<p>if anybody has any thoughts about these two schools... i would really appreciate some comparisons. social life? rumors that colby is a school for "functional alcoholics".. strength of each bio/pre med program?? and generally which school has a better name? </p>
<p>Right now i'm TORN between applying ED1 to COLBY or COLGATE. I would love to hear about anybody's personal experiences with admissions also. Thank you very much!!</p>
<p>My son visited and interviewed at both but didn't really care for Colgate and didn't apply there. He visited Colby twice, and felt a very positive vibe there. Everyone, from admissions to faculty to students, were very friendly and helpful. I think that you would get an excellent education at either school, and that the two are quite similar in reputation. Both have excellent Bio programs. (I know that Bio is one of the largest majors at Colby.) Colgate of course is a bit larger. I imagine that the level of drinking at both schools is about the same. Colby has several substance-free dorms and many alchohol-free activities.</p>
<p>A quarter of the Colby dorms are chem-free, our daughter was in a chem-free dorm freshman year and never felt out of the social loop. </p>
<p>Some kids drink at Colby, but no more than at any college. The school tries very hard to strike a balance between enforcement and respecting individual liberties. </p>
<p>You don't have to drink to feel part of the community, and there are many fun things to do that don't involve alcohol.</p>
<p>Re: admissions, read the thread from the Colby admissions person here on CC, and go to the Colby website where you can read a wonderful blog by one of the admission folks (she has a great blog on early decision). Then you can contact one of the students listed under "Ask a Student". Visit, interview, try do all those things before you decide early decision.</p>
<p>Doing your homework on any school you are interested in will pay off, and don't apply ED unless you are totally sure. Good luck!</p>
<p>Both Colgate and Colby are great schools. But i think you have it backwards. There is alcohol is available at both schools if you want it but most students at both campuses are not abusers. Waterville is a small but real town.The Colgate administration tries hard to prop up Hamilton, but it is only 2 or 3 blocks,with nothing to do other than go to the coffee shop or the Hamilton theater.</p>
<p>In addition,Colby has an excellent biology program. It is one of the biggest departments on campus with over 200 bio majors at last count. Do not forget your education depends on the quality of the teachers not the size of the science building.</p>