What was wrong with the Sterling?

What is Sterling College like?

• I've asked questions about RISd and Williams, but Sterling College is another college I want to know more about. Although I have completed all the requirements( years of Mathematics, English, etc.) I still want to know what the experience is like being at a small college such as Sterling College in Craftsbury, Vermont. I've visited the college before while on a summer, and I quite enjoyed the experience I had during those few days( Currently a rising high school Junior). Anyways, I am considering Sterling College it, but I want to apply to see if I get accepted into RISD or Williams if I do apply to those colleges. I respect Sterling College, and its staff, but I don't want to attend a college if I'm going to regret not even applying to the other two. I've worked on the farm nearby, but I don't think I have the,"Full experience." Can someone help me out, because I miss being in new England, and relaxing on the open areas in Vermont, but I'm not sure if Sterling would be a good experience for me for those four years. I'm currently attending a private school focused on environmental sciences and art, and I told one of the staff I intend to apply, but I don't want to break a promise or go to a college with regret in me for those four years. Please help me out, as I need to know what to do withint my last two years of high school...

• Answer:

  Hello! My name is Tim -- I attended Williams College, and now I work at Sterling College, so maybe I can help give you some perspective. Williams is probably the most rigorous and respected liberal arts college in the country. There are almost infinite resources there, and if you can get in, and get a good financial aid package, it's hard to turn down. Sterling is a very different college. As you know, it's quite small, and rural, with a curriculum devoted to environmental stewardship. Community participation is key at Sterling, and because the school is so small, each student carries a lot of responsibility for shaping the community feel of the college. In my experience, most Sterling students actually work harder than most Willliams students - the academics at Sterling are rigorous, and the work program also demands a lot of time. There are great athletic programs at Williams, but no organized sports at Sterling, so if you want to play football, or similar, the choice is clear. In terms of job prospects after college, you'll be in good shape coming out of either school. Williams' prestige goes a long way, and 90 percent of Sterling graduates find a job or enter graduate school in their first year out of college. Williamstown is a neat little college town, but I LOVE Craftsbury Common. This part of Vermont, to my mind, is the most choice part of New England, and the renaissance of local agriculture in the region is really exciting. I don't know much about RISD, but hope the comparison of Williams and Sterling is helpful for you. Best, -Tim