<p>My parents are double alumni. I have below average grades for colgate and my parents are trying to convince me of applying ED. The only thing right now i like about colgate is the size. I dont like the location or the diversity. I would like to know what is some attractive aspects of colgate other than prestige and what its like for a jewish person at colgate.</p>
<p>How did you feel when you visited Colgate? Have you seen other schools that are a better fit for you (perhaps those with more Jewish students such as Brandeis, University of Rochester, Oberlin, your best state school, etc?). If your GPA and Standardized tests are below the 50%ile for Colgate and you are interested, even as a legacy, you would likely need to apply early decision to get in. The Hillel organization is active at Colgate and other similar small liberal arts schools, so if you only observe the major holidays, it is probably a sufficient environment. Also check out courses in comparative religion and Jewish-related topics. If Colgate is not your first choice, then don’t apply early, but do realize that it is unlikely you will be admitted RD. This is written from the perspective of a former Jewish student at Colgate (who now has 2 sons, one in college and one in 11th grade, neither of whom is right for Colgate because they want to play DIII sports in college).</p>
<p>It is definitely not my first choice but it is probably the most prestigious school i will be able to get into. However, schools like Tulane, American, and GW are schools that i am highly interested in even though they are not as prestigious as colgate. Another big question i have is how is the social life there. I know the greek system plays a big role, but i was really wondering about how it is to go to college in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>Hi…My daughter is a jewish freshman at Colgate. She also was concerned about the greek system (she really didn’t drink or party that much in HS) and jewish life. I have a couple of points for you.
- regarding the “middle of nowhere” and the “jewish life”. These have been non issues for her. She is LOVING her experience there. I cannot believe that within 2 weeks of arriving she was fully comfortable and thrilled to be there even though Colgate was not her first choice. We are not extremely jewish but do observe holidays and Colgate has been great in that regard (and with every religion or multicultural event for that matter). There are not a lot of jews there but she does not feel isolated in any way. She has been to High Holy Day/Passover Seders, bagel brunches…If she wanted she could have become more involved with the Colgate Jewish Union (CJU) but actually found them to be a bit too religious for her so she attends some fun events they have but not alot. She has met many jewish kids, guys and girls just like her that do some but not all jewish events. There is not an active Hillel on campus…it is the CJU. It may have been there before. As far as being in the middle of nowhere, there is alot to do on campus and it is easy walking distance to the town of hamilton which is very cute and has one of everything you need. Movie theatre, sports pub, indian restaurant, pizza place, bookstore, theatre, haircut place…it’s very nice. A little bit away but still on the cruiser route is a supermarket, Subway, McDonalds etc. Will you get bored after awhile…maybe…depends on you. Join clubs, go to college sponsored events…freshman boys aren’t really welcome at Fraternity parties (probably at every college w/ frats) but there are college sponsored parties that everyone goes to. Also, a large majority of the kids study abroad so you will have a break from the campus in the middle of your time there. Which brings us to
2)Greek Life. You cannot Rush for frats/sororities until sophomore year and cannot live in their housing until Junior year. This is great because it gives you a full year (unlike other schools which start rushing immediately freshman year) to make friends. Then people might decide to join, and alot do but alot dont. BUT…they still cant live there til junior year so you will be living with greek and non greek friends. I wouldn’t discount Colgate because of that. There is plenty to do, but that brings us to - Tulane, American and GW have one big thing in common. They are in cities…vibrant cities. If you really want to go to school in a city then Colgate is not for you. It offers everything those schools do except location. It’s kind of like when a realtor tells you when you buy a house “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION”. You cant move the school. If this is a number one priority then the issue of prestige should not be the deciding factor. Those are very fine schools and you will get a great education. I know one of the very big selling points for us was that Colgate has an extremely strong alumni network and career center and in this day and age, that was a big consideration. Being that it is in “the middle of nowhere”, it still provides a lot of opportunities. </p>
<p>Overall, do not apply somewhere ED unless you REALLY want to go there. If your grades are sub par for Colgate you probably will have a hard time RD but maybe that is okay. If it was meant to be it will work out for you. I know this is a bit long but I wish more people would have answered back when we were looking. It was a nervous time applying but now that freshman year is almost done, we do realize that she probably could have been happy in a number of different colleges. It is all what you make of it. Try not to get too caught up in the process of applying…we will remember this when we have to go through this again in 2 years with our other daughter.</p>