<p>Are there any current Carleton students or applicants who have seen both Carleton and Hamilton and could comment on why they liked or disliked each college? I haven't seen anyone on the Carleton discussion board mentioning Hamilton or vice versa. Any comments about the political science programs at each would be helpful. Thank you.</p>
<p>Carleton-----------------</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted to both. Both have beautiful campuses, happy students, and strong poli sci departments. Northfield is larger than Clinton, and the Twin Cities are more to her taste than Utica. She liked the study abroad options at Carleton better. It is also easier for her to get to and from Carleton than it would have been with Hamilton.</p>
<p>I think both colleges are great - good luck!</p>
<p>A friend and Carleton alum toured Hamilton a year ago and had this to say:
The surprise of the trip? Hamilton in Clinton, NY. I have known folks in the planned giving office there for years and generally think of it as an excellent liberal arts school, but both d and I were blown away! The campus is gorgeous (even if a bit in the middle of nowhere), the college has a unique character and very strong sense of community, the alumni are very plugged-in, and academic rigor is balanced with connections to the real world (with a cross-curriculum emphasis on public speaking and excellent writing). The admissions office was superb and our freshman tour guide was about as cute and enthusiastic as they come.</p>
<p>Sounds nice</p>
<p>Both excellent and both were on our list. Hamilton gets points if you want an east coast location, but the town is the most tiny, remote place I’ve ever seen. Carleton is higher-ranked (if you care about that).</p>
<p>Carletoncarletoncarleton!!!</p>
<p>Hamilton is a joke compared to Carleton. At the national scale Carleton is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the nation and easily one of the top 2 or 3 in the midwest. The only other LAC in Minnesota with as good of a political science program is Macalester, but I still think Carleton tops it.</p>
<p>Ok, I retract my last comment, I thought it was Hamline in St. Paul, MN. Both LAC’s are awesome.</p>
<p>Utica has NOTHING on the Twin Cities. They don’t call it the Mini-apple for nothing. Northfield isn’t the hottest spot in the nation (and I am not only referring to weather) but you’ve also got the population of St Olaf (another fine LAC) in the same town. I don’t think too many rural schools’ students take advantage of their closest cities with much regularity, but at least the options are huge in Mpls if you want to go.</p>
<p>uh i’ve never heard minneapolis being called the “mini-apple,” and it still has a long way to go, in my opinion. still, its better than utica, whatever that is.
carleton is a great school (that waitlisted me), the only thing that i would have to think twice about going is the really ugly campus.</p>
<p>;asdlgkj;dlafgj
ARE YOU KIDDING ME
the carleton campus is GORGEOUS
it’s like stepping into a fairy tale
but anyway…
basically, both are great schools, and it’s a completely subjective opinion. people who are bitter about not getting into one will tell you the other, and vice-versa. i applied to both, and my gut told me to pick carleton, so i did. i think carleton’s social atmosphere is a bit more liberal and “quirky”. for example, there are many fun traditions, several of which involve streaking. that being said, the “liberalness” is not overwhelming, and is not as omnipresent as i found it to be at the traditionally regarded “liberal” schools - it’s there if you want it, and adds a playful feel to the place. hamilton, on the other hand, seems to be a bit more “traditional”, with a heavy emphasis on greek life, and a tad more conservative. i did not do an overnight at hamilton, as i did at carleton, so i can’t speak about hamilton students, although from what i’ve heard, people are friendly and say hi to each other. a big tipping point for me was the degree to which i found carleton students to be friendly, outgoing, and accepting. carleton may be ranked higher, but academically, i’d say they are equally rigorous and fabulous. so look at the small things, and one place will just “click”.
both schools were at the top of my list, so feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.
hope this helps, and good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with ChelseaMorning - I think Carleton has such a pretty campus :)</p>
<p>likin’ the location, breakfast =]</p>
<p>Campus beauty, in my opinon:</p>
<p>Hamilton’s light side>Carleton>Hamilton’s dark side</p>
<p>just out of curiousity, and i’m not bashing carleton, what did you find so attractive about its campus?</p>
<p>Shempi,
I’m a Carleton mom–my daughter is a sophomore there. I love the Carleton campus, and see great beauty in it, though not of the classical kind as at Vassar or Kenyon. The first time I visited, I thought it was nice. The second time, I thought it was quite lovely. By the third visit, I couldn’t imagine anything nicer … or prettier. It’s like how someone you love always looks good. :)</p>
<p>The part of campus between the observatory and the Arb (and, well, including the Arb too) is very nice, especially in the spring. I mean, come on, lakes and ducklings, can’t argue with that.</p>
<p>Most of the buildings are unremarkable but I quite like the Chapel and Scoville.</p>