Dominant Majors at Williams College

Hello all, I'm seriously considering applying to Williams College. But first, I would like to know: what are the most popular majors there? What is the academic culture like?

At Williams College, the five most popular majors are: Economics, Mathematics, Biology, History, and English, however, the academic culture there values a broad foundation in the liberal arts. Remember, the liberal arts are comprised of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and even mathematics—not limited to just "arts".

Known for its strong liberal arts foundation, a significant focus is placed on interdisciplinary studies, deep intellectual exploration, and building well-roundedness in a wide range of academic disciplines. Furthermore, Williams College fosters a tight-knit academic community with small class sizes and a low student-faculty ratio, thereby ensuring personalized and intensive learning environments.

In this setting, professors frequently serve not just as educators, but as mentors and researchers. Many students capitalize on the opportunity to perform advanced research and collaborate with faculty. Williams College particularly stands out for its unique tutorial system, a rare offering among American undergraduate institutions, modeled after the approach of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. In tutorials, students meet either one-on-one or in small pairs with a professor each week, presenting and critiquing one another’s work and fostering a highly individualized and deeply engaged mode of learning.

Of course, academic culture can differ from student to student, but overall Williams is known for its rigorous academics and community of intellectually curious students who are deeply committed to their studies while also engaging in a wide array of extracurricular activities. What's important is how well it aligns with your academic goals and preferred learning style.