<p>DD is a rising senior and we're narrowing her list of colleges (so far 46 down to 20!). She has been doing a lot of virtual tours and youtube videos on each college and we both have fallen in love with Hamilton. But, we have some questions --
She has been homeschooled since the beginning and always very bright, dedicated student. Way over 4 GPA weighted as we did MIT Opencourseware and other classes to get honors credit. Does anyone know of a homeschooler at Hamilton or know how they "fit" with the rest of the students? We aren't typical homeschoolers, either. Very eclectic - we did this for academic reasons, not religious.
Which leads me to religious question --- though my daughter personally is on the surface a very conservative, devoted Christian she's never an "in your face" loud, demonstrative one. And she's very much "live and let live" and would never and I mean NEVER judge or argue with anyone else about their beliefs or lack thereof. That being said, she also wouldn't like being ridiculed, mocked, or otherwise treated harshly for her faith. Our key word for politics and faith is Individualism. Would Hamilton be ok for her? </p>
<p>Hello shellybean! As a current Hamilton student, I have heard of one other student who was homeschooled. However, I am sure that there must be more than one. Whether your daughter will ‘fit in’ is really up to her. No one will judge her for being homeschooled…they might be curious about the experience, but that’s natural. If your daughter is a social person, who is willing to take risks and step outside of her comfort zone, she will be very happy at Hamilton. Secondly, you express concerns about religion. I have a number of friends who do attend church, hillel, or other religious gatherings on a regular/or semi-regular basis. I think the key thing is exactly what you wrote about never judging. Hamilton has zero tolerance for intolerance and professors and students alike are quick to shoot down religious arguments that serve as a veil for intolerance or hatred. That being said, of course people are entitled to their beliefs and we make every effort to foster open dialogues (see the Diversity page of the Hamilton website…the Days Massolo Center is a wonderful resource). </p>
<p>Lastly, if you think the virtual tour of Hamilton is awesome, come and check out the real thing! I know most of the tour guides and they’re awesome and would be able to answer any questions much more adequately than I have. </p>
<p>I hope you’ll visit the campus and apply =)</p>
<p>Hamilton should certainly be on the list of schools your daughter considers, though whether it’s her top pick is another matter entirely. As the parent of a daughter who’s starting this fall, we’ve visited a few times and come away with the impression that Hamilton is not a political hotbed - you’ve got a reasonable spectrum of ideas on campus, with the usual crazies balanced by what seems to be a lot of mainstream and less politically inclined students. D explicitly avoided campuses that were politics 24/7, where even the menu in the dining hall was a source of conflict, and Hamilton seems to fit that bill. It’s not Swarthmore or Smith.</p>
<p>Thanks all! I think it would also be great for her, at least from what we’ve read and seen (via the youtube tours!). It makes me feel much better than there probably won’t be tons of politics and that people won’t necessarily ridicule her homeschooling. She really is just seeking a place where she can learn learn learn. </p>
<p>Definitely visit there if possible. It’s a great school and it has a “homey” sort of feel when you walk in. The people there are known for their friendliness (in comparison to some of the other colleges I have visited) and people in general respect individualism. The first step in narrowing down your list is finding out what you are looking for in a college? Hamilton seems to be a good fit, but perhaps we can help you narrow it down some more.</p>
<p>Hamilton is a great place for learning, as the academics are rigorous, they have many cool traditions, and they have an open curriculum which emphasizes individualism and trying new, exciting things</p>