, we have students at Williams from every state. Williams also has a sizable international population. I have friends from across the U.S. as well as from several foreign countries. It isn't hard to make friends here, regardless of where you're from. The entry system can really help you meet students from all over the place.

Students here aren't that politically active. Many people here are apathetic, or just don't talk about their political views if they have them. The people who seem to be the most outspoken politically usually lean to the left.

The social life here can leave a bit to be desired. Honestly, most people know that before coming here. Williamstown is small and can only offer so much. That being said, there is still plenty to do. There's always schoolwork, but there are also movies, cultural food nights, craft nights, parties, and sometimes there's Contra dancing. This weekend there was a step team performance, there were a couple of movies, and there was an asian food night. Craig Robinson from the Office did a comedy show here recently. If you like to party there's always someone partying, but there's no need to. Williams sponsors non alcoholic events every weekend. Plus you can always play board games, watch movies, or just hang out with friends. There is NO dating scene. People are either "married" or just randomly hooking up. Many of the people who are "married" started out randomly hooking up. I think it is like this at many colleges, NOT just Williams.

Williams students are athletes, outdoorsy, and have iron livers.

Many students at Williams are athletes. My entry alone had a person on almost every sports team. Ironically, sporting events are not always that well attended. Since lots of people play sports, they are often at their own sporting event and unable to go to other events. Plus, it is Williams, so there is always a LOT of work to be done.

The Berkshires are beautiful, so it would be a shame for people aren't outdoorsy to come here. The views of the purple mountains are staggering, especially during the fall with all the shades of purple.

People here certainly know how to party. That being said, I've never felt ostracized for not partying or drinking. Sometimes, the drunken debauchery gets on my nerves though.

Williams is a great place to spend four years of your life. I have made many great friends that I will hopefully have forever. I love it here. No place (Williams included) is perfect. Sometimes I wish people would be less self centered and pick up after themselves. I still can't get over the number of people who just don't clean up after they leave the common room or bathroom and can't be moved to clear their plate when they eat at a dining hall. I think a little bit of that has to do with some of the apathy that comes when you go here.