Yet another 'Chance Me' for Hamilton ED1

Colleges and Universities A-Z Hamilton College
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<p>Actually for my son. He is very interested in applying to Hamilton ED1. His interests are in math and science. His high school is ranked #10 in the entire nation for STEM from US News and WR. Here are his stats and thanks in advance:</p>

<p>High School Record</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.25/5.0, top 15% in class.
Taken 4 out of 5 of highest possible honors classes each school grade. </p>

<p>Standardized Test Scores</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 32 (English: 32, Math: 34, Reading: 31, Science: 30)
SAT Superscore: 2060 (Math: 730, Reading: 610, Writing: 720)<br>
SAT2 Chemistry: 800 Math2: 800
AP Chemistry: 5
AP ‘14-5: Calculus BC, Spanish, Statistics, Physics (honors)</p>

<p>Activities</p>

<p>4 years of Marching, Concert, Symphony Band
Gold medal winning band in Regional and International events
Instruments: Trumpet and French Horn
1st Trumpet: (‘13-’14, ‘14-15)
Section Leader: Trumpets (‘14-15)</p>

<p>6 years of Jazz Band
Outstanding Jazz Student
Instrument: Trumpet, Bass
<strong><em>Plans to continue in college</em></strong></p>

<p>6 years of Boy Scouts
Eagle Scout in progress; award anticipated May ’15
Troop Guide</p>

<p>National Honor Society ’14, ’15
World Language Honor Society ’14, ’15
Made Honor Roll every semester to date.</p>

<p>Summer Intern Congresswoman ’13
Certificate of Congressional Recognition</p>

<p>Community Service Award ’12, ’13</p>

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<p>Bump, anyone???</p>

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<p>Mammakin: Your son’s academic orientation and solid ECs will give his application enough weight so that he will be seriously considered. Just be aware that he has a couple of weak spots (SAT reading score, an academic rank that would need context to be impressive) that will naturally affect his chance of admission. Nonetheless, where he is strong (science, math) he is very strong, and this is, not insignificantly, in his favor.</p>

<p>If he is “very interested” in ED1 because of his interest in Hamilton, then he should pursue this route to further distinguish his application and to increase his chance of success.</p>

<p>Keep us posted! </p>

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<p>Merc81, in fact we are returning to Hamilton (5 hour drive) in October for our second visit, plus an interview. He would even like to sit in on a math lecture, and visit some dorms, if that can be arranged. So, yes, he is serious about the school.</p>

<p>I agree his SAT reading score is weakish, but since there are options, he wants to submit his ACT scores (31 reading) and his 2 SAT2 scores. Still a little confused about the parameters of test score submitting, so hope that is doable. </p>

<p>He is top 15% in a rigorous New England high school (as mentioned in original post, it is USNWR ranked #10 nationally for STEM) which is positively regarded by Hamilton. In fact, historically, we send 2 kids to Hamilton each year. </p>

<p>You sound knowledgeable in this area, Merc81, so I am going to be cautiously optimistic. I remain somewhat worried about the fact that he is not a legacy or an athlete, as I know ED1 slots are limited. Thank you so much for your input!</p>

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<p>Mammakin: That all sounds great! I did notice the stronger ACT reading score. The way your son has tentatively arranged his scores for presentation seems logical to me, and would fully meet Hamilton’s testing requirement. Though be aware of, and decide how literally to interpret, Hamilton’s own wording: “We strongly encourage you to submit all of your testing.”</p>

<p>Personally, I would not worry about his not being a legacy or recruited athlete. True, Hamilton, as you would expect, builds a class with a variety of considerations, but academics will always be foremost among them.</p>

<p>And by all means, maximize your trip by arranging to sit in on a math class. In regards to dorms, I would specifically ask to see where he would likely live as a freshman, because that will play a big part in his experience wherever he attends.</p>

<p>Wishing you a good visit! </p>

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<p>Regarding test scores - Although you can choose to send only specific scores, in reality, Hamilton’s advice to send them all is not bad advice. They promise, and I take them at their word, to pick the test scores that make you look best. The 32 on the ACT alone should be enough, but the SAT scores can only help. Personally, I’d just send them all in.</p>

<p>Dorms - Hamilton just went to freshman only dorms, which you can find listed on the Hamilton website under Housing. Although you don’t have much control over where you wind up, there are a few ways to manipulate the system. Perhaps the best one is to sign up for the REAL program. Sign up to take one of four courses and you’ll get assigned to South, which tends to be the dorm they show prominently on tour. It’s location alone, right in the middle of campus and close to the main dining hall, make it worth signing up for REAL all by itself. And it’s probably the best of the freshman dorms, though I’m sure others will stick up for their dorms as well.</p>

<p>Essay - Essay will be key. You really need to let them know “Why Hamilton?” even if they aren’t directly asking that question.</p>

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<p>Thanks, MrMom. Good advice all around. He has decided to send in all his test scores. I, too, believe that admissions will take only the best scores. I will look up what the REAL program is, although truthfully, my son would be a good candidate for the Wellness Dorm (substance free). From what I can tell from their website, the Wellness Dorm for freshmen is at the most far end of the modern dorm side which doesn’t look like a very good location. That is one thing we will have to look more into. </p>

<p>Re: the essay. He is focusing more on showing the school who he is, rather than Why Hamilton? He can do the Why Hamilton in the interview, but we were always led to believe that the essay was to reflect the applicants own voice. I hope that strategy is correct.</p>

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<p>This is the Hamilton question on the Common App:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>That’s pretty much a “Why Hamilton?” question. Basically, you show who you are in the main Common App essay. This will take that essay and put it into a Hamilton context, so you better explain why Hamilton specifically fits you, in your own voice, of course.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t sweat the dorm stuff right now, get in first. You can explore the dorms at Admitted Students Day. (Just beware the streakers. They hit at lunch.) Only the most straight-laced and uptight students tend to go to the Wellness Dorm, from what I understand. Nothing is such a Party Palace that a non-party animal can’t find a space in the regular dorms. They do a pretty good job of matching people up so you don’t wind up with someone you’ll hate because they’re barfing in your bathroom. D’s friend is in a regular dorm and she got matched up with the perfect nerd. In fact, she’s says she’s in Nerd Heaven. The Wellness Dorm just marks you from the start, and not necessarily in a good way.</p>

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<p>MrMom, thank you so much for pointing out that additional essay! I vaguely recall seeing it at some point, and then forgot about it. So many details. Coincidentally, you are the second person today to give me the same advice about dorm selections. i love the Nerd Heaven comment, it resonates : ). Its a tough one. I wouldn’t want to mark my son from the start, but the barfing scenario would definitely not go over well. Yes, we must worry about getting in first. Sounds like you have a daughter there now? </p>

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<p>Yes. She loves it and reports that she can’t recall life before she arrived. It’s her new home.</p>

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<p>I could be wrong but I believe Hamilton no longer has an additional essay question. I too saw that on their web site that they had an additional essay question specific to Hamilton but spoke to someone at the school when I could not find it listed on the common app and was told that they had just not updated their web site to reflect the change….</p>

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<p>MandMom, great catch! I will put my son on the case to confirm… I know he would love one less thing to do! </p>

<p>And MrMom, I am so happy to hear your daughter loves Hamilton. Everyone I know whose kids are there say the same thing. I do want to ask about your wellness dorm comments, as I was thinking more about it last night. You said something about only the most uptight and straight-laced kids request the wellness dorm. The more I thought about it, the more I think my kid may be described that way… although he is very sweet too! Anyway, I have read and heard a lot that Hamilton kids were down to earth and accepting of all types. My son is just a much more serious kid, and not too flexible (at least so far) about the partying issue. He truly is a sweetheart, but I know this is a ‘type’ that not everyone wants to hang out with, and I wonder if he would stick out too much at Hamilton because I know a lot of the kids there party. Curious what your thoughts are or if you can get a sense for this?</p>

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<p>MandMom, my son said the extra essay does appear on the Common Ap but that it is optional. I think I’ll still call the school to confirm…</p>

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<p>Being a parent, not a student, I don’t exactly have a ringside seat for the party scene, but I don’t think it’s a Hamilton issue, but rather an all-college issue. There are plenty of non-partiers in the regular dorms and everyone gets along fine with them, I don’t think it’s too hard to get paired up with non-partiers. And there’s no pressure to join in, plenty of non-party kids attend the parties and just have fun. Where the problem comes in is when you select a wellness dorm, everyone else thinks you’re judging them, therefore they get their back up before they get to know you. </p>

<p>It’s one thing thing to have a live and let live attitude, quite another to make it look like you’re too good to live with the regular people. Short of going to BYU or Liberty, it’s going to be pretty hard to get away from that. And Hamilton is a lot more laid back about it than most. Colgate, 30 mile down the road, is much more hard core party scene. Not to mention the #1 party school, Syracuse, an hour away.</p>

<p>As for the essay being optional, even if that is true, Hamilton is known as a writing school. No essay is ever truly optional. I wouldn’t chance my application by omitting it.</p>

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<p>Mammakin - I will be interested in hearing what the final outcome is as regards to the supplemental essay question. I spoke with a woman named Susan in the admissions office and she was the one that told me they no longer had a supplemental question. Please let me know what you find out! Thanks</p>

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<p>MandMom, just got off the phone with one of the admission officers who said that the Hamilton supplemental message is definitely NOT optional! You may have been given bad info : ( .</p>

<p>MrMom: Thanks again for your feedback. Its an interesting perspective. My son does not AT ALL think he is too good for other people. He just doesn’t feel comfortable around partiers, and thrives more in a quiet environment. No judgements meant, its just who he is. I have a neighbor whose son is a Hamilton senior is in a Wellness dorm and loves it. Also not a judgmental kid, actually quite a fun-loving kid. But I see you’re viewing it from the perspective of another student which I totally understand. My #1 son is in a huge party school, completely opposite personality of #2. So I can see both sides… </p>

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<p>By the time you’re a senior, there are plenty of options and I can totally see going into a wellness dorm if that’s you. Freshmen are a little different - they tend to be more high schoolish and like to stereotype. Although my daughter is in REAL, she had friends ask her why, they heard it was for losers who needed someone to make friends for them. Totally catty and freaked her out for a few days. Turned out not to be true, they are a great bunch of kids with what they think is the best freshman dorm on campus all around, but some people like to stereotype people who aren’t exactly like them. Like I said, get in first, you have all winter and spring to worry about the dorm situation and there will be plenty of people to talk about what it’s really like along the way. Then he can decide what’s best for him.</p>

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<p>Sorry to keep picking your brain MrMom62… I checked out that REAL program which sound really cool - catty kids be damned! : ) Do you happen to know if they rotate the course selections or if they are the same each year?</p>

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<p>No idea. I suspect some holdover, some change. You’ll just have to wait until spring to see what they offer.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the information Mammakin. We had been looking to ED Hamilton but in the course of 24 hours it has come off the list. But thanks again for the clarification of the supplemental essay and good luck to you and your son!</p>