Hamilton College Top Questions

For a select group yes, but the vast majority of people are average individuals with a variety of personalities and styles.

Greek life is prevalent but not overwhelming, and it is pretty preppy and conservative.

Yes, I am from the HEOP program, and it seems like the only minorities on campus are almost all from the HEOP or Possy organizations. Not much diversity..

There are definitely some preppy kids, definitely a lot of money on campus, and white is definitely the majority. However, this is not Hamilton's whole story. I have found, despite being in one of the lower income brackets, that Hamilton is a welcoming school that provides a great education. I feel surrounded by nice, supportive people and would say that the stereotypes are blow way out of proportion.

All these stereotypes are mostly accurate, but most people do not flaunt wealth at Hamilton. The richest of the richest here do not let their wealth get the best of them. Everyone is extremely open and friendly, regardless of income. Geographically most students do come from around the New York City area and Connecticut; Hamilton is not very diverse.

While some Hamilton students come from wealthy backgrounds, more often students are from lower or middle class families and receive at least some need-based financial aid. True, the majority of students are white, but many other students are not white and hale from a variety of states and countries. False, only a minority of students drink to the standards of an alcoholic. There is a substantial portion of students who drink in often.

Yes

To some degree. There are a number of prep school, lacoste wearing, old boy network kids here, but it seems like since I was a freshman the prep factor is diminishing with each incoming class. The dark side/light side stereotypes are true with some exceptions, and some people who would really fit in on either side. Oh yeah, and we're also getting lots of outdoors, environmentally friendly kids.

Haha, yeah, pretty much. I mean, there definitely are a small amount of people who aren't wealthy and/or don't drink, but for the most part they're rich, drunk preps.

Far too often, yes.

partly

While there is a significant portion of student body here on Daddy's dime, guaranteed a job in finance or a spot in their chosen business/medical/law school, there is a large pool of students working hard to make their own way. Most of my friends--regardless of income--have on-campus jobs to pay for their own books and alcohol, independent of their parents. Never underestimate the power of the Kirkland (or "Dark Side" of campus) legacy. A women's college founded as a sister college to Hamilton, their hippy values and artistic ways live on in the more laid-back crowd who are a lot less preppy.

"Preppyness" is a matter of opinion

I think that there are a lot of people on campus that do have money. But I do not think in anyway that snottiness describes the whole campus.

not really

Both of these extremes do exist on campus, but there are a wide range of diverse, interesting students in between. There is a drinking culture on campus, but not everyone drinks to excess and most people do not party every night of the weekend - we do have homework to do! Hamilton is an expensive, northeastern, private, liberal arts college and with all of that comes a high price tag and consequently, a lot of wealthy students. There is, however, a large population of students on financial aid or simply those who come from middle class families. And Hamilton also has a lot more diversity than many give it credit for. The problem seems to be integrating our diverse population of students rather than recruiting students from diverse backgrounds.

Very preppy, and very athletic on the light side not on the dark side, People are rich and love to drink everywhere on campus.

yes

For about half the population for each stereotype.

I would say that these stereotypes are close to accurate, minus the snotty part. Kids here are wealthy but very friendly. I would also say that drinking is a big part of campus life. Gotta love keystone light or vodka. Also, a lot of the student population is from the city, Boston or New Canaan--it is definitely noticeable.

There are people of all types everywhere. Some people fit the stereotype, but the vast majority doesn't. It's just easier to see the kids who fit the stereotypes than the rest of Hamilton.

These stereotypes are true for a very small percentage of the student body. Most of the students have been exposed to the real American culture. Which is different people, with different situations, from different places.

The stereotypes are so common because those types of people are the easiest to spot. People wearing green pants from Vineyard Vines stick out in your head more than the average kid in a pair of cords.

It is true that there aren't always the best looking girls on campus, but the ones that are here like to have fun. The difference's that exist between the "light" and "dark" side are also usually exaggerated and generally while the majority of your friends will come from a particular one you will know quite a few from the other well.

no. there is a very outdoorsy population at hamilton that outsiders fail to recognize.

To a degree, but not as much as its played up.

Largely, yes. Hamilton is also proud to surpass the Ivy League and the Little Ivies in terms of the sheer attractiveness of the student body.

For a sizable portion of the campus body they are accurate, but not comprehensively.

an accurate stereotype? thats not really an applicable term. are there plenty of heirs/heiresses at hamilton? yes. did a great portion of the students attend wealthy schools? yes. do we drink a lot? YES. but nothing applies to everybody.

Every stereotype has some basis, yet it is not a hard fast rule for every or a majority of the students.

Hamilton students come from a variety of economic backgrounds, and the outward appearance of wealth may be deceiving. Get to know people before you judge. Hamilton students do drink a lot, but probably not more than the average north eastern liberal arts college. And yes, Hamilton alum do marry each other... a lot.

Just like most stereotypes, there is definitely some truth in the stereotypes about Hamilton and Hamilton students. There is an abundance of partying, drugs, alcohol, and a de-emphasis on school work. There are a lot of students from the northeast. Many students are rolling in money. But most people don't know the other side of these stereotypes, because they are not all-encompassing. A significant percentage of students are on need-based financial aid, and many students choose to spend their free time in the library or the science center.

mostly

There are students who are preppy, from nyc, hold trust funds, and went to private schools - but overall, students are here to learn and take advantage of the opportunities that Hamilton has to offer.

Not completely, but yes, overall, it is true. Obviously I don't feel like I fit in with these stereotypes, but I will quote what one person said to me a few weeks ago at a bake sale I was holding to sponsor the cheerleading team. When asked to buy a cupcake, he said, "I don't like the cheerleaders." We asked him why not, and he said that we were not "cool enough." After hearing that, we all said, "Are we still in high school?" His response was the following (which is key): "Maybe not, but college is basically like high school, only with alcohol and you actually get to hook up with the girls instead of just make out with them." That basically sums up the attitude of a good amount of people at this school.

That stereotype represents probably half of the student body. The rest of Hamilton students come from very diverse backgrounds and represent many different ethinicities, cultural and economic backgrounds.

to some extent, yes, how do you think stereotypes get started?

Some are; there are a lot of rich people but also a lot of people who are on financial aid as well. Most everyone here is very smart, you have to be to get in. Partying is very big on campus but drugs and alcohol can be avoided to have fun. Everyone is pretty friendly although clicks form very fast and can be exclusive.

Yes.

Absolutely not! There is definitely not a standard picture of a Hamilton student.

The college admissions process frequently favors candidates coming from legacies and, as a result, there is a population of students who are sliding by on their parents' name or donations and who really don't deserve to be here. Many of those students are the same ones who contribute to the stereotypes about Hamilton being "preppy," "rich" and "snobby." It's up to every individual to decide whether or not this is true.

While there is a concentration of conservatives on this campus, and while there is a disproportionate number of private schoolers in attendance, this campus is actually fairly liberal and accepting of differing viewpoints

Though some people here represent these stereotypes, Hamilton admissions does a really good job at trying to diversify the Hamilton community, even though the school is quite small, I think there are a lot of different types of people here.

Honestly, I am preppy and I am often a drunk. I LIKE that Hamilton is isolated and priviledged, and it is part of why I picked the school. However, 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the school is supposedly on financial aid....so who knows what the truth is?

Yea, I think a lot of them are true. The light side is definitely far too preppy(almost to the point that I completely avoid going there) and there are a lot of rich WASPs here. The partying is ridiculous at times but I think Hamilton's current policies of just trying to keep everyone safe instead of trying to prevent inevitable underage drinking at college does a great job. Lack of diversity is an issue, but I don't feel like my education is suffering unless they fix it.

Some students obviously meet the stereotypes, but on a whole there is much more of a variety of students.

Although ethnically Hamilton is not extremely diverse, I would not say that it is completely preppy and there are many different ways that the campus is diverse. There are many international students and I already have several friends from countries all over the world. Also, I don't find that the campus is over-run with preps. Although there are a fair number, there are many students who have their own unique style, who don't have a particular style at all or who just don't care. I think a lot of people when generalizing Hamilton's campus as preppy forget that there is a large population of students who are passionate for the outdoors-- Outing Club is the largest club on campus afterall.

Although you can find these students at Hamilton, they're not as plentiful as I expected. There are just as many stereotypical hippies, and everyone has a different story.

A lot of kids on campus might fit this description to a T. However it's all dapendent on how you look at things. Yeah a large percentage of kids are financially well off and there is not a ton of diversity (racial or geographic) but there is a ton of diversity in opinion and attitudes. It's incredible how a seemingly homogenious campus can have such different outlooks on issues such as, religion, politics, and human nature.

While many students fit the wealthy stereotype, most students are informed about the world outside Hamilton and are active in organizations on campus that strive to aid those less fortunate.