Down to the wire here-thoughts Hamilton versus Haverford?

[Anonymous]

Haverford has a warm,intense, nerdy vibe.
Hamilton always was a respected jock slac, but aiming higher these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were both on my kid's list but both fell off for various reasons. Both great schools, but very different vibes:

Haverford is much smaller and more woke. Closer to home, closer to a nice-ish city (Philly) and benefits of cross enrollment with Swarthmore and Penn. Slightly downward trend of (great) reputation, in part due to protests and student strikes. Aspires to be Swarthmore but will never quite make it.

Hamilton is a little bit larger, relatively speaking, and a bit more remote. Greek life, love it or hate it. Upward trend of reputation, in part due to the musical. Aspires to be Amherst/Williams/Bowdoin but will never quite make it.

This was well done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op-thx for the comments. do you see them as equally "prestigious"?

Aren’t they ranked exactly the same? I think Haverford is historically more prestigious but has slipped a bit, in part due to smaller endowment (unlike Hamilton now need aware). Hamilton today may be more selective and prestigious in that sense.

I would go to the school DC thinks they will feel more comfortable, have more fun, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op-thx for the comments. do you see them as equally "prestigious"?

They're similar, but Hamilton is now higher ranked and more selective. For me, Haverford suffers due to its proximity to Swarthmore. Always feels like the lesser brother.

[Anonymous]

Haverford does NOT aspire to be Swarthmore...it has a totally different vibe. It's much more similar to Carleton and Grinnell. Very smart, academic students but not hyper intense or competitive. Very lefty.

Hamilton is closer to Colgate...more of a prep school/athletic vibe/party school.

Both great options- congrats to your DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hamilton is more rigorous/nerdy, Haverford a little more well-rounded. Kid really didn't have a preference after visiting?

I think the opposite. haverford is very nerdy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haverford does NOT aspire to be Swarthmore...it has a totally different vibe. It's much more similar to Carleton and Grinnell. Very smart, academic students but not hyper intense or competitive. Very lefty.

Hamilton is closer to Colgate...more of a prep school/athletic vibe/party school.

Both great options- congrats to your DC.

most find hamilton and colgate culture very different. people like one or other.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are obviously aware of the size difference, and Haverford’s tiny size is mitigated somewhat by Bryn Mawr, but 1400 vs 2000 is significant- but also in the context of what Haverford students refer to as the 300 missing kids (I forget the exact number) - but basically a bunch of kids who essentially never leave their rooms. So the small size paired with the introversion of many students- makes for a potentially pretty limited social scene, I would imagine. My impression is the athletes just get together and drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it comes down to culture. Both very strong academically. Hamilton seems to have more of a preppy New England sporty element but also a bit of a creative/literary element. Haverford seems better for STEM and perhaps a bit more intensely studious overall. My impression is that you will find more introverted intellectual kids at Haverford but it also has its contingent of athletes who are probably similar to Hamilton athletes. More SJW stuff seems to be going on at Haverford and the honor code is a cultural feature that could be problematic for some

Why is the honor code problematic? Hamilton has an honor code. Does not every college have this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op-thx for the comments. do you see them as equally "prestigious"?

They're similar, but Hamilton is now higher ranked and more selective. For me, Haverford suffers due to its proximity to Swarthmore. Always feels like the lesser brother.

I don't follow rankings closely now (kids are young) but I always think of Haverford as more selective and prestigious bc it used to be like #5 in USNWR. Interesting to know.

Fwiw I am from that area (about an hour away from Haverford etc) and I got into Swarthmore and strongly considered it, so I was (at one time) not that far removed from these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op-thx for the comments. do you see them as equally "prestigious"?

They're similar, but Hamilton is now higher ranked and more selective. For me, Haverford suffers due to its proximity to Swarthmore. Always feels like the lesser brother.

Agree. My kid will apply to Swarthmore, but not Haverford for this reason. May or may not apply to Hamilton, depending on visit.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton, hands down.

[Anonymous]

I love Haverford. Amazing school and access to an equally amazing consortium.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a son or daughter?

I may be out of date, but I think women suffer a bit at Haverford because the extent to which Bryn Mawr is integrated with Haverford means that the male/female ratio is really skewed. A friend who graduated from Bryn Mawr a long time ago lived on the Haverford campus her last 3 years of college. In certain majors...at least back then...Mawrters take most of their classes at Haverford.

I don't know if it still works the same way, but if it does, I'd be more apt to steer a daughter towards Hamilton than I would a son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it comes down to culture. Both very strong academically. Hamilton seems to have more of a preppy New England sporty element but also a bit of a creative/literary element. Haverford seems better for STEM and perhaps a bit more intensely studious overall. My impression is that you will find more introverted intellectual kids at Haverford but it also has its contingent of athletes who are probably similar to Hamilton athletes. More SJW stuff seems to be going on at Haverford and the honor code is a cultural feature that could be problematic for some

Why is the honor code problematic? Hamilton has an honor code. Does not every college have this?

There were some situations where kids felt the process (you are judged by peers) was unfair. I think it can be found on college confidential. There is a lot of self governance happening at Haverford that can go in unpredictable directions and you also have the added layer of wokeness, the Microaggression stuff etc