Hamilton College Top Questions

The stereotype is somewhat accurate. You will definitely get kids who are really preppy and shop exclusively at J Crew, but that is not true of everyone. I don't think there is one typical Hamilton student; there is a huge variety of interests, backgrounds, and personalities.

Depending on whether you are living on the light side or dark side, yes.

we're definitely not known for our sports (but mens soccer and womens field hockey do pretty well) and several of our students do fall into the preppy stereotype but no where near all of the students on campus fit that description

Not really, no. I generally found a ton of personal and ideological diversity on both sides of campus. I think the stereotype largely arose from the difference in architecture.

1) This is so far from the truth. We have a fair number of vineyard vine wearing yacht club members, but the same can be said about flannel donning hipster types. I also do not think that you will find the same ratio and spectrum of students at most NESCAC colleges. 2) If anything, I'd say we lean to the left. We finally just got our first Conservative student newspaper. Professors are also very liberal - but that's pretty standard in education these days. In my experience, it has never hindered discussion in the classroom. Professors are pretty good leaving their opinions out of lectures.

Not especially. While there are plenty of wealthy students and students from New England, 49 states and almost as many countries are represented. Scholarship rewards are generous, and less than half the students actually pay the listed tuition. There is also a great deal of socioeconomic diversity just below the surface.

Some students are preppy; most are not. We are, however, a rather homogenous group. Hamilton is trying to attract a greater diversity of students but it can be hard to entice people to Clinton, NY. It is quite rural. And the winters are harsh.

While a lot of students (especially those from the East Coast) did attend prep schools, Hamilton has a high percentage of international students (for example, I have friends from Nepal, South Africa, Lebanon, Pakistan, China & Paraguay just to name a few) who help even out the general attitude of the campus.

pretty much.

Yes. It's sad.

Absolutely not

to a certain degree, but not fair to create a blanket statement- many don't fit either stereotype.

In reality while there is a legitimate division there is no animosity on either side.

While the school definitely has the aforementioned type of person, there is also a large group of artsy students. The school is also in the middle of a diversification campaign that is bringing new and interesting students to the campus.

Somewhat, yes.

There is a kernel of truth in each of these. Almost all students are rich- but I'm not, and it doesn't bother me because you're all starting out on even ground and no one's really a snob.

While we do have preppy people, it's not like they take over the campus. We're very diverse, athletic, and yes, studious.

In many way, yes they are. Students tend to come from very affluent families and the majority of students do reside somewhere in the northeast.

1. No--it's just a different experience from an enormous IV League school. 2. Yes--I had no idea people of such a high economic status existed outside of television and cinema. However, there are several down-to-earth rich white kids, non-preppy rich white kids, a few not-rich white kids, and even a few non-white kids. There's a variety, one just needs to know where to look for it. 3. Not Exactly--Kids at Hamilton definitely drink more than kids at other schools, but it's a safer environment for it--few drink and drive because there's no where to go, and the place is crawling with EMTs and campus police in case of emergency.

On one side of campus ( light side), yes.