<p>I have a daughter who is a junior and my son will be a freshman this fall. My D has grown
tremendously as a student - working harder and is more motivated than she has ever been.
We are very impressed with everything about this school and Geneva. The students we have met are very friendly, well-mannered, happy and laid back. They all LOVE their school. We gravitate to the athletic side of the school and the school spirit is wonderful. The kids seem to love to see parents visiting and we often are included in the parties. I’ve had no contact with my D’s professors as I feel that’s not my place but also because there has been no reason for me to intervene. The administration is very forthright with what’s going on on campus. And the campus is gorgeous and well maintained. We have met many of the Trustees and they genuinly want to know how our D is doing and why she likes it so much. Our answer is ‘the kids’. The school also has an incredible career services center that helps the students get internships and jobs. My daughter had a paid intership in NYC through HWS alumni and has different one this summer in NYC -unpaid.
Fantastic school!</p>
<p>Also, Wegman’s grocery store is within walking distance of the campus. Fraternities are
not the majority of social life. Of course there is drinking and partying, just like in most other colleges. Educate your children. My daughter goes into town at night - not alone-and has never had a probem. There are late night buses that bring the kids back to campus.</p>
<p>A couple of quick points, based on previous posts. Someone mentioned the tragedy that occurred this year, a young man dying. It is true that autopsy results were never released. There was a party in the house where he died. This was an off-campus apartment, not owned by the school, or any school organization. The young man had a prior DUI in a summer resort community. The point is, his drinking, if that was the cause of his death, neither started at, nor was limited to, HWS. It can happen anywhere drinking happens, which includes most communities, college or otherwise. Another poster wrote about crime in Geneva. Geneva is a post-industrial ghost town, to some degree. There are, however, good town/gown relations. As HWS President Gearan is a past pres of the Peace Corps, volunteering is huge at HWS. Part of every freshman’s orientation program is a community service project. My son raked leaves and did gardening for the elderly, but continues, now, to volunteer at the local boys and girls club. Many, many students participated in the “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” project in Geneva last August. I worry about everything, and he notes that there has been only one “security alert” issued this year, that being for the verbal harrassment of a female student. Again, crime is everywhere, even Geneva. On any campus, students need to be wise and alert. FINALLY, my son went to a private boarding school known for its significant academic challenge. He finds his course work at Hobart engaging and challenging. He explores new subjects regularly, and finds talented professors across the board. He chose Hobart for its sailing team, but has been thrilled by the many opportunities outside of the lake and the classroom. And on that note… the sailing coach expects his sailors to be academic leaders, and behavioral role models for the rest of the students on campus. This kind of close oversight, guidance, and direction is more than we ever could have hoped to find at the college level!</p>