Colgate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+100

I hate it when someone provides actual thoughtful advice on DCUM. It really takes away from the juvenile toxicity of the joint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

In such an unspecified form, isn't Colgate a top-25 option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Greek life dominates.

[Anonymous]

Very long winters in Hamilton

[Anonymous]

Greek life, full of dorks, it's cold. A good option for those without better ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Greek life, full of dorks, it's cold. A good option for those without better ones.

Someone didn't get in....

[Anonymous]

My DD is a freshman - loves it. The school is strict with freshmen so the party scene is toned down for first years. Yes - it’s cold and the town is tiny. The students I met during parents weekend were engaging and smart and DD has made great friends. It was DD’s ED and there are no regrets. Good luck to your child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They are miserable people who seem to have a lot of friends from college.

Again, I made it very clear this was two people and I know others who are not like this. Unlike everyone else here I try not to generalize too much. But it is striking to me.

[Anonymous]

Many better options.

[Anonymous]

Looks like Colgate had a deep drop in application this year little over 17k for class of 2029 vs close to 21k for class of 2028? Any clarity from Colgate boosters or alumni Are these numbers correct?

[Anonymous]

Colgate registered an astounding 102.6% year-over-year increase in applications a few years ago. The current decrease in applications simply may represent a regression toward the mean.

[Anonymous]

That is a significant decline if numbers are right.

[Anonymous]

Colgate alum - couple things:

1. The increase in apps was in part what a lot of schools saw out of covid and test optional. They also started a praiseworthy program of financial aid, I think for families under $80k that got a lot of attention. The president of the school also lived in a dorm for a while and got a lot of media play. So that was part of the bump.

2. Re the school, it is a tranquil place with small classes and stone buildings, like an iconic SLAC. But it is also very isolated (1hr to Syracuse closest city) and the town is small. A few restaurants, a few delis or coffee places, a couple bars, grocery, hardware, pharmacy, etc.

Because of the remote location and lack of other things to do, greek life is a bigger deal. So think fraternity basements or maybe smaller house parties.

You are inside a lot - it is cold, dark, upstate New York winters are long and harsh. It is not like some parts of the midwest or Colorado where at least the sun is out.

I had some good professors and made lifelong friends, but honestly, knowing what I know now I would not have gone. The winters were not good for me. My kids go south or at least not too far northeast and it makes a huge difference in mood, social life, sports, fitness.

[Anonymous]

The only people I ever knew from there are very bro frat party jock types (male and female). Smart but not very intellectual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only people I ever knew from there are very bro frat party jock types (male and female). Smart but not very intellectual.

*who went there* not *from there*