What are some things about Hamilton that aren’t so good that you wish you could change? What wouldn’t you change?
- Hamilton would benefit from an architectural studies major.
- The College's speaker series implies an obeisance to the power structure.
- Vegan dining options, although good, could be improved.
- Though Clinton generally offers true winter snow suitable for the adventurous, its consistency cannot be guaranteed.
- The usage of "we" in official communications appears at times to indicate an under-recognition of the imaginative power of individualism.
- Hamilton's astronomy offerings should be enhanced to a level that would support a major.
@merc81, and what things do you think are great about Hamilton?
I have twin DD’s who were both admitted - both are 34/35 superscored ACT, 750-800 SAT 2’s, 3.8 UW/4.2 W GPA. Unfortunately, they were either denied or waitlisted at their top LAC choices as they are unhooked (except for our runner DD which may have helped where both got admitted such as at Carleton.
Runner DD is interested in history / political science, wants to study Arabic (after many years of French), and will be a varsity xc and track athlete - she’s met coaches, did overnights…; DD 2 wants to study neuroscience and comp sci, and also wants to continue with Chinese - she’s waiting on Wesleyan today and then Brown (ED deferred) Cornell, and Dartmouth.
Broadly
The woodsy, spatially luxuriant Hamilton can be distinguished by the intrinsic, singular attributes of its own history. At a time when other schools of its general type were rigid and monastic, Hamilton was creating a progressively oriented college under its auspices (which happened to be for women, though that is not the point here). Although this was a long time ago, and Hamilton now exists as a fully unified institution, the legacy of a curriculum – and, to some degree, a culture – balanced with elements of the classical and the innovative has been maintained. By visible reflection, the architecture of this period, itself unapologetically, but cleanly, innovative, provides an imaginative, contrasting physical diversity to the current campus, expanding it well beyond what appears typical for small, or even large, schools. To the extent that these elements are real and tangible, you will find no other college like it.
Specifically to your interests, @Chembiodad:
Hamilton would be terrific for history, particularly when regarded by that department’s faculty.
In terms of government/political science/public policy, Hamilton’s semester in D.C. and on-campus public affairs center offer great opportunities and indicate, as well, a strong commitment to these fields.
For the study of Chinese, Hamilton has shown itself to be both innovative and expansive:
https://www.chinainsight.info/education/general/231-associated-colleges-in-china-a-hidden-gem.html
For STEM, Hamilton graduates 38% of their students among these fields, and graduates math majors at ten times the national average. Two of their current computer science professors co-wrote a textbook that has been used nationally.
As somewhat of a technologically related aside, Hamilton appears to be wired:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4546120
Wishing your daughters lots of luck in their decisions!
Thanks for the feedback regarding the environment as they immediately felt at home there.
Of the other schools they have been accepted at so far, including Bates, Carleton, Colby, Kenyon and Oberlin, do any standout as compared to Hamilton for either areas of focus, understanding that cultural fit and location matters as my science DD doesn’t like to travel.
Kenyon, a school I like, would rival Hamilton in the fine arts and in certain humanities and social sciences fields, such as English, history and government. Carleton would be a strong competitor math. Colby would be notably strong for environmental studies. By overall balance – and through the inclusion of some less common fields of study (e.g., geosciences, four anthropological subfields) – however, Hamilton could be the strongest of these choices and, by a slight margin, was listed as the most selective in USNWR.
I’m very fond of Carleton, which is also listed as the most selective and has the lowest acceptance rate of all the aforementioned colleges. USNWR ranks Carleton #1 in undergraduate teaching and #10 most innovative schools. You can’t go wrong with any of the choices.
Carleton enrolls great students, @CrewDad, but technically, by USNWR methodology, their “selectivity rank” (#14) most recently fell slightly below that of Hamilton (#11).
I didn’t say Carleton had the lowest “selectivity rank”. I said Carleton was listed as most selective and had the lowest acceptance rate of the colleges in question 
Your definite article momentarily threw me off (“the most selective”), @CrewDad, but your “also” should have tipped your intent. 
Son and I visited Hamilton on Monday. He had visited already with dad last year so this year he did an interview. I honestly can’t think of any drawbacks that were apparent. Except maybe the weather.
We was fortunate to meet with a professor that I took a class with almost thrity years ago (!) at Smith. He was a recent PhD at the time, and went on to teach at Mt Holyoke and Amherst, winding up with tenure at Hamilton. His perceptions are that the school has always been strong, but that it is on the rise. It is positioned to guarantee more growth, more diversity, more faculty, etc, etc. Alums are loyal and generous and the sense of community is real. A quick look at the faculty in various depts shows that they come from the ranks of other highly regarded institutions. Like this professor, they are there because they are committed to the liberal-arts-in-a-small-setting schools.
Amtrak runs to Utica and there is a jitney. If I am not mistaken the campus also provides bus service at break to NYC and Boston. Clinton is small but picturesque and the campus is active with lots of activities.
Students seemed to mix well ( athletes, hipsters, etc). Food was great. Arts facility is great. I can’t speak to STEM but that is son’s area. They do have a 2-1-1-1 with Thayer for engineering, and someone once got nominated at least in STEM for a Nobel. They get Natl Science Foundation grants. Getting off campus for junior year or at some point would probably be a good strategy.
Re post #13, Hamilton STEM grads have won Nobel Prizes.
Thanks, apple23, I thought that was it but wasn’t sure. I think it was even in Physics.
Of Hamilton’s three Nobel recipients, two studied science as undergraduates, in one case mathematics and physics, in the other geosciences.
Thanks for everyone’s insight into what makes Hamilton such a special place to grow both within a community that values a purposeful community and one that strives for academic excellence - as a result of what she has experienced over the last 2 years, DD1 will be attending as a student-athlete this coming Fall.