Student Profile
bks791
- Class: Junior
- Major: American Studies
- Gender: F
- High School:
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
Hamilton is unusual in its small size and lack of course requirements, which I really like. We focus a lot on writing here, if thats your thing, and have a fantastic new fitness center (though our sports teams are generally less than stellar). Teachers really love what they do here, and take the time to reach out to individuals, in small, usually discussion based classes. Hamilton is truly the epitome of a great liberal arts education, and I've never had a professor I really didnt like, while I've had several I absolutely adored. On the downside, Clinton, though it tries, is no serious college town. Though all of the essentials are here, go a mile or so away from Hamilton and you are in the middle of cow pasture nowhere. Its pretty, if you're the outdoorsy type. Controversy on campus tends to center around a liberal/conservative dichotomy, because there are strong elements of both here. For example, the closing of the Alexander Hamilton center and the Ward Chruchill incident a few years ago, both partisan arguements that made national headlines. A frequent complaint is that there is nothing to do here but drink. Greek societies aren't that dominant, except in the party scene, because they throw the biggest all-campus parties. The only thing I think I would change is that there is not enough to do, and that makes Hamilton students pretty into drinking. There is no where interesting to really go off-campus, especially when it gets super cold in the winter, so booze is a pretty big factor in social life here.
Academic Life
There are no real requirements except that you take a certain number of writing intensive classes (which may or may not actually be "writing intensive"). There is also a quantitative lit requirement, which is usually easy to fulfill without going all hard core math and science. Faculty is great, unlike at many big universities,they are into teaching, not research, so they are always available. Students are friendly with professors and go in for office hours. Competition academically isnt really a thing here at Hamilton, and my friends and I rarely discuss grades, not that we don't care about them, we just don't like comparing. My advisor is fantastic, love her. I'm an American Studies major, which is tiny here at Hamilton, but there are a good number of courses available that fit under that heading. At Hamilton, though we have a helpful career center and a top-rated alumni network for post-grad job hunting, we prefer to learn for learning's sake. All that ivory tower stuff.
Student Body
Hamilton is known for ahavinga lot of rich kids, which I suppose, considering the price tag, is true. Not all rich kids are snobs though, and there are several programs promoting bringing lower income students to campus. There have been some issues with racism in the past, but those incidents are few and far between. People will stick to their own cliques, because thats what ppl do in general, but everyone is friendly, and if you come to Hamilton you are sure to have at least good aquaintances, if not friends who are from different backgrounds than yourself. The gay community here at Hamilton exists, but its small and tight-knit, I would imagine Hamilton isnt the best choice if you're homosexual, though everyone seems very tolerant, there just arent many gay people around, at least not many out ones. I'd say Hamilton isnt for city kids though I know some here. It gets cold, and is pretty rural. Also, if you have seasonal affect disorder, this isn't the place for you.
The Best Things
Close-knit community feel
The Worst Things
The lack of things to do for fun, aside from drinking
