<p>Hey! Back when I was applying to colleges I found this site super useful so I thought I'd offer help to anyone going through the tough decision process. If anyone has any sort of questions, I'd be more than happy to answer. (Feel free to PM me if you'd rather)</p>
<p>thanks, some questions about the students:
- diversity?
- politically active?
- what are people doing on weekends? Seems like a small town?</p>
<p>I really think that diversity is stressed on campus, both in the admissions office and on campus. There’s a plethora of cultural groups and I really think students are respectful. It’s not uncommon to see white students attending meetings and events for cultures they don’t identify with. </p>
<p>Hamilton is very liberal- there’s only one conservative professor currently teaching at Hamilton (another is on leave, and there of course may be underground conservatives). I don’t usually hear lots of political conversation, but seeing as the election was this year the students were pretty politically vocal. The debates were screened in the student center and were widely attended (there are pictures somewhere, 3 rooms were completely filled). College Democrats is decently popular as far as I’m aware and the College Republicans have a decently loyal following. I think Government is a decently popular major and I’ve heard good things about it. If students want to seek it out, there’s opportunities to be politically active but if you’d rather avoid it (like me) you don’t have to touch it very much.</p>
<p>As with all small liberal arts schools in the middle of nowhere, Hamiltonians absolutely love to party. We tend to stick to our own turf, though some venture down the hill to one of the 2 bars. There’s also occasional off campus parties where frats/sororities bus anyone (seriously, you don’t have to be greek) to them (usually at a bar/lounge called the Breakaway or a farm somewhere) and provide alcohol for ~$10. There’s also free beer every Saturday at all campus parties (sometimes they’re on fridays too). But the majority of the party life at Hamilton is centered in dorms, in suites and quads. Upperclassmen throw parties and invite their friends & friends’ friends, but freshmen tend to find their way to these as well. Most upperclassmen will welcome new freshmen with open arms and 30 racks of keystone, if the freshmen have the guts to just walk in. I’ve never felt trapped in a small town- it’s nice knowing that city police aren’t going to bother us and that campo is pretty amicable. Oh, and crawls are pretty popular too. From the cultural societies to organic chemistry, pretty much any group on campus will have a crawl at some point during the year.</p>
<p>Hamilton has a really campus-togetherness feel on weekends that I really adore. The diner serves breakfast from midnight to 3am and during that time you’ll find students dancing in booths while eating bacon egg and cheeses. I’ve enjoyed many “Sweet Caroline” sing-alongs in the diner. (It’s worth noting here that the diner staff are the absolute best- they put up with so many drunk students but never fail to serve your favorite foods with a smile.) The (on-campus) pub is also open for hanging out (free popcorn!)</p>
<p>This all said, if you don’t want to drink on campus you absolutely don’t have to. I have many friends who choose not to drink and some who drink very rarely. They’re 100% welcome at parties and they aren’t judged. (In fact, I’ll always respect the kid who doesn’t. I like to see someone who can really put their body and mind first.) Every Friday night from 10-2 there’s an alcohol-free event (past ones include electronica concerts, a rollerblading rink, Hamskate- that’s ice skating, improv shows). Hamilton also does a pretty good job in bringing interesting comedians and bands/singers to campus. And there’s Friday night movies! Last friday they showed Bridget Jones’s Diary and The Midnight Before Christmas.</p>
<p>So this is a different sort of question, but what are somethings that are embarrassing about Hamilton? I have a teacher that used to go there, and want to know what I can poke fun at him about. Thank you.</p>
<p>Hey - Thanks for answering questions. I was recently admitted as a Jan. Can you shed any light on the campus’ perception of Jans?</p>
<p>What is the best dorm for freshmen to live in? I want to live somewhere where there is a social, energetic fun vibe.</p>
<p>Hi,
Thanks for doing this! I only recently discovered Hamilton… anyway, one of my biggest questions is while I know Hamilton is super strong in writing/social sciences, how would you say the science departments are? Is there ample opportunity to intern or research? Thank you so much!!</p>
<p>cardoza- umm, I actually can’t really come up w/ anything. maybe that we are really not so talented at most sports, particularly football? </p>
<p>Hatshepsut- Jans seem to assimilate really well. Occasionally I find out that someone’s a Jan, very long after having known them and never realized. There’s always a few Jan jokes when they first come back (usually made by the Duel Observer, our satirical publication) but everyone forgets they exist (by which I mean, we forget they’re different than us and accept them fully) within a month. I know someone who asked to be a Jan because he thought it would be cool- he loved it! Some Jans also come here for preorientation so they make friends before shipping out to London (or elsewhere)</p>
<p>Rose2616- If you’re looking for a more social vibe I’d recommend requesting a quad. Quads are in Dunham and South, and South is GORGEOUS (and also where some frats live, making the first two floors party time on the weekends. freshman live upstairs on the 3rd and 4th floors). Dunham is…not quite so nice (its nickname is Dirty D and it can get loud of weekends). If you’d really like to live in South I’d recommend applying for the REAL program. You’ll live in South with 3 or 5 roommates and you’ll have one of your classes right down the hall. I lived in a double on the darkside (Mac/Major/Minor) my freshman year and had a good time though- the closets on the darkside are HUGE. But you tend to roll the dice on whether your floor will be socially involved with each other. Some are, some aren’t.</p>
<p>katzly- I’m a science major, currently deciding b/w chem, biochem and biology. I LOVE the science departments here. Biology, chem, physics- they’re all great and full of smart, caring, capable professors. The science center itself is absolutely gorgeous, which is wonderful cause I spend so much time there. Many, many kids stay at Ham for the summer and research, including plenty of freshman (it’s 10 weeks of research and you get paid $4000 I think). Additionally, I know of some girls who are currently doing research for a professor during the year. Hamilton has some decent lab tech, which is pretty nifty.</p>
<p>Thanks for fielding questions. What kind of student climate issues have you seen? What kind of divisions are there in the student body? Who would you say gets targeted? When people are mean to each other on campus how is it done? Have you been in a uncomfortable situation? Describe it. What did you do? What did others do? What did they think of your intervention?</p>
<p>Are there any issues with hazing since the sororities are not national? Also, did you go on a pre-orientation trip? Thanks for doing this!</p>
<p>Sorry for the hiatus! </p>
<p>Rose2616- I’m not in a sorority so I can’t give firsthand info, but I can say that there is SOME hazing, as there will be anywhere. Some sororities are worse than others (ATX and PBX are known to be harsher) but others are mostly fine. I’ve only heard gossip, which could totally be absolutely inflated and ridiculous. The only hazing I’ve heard Gamma Xi does is that they make their pledges decorate Bundy Dining Hall for their annual jungle themed party (what that means is the girls paint and paint and paint and paint posters all week long). KSA’s hazing was a joke. (I have good friends in KSA. They had a mandatory sober period that was ~1 month and had mandatory homework parties and scavenger hunts. Scary!) The vast majority of sorority girls look on their groups very favorably, even during the pledging process. But I have heard that the hazing for most groups interferes with your homework/sleep schedules.</p>
<p>Yes, I did do a pre-orientation group (hiking), and I’d absolutely recommend it! Sure it was miserable at times (obviously not GORMET food and it POURED) but it was overall a fantastic experience!</p>