Hamilton College Top Questions

Classes are often on the small-ish side, which makes skipping or lurking in the background difficult. But the professors take the time to learn each student's name and create a relationship with him or her. Class participation cannot be avoided! In terms of requirements, Hamilton does not have many. A "point" for a quantitative class is required (any math class will fulfill this or some sciences). We are also required to take 3 writing-intensive classes in our before we graduate. These are usually interesting classes that you wouldn't expect to write in, like a dance class, and you're allowed to re-write every paper in order to improve your skills. This is a big part of Hamilton's identity because we pride ourselves on our writing abilities. We even have a famous story about a student who went to graduate school at an Ivy. The professor called this student out in class and asked her/him (I can't remember this person's gender at present) where s/he had gone to school. When s/he replied Hamilton, the professor was extremely impressed and told the rest of the class that they should have attended Hamilton.

Professors are very, very open and friendly, but it definitely depends on your major. There isn't too much competition between students because everyone is very supportive of one another. The environment is about learning, and so you are supposed to love every class. And usually, you do. You want to do the work because you want to learn the material. These aren't 400-person lecture halls, they are 12- person discussions. Even as a freshman you'll have small, stimulating classes. The largest class I have ever taken was around 35 people-- Economics. Creative Writing has a really really weak department, but Classics, my other concentration is amazing.

There are no course requirements, and it's generally moderately easy to get the classes you want. Some classes are larger, with 50 or more students, but most are about 20. Class participation is expected and the students usually have brilliant things to contribute. Your professors really care about you and if you take advantage of office hours, they become your ally. The classes are challenging, with a LOT of reading. A lot of students have career-forward majors like Econ or Gov but there are just as many art, writing, music, and science.

The professors definitely get to know every student's name, working one on one with each individual. As a music major, my favorite classes are the theory classes and the music rehearsals. Although there aren't many music majors, there are professional musicians and faculty that make the music department strong. Students are extremely competitive here, and the education at Hamilton is definitely geared toward getting a job.

Professors almost always know your name and are available for extra help. They love to talk, even about extracurricular subjects. My favorite class is an environmental class called Nature and Technology. My professor is stimulating, encouraging, and inspiring. Our class discussions are so philosophical. People study hard, work hard, and participate. I plan to double major in Government and Foreign Languages. Because Hamilton has no core curriculum, I feel like I have certain freedoms that no other college would grant me. Hamilton can help you get a job, and help you learn just for the pleasure of learning.

Hamilton is extremely academcially rigorous. The intimacy of the small student population enables students to personally get to know their professors and vise versa. I love that my professors know my name and I am totally comfortable just stopping by to chat or get coffee with my favorite professors. Students here are competitive with themselves, not one another; they take pride in their work, and understand the value of the top-rate education that they are receiving. Professors teach all classes at Hamilton, which gives students a unique and wonderfully valuable chance to learn as much as possible from people in the field with the highest degrees (all of my psychology professors have a PhD).

Academics at Hamilton depend very much on the student. Some kids are here because it has a reputation as a good school and they want to be challenged and be stimulated. Other kids are here because of daddy's legacy and so spend a lot of time partying. If Hamilton has a reputation for anything, it's the lack of core requirements. That was what got me to look at the school to begin with, and I have to say that I really do like it. People will generally take a wide variety of classes even without specific guidelines. I've taken comp sci, music theory, French, Russian, Swedish, women's studies, math, art history, and environmental studies classes, in addition to my core requirements for Creative Writing and Philosophy. Looking back, I do wish I had taken a science course or two, but even then that part of my intellectual development hasn't been neglected. I spend my summers talking about caves and speleothems and geology, so I've been reading up on that off-and-on for the past four years, plus I love reading about science (cognitive science especially). I have pretty heady conversations with my friends, as well. I think most of the kids who are here (not all, on account of the "daddy's legacy" kids) are smart and intellectual, on some level. Sometimes they participate in stupid stereotypes that discourages "bookishness" but it's still there, and I think you could have an intelligent, academic conversation with nearly anyone you run across. Some classes are "gimmes," to be sure, but many of them are interesting and challenging to a good point--not to where you're terrified of failing, but where you're excited about learning.

Classes are small and personable. The professors are very friendly and open to discussion.

Even if you don't participate, the profs still know your name, which is cool. I feel like on the outside, it seems like students are not competitive, but based on the stereotype that students here study too much, there may be some truth to that. But no one here is shoving their grades in your face or anything. They keep they're accomplishments to themselves for the most part. But in secret, they probably are competitive. I love the no core curriculum cause I thought I was going to major in Government for sure, but I found out that I hated Government classes, so now I'm undecided. I can take whatever I want and explore. Sure they have like writing requirements, but that can be filled with almost any type of class. The most unique class I've heard and really want to take is Food for Thought. It's not exactly a unique class, but a class that talks about the effects of food and diet on society and why America why be so fat, with food samplings and movies, sounds like a great class to me. I'd love to take it. I think students have WAY too many intelligent conversations in this school. It does make me feel good cause I like challenges, casual debates and intellectual conversations. In terms of careers, I can't think that my Hamilton education is geared towards career yet. I just want to find something I like.

Professors know my name and pass me a few times every day. I once received advice on a paper from my psychology professor while I was working out at the gym! The teachers definitely go above and beyond their normal teaching hours to help a student excel. For example, one of the best classes I am taking now (Philosophy at the Intro level), I have been able to meet personally with my professor numerous times about papers and he has been really helpful. People work hard here to do well, studying often well into the night during the weekdays, but always are able to balance it out with their social lives. The great thing about Hamilton is that there is an open-curriculum--no core requirements--so people take classes because they WANT to.

Professors definitely know each student by name, and they all know what they're teaching very well. Some have a few strange teaching styles, but they offer their help whenever they can. They really want to see every student succeed in their courses.

Yes, my professors definitely know my name. My favorite class was organic chemistry. I know that most people in college hate this class because it is really really hard, but my professor was so amazing and brilliant that it made the class awesome. My least favorite class was my intro. bio course. There were too many people and I felt like there was not enough personal attention. Most classes though I feel give you that attention you should get at a small school. Students study very regularly here. Class participation is always present. Yes, we have very intellectual conversations outside of class. I think that Hamilton asks a lot out of its kids but we are all very smart and almost all get the grades and get their work done.

I have never had a class at Hamilton where a professor did not know my name, what I did on campus, how I was doing in class, and where I was from. Students studied a lot during the week, and party hard on the weekends. I spend a large amount of time with professors outside of class because they are so easily accessible. The department for my major is a very small one, but all of the professors are loving, accommodating, and selfless. Hamilton's lack of core requirements was what initially drew me to the school. It allows for such academic freedom and creates such engaging learning environments in your classes where students are there because they want to be, not because they are fulfilling some requirement. Most learning at Hamilton requires you to be independent and self-motivating, which helps prepare you for the real world. Class participation is almost always required, with the exception of a few lecture classes. It's also really common to hear students continuing class discussions after class.

They are amazing! I really feel like I am getting an excellent education

Students are intelligent and the acadamics are challenging. However, if you are able to get into hamilton it is likely you will succeed

professors are very approachable and very personal and friendly. they all have office hours and they are very willing to help you. kids walk thier professors dogs sometimes, you eat dinner at their houses. we all have advisors that help us with life and academic choices. i always hear people having academic conversations outside of class, poeple here are very intellectual and interesed in what they study. I am a classical languages major, lately there has been a big boom in the calssics department and no one really knows why...but we have great professors in this department. kids are competitive in a productive nature....hamilton is about getting a job and learning for your own sake, its both. hamilton has no requirements, its awesome.

I tended to really enjoy my courses. They were the appropriate challenge for me, and the small sizes led to a lot of discussion. I loved the ability to take Russian- even though I am a Spanish major and and Education minor. Students do participate, perhaps don't study as hard as I did, but seem active in most classes. The most unique class I took was probably a Russian studies course about Vampires and Blood-Sucking myths...a very interesting class with a professor I really enjoyed for his passion and interest in Russian. In regards to my major's department- Spanish- I was not quite satisfied. They were inconsistent in their support, and often the person I needed to consult with was on leave or in Spain for the semester I needed them! Some of my courses were encouraging, but others were downright boring and I stared at the clock. I don't feel that Hamilton is geared toward getting a job necessarily, more for graduate school. I don't like the assumption that everyone will just 'go on' to graduate school- I have to start making a living to pay back loans!

I have a very good relationship with my professors--they all know my name, and I go to office hours frequently, even when I do not have homework questions. My favorite classes are any classes with Professor Muirhead or Professor O'Neill. They are my favorite professors and make the classes highly enjoyable. Class participation is expected, although it is expected in more classes than others (eg. english vs. math). Hamilton students do have intellectual converstions outside of class ranging from Nietchze to what's going on in Tibet. Students are very competitive--at least in my classes. Since Hamilton is a liberal school, there are no set requirements. This course freedom allows students to take essentially whatever they want.

All my current and past professors say hi to me and know my name whenever I see them, its excellent. Easy to get help, lots of homework, etc etc

the classes are generally small. nearly all professors will know your name and talk to you on a one on one basis at least once per class. student participation varies depending on the class and who's in it. there are groups on campus that discuss intellectual matters outside of class. most students aren't competitive. all professors have office hours and encourage students to talk to them. sociology is one of the smaller departments where you can get to know all the professors in the dept. govt is bigger which means they offer a greater variety of govt classes. the academic requirements are great. they're very lenient. almost no class requirements outside of your major. you will have to write a senior thesis or do a senior project.