What can anyone tell me about Hamilton College in Clinton?

[1gobluedem]

A friend's son was offered a football scholarship there and can take early decision Friday. She loves it, his father (her ex) isn't sure. Anyone?

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I went there. What do you want to know?

:D

[1gobluedem]

2. Did you like it?

What did you think of the classes, the professors, the curriculum? How was the student life? Did you make a lot of friends?

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Yes, a great deal.

It was small, so it was the right choice for me. Clinton is a lovely little town, very picturesque and kinda artsy. The college is at the top of the hill. If anybody wanted to go into town, they'd just stand in a certain spot and somebody going up or down would usually pick them up.

The professors were terrific, and you tend to get to know people because it's not a big school. I was a psych major, but also took a lot of theater and lit courses, philosophy, art history. I usually chose classes by who was teaching the course... And, since you get to know your professors and vice versa, they're both approachable and concerned if you need help... My weakness was statistics, which I had to take for my major, and went to special student-run labs, got a lot of help and made it through.

I'm surprised to learn that they give scholarships for football. When I was there, sports took a distant second place to academics. Hamilton is quite competitive academically. My boyfriend, who was two years ahead of me, made the only touchdowns during my tenure there and the last two years they didn't win a game, held some kind of record for lossses... x(

I also followed the basketball team which didn't have much of a following until they started winning games and then it was SRO.

The student body is pretty cohesive and you tend to get to know most people. I got to know my professors and my fellow students quite well, probably because of the size of the school. Yes, I had good friends, had a lot in common with most of the people I got to know. I was in plays and did the news on college radio. :-)

And I'd recommend Hamilton to anybody. It's a beautiful campus and offers a great deal when it comes to classes and things to do. However, I was in the class of 1978, so I'm sure that a few things have changed. ;)

The alumni are also quite active, since it's a very old school, was actually started for American Indians. There are a lot of connections available via alumni and I do remember companies (Proctor and Gamble sticks in my mind...) coming there to recruit.

The only bad thing that I can think of is the weather. Since it's in Western NY, the winters are pretty severe. x(

Congrats to your friend's son. If he's in, the hard part is over. He should have a ball and a really terrific college experience. :hi:

on edit: I got in on early decision, too. My second choice school was Vassar. :-)

[1gobluedem]

4. I was wrong about the scholarship

But he was recruited.

Thanks so much for the info.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Well, that doesn't surprise me, then.

As for scholarships, they have lists of them. My BF had one. A lot are from alumni, like a boy from Pennsylvania who wants to become a minister, that kind of thing. Your friend's son should check into it. And I'm more than happy to answer any questions that I can. Hamilton's a great school. Let me know if there's anything else. :hi: