Colgate University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Buried amongst the rolling, tree-lined hills of Central New York’s Chenango Valley is Hamilton, New York, a small, college-oriented community that doubles in size when Colgate’s 2,700 some students arrive for the school year. While Hamilton totes a limited array of shops and eateries, these businesses completely cater to the college kid. That means you can find anything you need, purchase it with your gatecard (student ID with a debit card feature accepted by local businesses), and probably receive a student discount. Colgate has a spirit of community that nurtures and enriches all aspects—intellectual and social—of student life. This is the kind of place where the pizza place and the florist deliver right to your dorm room door, where local restaurants offer donations and special prices for student events, and where September kicks off with a “Streetfest” featuring student bands, sidewalk sales, and a game of twister sprawled across the pavement on a blocked-off Lebanon Street.

Another major advantage to living in the middle of nowhere is that on any given weekend, more than 90 percent of the student body is still on campus. It does not turn into a ghost town with nothing to do. Most students really grow fond of Hamilton’s small-town charm.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Hamilton is a very small... Hamilton is a very small community, and Colgate is very distinct from the town, although the college is really starting to do more to get students involved with ‘downtown’ projects. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Most people stay around the... Most people stay around the Hamilton area. You’re not going to find much else that is close by. On weekends, though, you can always check out Sangertown Mall (about 30 minutes away) or Carousel Mall (an hour away). There are some good movie theaters and other stuff within driving distance, but I mostly stay around Hamilton. With that said, I’ve never had a problem finding something to do. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

If you want a busy, sprawling... If you want a busy, sprawling metropolis, Colgate is not the school for you. It’s quite small, and the closest Walmart is about 30 minutes away. However, I think that because Hamilton is so centered around Colgate, it makes a student feel like they are connected to the community. Hamilton really makes an effort to support Colgate students through discounts or special events. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

One of the best attributes of the... One of the best attributes of the college is that its rural location forces students to interact and learn from one another both inside and outside the classroom. One could miss out on this great learning opportunity by attending a college in a major city. Regardless of if we were talking about academics or going out drinking together, I found that being able to socialize with the same people in and out of the classroom was the single most important factor in making Colgate a unique, memorable undergraduate experience. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Colgate is not a suitcase school.... Colgate is not a suitcase school. In any given weekend, roughly 96 percent of the student body is present on campus at any given time. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Hamilton:
• Set your alarm; every Saturday morning, Hamilton hosts a Farmer’s Market with fresh fruits and vegetables, pottery, and crafts from local vendors. Also choose from an assortment of freshly-baked goods.
• The Oneida Indian Nation considers the land adjacent to Hamilton sacred, because it once housed members of the Iroquois League.
• In case you missed it, Hamilton, NY made it on The Sporting News’s 2001 list of the best cities for sports—clocking in as the 212th best!
• Prior to each feature film, the Hamilton Movie House projects a slideshow of local people, places, and nature.
• Golf Digest rated Colgate’s Seven Oaks Golf Course among the top five college courses in the country.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Erika Nyamé-Nséké
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Major: History- Undeclared

Erika has a wicked, rapid-fire sense of humor that causes my friends to fall over from laughing too hard. Or at the very least shake their head and smile.

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.