<p>Hi guys, </p>
<p>I'm going to choose either Hamilton or Colgate for ED.
I heard that they are similar academically but totally different in other stuff.</p>
<p>Since I'm an international student, its hard for me to go to each school. </p>
<p>Could anyone compare these two schools - maybe list advantages and disadvantages.
Also, which school is easier to get in? </p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>Colgate is larger and has D-1 sports, but in a more remote location. I’d say they are equally selective.</p>
<p>Yeah I knew that. Do you know anything about in terms of friendliness and comfortability? </p>
<p>As a parent, I’ve visited both. They’re both beautiful but for some reason it’s Colgate’s campus which sticks in my mind. I thought the schools had a lot in common. Perhaps Hamilton is a little bit tougher to get into these days but that’s just an impression. Hamilton is particularly interested in applicants whose parents didn’t graduate from college. Hamilton has a well-respected writing program and expects writing to be a part of every course–something you might want to consider as an international. I was impressed by Colgate’s interdisciplinary sciences program and their language lab. Colgate is probably more nationally known and has a quite good alumni network. Both schools want to hear that you are interested in them and why. They’re both fairly isolated. The winters are long and white and frigid in that part of NY. Colgate’s fraternities and sports teams have a pretty big role to play in the social life of the school. I don’t know about Hamilton’s.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 Thank you for the answer!! I’m trying to major in economics… For some reason, I think Colgate will fit me academically. But the thing is I’ve heard people in Colgate are kind of snubby and cold. I’m used to being surrounded by friendly and warm people. Also, I’m not interested that much in frats. Will it impact my time in Colgate? Lastly, I love doing sports but I’m not good enough to play in D1… Will I be able to do sports even if i’m not in varsity? Thanks again! </p>
<p>My impression of Colgate was that there was ample opportunity to exercise the jock in you. I don’t know about cold and snobby. I wouldn’t likely see that on a visit unless I went looking for it. As far as non-frat social opps, I think you need to talk to some students. Call the admissions office and see if they can put you in touch with some students who can address your questions about the people and social life at Hamilton and Colgate.</p>
<p>Luckyguy7,</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I believe the reputation of Colgate’s Greek life is overstated these days and that reputation lags the reality. The fact is that that there are 5 fraternities and 3 sororities at Colgate now and that the latter do not host parties. Compare this with the number of Greek houses at rural schools of a similar size and you may be surprised when their students claim Greek life is similar in importance at their school(s) as they maintain it is at Colgate.</p>
<p>I hope you have a chance to visit Colgate to see for yourself and, in the meantime, evaluate online the campus life, varied housing options and extracurricular activities sponsored at Colgate.</p>
<p>Good luck with your search!</p>
<p>I visited and applied to both. They are both pretty similar in some ways, but also fairly different. I thought both campuses were beautiful. I preferred the overall atmosphere at Hamilton. Colgate seemed a little too focused on athletics and Greek life for my taste. Hamilton seemed more intellectual, laid-back, and friendly. That was just my opinion of the two. Both are beautiful and both will provide you with great academics.</p>
<p>that’s what I saw, too, @Ranza123. Do show each your interest.</p>
<p>As far a sports at Hamilton go, there are sports where you can walk on and make varsity, certainly within a year or two if you have some athletic ability. Not all sports obviously (hockey especially), but there are a few always looking for warm bodies if you are so inclined. And anyone can play at the club or intramural level, and club does play other schools.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 @MrMom62 @Ranza123 thank you for letting me know! I think Hamilton fits me better! I will apply to Hamilton as ED and Colgate as RD </p>
<p>Btw I’ve found that Hamilton is harder to get in than Colgate… Should I change my ED to Colgate? </p>
<p>No - they are not that different in selectivity and you should apply ED to the better fit.</p>
<p>@momofzag So apply to Hamilton ED? or Colgate ED? Which school will give me more FA?</p>
<p>Run the Net Price Calculators to check the projected FA at each school (I would imagine that these two schools would be similar in their FA but who knows). If FA is such as issue, maybe ED is not the best plan anyway.</p>
<p>Only you can determine which school you prefer (I happen to think ED is not a good idea unless you have a very clear first choice and don’t need to compare financial aid offers).</p>
<p>@momofzag I thought I could pull away from ED if the FA is not met…? </p>
<p>You can but that should be a last resort and you won’t know if your other schools would offer better aid or not. Also, I believe you are an international applicant - what are the FA policies for internationals at these colleges? Very few colleges guarantee to meet need for internationals - not even sure if the NPC work for international students. You need to do some careful research on that.</p>
<p>@momofzag Hmm… I see. Thank you very much! Do you think I should lower my standards and apply to Kenyon or Colby as ED rather than Colgate and Hamilton? Also, do you think i have a chance at Carleton?</p>
<p>My stats: 2160 SAT (650 CR, 780 M, 720 W),
SAT II Math 2, French, Literature (650-720 don’t know yet)
GPA 3.56 (Cumulative) 3.89 (Senior) UW for both
IB TOK, Geo, Math, Design Tech, Econ, English Literature, and French</p>
<p>ECs: Swimming (10-12) Captain
Orphanage (11-12) Founder and leader
School Class Leader (11)
School Vice President (12)
Green Team leader (10-12)
NHS Member (11-12)</p>
<p>Essay: Good (not great),
Recommendations: Very good</p>
<p>I agree with @momofzag, OP. You’re introducing a new criterion into the mix now: financial aid. In my opinion, you have no business applying ED if you don’t know if you can afford to go to a school. </p>
<p>If your parents are not divorced or separate households, if they don’t own a business or a second house, if they don’t have large assets in addition to their salaries, the net price calculators will give you a good idea how much need-based (at most schools) aid you will get. If there’s a gap between what your family can afford and what the school expects them to pay, then don’t go ED because a) if you cannot afford the school, you take a slot away from another applicant who can afford the school, and b) you’ll want to see which school gives you the better or best FA. If a school gives merit only in a small number of cases or none at all, the calculators are going to tell you all you’ll get.</p>
<p>For 99% of first-year applicants, neither Hamilton nor Colgate is known for its merit, so the FA you get will be need-based almost certainly. Run the net price calculator at each school and that will tell you your FA situation. You may find that one school will prove less costly out-of-pocket than the other.</p>
<p>I posted before I saw your latest, OP. Run the npc’s and if there’s a gap between EFC and what your family wants to pay, then definitely look elsewhere for a school you can afford before you go ED at any of these schools.</p>