Colgate

[Anonymous]

Please tell me anything and everything I need to know. My eldest really likes almost everything about Colgate, the remoteness, the cold, the small size, the homogeneity, and people have assured me it's a great school with an incredible alumni network. But there is a T25 option on the table that specializes in the area she thinks she wants to study and is nationally/internationally recognized.

I want to support her desire to hole up by the fireplace with a science textbook and a cup of hot chocolate, but also, feel like I should encourage her to go for the other school that may be less cozy, but will be a good name attached to her resume for the rest of her life (and one that isn't also a toothpaste.)

Who has BTDT and can advise?? I don't need first time parent advice. I recognize that I (we) know nothing.

[Anonymous]

Two of the most miserable people I know went to Colgate. All in their late 40s. They are doing very well but they came from a ton of money so they would have done fine coming from anywhere. I know another person from the same generation there who is super annoying but not a bad human being.

But I also know an incredibly kind person who went there and a very sweet young man from a very diverse background who is there now.

[Anonymous]

It’s tough. Do your research.
You won’t find it here.

[Anonymous]

4 out of 5 dentists agree you will hear this joke the rest of your life.

[Anonymous]

What does your daughter enjoy doing when she’s not studying? The social culture is revolved around Greek life. There is nothing to do in Hamilton, NY.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid at T25 and one at SLAC. They both love their respective institutions but if they switched colleges, I suspect not so much. So your kid needs to understand what they really want (not always easy with teenagers) and you need to understand your child. There really is no right answer here as it’s so individualized.

[Anonymous]

You really have to make this call on your own. It's her life. For example, my kid hated Colgate and I found the students very 'high school' in social attitude, so our opinion shouldn't influence your kid who loved it. You didn't even name the other school, so no one can even give you an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Just fyi, the hot chocolate and science textbook by the fire will be part of her 4 years at Colgate, but other beverages and accompanying activities will dominate. Colgate is very fratty, jocky, party-heavy. Solid academics but definitely a skewed social scene.

[Anonymous]

Is this an active decision, with acceptances in hand to these two schools?

[Anonymous]

I'm an alum, and I had a great experience there. We weren't holed up and hunkered down, FWIW. It's a very social school with an energetic student body.

[Anonymous]

Lots if wealthy kids from Prep schools who did not get into 1st or 2nd choices.

[Anonymous]

I know a very bookish, quirky kid who is currently a Colgate freshman and loves it and has found a great group of friends. It's not all jock culture by any means.

We visited and my kid who WANTS the jock, bro, frat culture did not feel like it was his people. I really think this reputation is overblown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this an active decision, with acceptances in hand to these two schools?

yes

[Anonymous]

I know two graduates and both have said there is nothing to do in the area so in their opinion it leads to a lot of drinking/drug use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two of the most miserable people I know went to Colgate. All in their late 40s. They are doing very well but they came from a ton of money so they would have done fine coming from anywhere. I know another person from the same generation there who is super annoying but not a bad human being.

But I also know an incredibly kind person who went there and a very sweet young man from a very diverse background who is there now.

Oh come on. What did Colgate have to do with their personalities? Did Colgate make them miserable or kind? No. They were already like that when they went there.