<p>So until yesterday, I had been planning to enroll at Conn College next fall, and was extremely happy with this decision. However, yesterday I got a call from Hamilton telling me that they would like to admit me to the class of 2014, and they need to know my decision by Monday. Hamilton was one of those schools that I never really considered going to, because it was somewhat of a reach, and I never really interviewed, so I didn't think I'd ever get in. I proud to have even gotten waitlisted, let alone accepted from the waitlist! Now that I actually have the option of going there, I don't really know what to do.</p>
<p>In terms of rankings and reputation, I am aware that Hamilton is significantly higher than Conn. However in terms of location and studio art program (I'm going to double major), Conn seems to have the upper hand. </p>
<p>Anyway, seeing as I have less than 36 hours to make this decision, any advice, opinions, or information would be great!</p>
<p>In terms of my opinion, education-wise, Hamilton is not significantly better than Connecticut College so don’t feel like Hamilton is so much better than Connecticut.</p>
<p>Personally, Hamilton is in the middle of nowhere and New London has nothing to do so both don’t have the greatest campus surroundings but I would go to Hamilton College. However, if Connecticut College is better for your major, you should go there!</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision! Don’t regret it either :)</p>
<p>We faced a similar (but different choice) in 07. In the end, we went with the lower school for our own reasons. Those aren’t your reasons.</p>
<p>Second, rankings are a fools errand. Ignore them.</p>
<p>BUT…Hamilton is a wonderful school. Its downside is that it is very remote (and very cold in the winter) and you are there and not much else to do. Its a superb LAC. Well known and respected. </p>
<p>So your task is to find out what its really like there from kids who go there. Did you visit? Your impressions? What is your personality? What is the personality of the kids who go there? Demographics? Socio-economic status? Or similar for both? </p>
<p>And then there is the specific program you love and like. Connecticut College is also a very good school. Where do you want to go when you are done with undergrad? Grad school? Art studio? Which has the best internships and options?</p>
<p>Is money an issue? You have to decide. Take your time this weekend. Think about it, talk about it and reach a decision. Its okay to head up to Hamilton and tell Connecticut College you’ve been admitted off a waitlist. Happens all the time for thousands of kids. But its also okay to tell Hamilton that you appreciate the offer but you are sticking with Connecticut College for the art program. Kids also do that all over the country. </p>
<p>Congrats again. Now just relax, breathe, think a bit…but don’t obsess. Take your time. Go for a long walk with your mom or dad…or sibling or friend. And then make a decision on Sunday night. Then notify the schools.</p>
<p>As soon as you do that, buy the gear and close the book on the other. Look forward, not backward. </p>
<p>I really don’t think you should be so concerned about rankings when making your final decision. The USNWR rankings for LACs, in particular, is very unreliable and skewed. Oberlin at 22, Barnard at 30, not to mention Reed…</p>
<p>Hamilton was like my dreams school haha. Lucky for you, I visited both. Here’s what I found, though you may have different opinions:</p>
<p>Conn - Much more artsy than Hamilton, which for you is a big plus, and as I recall it has an art museum that they put student work in, but I may be mixing it up with somewhere else. For me the campus was a bit massive, however. I’m not sure how that impacts you</p>
<p>Hamilton - In my opinion, a lot more social diversity was present at Hamilton, in that there were artsy kids but also more middle-of-the-road kids along with the preppy kids that everyone associates with Hamilton. I actually really liked the Oneida Region, and Clinton, where Hamilton was located, was really nice (it actually reminded me of an uncrowded Bar Harbor), and Utica is not too far away, so it’s not like it “is literally in the middle of nowhere.” In fact, Utica has a fairly comprehensive art museum as well.</p>
<p>I biased toward Hamilton of course, but you’re making a great choice either way. :]</p>
<p>If you were extremely happy with your decision to attend Connecticut College before you got the call from Hamilton, a school that you are not even sure would be a right fit, I would stick with your original decision. You can always take pride in the fact that you were accepted into your reach school. It is not about the rankings, both CC and Hamilton are outstanding LAC’s (I don’t think CC went to their wait list this year), it is about where you feel most comfortable and it sounds like you made the right choice for you. Congratulations!</p>
<p>Hamilton is a level above Connecticut academically. For some reason its alumni tend to be among the happiest with their school leading to a very very strong alumni network. Hamilton’s campus is beautiful. It might be in the middle of nowhere, but if you are serious about your studies, there really won’t be much time to venture away from your school anyway. Very few students ever complain about the lack of social life on the Hamilton campus.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding all of the above, if your major at Connecticut is a much better fit, then that might be the school for you. Here is a thought, however: What if you change majors?</p>
<p>FWIW, we’ve known two people who graduated from Connecticut College who liked it there. There were tons of cars on campus when I visited which left me concerned whether the place empties out on weekends. Also a number of walkways, etc seemed to be in disrepair, almost as if they’d been deferring maintenance. Other than that the campus seemed nice, D2, the dancer/ english major type, really liked it, our son didn’t for reasons unknown. If you live near NYC area it is relatively close, as colleges go, which means if our kids attended we might see them once in a while. which is nice. </p>
<p>Our kids were basically warned away from Hamilton by their aunt who attended sister college Kirkland (now folded into Hamilton) in the 70s. She was very discouraging about the school’s location. Also the types of people who populated the Hamilton side at the time, very preppy she said. Whereas Kirkland was all granola. That was all a very long time ago though, however the school has not moved, which was more the basis for her cautions.</p>
<p>IMO too much diversity in types of people is actually not that good a thing for an LAC, due to its small size to start with. The # people you are likely to love might be whittled down to too small a number. D1 encountered this issue at a different LAC. Our conclusion was that the degree of fit with the predominant campus culture can be of significant importance socially at these smaller schools.</p>
<p>Spend some time on the websites comparing their art programs and their study abroad programs (if that is important to you). Ask yourself why you wanted to apply to both schools. My son likes Hamilton and is happy he chose to go there. The campus has an upbeat vibe. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Go where you think you will be happiest. There’s nothing worse than following prestige, if all it gets you is an impressive bumper sticker. However, I’d certainly choose Hamilton if I was you!
Despite what people are saying here, there is a big difference between Hamilton and Conn College, strictly in terms of the quality of the academics. Hamilton has more money, Hamilton has better resources, and, overall, Hamilton kids (and professors) are a lot smarter. Then again, you’re not going to learn anything if you’re not happy. You’ll be more engaged in a classroom if you feel like you “belong,” so don’t choose Hamilton based on its superb academics if you don’t like the atmosphere of the campus.</p>
<p>Hamilton kids (and professors) are a lot smarter. </p>
<p>That seems like a pretty outlandish statement. Have you attended classes at both schools? On what do you base your assertion that Hamilton professors are smarter than Conn’s? They all have Phd’s. I doubt very much that there is any meaningful difference in their intellects.</p>