Colgate University Reviews

It is pretty strict the first two...

It is pretty strict the first two years when you're living up the hill. Once you move down the hill, you can do whatever you want without worrying that you'll get busted.

There are a lot of varsity sports...

There are a lot of varsity sports for a school our size, which means a considerable amount of the students are involved. Intramural sports are pretty big—softball and basketball, especially. Most students are involved in some kind of sport.

Drugs are around, but it's usually...

Drugs are around, but it's usually discrete. You can definitely choose whether or not to take part.

Although most colleges offer...

Although most colleges offer standard double rooms for incoming freshmen, Colgate truly has a living situation to suit everyone. For those who want the epitome of a college social experience, Andrews and Stillman offer suite-style living that is always lively. For those who fear guys horsing around in the hallways while they try to walk back from the bathroom in a towel, West Hall offers single sex floors. I lived in East Hall for my first year, which is the healthy living dorm on campus. I would highly recommend it to all incoming freshmen.

All of my professors here are...

All of my professors here are amazing. They are really well-read and know basically everything on their topics, but they're not stuck up about it. Professors are always willing to help with research projects and even love talking about regular student life. The workload is challenging but very engaging, and I've learned a lot since coming here.

All the facilities on campus are...

All the facilities on campus are super nice and built relatively recently. The library, especially, is fantastic. It has tons of great nooks and crannies to study in!

I came to Colgate because it was...

I came to Colgate because it was so beautiful and everyone was super friendly. It just felt right to be here. Most of the professors are great. They are there to help you and, unlike at bigger universities, they are here because they want to teach not just do research. The workload is pretty varied between classes, but it is usually manageable for most of the year, then it explodes around finals.

Everything is amazing—the library,...

Everything is amazing—the library, campus center, science center, other halls—except for the gym. The gym looks great from the outside but is in need of renovation. It is a small blip of insignificance on an otherwise overwhelmingly beautiful campus.

The average Colgate student is...

The average Colgate student is white and comes from an upper-middle- to upper-class family. There is then a pretty even split between Jews, Protestants, and Catholics, and an even split between males and females, and liberals and conservatives. Colgate is as diverse as a pancake, and pancakes are not very diverse. The students are all very accepting though, and the students of racial minority have just as good of a Colgate experience as anyone else.

Drinking is huge, but you can...

Drinking is huge, but you can avoid drugs pretty easily.

The dorms are all right, nothing...

The dorms are all right, nothing special but not dismal either. If you like it quiet, go for the substance-free dorm. Curtis and Stillman on the other hand are known as the loud party dorms. As far as non-freshman dorms, there are a lot more housing options.

This is a very athletic campus,...

This is a very athletic campus, but I couldn't care less for sports. I know that there are good varsity and intramural sport opportunities here.

Although there are people from all...

Although there are people from all around the world, we have no diverse thought.

Let's just say that one should...

Let's just say that one should never use the Colgate Cruiser for a reliable source of transportation. Although it does run, it is never on time! This is really terrible when fall and winter come, which is like most of the year at Colgate.

If you like partying, go with...

If you like partying, go with Curtis, Andrews, or Stillman. Gate House also knows how to party, but they are very small, which is excellent if you like small, close-knit communities. East is substance-free and tends to attract truly genuine, friendly, and slightly nerdy people. East is the quietest dorm, which is a blessing on nights you have to sleep for a test the next morning or if you don't want to be woken up by rowdy neighbors at 3 a.m. on weekends. West is also quieter and has floors segregated by gender.

For freshmen and sophomores,...

For freshmen and sophomores, parking is a hassle. The parking lot is a 10-minute walk from the dorms. Otherwise, parking is fine, but you can't drive to class.

Campus Safety is here to make sure...

Campus Safety is here to make sure we don't get in trouble with the local police. They're pretty lax about things, and punishments are basically slaps on the wrists. They're pretty cool people to get know.

Off-campus housing is only...

Off-campus housing is only available for seniors and only in pre-approved houses. There's a lottery for seniors to live off-campus, and sometimes it's pretty difficult to get housing.

People drink a lot, probably more...

People drink a lot, probably more than your average university. There's also a noticeable amount of pot, but it's college.

The dining halls are pretty good....

The dining halls are pretty good. People complain, but Frank is pretty accommodating. The Edge is a fancier sit-down restaurant that you have to book reservations for, but it doesn't cost extra. You can always pick up food from the Coop, which has pre-made sandwiches and a grill that stays open until 2 a.m.

You should definitely bring your...

You should definitely bring your own computer, but it's possible to function without one. There are definitely enough computer labs to be able to find a computer during the day.

Parking is evil! Campus safety...

Parking is evil! Campus safety gives out tickets like candy. Freshmen can bring cars to campus, but don't ever park up the hill.

Nope, it's not worth it. After...

Nope, it's not worth it. After freshman year, sophomore-year housing is disgusting. Either you're stuck in a dungeon of a complex or you have a tiny room somewhere else. Upperclassman housing is farther away from the academic halls, and it takes at least 15 minutes to walk anywhere.

Teachers are nice, encouraging,...

Teachers are nice, encouraging, and willing to help you outside of class. The workload is unnecessarily heavy, but this school is after all one of the top schools in the U.S.

The computer labs at Colgate are...

The computer labs at Colgate are usually crowded at crunch times, like midterms and finals. Besides that, you can always find a spot. Most people do have their own computers, With Wi-Fi, it is definitely nice to have your own. If you don’t own one, I don’t think it would be a huge problem.