<p>Colgate does have an excellent faculty. Large for an LAC, it has plenty of academic resources that motivated students can access. As noted above, the alumni network is very strong. And I thought the campus and the surrounding area were both very attractive.</p>
<p>Drawbacks would include a very strong party culture. On a visit two years ago student guides noted that there were plenty of students that start partying (read. .drinking) on Wednesday nights and continue through the weekends. The intellectual atmostphere seemed a bit weak given the selectivity of the school and the strength of its students' HS records. I vaguely recall some comments from a former faculty member who indicated that there was a medium-sized group of students just doing what was necessary to be able to tap their parents' social and professional networks upon graduation. Of course there is some of that at just about every selective private college.</p>