Hamilton College Top Questions

Relax about the application process anddon't stress too much because although it's an incredibly hard decision to make, everything will work out for the best and no matter where you are, you will find your way and make the best of it.

During the few short weeks that I have been at Hamilton, I have met many new people and experienced great things. I participated in a week long pre-orientation program called Adirondack Adventure and learned about team work in difficult situations. I really bonded with the people on my canoe trip. After that, regular orientation was also important in bonding with people. Now that school has started, I eat once a week with my Adirondack Adventure group. I love my classes and I am getting to know my professors. I have found that the more I participate in class, the more I learn. It was very valuable to participate in Adirondack Adventure to start to build interpersonal skills and get close to people. Now I still want to get to know my professors and the students around me because I had such a positive pre-orientation experience. The whole Hamilton experience has been valuable so far because I am learning in my courses as well as learning in interpersonal situations. I didn't know anyone else going here, so everyone was new and it has been an adventure!

If I could go back in time, I would first congratulate my (younger) self on choosing to attend Hamilton College. My education here has given me countless opportunities: fluency in a foreign language, multiple occasions to perform research with leaders in their fields, study abroad experiences in Beijing and D.C., an internship at the State Department, commitment of my professors to my success, and the opening of countless doors to help me pursue my future. But patting myself on the back for my decision would be neither the most prudent nor the most useful purpose of this conversation. I would rather talk about the second hardest part about the college application process; that is to say, after letters (both big and small) arrive in mailboxes and decisions are made. The "hurry up and wait" phase, that frustrating springtime before graduation, is precisely the time to enjoy the results of hard work without abandoning them to "burn out." I would tell my younger self to make the most of those 2.5 months, because as frustrating as it might sometimes seem, high school is a part of who we are and a foundation for our future selves as well.

If I were to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would first and foremost tell me to get excited for an amazing period in my life. College is a time of transition and excitement. Life-long friendships will be made and much self-growth will occur. Although you will be taking many classes to prepare yourself for the future, this time will present to you lessons that you allow you to learn much about yourself. Have an open mind! People at college come from everywhere and have so many awesome perspectives and ideas. Be willing to live within the larger community of college and the smaller community you will find in your dormitory and room, if you are to live with a roomate. Be open to the tumultuous experience of living with new people. It has its up and downs, but can be such an enriching experience. I am so so so excited for you. College is amazing. Take classes in new subjects, meet as many people as possible, join lots of clubs, volunteer, play intramural sports, go out and again I repeat have an open mind. Get ready for the next stage of your life!

The transition wasn't at all hard to make, but I would advise myself to try overnight stays before deciding to enroll in college, to find out what the social scene is really like.

It's going to suck at first, but be outgoing and do as many events as you can at the beginning so you can meet people. Be ready to encounter a lot of smart people and always keep up on the reading. Study hard so you can get your GPA as high as possible when applying to college.

Visit every college while it is session to get a feel for what it is like during the school year. If you're going to play a sport, talk to the team members to see if they like the coach and how intense the practices are. Talk to a professor in your intended field of study to see what the classes are like. Sit in on a class. Go to lunch in a dining hall. Stay overnight. Do anything you can to get a grasp on what the college is actually like. If you're going to commit four years of life to a school, take the time to research everything you would ever want to know. Weigh the pros and cons. It's a big decision.

First of all, you need to visit a college to know whether or not it is good for you. There were plenty of schools that looked great on paper but when I finally visited, I realized it was a terrible fit for me. I suggest when you visit a college, write down what you liked and didn't like so you will get a better idea of what you are looking for. But don't get too caught up in finding the perfect college, because there are many that you would be very happy at as long as you have an open mind and a good attitude. Also, never underestimate the importance of the social life at college, especially if you are planning on living on campus. Even though the college is about learning, you need to be happy and have fun to get the most out of college. Many of my friends decided to transfer just because the social life was too limiting. Look for a college where you can get involved and make friends and find out what students do on weekends. If the college is very isolated, make sure there is a lot to do on campus.

At the end of the day, you want to find a place where the students, faculty, and staff are friendly. For some, college can be a major transition, but it helps a lot if you don't feel like you are all alone on a big campus. When trying to figure out what size school is best for you, it is important to remember that no matter what size school you attend, you will most likely have about the same number of friends. The thing to focus on for school size is that class size. If you learn well in an enviornment with lots of personal attention, lectures of 500 people are probably not your best bet. Being open-minded is the key to having an enjoyable social life on campus. Be willing and excited to learn about someone's background and interests that are different from your own.

Use your own senses also apart from asking for advices from parents and students. Remember, you have to make your own decision,,nobody else. Once you decide,then don't have any second thoughts...just do it in a focussed way and you will get the desired results. Also, don't waste your time and money...they are precious .

Make sure you visit and gather as much information about each college as possible. The best way to make a decision is to be completely informed.

Do an overnight at all the prospective schools. Compare the experiences. Go where the people are like you.

visit as many colleges as you can.

The main thing I'd have to say is to not go overboard worrying about choosing a school that may be ever so slightly better or a ever so slightly better fit than another school. As long as you narrow down your choices enough to schools that fit your personal interests and strengths, any one of those schools will probably be just right for you. So don't stress about whether one has "better food" or if another school was one position higher on some random ranking, because chances are, either one of those schools will give you the experience of a lifetime.

Really look into where you are going!

You have to be honest with yourself about what you want, about what would be ideal for you in terms of both academia and living enviornment. Don't be afraid to be picky, because you are going to be spending 4 (at the least) very crucial years of your life in the place you choose! Intuition is a large part of it also; choosing a school because it "just feels right" is completely legitimate. Be bold. Try new things. Get involved. It's a list of cliches that works. The more involved you become, the more friends you will make and the better your experience will be.

Students need to make the college experience their own. It is normal to feel out of place the first year for some students. Do not transfer because of this as a three year resident advisor I will say that is a normal feeling. I fell in love with my school when I visited as an accepted student. Hamilton was the best place for me. It was small enough to be part of a community, yet large enough to have some privacy. It is normal not to know what major to pick. An overly specialized school is not the best choice because it leaves little space for changing once mind. Parents let your child find their own place yet be there to support and offer advice in a non judgemental way. Students are nervous enough. Both students and parents allow space. Let your child dorm. This will help them prepare for an independent life. Students it is fine to have reservations about leaving but consider it. You do not need to move from the western to the northern united states. Keep in state financial aid in mind. There are ways to be away from home and still be in-state. Goodluck..........

make sure you look at a ton of schools - that is the best chance your child has in finding the right school.

Look at many colleges before you make a decision and truly weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each school. Ultimately though, do not make a decision without visiting the college personally, consulting college guides, and speaking with students currently at the school. Preferably, try and sit in on a class as well, since with all the money being spent, it would be a shame if the school you're going to has a terrible academic program. Yet, no matter where you end up, don't worry and try and enjoy yourself to the fullest. You'll always get into the college you should be in, the college that will most help nurture you into a full-fledged member of working society. Good luck.

Go VISIT: it is the only way to know if the school is right for you; get INVOLVED: you will imediately have both friends and something to do; embrace CHANGE: it will happen (whether you like it or not!) through what you learn inside and outside of classes and most importantly about yourself.