<p>Okay, so this might not help a bunch, but…</p>
<p>GO 'GATE!
I absolutely loved and still do love Colgate. A piece of me died when I withdrew my application from them.</p>
<p>Best of luck!
-R</p>
<p>Oh Cadence76…</p>
<p>Oh dear, I’m afraid that you are coming into this discussion late. Never mind though. To recap earlier thread entries, an hour from Colgate is Syracuse airport with nonstop flights to NYC, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, Boston (and possibly even airports somewhat near Kenyon), while Syracuse itself is 45 minutes from Colgate, with its Carousel Mall offering all the shopping you can shake a stick at. You see, there’s no need to obsess over Utica. If it’s not your cup of tea just bear in mind that there are many other destination choices in NY state. Our Finger Lakes just to our west are a treat! Check it out!</p>
<p>I KNOW Maine has a lot more sunny days in winter than central NY, having grown up in central NY, gone to Syracuse for a time and had a son at Colby. The Great Lakes cause winters to be gray, snowy and blustery through that whole part of the country, with emphasis here on gray, as in cloudy most of the time. From Dreary Erie through Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, etc. It’s just a fact. Colgate, being a little farther south than the lakes, may not be quite as bad but still has some of the same weather patterns.</p>
<p>Also, Markham, you make a valiant effort to defend the honor of Central NY but describing Utica as an up and coming city or singing the praise of the Carousel Mall in Syracuse are really above and beyond . I spend much time in these areas on business lately, to my great regret, and I definitely think the Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Bureau or some similar organization should find you and offer you a high level position. O)</p>
<p>Sailfish,</p>
<p>Thank you for your vote of confidence. I’ve always thought it important to do one’s best to stand up for what one believes in. And to do so with a sense of humor while promoting discourse. I am sure that the readership will likely benefit from all of our views and assertions about our respective lifestyles.</p>
<p>May I suggest that you drop by Hamilton, NY and see Colgate when you are next drawn to our neck of the woods? It’s beautiful anytime of year and, in fact, it’s sunny right now! Central New Yorkers are proud people and you may well know that Colgate is unique in that its student body and faculty is considerably larger than most liberal arts colleges. We are endowed with many top 10 rated facilities, programs and graduation rates in the college rankings, ambitious and popular Division 1 sports programs where we pride ourselves as “giant killers”. And this Friday is the reopening of the venerable Colgate Inn after major renovations. You have to see it! Yes, we welcome all comers to our homestead! I just KNOW you will enjoy yourself.</p>
<p>Safe travels!</p>
<p>I would love to visit Colgate some day–I’ve always heard it’s absolutely beautiful, in addition to being a great university, and no one can take those things away. Enjoy your time there. How wonderful that you love it as much as you do…</p>
<p>I completely agree. We just visted Colgate and Colby 10 days ago–one right after the other–Colby first, then Colgate. My daughter has been accepted into both. I expected that my daughter would choose Colgate, but she wound up saying, “These are not kids I would normally hang out with,” whereas with Colby she said, “I would immediately hang out with any of these kids.” She clicked with the people at Colby and not at Colgate. In addition, Colby gets 50 more days of sunshine a year per the web (not Colby’s website). I wonder if the difference between the two schools is that Colgate attracts a group of students looking for a Greek presence, and Colby attracts a group that does not need or want a Greek presence. In any event, there does seem to be a difference in the students, or at least a difference that an 18 year old can strongly pick up on. BTW: My daughter is going to go to Colby. I think that eliminating the Greeks at Colby was a wise move on their part.</p>
<p>It’s a good thing that your daughter found Colby a comfortable place with students should could identify with.</p>
<p>Who knows if the 6 fraternities and 3 sororities at Colgate make the place feel different to your daughter in terms of Colby? I would offer that there are other differences that are interesting too…</p>
<p>Colgate, as I have heard, does not overlap applications-wise with as many small LACs such as Colby (1000 fewer students, 130 fewer full time faculty) when it comes down to decision time. Colgate overlaps heavily at that time with NYU, Cornell and Georgetown. On a recent Wake Forest thread I saw the same issue with one poster saying Colgate’s enthusiastic dedication to the liberal arts (perhaps in terms of the various schools within the larger university) and Colgate’s amazing alumni network (over 300 alumni club events per year- second only to Williams) were big points in its favor.</p>
<p>Colgate is unique in that it strives to be the best liberal arts university in the US and this is probably feasible due to its unique size and focus.</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>Oh, she’s going to love Colby! We had the same experience–while recognizing that Colgate was a great place, it was definitely NOT the place for my D, whereas half an hour into the accepted students day at Colby , she was ready to buy the sweatshirt! 
And now, as a Sophomore, she is still delighted in the choice. It’s a terrific school, with absolutely terrific, engaged kids. Congratulate her!</p>
<p>GDMACK:</p>
<p>My daughter made the exact same comment about Colby vs Colgate and she too has decided to attend Colby. The Greek life at Colgate was a big turn-off for her.</p>