Hamilton, NY: I consider myselfextremely lucky to have discovered Colgate University, a smallhaven nestled in the heart of Hamilton, NY. My mom and Iarrived on a Wednesday morning in a town with four streets,two stoplights and a gorgeous college on a hill. I had alreadyseen many other impressive and prestigious liberal artscolleges, but Colgate suddenly stood out.

At theadmissions office, we talked with an assistant director whowas extremely friendly. He told us how the college was foundedby 13 men with 13 dollars and 13 prayers. He then opened upthe floor to questions, but said the first five must come fromkids; since they would be attending the school, they shouldhave the initiative to be inquisitive.

Once all ourquestions were answered, we were divided into smaller groupsfor a tour. Dividing us up was a brilliant idea, compared withtours I had been on with 40 people. Our guide was veryfriendly, answering our questions. Our tour ended up runningan hour longer than planned. We saw many cafeterias, dorms,classrooms and laboratories.

The best part of thecollege is its architecture. While there are some dorms builtin the past few years, the campus is mostly old buildings ofbrick and stone. When you walk inside, however, you are in fora big surprise. Almost every interior has been completelyredone, giving them a fresh, new look.

Although thecollege population peaks at 2,800 undergraduates, I feel thesmall environment provides a safe and exciting experience.About 98% of the students go to dinner with one of theirprofessors at least once before leaving Colgate. Obviously,people try to make Colgate feel like home, with professorsgiving the students individual attention.

Colgate'sliberal arts program is very strong, offering 49 majors. Manystudents take part in the study-abroad program with classesall over the world for a semester or year. While some mayargue that the lack of a Taco Bell and multi-floored mallwould drive them insane, I think Colgate's serene atmosphereopens up a world of imagination.


Reviewed in 1999