Established in 1793 with funds bequeathed by Colonel Ephraim Williams, the college is private, residential, and liberal arts, with graduate programs in the history of art and in development economics. The undergraduate enrollment is approximately 2,000 students.
Williams is committed to a need-blind admission policy by which it admits students without regard to their ability to pay, and commits to meeting 100 percent of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need for four years.
There are three academic divisions (humanities, sciences, social sciences), 24 departments, 33 majors, plus concentrations and special programs. The student:faculty ratio is 7:1. The academic year consists of two four-course semesters plus a one-course January term.
Fraternities were phased out beginning in 1962. Coeducation was adopted in 1970. The school color is purple. The mascot is the Purple Cow. Sports teams are called "Ephs."
Williamstown is located in the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts, 135 miles from Boston and 165 miles from New York City.
Williams College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. According to current U.S. News and World Report rankings, Williams is the #1 liberal arts college in the United States. As of 2008, the school has an enrollment of 1,997 undergraduate students and 49 graduate students.
Williams was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams as a men's college, located in the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts, at the foot of Mount Greylock. In 1834, the first non-secret fraternity in the United States, Delta Upsilon, was founded on its campus. Fraternities were phased out beginning in 1962. The college became coeducational in 1970. Williams forms part of the historic Little Three colleges, along with Wesleyan University and Amherst College.
There are three academic curricular divisions (humanities, sciences, and social sciences), 24 departments, 33 majors, and two small master's degree programs in art history and development economics. There are 315 voting faculty members, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1. The college also sponsors the Williams-Mystic program at Mystic Seaport; the Williams-Exeter Programme at Exeter College of Oxford University; and Williams in New York (also known as WINY or Williams@NY).
The academic year follows a 4-1-4 schedule of two four-course semesters plus a one-course "winter study" term in January. An intensive summer research schedule involves about 200 students on campus doing projects with professors.
Colonel Ephraim Williams was an officer in the Massachusetts militia and a member of a prominent landowning family. His will included a bequest to support and maintain a free school to be established in the town of West Hoosac, Massachusetts, provided that the town change its name to Williamstown. Williams was killed at the Battle of Lake George on September 8, 1755.
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| Percent of Students International: | 7% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 95% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (New England Small College Ath Conf) Basketball (New England Small College Ath Conf) Baseball (New England Small College Ath Conf) Track (New England Small College Ath Conf) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 31,548 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 212 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 5,208 | 10% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,633 | 6% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 20,906 | 44% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 2,073 | 22% | |
Any Aid: |
46% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 19% (Most Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 98% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 670, Math: 670 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 770, Math: 760 |
| Application Fee: | $ 60.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Not Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Not Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
College Advice
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Question:
what do you think about these schools?
Amherst College
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Clark University
Emerson College
Fordham University
Hampshire College
New York University
Penn State
Trinity College (Connecticut)
University of Texas
Williams College
anny comments or concerns are welcolme!!
16 months ago
Best Answer
the most prestigious on this list are amherst and williams, they are small liberal arts schools in the northeast that have served many generations of new england's elite.
texas and penn state are huge public institutions. texas is the more selective of the two.
NYU is the most popular school in new york, and is one of the largest private universities in the nation. it has great film and arts programs.
boston u and boston college are breeding grounds for future yuppies of america. both are very good schools.
brandeis has a lot of jewish students.
if your academic credentials are top notch, i would decide first if you want a small liberal arts college environment (amherst), a midsize university (boston college), or a big university (texas). then narrow it down.
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18 months ago
Best Answer
That's a fantastic college, one of the top liberal arts schools in the country. It's in Williamstown, MA, which is pretty small. It's south of the Berkshires, about an hour south of Amherst MA and three hours from Boston. MA has traditional New England weather - gorgeous summers and falls, cold winter. I went to a liberal arts school in western MA, and I loved it - I'd move back there in a second.
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in your opinions,what would you say about your years at Willliams if you are a current student or an alumnus?
and where would you place Williams among Ivy schools?
finally, what is your opinion on Williams' selectivity?
thanks!!
19 months ago
Best Answer
I'm very familiar with Williams. My husband is an alum and my son is currently attending.
No doubt they both feel that the education they received/are receiving at Williams is on par with the best Ivy educations.
Opinion about selectivity? What do you mean? Williams is certainly selective, not as much as Princeton, but then again, Williams isn't as widely known as other bigger name schools... ie so they don't get the same ratio of applications for open spots.
My husband loved it there and counts his best friends among his former classmates. He's worked on behalf of alumni relations and feels very strong ties to the school. My son is loving it there, as well...has totally thrown himself into all aspects of the school...terrific academics, student council, club/intramural sports. He loves walking outside and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. He's made several very good friends already and looks forward to the rest of his time at Williams.
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True or false? Anyone have first hand knowledge?
20 months ago
Best Answer
The "Most" arrogant might be stretching it a bit. I'd personally give that honor to Columbia University but they're all pretty arrogant.
Williams College students do have a reputation for always bring right, uppity, and rather eccentric but they're no worse than any other ivory tower school (like Columbia, Princeton, Duke, etc.).
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I've been looking at colleges and this one really got my attention. It looks like a great liberal arts school
29 months ago
Best Answer
I have a friend studying American Studies there. He really likes it and has enjoyed his time there so far!
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