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Bring a Laptop

There are both Macs and PCs in computer labs. The computers themselves are very nice. There are lots of places to print, although a few of the printers are notorious for not working properly. The campus is completely wireless, although some people have difficulty staying connected to the internet. Definitely a laptop is a must-- sometimes the computer labs fill up. Also, it's nice to work outside.

Strong Honor Code, Campus Safety Department Useless

Many exams at Hamilton are not proctored. There is a strong honor code. Students do not, by and large, cheat on exams. Doing so is strongly looked down upon by the entire community.

The campus safety office is largely useless, more for show than anything. For the most part, the resident advisers are the ones who actually check up on dorm parties and the like. Most of what campus safety does is respond to fire alarms (eventually), give parking tickets, and lock buildings at the end of the day. They are not a significant deterring factor when it comes to drugs and alcohol because students quickly figure out how to get around them.

Isolated on Top of a Hill

Hamilton is located on top of a fairly significant hill. It isn't fun to walk down into town, although people do. It is much nicer to have a car on campus, which you are allowed to do starting sophomore year. Bikes, again because of the hill, are useful on campus, but impractical for getting into town. There is a van service called the Jitney that takes students to the grocery store, the mall, the movie theater, etc, so not having a car is certainly doable.

The Utica train station is about 20 minutes away. The Syracuse airport is about an hour. It's not convenient, but it's certainly doable.

If you are here for the summer, you NEED to have a car, or know someone who does. Otherwise you cannot get to the grocery store, and there is no meal plan over the summer.

The campus itself is very small, and you can walk anywhere within fifteen minutes, so again, a bike can be nice but isn't necessary.

There is a travel scholarship for students who come from far away to offset some of the cost of traveling to and from school.