<p>VeryHappy's son is off to Colgate :)</p>
<p>way to go, ajayc! get ready to drink like there's no tomorrow!</p>
<p>haha I'd like to pledge a frat but yeah got to wait till soph year!</p>
<p>Ever heard of Fraterdays?</p>
<p>I'd say the word has to do something with friday night parties that last upto saturday mornings?</p>
<p>Hi there! I am asking the students who are already there, at Colgate? What do you think about applying ED, if I would like to take fully-met financial aid which option is better-ED or regular? Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Nev... start a new thread</p>
<p>Nevin, if you MUST have 100% need met, don't apply ED. ED is essentially saying "I'll come at whatever the cost!"</p>
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ED is essentially saying "I'll come at whatever the cost!"
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<p>That's not true, is it? I thought that grounds for backing out of an ED obligation is an unmanageable financial situation. ED or not, no school can just force you to hand them $180K. This is why the number accepted ED is not exactly the the number enrolled from ED.</p>
<p>Thank you for the answers. I've decided to apply RD and try to cope with the huge number of highly competitive applicants. I am fascinated with Colgate University and if I am accepted there, one my dream would be fulfilled :)</p>
<p>Nev, I applied ED and basically got a full ride (I only had $2000 in loans per year everything else was grants). Colgate has a need blind admission policy (except for international students). So if you want to apply ED, do.</p>
<p>That being said I was miserable during my two years at Colgate. I transferred. Even now, I could shoot myself for applying ED and closing my options. Maybe not everyone at Colgate is rich, preppy and snobbish but I found too many people like that at Colgate for my taste. Plus, people definitely have ways of showing their wealth without actually saying "I'm rich!" I found that often at Colgate. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>^^^^^ Where did you transfer to? Are you happy?</p>
<p>I went home and went to my local CC and then I transferred to Case Western. I was definitely much happier at the CC and Case. </p>
<p>I mean there are people who are happy at Colgate. The college has a pretty high retention rate. It's just not for everyone though. I think if you're poor, not middle class but just poor, like I am, then Colgate will definitely provide a rough four years.</p>
<p>Chances are, Muslimah, that any LAC of comparable quality and size to Colgate might be just as difficult for someone who feels themselves economically challenged. It' just the nature of these kinds of schools and most the students who can get in. </p>
<p>Case is four times the size, more urban and a different type of feel, not to mention closer to home for you.</p>
<p>mhc, that's true. In retrospect, I realize that I should have applied to urban universities from the get go. Bigger, more diverse, and more to do. I'm not sure exactly why I was so hell bent on Colgate. I visited Williams College when I was a hs senior and was turned off for the same reasons I was eventually turned off from Colgate. I have to admit that when I visited Colgate as a hs senior, I went during a student of color weekend. Of course, Colgate was doing its best to look really good and the host I stayed with loved Colgate. Plus, the people I talked to seemed so nice. I should have visited Colgate again during a normal weekend. But as the saying goes "You pay for your learning".</p>
<p>Although Colgate was closer to home at the time. I'm from Philly but I live in Cleveland now :)</p>
<p>i think a lot of how happy someone is at Colgate depends on what group of people they find themselves in. there are certainly groups of rich, preppy kids who are all full pay and proud of it, but i would guess that in my group of friends, 3 of every 4 of them were on some form of considerable financial aid. around 35% of all students get aid, with an average award of something like $30k, so there's a lot more middle and lower class people than there may appear to be, but if you have a hard time finding them, it may feel otherwise. if you get placed in a suite with 4 other girls from CT who wear j. crew and pearls every day, then it's easy to be miserable... (in my opinion...)</p>
<p>also, guys in pink pants are so visible that it seems like there's many more of them than there really are, unfortunately.</p>
<p>i think there's plenty of niches at colgate for most any student to be happy. that being said, that doesn't mean you can easily find that niche right away, or if you're a city/big school person you'd be happy.</p>
<p>haha pink shorts.. I still can't get over it. :D</p>
<p>I was one of the verrrryyyy down to earth students. I made friends with like-minded people- also very down to earth and easy going. They didn't always love the preppy culture at Colgate but we looked beyond the first impresisons and found that Colgate offered a lot of opportunities for us that we wouldn't have elsewhere. I've never, ever been to Colgate Inn or Sushi Blues with friends (the more expensive places to eat) in my three years. Only other eateries where your dinner is less than $8 with a drink. I lived in a sorority that's probably the most down-to-earth of them all. Yes, there were quite few girls who were pearls and Vineyards bags everyday and they drove me a little crazy. But I got through it because I did make some very nice friends in there who were much more like me (carrying a cheaper tote bag or non-Northface branded backpack) and it gave me a chance to find those particular girls and give back to the community. </p>
<p>I would seriously try to look beyond the people and see the opportunities that Colgate, with a great endownment and constant stream of offerings (academics, entertainment, social), has to offer. Try to join a variety of clubs at the beginning and see what you can seek out. Also, you may want to consider working in the town. The residents are most definitely nothing like preppy Colgate students so you might get along with them quite well. My friends and I enjoyed driving out to a public school in an another town that's considerably a bit worse off than Hamilton's schools and tutoring those kids and interacting with the staff. For us, it was 2 hours of break from Colgate bubble every week. Help out in the community and you will find people much more like you if you're not all that well off as others.</p>
<p>And too, when you go beyond the surface, you will also be surprised to find that some of those same students who look like rich preppy kids are, as lydia mentioned, actually getting considerable financial aid. And even if they no longer dress as down to earth as when they first arrived at Colgate, or now happen to belong to one of the other, more "fashionable" sororities, they still go off to tutor in Utica, make Deans List and belong to other worthwhile groups. </p>
<p>Between the two extremes of pink shorts on one side and birkenstocks on the other, there can be a lot of growth, positive influences and friendships taking place amongst the students in the middle at Colgate.</p>
<p>I would have to agree with a lot of what TickleMe and MHC have said. I know I have posted this before, but I think it's worth repeating: Colgate has it's fair share of preppy students, but to assume that those same people are going to have the stereotypical personalities as well is pretty unfair. You could attend any event sponsored by College Dems or one of the other progressive groups on campus and see just as many people with pink shorts and popped collars. </p>
<p>Colgate is, without a doubt, about opportunity and how you take advantage of your four years on the hill. If you do well, get involved and focus on what's important to you then you shouldn't have any problem finding your niche on campus.</p>
<p>I do want to shine a bit of reality, however, on some of the figures that people have been discussing in this forum. Yes, about 36% of Colgate students are on financial aid and yes the average package is around 35 [which is rather significant] however, Colgate is NOT need blind. The graduating class of 2006 was admitted to the school need blind, but prior to this and in subsequent years the same has not been true. That said, the current campaign for Colgate has made raising money for financial aid with the goal of becoming need blind a priority. But until the campaign is closed, Colgate will continue to consider financial need in their admissions decisions. Furthermore, while having 36% of the class on financial aid seems like a high number, compared to other schools it really isn't. Among the schools that Colgate would like to consider in it's peer group, we are likely in the lower echelon of % of students receiving financial aid.</p>
<p>All of that said - I LOVE Colgate and am confident that anybody, no matter their background, will find their place on campus.</p>
<p>I'm a very middle-class girl from upstate NY, and I love love love Colgate. When I say "very middle-class" I mean my parents struggle with the cost of the school, after sending a sibling to college as well, but somehow manage to pay the tuition (with financial aid). Look at pretty much any liberal arts college in the northeast and you will see a generally preppy, "rich" bunch of kids. If I had to, I'd describe my style as preppy, but like I said, I am certainly not wealthy. </p>
<p>Partying is also a given at most colleges. Colgate students definitely do their share of partying, but that being said, if you aren't so into the partying crowd there are still PLENTY of opportunities to be social and enjoy yourself on campus. I even lived in wellness housing one of my years here! I know I probably do sound like a huge dork because of that, but really, people shouldn't be so afraid of the stigma attached to substance-free/wellness dorms. I like having a good time and will go to parties on the weekends, but didn't necessarily want to be living amidst all the partying and drinking. I was perfectly fine partying in my friends dorm rooms and then going back to my own nice quiet little room. So, if anyone is afraid of Colgate because of it's partying reputation, I offer that as an alternative. That was just for my freshman year though, then I had built up a circle of friends I felt comfortable living with for sophomore year, now I'm living in my sorority. </p>
<p>There are so many clubs, a great on-campus newspaper, and lots of opportunities for community service in Hamilton, and despite popular belief, we aren't in the middle of nowhere- there actually are cute little cafes, a movie theater, and a pizza place just a few steps away in town. It's not overwhelming, like living in a big city might be, but there's still things for students to occupy themselves with. Sporting events are a great opportunity to feel involved in the community, meet alumni, and have a great time. </p>
<p>I wouldn't trade my time here for the world and recommend that if you come to visit and like it you should definitely give it a shot. It can be competitive to gain admission, but don't get sidetracked by polls and lists saying what a party school we are, etc. If it feels right to you, you'll be able to carve out your own little niche just fine, plus the academics are really top-rate, I love my professors and feel so supported by them. So, basically, yeah...students here do party, but in order to keep up with the academics you have to have some sense of balance & priority, or believe me, you won't last here long.</p>