Hamilton or Wesleyan?

[Anonymous]

Hamilton grad here. Hamilton until 15 years was a regionally respected school, but invested a lot of $$ in bringing in academically adept students. This has increased its profile. Wes is probably thought of as more "prestigious'', but it is telling that it is need aware despite being super liberal. Whatever I think about Ham, it put it's money where it's mouth is.

[Anonymous]

Oceans rise, empires fall. I’d choose Hamilton today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Wes definitely was more prestigious but is it now? Doesn’t it seem tainted as a school that has declined whereas Hamilton has risen?

Nobody except current applicants and their parents is that invested or cares. I grew up thinking of Wesleyan as a Williams peer and Hamilton as more like Trinity. But I wouldn’t factor that into decision making now.

A lot has changed. Wes has fallen, Ham has risen, Trinity has fallen - though Williams reigns supreme

All true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oceans rise, empires fall. I’d choose Hamilton today.

and when push comes to shove . . .

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think Hamilton is the clear winner in prestige. Wes was definitely more respected 20ish years ago but has been on a steady decline since then whereas Hamilton is on an incredible trajectory. I agree with PP's comparison of Wes to Oberlin.

It definitely depends on major and fit as well, though. Hamilton seems like the no brainer for a writing or social sciences related major, but Wes could be better for a more awkward, politically active type, artsy type.

[Anonymous]

Really depends on this student. I think that Hamilton is a range of students from athletes to pink hair and Wes has athletes and pink hair and less in between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:peers

Many N/E-ers who are my age (50s) still consider Wes better but having had two kids go through the app cycle in the past few years, Hamilton is actually the tougher admit nowadays. Plus my fellow 50-somethings won’t be doing the hiring for most of the professional careers of students going to college today 😊.

+I’m from NE and 35 and I say Wes. I went to Williams and I think of it as a peer institution because of the Little 3. It’s also closer to civilization than Hamilton.

[Anonymous]

They are really different places so I would pick the one I liked better.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton is wildly overrated. It’s small, has an inferiority complex, and is in Utica. Wesleyan all the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hamilton is wildly overrated. It’s small, has an inferiority complex, and is in Utica. Wesleyan all the way.

since Middletown is really nice?

[Anonymous]

Hamilton is wildly overrated. It’s small, has an inferiority complex, and is in Utica. Wesleyan all the way.

Haha. Hamilton is far superior and anyone familiar with SLACs knows it. Wes wants to hold onto its glory days of 20 years ago - and that's the problem. It failed to advance with the times.

[Anonymous]

My sense is, a lot of students avoid Wes now because it is a “weird” school. I think the vast majority of SLAC kids are excellent students, not too out there, often or usually athletes (I mean, 1/3 will play at the varsity level in college). Some are very creative but all these schools have plenty of resources to accommodate that. So the overly progressive schools repel a lot of students. The culturally hybrid schools (pink polos co-existing with pink hair) seem to do well. Ham seems to be one of those hybrids.

[Anonymous]

Oberlin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:peers

Many N/E-ers who are my age (50s) still consider Wes better but having had two kids go through the app cycle in the past few years, Hamilton is actually the tougher admit nowadays. Plus my fellow 50-somethings won’t be doing the hiring for most of the professional careers of students going to college today 😊.

+I’m from NE and 35 and I say Wes. I went to Williams and I think of it as a peer institution because of the Little 3. It’s also closer to civilization than Hamilton.

The era you attended college is vastly different than now....

[Anonymous]

FWIW the kids I know at Wesleyan are very “normal” and socially charming.