Liberal arts schools with competitive robotics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of facilities, Hamilton will offer "best-in-class technologies and resources" for students interested in electronics and robotics:

Hamilton Invests in Digital Innovation with New $50 Million Facility - News - Hamilton College https://www.hamilton.edu/news/stories/ai-technology-innovation-building-campus

I am not sure of Hamilton's current status in competitive robotics, or of whether or not competitive robotics will be developed through the new facility.

50 million is not that much…and it currently doesn’t exist.

It’s plenty of money for effectively an expansion of the sciences building. It includes a new robotics lab, is under construction, and will be open by fall of 27. If you cannot contribute useful information please just keep quiet.

I am contributing. You just don’t like it.


I’m don’t think of a resource that doesn’t exist, has not been used, and is not a current formal program as a benefit. Fall of 2027 can easily be pushed back by construction realities and that doesn’t mean Hamilton will be fully ready to operate a robotics lab with programming by 2027- just that the press release and flashy building is up.

New programs are not where you want to steer your faith when something as simple as robotics is freely available at many institutions.

I’m unsure why your response was so emotional.

The contributor up-topic was conservative. The "building is expected to open for classes in early 2027." In that Hamilton's resources place it among the most financially stable and, presumably, well managed colleges in the country — note its current financial grade of A+ by Forbes — I wouldn't worry about the school getting the project completed on or close to schedule. As an opinion, the coming year or two would be a great time for a student interested in the rapidly changing technologies of electronics, robotics, or drones to attend Hamilton.

None of this has to do with robotics.

A 41,000-square-foot tech facility with a robotics lab has a lot to do with robotics.

The robotics lab is for research, not for students. It's going to be used for courses and a professor. If OP just wanted a school with a course or professor researching robotics, we could list various colleges with CS faculty members that work on robotics, but they're looking for a competitive team. OP consider adding Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note that the Hamilton College robotics lab is a research lab, not for students to compete with.

+1, someone doing their research! Swarthmore has a similar setup: https://www.swarthmore.edu/engineering/robotics-lab

The Robotics Lab currently houses professor Zucker's research equipment, and also serves as a teaching lab for the ENGR 028 Mobile Robotics Course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting... loves math and robotics but 0 interest in STEM/Engineering schools.

Ours was the same. Tech school culture is…really unappealing.

They are not Tech schools they are colleges that are really good in stem and engineering. Most offer many other degrees. How is that unappealing to you?

A lot are tech schools and have a certain personality and “type” where certain students thrive. I was a math and physics double major who went to a liberal arts college before going to a grad school at a well known institute for stem. The personalities of the faculty and students I worked with would’ve driven me out of stem in undergrad.

There are many schools good at STEM subjects, and the kid is interested in math- not computer engineering, where it’s necessary to go to an engineering college.

Please don't compare your grad school to an undergrad college experience no matter the major. My kid is a freshman at a top engineering school, rushed a fraternity last semester, went to football games, parties, made tons of friends and is absolutely enjoying the complete college experience.

That has nothing to do with my comment, but good for your kid! I TA'd undergraduate students, and it's pretty difficult not to see undergraduate life when they're surrounding you.

Different than actually living as an undergrad Also, sounds like it has more to do with that particular school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting... loves math and robotics but 0 interest in STEM/Engineering schools.

Ours was the same. Tech school culture is…really unappealing.

They are not Tech schools they are colleges that are really good in stem and engineering. Most offer many other degrees. How is that unappealing to you?

A lot are tech schools and have a certain personality and “type” where certain students thrive. I was a math and physics double major who went to a liberal arts college before going to a grad school at a well known institute for stem. The personalities of the faculty and students I worked with would’ve driven me out of stem in undergrad.

There are many schools good at STEM subjects, and the kid is interested in math- not computer engineering, where it’s necessary to go to an engineering college.

Please don't compare your grad school to an undergrad college experience no matter the major. My kid is a freshman at a top engineering school, rushed a fraternity last semester, went to football games, parties, made tons of friends and is absolutely enjoying the complete college experience.

That has nothing to do with my comment, but good for your kid! I TA'd undergraduate students, and it's pretty difficult not to see undergraduate life when they're surrounding you.

Different than actually living as an undergrad Also, sounds like it has more to do with that particular school.

You think that tech schools don't attract certain personalities? That's complete BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of facilities, Hamilton will offer "best-in-class technologies and resources" for students interested in electronics and robotics:

Hamilton Invests in Digital Innovation with New $50 Million Facility - News - Hamilton College https://www.hamilton.edu/news/stories/ai-technology-innovation-building-campus

I am not sure of Hamilton's current status in competitive robotics, or of whether or not competitive robotics will be developed through the new facility.

50 million is not that much…and it currently doesn’t exist.

It’s plenty of money for effectively an expansion of the sciences building. It includes a new robotics lab, is under construction, and will be open by fall of 27. If you cannot contribute useful information please just keep quiet.

I am contributing. You just don’t like it.


I’m don’t think of a resource that doesn’t exist, has not been used, and is not a current formal program as a benefit. Fall of 2027 can easily be pushed back by construction realities and that doesn’t mean Hamilton will be fully ready to operate a robotics lab with programming by 2027- just that the press release and flashy building is up.

New programs are not where you want to steer your faith when something as simple as robotics is freely available at many institutions.

I’m unsure why your response was so emotional.

The contributor up-topic was conservative. The "building is expected to open for classes in early 2027." In that Hamilton's resources place it among the most financially stable and, presumably, well managed colleges in the country — note its current financial grade of A+ by Forbes — I wouldn't worry about the school getting the project completed on or close to schedule. As an opinion, the coming year or two would be a great time for a student interested in the rapidly changing technologies of electronics, robotics, or drones to attend Hamilton.

None of this has to do with robotics.

A 41,000-square-foot tech facility with a robotics lab has a lot to do with robotics.

The robotics lab is for research, not for students. It's going to be used for courses and a professor. If OP just wanted a school with a course or professor researching robotics, we could list various colleges with CS faculty members that work on robotics, but they're looking for a competitive team. OP consider adding Williams.

Hamilton's robotics lab will be used by professors and students conducting design and research projects, as well as for classes. Such access through the curriculum — Hamilton currently offers a course in space robotics, for example — may enhance opportunities for the OP's son. Club access may be available as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of facilities, Hamilton will offer "best-in-class technologies and resources" for students interested in electronics and robotics:

Hamilton Invests in Digital Innovation with New $50 Million Facility - News - Hamilton College https://www.hamilton.edu/news/stories/ai-technology-innovation-building-campus

I am not sure of Hamilton's current status in competitive robotics, or of whether or not competitive robotics will be developed through the new facility.

50 million is not that much…and it currently doesn’t exist.

It’s plenty of money for effectively an expansion of the sciences building. It includes a new robotics lab, is under construction, and will be open by fall of 27. If you cannot contribute useful information please just keep quiet.

I am contributing. You just don’t like it.


I’m don’t think of a resource that doesn’t exist, has not been used, and is not a current formal program as a benefit. Fall of 2027 can easily be pushed back by construction realities and that doesn’t mean Hamilton will be fully ready to operate a robotics lab with programming by 2027- just that the press release and flashy building is up.

New programs are not where you want to steer your faith when something as simple as robotics is freely available at many institutions.

I’m unsure why your response was so emotional.

The contributor up-topic was conservative. The "building is expected to open for classes in early 2027." In that Hamilton's resources place it among the most financially stable and, presumably, well managed colleges in the country — note its current financial grade of A+ by Forbes — I wouldn't worry about the school getting the project completed on or close to schedule. As an opinion, the coming year or two would be a great time for a student interested in the rapidly changing technologies of electronics, robotics, or drones to attend Hamilton.

None of this has to do with robotics.

A 41,000-square-foot tech facility with a robotics lab has a lot to do with robotics.

The robotics lab is for research, not for students. It's going to be used for courses and a professor. If OP just wanted a school with a course or professor researching robotics, we could list various colleges with CS faculty members that work on robotics, but they're looking for a competitive team. OP consider adding Williams.

Hamilton's robotics lab will be used by professors and students conducting design and research projects, as well as for classes. Such access through the curriculum — Hamilton currently offers a course in space robotics, for example — may enhance opportunities for the OP's son. Club access may be available as well.

Can you provide a source where it says the facility will be used for robotics club or teams, and not just student labs. From what I can tell, this is so they can hire a professor in the computer science department who wants to work on robotics, but that is not the same as a dedicated student-robotics space. It's analogous to the difference between having engineering research labs and a makerspace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of facilities, Hamilton will offer "best-in-class technologies and resources" for students interested in electronics and robotics:

Hamilton Invests in Digital Innovation with New $50 Million Facility - News - Hamilton College https://www.hamilton.edu/news/stories/ai-technology-innovation-building-campus

I am not sure of Hamilton's current status in competitive robotics, or of whether or not competitive robotics will be developed through the new facility.

50 million is not that much…and it currently doesn’t exist.

It’s plenty of money for effectively an expansion of the sciences building. It includes a new robotics lab, is under construction, and will be open by fall of 27. If you cannot contribute useful information please just keep quiet.

I am contributing. You just don’t like it.


I’m don’t think of a resource that doesn’t exist, has not been used, and is not a current formal program as a benefit. Fall of 2027 can easily be pushed back by construction realities and that doesn’t mean Hamilton will be fully ready to operate a robotics lab with programming by 2027- just that the press release and flashy building is up.

New programs are not where you want to steer your faith when something as simple as robotics is freely available at many institutions.

I’m unsure why your response was so emotional.

The contributor up-topic was conservative. The "building is expected to open for classes in early 2027." In that Hamilton's resources place it among the most financially stable and, presumably, well managed colleges in the country — note its current financial grade of A+ by Forbes — I wouldn't worry about the school getting the project completed on or close to schedule. As an opinion, the coming year or two would be a great time for a student interested in the rapidly changing technologies of electronics, robotics, or drones to attend Hamilton.

None of this has to do with robotics.

A 41,000-square-foot tech facility with a robotics lab has a lot to do with robotics.

The robotics lab is for research, not for students. It's going to be used for courses and a professor. If OP just wanted a school with a course or professor researching robotics, we could list various colleges with CS faculty members that work on robotics, but they're looking for a competitive team. OP consider adding Williams.

Hamilton's robotics lab will be used by professors and students conducting design and research projects, as well as for classes. Such access through the curriculum — Hamilton currently offers a course in space robotics, for example — may enhance opportunities for the OP's son. Club access may be available as well.

This doesn't sound like it's useful for OP. Many colleges with robotics research, but that is not a competitive robotics team.

[Anonymous]

Look at Williams OP.

[Anonymous]

OP - What aspect of the robotics team does he work on? Software? mechanical? Electrical?

When I toured colleges with my robotics-team-loving DS we realized college robotics programs largely mean programming.

But there are tons of fun extracurricular options to look for as another poster mentioned - BAJA club, rocketry clubs, steel bridge, concrete canoe, vex robotics, Ri3D, etc

Also lots of schools have maker spaces where kids can tinker. Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell are some LACs that come to mind.

Another route is volunteering as a mentor for a middle school or high school team. Depending on the team they may be thrilled for any help they can get.

[Anonymous]

Williams is ranked very poorly for college makerspaces: https://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/best-maker-spaces/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is ranked very poorly for college makerspaces: https://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/best-maker-spaces/

+1, makerspace is tiny with few resources. Would not recommend.

[Anonymous]

Rose-Hulman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting... loves math and robotics but 0 interest in STEM/Engineering schools.

OP here. His academic interest is math, which is firmly a liberal art. He loves the group problem solving experience of his robotics team -- he likes robotics, but I think would be happy with any STEM team where participants work together over time toward a common goal. He actively doesn't want a tech focused school like RPI.

Honestly, it sounds like you both just don't know what you're talking about. If he likes team problem solving on a robotics team, that's engineering. And who are his teammates likely to be? Future engineers.

You can call math liberal art, but applied math is basically engineering and it sounds like he likes applying his STEM skills to practical problems, so his interest is not purely theoretical math. It makes no sense to avoid schools with engineering programs.

If he doesn't want a tech focused school, he should look at a full university and go in with an open mind. If he wants to continue with robotics, I'd be unsurprised if he didn't take some classes in the engineering field, and he might want to consider a double major or minor. The team design labs and classes you take an an engineering major sound like something he'd really enjoy--they are lots of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting... loves math and robotics but 0 interest in STEM/Engineering schools.

OP here. His academic interest is math, which is firmly a liberal art. He loves the group problem solving experience of his robotics team -- he likes robotics, but I think would be happy with any STEM team where participants work together over time toward a common goal. He actively doesn't want a tech focused school like RPI.

Honestly, it sounds like you both just don't know what you're talking about. If he likes team problem solving on a robotics team, that's engineering. And who are his teammates likely to be? Future engineers.

You can call math liberal art, but applied math is basically engineering and it sounds like he likes applying his STEM skills to practical problems, so his interest is not purely theoretical math. It makes no sense to avoid schools with engineering programs.

If he doesn't want a tech focused school, he should look at a full university and go in with an open mind. If he wants to continue with robotics, I'd be unsurprised if he didn't take some classes in the engineering field, and he might want to consider a double major or minor. The team design labs and classes you take an an engineering major sound like something he'd really enjoy--they are lots of fun.

Not op, you had me on board until this point. Engineering is nothing like applied mathematics, and I'm surprised a person, who seems to have a background in engineering, would make such a point. Mathematical Biomechanics, Dynamical Systems, and Bifurcation theory are going to look nothing like engineering coursework and require a particular liking to proofs (the line between applied and pure is much less emphasized in university). While departments may organize the tracks a certain way, you need proof experience to do mathematics and they don't fizzle up and die when you apply it to systems.

[Anonymous]

"Can you provide a source where it says the facility will be used for robotics club or teams . . . [?]"

I didn't make a definitive claim on this aspect.

"It's analogous to the difference between having engineering research labs and a makerspace."

Hamilton will have created a new makerspace too, right?

Hamilton's new facility has been designed from the ground up to be the best in its class. I wouldn't underestimate the opportunities it might provide.