Hampden Sydney College

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any experience with HSC?

[Anonymous]

The three high school grads I've known to go there were bright, fairly wealthy, and had B+ averages from private schools.

[Anonymous]

Rich, white, conservative, heavily Southern

[Anonymous]

Saw a bumper sticker

"Hampden Sydney College: Where boys come to be men, and girls come to visit."

[Anonymous]

"Rich, white, conservative, heavily Southern" and "Where boys come to be men" fits the one person I know who went there. Let's just say he was all of the things in the first quote, and he definitely needed to grow up, so he fits the #2 quote as well. Spoiled immature kids who need a little hand-holding and can't really hack it in a larger college atmosphere, was my take on things.

[Anonymous]

I know a grad who is a successful doctor and a very kind and nice man. HS has a very high rate of students who get advanced degrees.

[Anonymous]

Our good friend is a grad. Honestly, had never heard of it before I met him. He truly is a great guy. No idea if it was the college or not but knowing him would definitely make me consider it.

[Anonymous]

I think there's an element of truth in some of the prior posts. It's harder to sell single-sex schools to students now, so Hampden-Sydney isn't as selective as it used to be, yet it's also an expensive private college. So it does end up with some immature rich kids.

What some DCUMers may not realize, though, is that there are Southern families who have a great deal of reverence for the traditions at schools like Hampden-Sydney, W&L, the Citadel and VMI (and, yes, I know W&L is now coed and that the Citadel and VMI are quasi-military). They believe that these schools will develop the character of their sons in the same way that some parents along the Boston-Washington corredor believe that schools like Wellesley and Smith will develop the intellect of their daughters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there's an element of truth in some of the prior posts. It's harder to sell single-sex schools to students now, so Hampden-Sydney isn't as selective as it used to be, yet it's also an expensive private college. So it does end up with some immature rich kids.

What some DCUMers may not realize, though, is that there are Southern families who have a great deal of reverence for the traditions at schools like Hampden-Sydney, W&L, the Citadel and VMI (and, yes, I know W&L is now coed and that the Citadel and VMI are quasi-military). They believe that these schools will develop the character of their sons in the same way that some parents along the Boston-Washington corredor believe that schools like Wellesley and Smith will develop the intellect of their daughters.

This is not an apt comparison. Wellesley is ranked #6 among liberal arts colleges in the US News survey; H-S is ranked #94. Wellesley has a highly diverse student body, drawn from all over the country and throughout the world. Hampden-Sydney is a regional school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there's an element of truth in some of the prior posts. It's harder to sell single-sex schools to students now, so Hampden-Sydney isn't as selective as it used to be, yet it's also an expensive private college. So it does end up with some immature rich kids.

What some DCUMers may not realize, though, is that there are Southern families who have a great deal of reverence for the traditions at schools like Hampden-Sydney, W&L, the Citadel and VMI (and, yes, I know W&L is now coed and that the Citadel and VMI are quasi-military). They believe that these schools will develop the character of their sons in the same way that some parents along the Boston-Washington corredor believe that schools like Wellesley and Smith will develop the intellect of their daughters.

Very good points. I agree with what you've said here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there's an element of truth in some of the prior posts. It's harder to sell single-sex schools to students now, so Hampden-Sydney isn't as selective as it used to be, yet it's also an expensive private college. So it does end up with some immature rich kids.

What some DCUMers may not realize, though, is that there are Southern families who have a great deal of reverence for the traditions at schools like Hampden-Sydney, W&L, the Citadel and VMI (and, yes, I know W&L is now coed and that the Citadel and VMI are quasi-military). They believe that these schools will develop the character of their sons in the same way that some parents along the Boston-Washington corredor believe that schools like Wellesley and Smith will develop the intellect of their daughters.

Very good points. I agree with what you've said here.

Translate -- yearning for days when diversity and women knew their place. And yes W&L is now coed, but it is still a good ol' boy romanticizing life on the plantation. The same goes for every Hampden-Sydney grad I have ever met. I love the way you all sugarcoat racism and sexism. Bless your hearts.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know PP Hampden Sydney has a black president. He is also a Rhodes Scholar and a retired Air Force Officer. Good Old Boy yes-- racist I do not think so. The all male issue is an issue but no more in my mind than it is for an all girls school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there's an element of truth in some of the prior posts. It's harder to sell single-sex schools to students now, so Hampden-Sydney isn't as selective as it used to be, yet it's also an expensive private college. So it does end up with some immature rich kids.

What some DCUMers may not realize, though, is that there are Southern families who have a great deal of reverence for the traditions at schools like Hampden-Sydney, W&L, the Citadel and VMI (and, yes, I know W&L is now coed and that the Citadel and VMI are quasi-military). They believe that these schools will develop the character of their sons in the same way that some parents along the Boston-Washington corredor believe that schools like Wellesley and Smith will develop the intellect of their daughters.

Very good points. I agree with what you've said here.

Translate -- yearning for days when diversity and women knew their place. And yes W&L is now coed, but it is still a good ol' boy romanticizing life on the plantation. The same goes for every Hampden-Sydney grad I have ever met. I love the way you all sugarcoat racism and sexism. Bless your hearts.

You are way out of line with your comments, but I'm guessing you're one of those people with a chip on a shoulder who's often looking for a quarrel. I'm not sugarcoating anything and certainly not "yearning for days when diversity and women knew their place"; I was agreeing with the PP's description of how those schools have been traditionally viewed and why HS might not be as selective now.

[Anonymous]

My husband went there in the late nineties and said the majority of kids there were overtly racist. Maybe it's changed.

[Anonymous]

There's a big difference between a men's college that seeks to preserve the illusion of systemic male privilege and a women's college that seeks to educate and empower women to challenge and move beyond that system.