I didn’t see a Hamilton ED 2025 forum so here! Who is applying ED 1?
I am! submitted it a few days ago!
DS struggled between Bates or Hamilton - and ultimately applied ED at Hamilton! Good luck everyone!
In an aspect auspicious for current applicants, Hamilton’s surrounding town of Kirkland recently appeared as the sixth safest small town (population 5,000–15,000) in the country, with no violent crime listed.
https://hudsonvalleypost.com/3-hudson-valley-towns-among-safest-in-america/
Good decision! My older son (Hamilton 2020) chose between the 2 and my younger son (Hamilton 2024) spent a lot of time at both schools before deciding to apply to Hamilton ED. To both of them, including me, Hamilton was clearly a better place.
My younger son had many questions and spoke to admissions officers at both schools and scheduled day and overnight visits at both schools. The Hamilton admissions officer was very responsive and helpful. The Bates admissions officer was not very responsive and when my son called the general phone number at the admissions office they took his message and then nobody got back to him. Not just from this, but there was something amiss at Bates where we didn’t get a good feeling. From everything both my sons saw we just had a feel that Hamilton was a much better place for them. Bates is also a great school but in my opinion it’s not even close.
Good luck to your DS.
Thanks! We are excited about the choice and I’m itching to order Hamilton gear as Xmas gifts, but I also don’t want to tempt fate.
Unfortunately we’ve never visited either school. A planned New England college tour in late February was canceled when DH suffered a cycling crash, and the pandemic hit shortly afterward. We’ve had nothing but positive impressions and interactions with both schools, and Bates was DS’s early favorite - he has a former crew team mate there and the rowing coach reached out to him initially.
Ultimately though pandemic considerations (Hamilton’s spread-out campus and location) and rowing considerations (a new rowing coach and boathouse inject fresh enthusiasm into the program) tipped the balance in Hamilton’s favor for us.
For a visual perspective on some of the enduring aspects of Hamilton’s campus and surrounding area, you may want to watch the film The Sterile Cuckoo.
You might also enjoy this brief NBC video: https://www.nbcsports.com/video/clinton-arena-2018-kraft-hockeyville-has-long-ice-hockey-history.
@merc81 I appreciate the suggestions. I watched The Sterile Cuckoo last night and the scenery is beautiful.
Delving into the filming locations I also found this:
https://spec.hamilton.edu/f-i-l-m-showcases-the-sterile-cuckoo-1969-4ca26a24b2a4
I’m also tempted to ask for Hamilton merch for Christmas since I submitted my ED application a few days ago, but I had the same feeling about fate!
Does anyone know how long it usually takes after I submit for the email to come with my information to access the application portal?
@tealeaves31 It took a couple days for DS to receive his application portal login from the school. Best of luck to you!
When you get a portal login are they still asking for the “optional” supplemental essay? Thought that was very sneaky of them.
@HamilyDad Yes indeed, the “Why Hamilton?” supplemental, but we were expecting it thanks to this forum and the rowing coach so it wasn’t a surprise to us.
Good to have brought it up for others here like @tealeaves31 to be aware.
Thanks so much! They actually mentioned the supplemental option in an information session I attended on campus awhile ago so I had it written ahead of time. It’s definitely sneaky but a good way to see who’s done their research about the College I suppose.
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I am an International student confused between applying to Hamilton or Kenyon early decision 1 for concentration in computer science.
i have four straight A’s in A level computer science, Chemistry ,Maths, and Physics
6 A’s , 1 A* and 2 B’s in O level
I was not able to take Sat or Act due to covid-19
For extracurricular i have 7 activities 3 of them are related to sports, one of them is debate and one is community service related to environmental change,and rest are about clubs that i joined.
for honours i have 100% merit scholarships for My A levels,certificate of merit for Best Tech idea(at school level held competition),And honour related to Positions i got in internal examinations.
I think i have strong teacher recommendation letters by my physics and maths teachers.
I am applying for considerable amount of financial too.
Can any of you please help me in choosing college,tell me if i got chance in any of two or recommend me another college.
Your help will be much appreciated. Thanks
@CocoaTiger would you mind sharing the specific information about this “supplemental” essay? Specifically, what the essay topic said, how many words they have, and when it’s due? We had no idea and couldn’t find any information about it anywhere (really dislike when another essay is snuck in afterwards). TIA!
Hamilton does provide general information regarding its optional short answer essays (see How can I express my interest in Hamilton College?):
In that this information is publicly accessible, the expressed consensus that Hamilton has been deceptive appears at least partly unfounded.
I disagree. Knowing, generally, that there may be “optional short answer essays” isn’t clear, and doesn’t help students to plan their work ahead when the actual topic(s), due dates, and word counts wouldn’t be known until the student applied and they get the followup information it the portal. Maybe I’m missing something here. IMHO, this should all be clearly stated in the application materials, both on the website and/or applications themselves (Common App). Just my opinion.
I don’t know that I’d say it’s “deceptive”, but I prefer a more upfront approach personally and having been through this more than once I just find it odd not to lay that all out clearly on the website and in the Common App/Coalition App etc so students can plan. Hamilton isn’t the only college that does this, but it’s definitely not the norm from my experience.
So…to make things clear to anyone who has not yet applied, can anyone whose student (or if you are a student) applied ED just post what the supplemental short answer essay or essays are, what the word counts are, and when they are due after the application is submitted? I’m assuming that’s not a problem.
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To clarify, my comment above was a response to this sub-topic in general, which I thought had become a little unfair in its assertions. I certainly hope you receive the information you requested, @dogwood18, which, as a practical concern, would be helpful to others as well.
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I’m pasting below the instructions from the portal. I hope that’s allowed. We did know about it in advance, and DS similarly was invited to submit additional school-specific materials to both our state schools after applying. I think it’s not uncommon.
“While the primary criteria for admission remains academic achievement and intellectual promise, we also seek to admit candidates who are a good fit with the programs and experiences offered by the College, and who will engage in our community in meaningful ways. You have the option to submit a short answer essay (no more than 250 words) about why you believe Hamilton is a place where you can thrive and/or a personal URL (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) that will help us get to know you better. You are welcome to complete one, both, or neither of these questions.”
(Essay)
“Please take this opportunity to write about your interest in Hamilton and, particularly, why you believe it is a place where you can thrive. Be open. Be honest. Be brief. (250 word maximum)”
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@CocoaTiger thank you so much for sharing this!