I have been offered practically full rides at both.
I have also been offered a Transfer Option to Cornell (InfoSci at CALS).
I plan on taking that it unless I really like the school I’m at; positive that I’ll transfer though.
I need to maintain a 3.0; Where should I attend?
I don’t seem to fit the class profile for either school [1920 SATs / Top of My Class / Asian / Poor / STEM Prospect].
However, I feel like I’d fit in more at Colgate and Colgate did offer me a full ride (I pay absolutely nothing) but I don’t really know how I feel about the Core curriculum there nor do I know how I feel about how severe the grade deflation I keep hearing about (as I really might want to transfer, Cornell or not). I like the idea of having an Open curriculum but I can’t really figure out what Hamilton’s average undergraduate GPA is as much as I tried to find it (I also have to pay a couple thousand more). It might sound like I should be happy with where I’m at right now but the GT offer by Cornell is just too good to pass and I feel like I’d fit better at a bigger school with the options of engineering.
Essentially, where should I go if I want to maintain at least a 3.0 that’s practically guaranteed given that I put in the work? The issue I have right now is that I live too far to visit and right now, I’d like to pick the school I’d feel the most at home at while being able to keep my options open by having a 3.0+.
I am a Colgate junior. In comparing these two schools, I would strongly suggest Colgate for your particular needs. The reason for this is that Hamilton College is more of a pure LAC when compared to Colgate. Its smaller, more liberal, and more focused on the humanities. However, if this is your thing, give Hamilton a try as its a fantastic school.
When I discuss Colgate with people who are unfamiliar with the school, I always describe it as a mini-Cornell. For most of the schools’ histories, they have been rivals in sports, academics, and geography. Of course, Colgate went the LAC route, while Cornell became a large research university. The difference here is that you’ll have better classes and a stronger alumni&faculty connections at Colgate, but better resources and name recognition if you choose to transfer to Cornell. I could get into more on how these schools are similar if you would like.
Unlike Hamilton, Colgate has more students, more faculty, and has been pouring money into the sciences recently. The Robert Ho Science center is newest, most beautiful, and most well-equipped building on campus. Colgate sciences are tough, but if you are decently good at them, a GPA above a 3.0 is attainable. The average grade awarded at Colgate is a B - B+. The average graduating GPA is around a 3.28. Your first year GPA should be higher than this.
When I applied to schools, I was off put by Colgate’s Core Curriculum as well. However, ive since changed my mind after talking to friends at schools with open curriculums. Most core classes are GPA boosters that offer a welcome relief outside your major. For instance, I took two of my cores with Art History professors because it gave me an excuse to take Cores with a focus on art. Core Classes also unite the campus in common understanding.
Overall, I recommend Colgate to you because its closer to a research uni like Cornell. Who knows, you might even decide to stay! Let me know if you have any further questions.
Just to state the obvious, I doubt either school would give you a full ride if they knew you were planning to ditch them after one year. By the way, I don’t think that is the stuff of Ivy League personal essay. If you want to go to Cornell, pay the full price for the 1 year school and then transfer. If you cannot, then stick with the school that offered you the deal of a lifetime.
If you did ultimately choose Colgate- the deposit deadline is today, by the way- you will soon enough experience the first module of the core curriculum. And through it learn how to frame the options you were offered, the choices you made, and the consequences and what it will take to make the best of the situation. This is a personal journey.
I trust that you will make the most of college and in time recognize through your actions in a tangible way the generosity these institutions extended to you.
I understand that it might seem like I’m throwing away a perfectly good opportunity but in all honesty, regardless of whether or not I stay with either school, I’d like to keep my options open. Programming is what I strive to do in the future and I’ll go wherever best prepares me for it. It might not be fair to utilize either school like that but it’s not what I’m doing. I’m just saying that I’m most likely going to take the offer but who knows? Maybe I won’t. All in all, there is definitely not way that I can pay full price at practically any college regardless of whether or not it’s a CC, State, Public, Private, etc. Just because I MIGHT take the TO to Cornell, it doesn’t mean I will and even if I do, honestly, I won’t be the slightest bit bad because it’s in my benefit to do so. Ultimately, if a different place will give me a better education then I’ll take it because that’s what college is about right?
I’m sorry if it seems like I’m being ungrateful but in reality, I think I’m being quite focused on myself and my growth, both personally and intellectually, during the next four years of my life. Both schools are need-based so either way, regardless of any factor, I would’ve gotten the same aid anyways.
I chose Hamilton College!! I decided that it’d be a better fit for me and I’d like to extend my dearest gratitude for all of your insight. I really appreciate it!!
Congratulations on Hamilton College. I don’t think that college is all about you though. Moral development should be on the list as well. When you hear the term “entitlement culture” take note.
just curious. What is up with Cornell this year, or is this typical Cornell? @userr001 now makes the 5th person I heard who got this 2nd year transfer option from Cornell. Very strange. And my pool of people I know applying to colleges isn’t the biggest by any stretch of the imagination. Do they lose a ton of students after the first year? Also, the same amount who were accepted to Cornell (in my town and D’s school) also turned it down to go to other schools (non-Ivy’s). My D didn’t apply to Cornell, did not want such a big student population. Cornell has the reputation of being a cut-throat school. No more evident than D’s friend who came back from her visit to Cornell (after being accepted) and turned it down since she had a bad feeling about the cornell students. Also she said she say a message in one of the dorm room windows - “please return term paper; no questions asked”. I don’t know what to make of it; maybe its just reputation. But definitely strange.
to @userr001. All I can say to you is choose your school- Hamilton or Colgate- based on which you would go to as if you were going to attend there for 4 years. At the end of your first year, assuming you are happy, you will have a choice between cornell and your then current school. This allows you more time to decide your future. Also, deciding on a school that is easier to achieve a 3.0 is not the right way to chose a school. The school that has the better fit, is the one for you. If you want easy, go to a local community college and get straight A’s.
I suppose that this means that there is a predicable and large enough wash-out and transfer-out rate at Cornell
to merit such a common trend among first year applicants.
“I don’t think college is all about you though.” (#7)
This probably needed to be said. In a sense, college CAN’T be all about you if the experience is to be genuine, sincere, meaningful . . .
“I trust that you will make the most of college and in time recognize through your actions in a tangible way the generosity these institutions extended to you.” (#4)
This considered comment is perhaps the best resolution to the ethical implications of this thread.
Re #s 8 and 10, though the Cornell GT option itself is offered to few freshman applicants, the overall transfer acceptance rate at Cornell/CALs was recently 47%. So while the GT option seems appealing to some students who have been offered it, the opportunity, generally, to transfer into Cornell/CALs is not particularly exclusive. And, while either Hamilton or Colgate would, as an opinion, seem to be more attractive choices for an undergraduate education than a large university, the issue in this case appears to relate to the OP’s particular academic interests.