Hamilton College Top Questions

We have all types of organizations: political, social, and religious groups tend to dominate. I am involved with the Debate team, and it is very exciting. Students almost always leave their doors open, and all of my floormates are some of my closest friends. Events on campus are very popular. People go to sporting events, concerts, or comedians. There are always substance free alternatives during the week and on the weekends. I met my closest friends on my pre orientation trip and in my dorm or my classes. If I am awake at 2am on a Tuesday night, I might be studying in the science center or in my dorm. People party during the weekend, but it is not uncommon for people not to drink. Fraternities and sororities are not dominant, but they exist. They throw a lot of parties where everyone can come hang out. The parties on campus are open to everyone, so no one is excluded. Off campus you can go to the mall or the movies.

It is almost impossible not to get involved in something on campus. The expanse of clubs, sports, volunteer options, activities, committees, etc. is seemingly endless.

There are lots of speakers to attend, lots of concerts to go to, some good plays to say, and generally at least one bumping all-campus party every weekend, usually two. Greek life is kind of downplayed here--I see them merely as organizations that hold parties. None of my friends are in a frat or sorority and I don't think I'm missing out on anything by not being in one. Drinking is commonplace but I don't think it's essential. No one thinks too much of it if you don't have anything to drink at a party. For example, on a Friday I can do a power hour (which amounts to six drinks in an hour), go out to The Little Pub and have another pint, and then take a loud rowdy Glen Walk with my friends. The next night we can walk into town, keep it low-key (just one or two drinks), walk back up the hill, check out a birthday party and maybe have a glass of wine. Both are great fun, and both have vastly different attitudes towards alcohol consumption. FebFest--the annual winter carnival--can be kind of dorky but sometimes it's a lot of fun, like the Chocolate Tasting or the Pizza Wars (all the pizza you can eat! for free!). Class and Charter Day is simply epic. And Senior Week is all about college-sponsored boozing. Thanks, Joanie! But the majority of my social life is spent strictly with my friends. I don't like to go to parties alone, because encountering random strangers isn't something I think is fun at all.

Weekly parties, the pub and alot of campus sponsored activities. Does not necessitate drinking as many may assume.

The fraternities and sororities on campus are popular for throwing good parties and hosting philanthropic fundraisers. I am pledging currently for a sorority on campus and it has been a lot of fun. The dating scene at Hamilton is pretty nonexistent as from what I can tell; it consists of hooking up or "attached-at-the-hip" relationships, but no traditional dating! At 2AM on a Tuesday, if I'm awake I'm probably studying or watching TV haha. People party a good amount here, starting from Thursday or Wednesday till Sunday, but that is always balanced out by class work.

Most of the students at Hamilton play some kind of sport, whether it's varsity, club, or intramural. There's always something social to do on campus, which is good since there isn't much to do in Clinton and it isn't always easy to get into New Hartford or Utica to do things.

There are a million great things that people do and a million clubs, sports organizations. It is really great. You can pretty much do whatever you want.

I met my closest friends from my Adirondack Adventure trip during pre-orientation and in the dorms my freshman year. It's really easy to meet people though, as long as you put yourself out there in extracurricular activities. Most students leave their doors open so when you're walking by you stop in and say hello. Overall, students stay up really late on campus, which is why Cape Opus is open late for caffeine fixes. It's common to see people watching TV shows or movies until early in the morning or pulling all-nighters in the Science Center. People party two or three nights a week usually. Fraternities and sororities have a presence on campus because a third of the student body is involved with one. They don't have a great reputation, but I think we have the best of both worlds at Hamilton because we have them for people who are interested, but they are not isolated in their own dorms on campus. If you don't want to go Greek, you don't have to. When I was looking at colleges, I specifically sought on campuses without Greek life, but ended up falling in love with a sorority at Hamilton and joining anyways!

There is alot to do on campus

Most of the social life revolves around greek life and partying. However, there are always more options to choose from for those students who dont want to be in a party atmosphere around drinking.

Greek life is not as prevalent on hamilton's campus as, say a big state school, because they dont have houses. I am in choir, its like a sports team i hang out with them party with them, all of that. my closest friends live mostly in my dorm, also from choir, also i just befriend everyone i meet. if im awake at 2am on tuesday im doing homework, no doubt..or just talking to poeple. people party, but its college, people party everywhere. there is tons of stuff to do without drinking, dance, comedians, accoustic coffee houses, speakers, tons of stuff. sporting events, theater, speakers, its all popular, students are really supportive of each other. off campus there are bars and stuff, but people pretty much stay on campus.

I love music- and orchestra was a worthwhile experience to an extent, but it began losing its appeal when I saw my friends graduate and realized the lack of cohesiveness. Choir is a much more fun atmosphere (the go on tour together, do the musical) and so I chose to join for my last semester. It is a much better social experience, but I could not have survived college without being able to play instruments either. Dating is either very exclusive, or non-existent. This is definitely a hook-up school; I want a boyfriend and it seems like all guys here are not interested in that, or they already have been dating someone for ages. A lot of weekend social life does revolve around alcohol, but I do know people that don't drink and it really doesn't matter. The pressure to drink isn't coming from other people.

Although Hamilton tour guides dismiss frats and sororities, they are somewhat prevalent on campus. There is not a lot of pressure to join, but they do make their presence known. IM sports are very popular here, and the attendance is pretty good. Depending on the guest speaker, attendance is very good. Students do leave their doors open in their dorms. As my psych professor observed there are three basic relationships at Hamilton: Hook-ups, slow and steady, and glued to the hip. I met my closest friends during AA and the first week of classes freshman year. However, I did not meet my boyfriend until the fall of my junior year. I do go to a lot of parties, but I also participate in movie nights on the weekend with my friends who do not like parties.

All activities on campus but plenty of them, a few all campus parties every weekend day and smaller ones as well. a bunch of traditional annual events, no greek houses but plenty of people in them and they host the parties

football team, basketball team, hockey team, fraternities, sororities.

The most popular groups are Greek societies and sports teams. I am involved with the greek society Kappa Sigma Alpha. Students leave their doors open pretty often, most students are friendly and open to meeting others. Athletic events are very popular, guest speakers can be popular, and theater can also be popular. At Hamilton there is not much of a dating scene. Students hook up on weekends and that is about it. I met my closest friends through my dorm, my classes, and KSA. Hamilton has many traditional events that are well attended and respected by the Hamilton community. For example, Feb Fest is a week in February with lots of different events each day, such as pizza tasting, sledding, snowmen contests, and concerts.

Really depends on where, whom you live around and what kind of person you are.

Greek Life is a great thing for social events and parties, but definately doesn't take over the campus. Plenty of people aren't in a greek organization and they are known and active on campus.

There is a lot of drinking on campus. A lot of students attend sporting events.

I think it's good that Hamilton's Greek organizations do not have housing, and I think they should be phased out entirely. Parties are open anyway, and the presence of Greek organizations encourages students to settle into a group of friends instead of being open to new ones. That said, there is a place for everyone on a Friday or Saturday night. I have never encountered anyone who would judge another person for their decision to drink or not. As I stated before, Hamilton does a good job bringing in outside entertainment as evening activities. I look forward to Acoustic Coffeehouses and comedians.