I’ve applied regular decision to both Hamilton and Colgate, and I was wondering if anyone had any insight on the differences between the two in terms of athletics, academics, student body, social atmosphere, etc? Thanks!
You need to visit both. The differences are apparent almost immediately. IMHO, Colgate is more competitive and Hamilton is more collaborative. Ham more liberal and Colgate more conservative. Colgate athletic teams win more often.
Both are great schools. I think there are several past posts describing the differences in the schools.
As a Hamilton student, I will insist that Hamilton is the better choice. That being said, they are both excellent schools. The major differences are with regard to athletics and student life. If you are into athletics, Colgate is D1, whereas Hamilton is D3. For many, sports are a large part of their Hamilton experience, but they are generally less competitive and more of a social option (depending on the sport). If you are into sports, I would say look at Colgate. Also, if you like the idea of Greek life, then I would point you towards Colgate. Hamilton has frats/sororities, but not really in comparison to Colgate. Both schools are preppy, but Hamilton is split more evenly between preppy and artsy. In addition, Hamilton’s night life is fairly unique, since most parties are held in “social spaces” and are open to all students, which makes for a more communal atmosphere. Best of luck with your applications. Come April, you may have some tough decisions to make.