<p>Leaving this upcoming weekend for a coach interview at Hamilton. D is VERY pumped. Coach Diehl and D have hit it off in emails pretty well. Probably try to look at Colgate while we are in the neighborhood. (Even though Patriot League would be pushing it basketball-wise.) Anybody recommend any good, clean, close hotels/motels and restaurants? Doesn't have to be fancy . We are Ford and Chevy folks . Not Mercedes. The college hunt budget has been blown looooong ago (and we still have two to go).</p>
<p>This one can't be driven in a pickup (Centex to Ny) -even for me. LOL.</p>
<p>The cleanest hotels are the Radisson and Hotel Utica in Utica. During freshman move in weekend we paid $108 AAA rate for a King bed with breakfast buffet for two at the Radisson plus $6for parking. Very nice buffet! I think the Hotel Utica was $98 for the same weekend. In New Hartford there is a Ramada Inn and a Holiday Inn; don't know anything about these, but many people stay there. Also there is an on campus hotel like rooms in the Bristol Center, 315-859-4194. I want to say these rooms were about $80 when I checked last October.</p>
<p>During our trip during move in we were always eating on the run so we went with the known restaurants: Outback, Applebee's, Panera Bread, and one nice night at O'Connor's Alexander Hamilton Pub on the square in Clinton.</p>
<p>Remember, that Hamilton College is in Clinton, NY, but Colgate College is in Hamilton, NY when looking at locations.</p>
<p>I am happy to answer any questions, but realize my daughter is only a freshman and we are southerns also!</p>
<p>Much appreciated . I just know that when I get back from spending $108 someone will say they got a bigger room at $30 bucks less. LOL. It happened last month when we went to WashU. Drives me batty. I'm not the best shopper.</p>
<p>Shoot, curmudgeon, I drove to Hamilton from Texas (but it did take a while and gas is EXPENSIVE nowadays). We stayed at the Hotel Utica, which was nice, but I really didn't care for Utica.</p>
<p>I'd avoid Utica if you can. Nicer, more pleasant places to stay elsewhere. There are a couple of nice small B&B/small inns right in Clinton (listed on both the Hamilton and Colgate websites) which are probably most convenient for you. The Hathaway Inn in Oriskany Falls, about 5 mins away, is a clean classic old antique Victorian with great waffle breakfasts if Clinton places are full. (Oriskany Falls is REALLY small upstate NY town - purely residential.) The Colgate Inn (about 20 mins away) is a nice place, right off the Colgate campus - we like staying here, space permitting: it fills up quickly if there is a big football game or alumni event.</p>
<p>I don't think it is necessary to AVOID Utica. Yes it is a depressed city, but for a hotel stay for a night or a week, if you are going to and fom campus it is a good location. The route between campus and downtown Utica is quick (remember I'm from a large city) and all the shopping is close by also. As I am not a Bed & Breakfast kind of gal, I would stay at the Radisson again in a heartbeat. The rooms were newly redone, the bedding is nice with the sleep number beds and down comforters, and the buffet even filled up my husband!</p>
<p>I'm from a large city too :) but still would avoid Utica. I've spent more time than I like to remember in the train and bus stations there in the past, and found the place equally depressing on a recent visit. There are some charming places in upstate NY. If Curmudgeon stays there, he should post a report!</p>
<p>pokey, I'm not a bed and breakfast guy either. B and B owners would take one look at me and start hiding their prized antiques. At 6'3 and 300 , antique chairs are just another word for "soon to be kindling wood".</p>
<p>Actually the cheapest decent non BB place to stay if you're not going to stay in Hamilton itself may be at the Inn at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona NY,. Its only about 16 miles from Clinton. I recall rooms were in the $80s. </p>
<p>Going down to Colgate, the Colgate Inn is rather expensive. I usually stay 20 miles south in Norwich at the Howard Johnsons. It's about a half hour drive and rooms with AAA are about $76.</p>
<p>I would love to hear what you think of the room after you stay. Staying at Bristol would be the best for me when I travel to visit my daughter alone, if my husband would even not to be able to make a visit.</p>
<p>Come on valuable . You can say Y'all. You've been in Ark for a month. LOL. I'm so glad you are happy. </p>
<p>Hamilton was very nice, and the people and setting were wonderful. D loved the coach, the girls, the admissions folks and feels that if somehow we won the lottery it would be great. While a candidate for one of their few merit awards , it is still a great financial reach. For more on the feel, look for my mini-van thread on the parent's forum.</p>
<p>To qualify for one of Hamilton's merit scholarships, do I just apply RD, or do I have to apply ED or anything? Also, are they full scholarships, and what stats do the previous winners have?</p>
<p>Hey curmudgeon I'm not sure if you remember me but thanks for helping me out with my essay last year! Things have come along absolutely splendidly since then. I hope your D finds the school of her dreams too and all the best in this arduous process!</p>
<p>Okay, good, so they do have full tuition scholarships, but does anyone think that I've got any shot of getting one?</p>
<p>My stats are:
National Merit Semi-finalist (probabley will be at least a finalist)
4.0 GPA (unweighted)
2280 SAT (800 Math, 740 Reading Comprehension, 740 Writing)
800 SAT2 Math Level 2, 690 Chemistry (taking it again, should get about 750)
fairly good extracurriculars</p>
<p>metsfan, I can assure you that I have no idea. Your stats are great, tests are better than my kid's. You would assume that you would be competitive, but what are they looking for this year? A blue haired oboeist from the south? Politically active cheerleader from South Florida? No way to tell once you've reached some threshhold. I believe you have reached the threshhold. That's all I've got for you. </p>
<p>And sixsixty , yes, I remember. How did things work out for you? School of your dreams sounds pretty good. So give the data up. Tell us. We need hope.</p>
<p>I got into Williams:) Am taking a gap year now and can't wait till I get to Billsville. I remember you saying your D liked Williams too, just apply.. their finaid is great!</p>