MODERATOR’S NOTE;
College Confidential is not a debate society. Feel free to make your opinion known or to politely disagree with another poster’s opinion. Recognize, however, that opinions will not be changed, so don’t keep banging the same drum. The Original Poster is not interested in the back and forth banter. At this point, I think the OP has a starting point on athletics at the 2 colleges (if that’s even important to him/her) to delve further on that topic elsewhere.
Let’s get back to the original question:
[quote]
Are there any colleges other than Hamilton (which is my number 1 choice right now), with similar academics, an LAC, size, ect) that are similar to Colgate but might have a more welcoming and diverse social scene? I visited Vassar and that was a little too liberal for me.[/quote}
I am certainly open to becoming a supporter of Hamilton varsity squash. Until and unless Colgate adds it as a varsity sport, of course!
Does Hamilton have any other very competitive varsity programs? The only head to head matches/events versus Colgate in the past 2 years were in men’s tennis in 2014 with Colgate winning 7-0 (no match in 2015) and this year with m/w track resulting in Hamilton 2nd and 3rd to Colgate firsts. Maybe it’s best just to stick with DIII.
Oh, well… There’s always club rugby if anyone wants to schedule. But given recent results I doubt that’s in the offing.
Beyond those colleges suggested in posts 2 and 8, OP, the somewhat less selective Skidmore would be another school to consider. However, you may find that it shares some of the qualities of Vassar, a school which did not appeal to you.
I do not wish to continue a huge Colgate vs. Hamilton debate; however, I feel like I need to justify my previous comment, which was placed into doubt.
Naming the top 5 majors at each college is a flawed method of proving your point. Colgate is a bigger school and offers 54 majors, compared to Hamilton’s 42. Colgate has 17 STEM majors, while Hamilton has 10. Hamilton’s two largest STEM fields, biology and mathematics are not split. Hamilton offers Biology and Biochem. Colgate offers Biology, Natural Sciences (including Marine Biology), Environmental Biology, and Biochem. Hamilton offers Mathematics. Colgate offers Mathematics, Mathematical Econ and Mathematics/Computer Science. Therefore, science majors at Colgate are less concentrated than at Hamilton. Being a larger school, Colgate has more research opportunities for STEM fields, and has been funneling more money into those disciplines more than any other.
Want to major in Creative Writing, Comparative Literature (lulz), Literature and Creative Writing, OR English? Better go to Hamilton because all Colgate offers is English. Thats all you get.
Want another example? Let’s take political science. At Colgate, you get IR, PCon, or Political Science. These are all very traditional, research heavy social sciences. At Hamilton? Government, Public Policy, or World Politics. Are those even real majors?
Hamilton is way more of a traditional liberal arts college than Colgate. Last example? You can major in Dance and Movement Studies or Cinema Studies at Hamilton. Both are minors at Colgate and they will stay that way.
The sports point is clearly dead and buried. D-III is not D-1. Your varsity teams often play our club teams.
In recognition of the diversity of viewpoints on this thread, I should acknowledge my own big mistake: I left a letter out of Holden Caulfield’s name (#15). (The associated squash match results were correct, however.)
I’m gathering from this friendly back and forth that there is some sort of low-level rivalry between Colgate and Hamilton, which I’d never have guessed before now.