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Unique Hamilton

One claim to fame is our varsity streaking team. They are always a good source of laughter during stressful finals (or accepted students day), if you don't mind seeing a little more of your friends than you'd expected.

Housing: May the Force Be With You

Housing is very divided between the "light side" and "dark side" of campus (with a few extra stragglers down the hill). I personally am a dark sider, and have spent 3/4 of my years living on the dark side. Dark siders tend to be more granola, more hipsters, more arts/humanities focused, more green focused. Light siders are typically preppy, majority of the Greek life, and are science majors. Dark side dorms are more community-feeling, including co-ed by room and shared bathrooms, which I personally feel fosters conversations between more people. Light side dorms are more aesthetically beautiful (instead of cement) and are usually separated by sex per floor.

Your freshman year dorm is pretty much a crapshoot but based loosely on the housing form, take it seriously. If you write that you want a double, you'll get put on the dark side, and quad-lovers will get put on the light side. Light side dorms are more partiable for freshmen but will be much louder on the weekends. As you get older, the dorm options get nicer because your housing lottery number gets better. By senior year, all your options are great.

Booze Booze Booze

From my personal experience, alcohol is the main "drug". People drink. Tours get asked that question a lot, is the drinking scene really that big here? Yes, yes it is. If you don't drink or at least feel comfortable hanging out with people who do, you either need to find a group of friends who also all don't drink, or you will be very bored on the weekends. I know a handful of people who smoke weed fairly regularly, but I don't personally, nor do any of my close friends. There is a cocaine culture in one or two of the frats but I've never even been close to it in the slightest.

Money? Wish I Had It

I wish Hamilton gave me more money. I fall in the middle, economically, and my parents don't have enough to make the $26,000 that was still left as a yearly tuition after scholarships. It seems like most people around me either have money to pay the full $50,000 a year with no problem, or are on the other end of the spectrum and get a lot of need-based scholarships.

All 20 People...

About 2% of the school is allowed to live off-campus. That's right, not only do people just choose to live on campus, but there's a CAP on how many people are allowed to live off-campus. I think it's around 40 right now, and they keep lowering it every year. Luckily, everything is on campus and I can't imagine living off, but it would be nice to know that there was the option if I had wanted to.

Often, it's mostly Greek life who has houses off campus, but very few.

Suite Parties

There is always a party on campus. Suites are very open (in order to walk through the building you walk through suite common rooms) which can be great if you want more people to come, but hard if you want a private party. If you need to find alcohol, there is always someone to ask. However, off-campus night life is pretty much nonexistent. The Little Pub on campus is nice for a quiet night out, and it's easy to get drinks if you know someone older who wants to buy for you. Same goes from the Village Tavern (VT) in town, but it's mostly Greek life seniors and sketchy townies who habitate there.

HAH. as If.

Social strictness? Very little. If an RA sees you with a drink outside, they'll just ask you to dump it, no questions asked. Academic strictness, however, is more present. The Honor Code is in place so most of my tests haven't been proctored, but if you do cheat, there are harsh penalties.