Hamilton College Top Questions

Academics are great. Teachers make the classes, and the smaller classes are great, and work HAS to be done otherwise the other 8 people in the class will know as well as the professor that you did not keep up with your work.

Class participation gets better as you get old. I spend times with my professors outside of class but students often need to take the initiative. Its hard at first and beneficial in the end. I think Hamilton students really value and cherish the academic freedom. The career center is helpful and has a lot of resources but people sometimes complain that the counselors are not knowledgable or helpful. Most students do have intellectual conversations outside class but for the most part students spend a large portion of their time working and enjoy social and non academic things for their down time. This could mean drinking and partying and could mean a movie, group discussion, or other similar events. The drinking culture becomes less important as you get older and people do more diverse things on weekends.

The communications department at Hamilton is outstanding. Professors are all incredibly approachable and are all noteworthy scholars in their fields.

It's really easy to form great relationships with professors. Classes are small and all the professors seem to actually care about teaching.

I love the professors here - almost all of my classes the professors have known my name, and enjoy getting to know the students, even classes that are not within my major. Hamilton focuses on writing and public speaking, but mostly writing -- 3 writing intensive courses are required but that's about it. It's an open curriculum besides that and fulfilling the Q-Lit requirement. Intellectual conversations are held outside the classroom - there are plenty of lectures avialable to attend all the time for various departments. As an Art major in a liberal arts college I feel like I'm getting a well rounded education with the opportunity to explore several areas of study.

Professors know every student in the class and have a close relationship with their students. As a music major, my favorite class is Music in Europe from 1600-1900. Although music is not at all a popular major at Hamilton, the music department is wonderful and has great, professional, and fun professors and musicians. Hamilton students are extremely diverse when it comes to conversations; they do have intellectual conversations outside of class, but at the same time, do know how to have fun. I do not spend time with professors outside of class. I do feel that the education at Hamilton is geared toward getting a job, and will prepare everyone for the workforce.

I came to Hamilton because I knew when it came to academics I thrive in a small classroom environment. I have not at all been disapointed. I have yet to be in a class larger than 30 students and I hear classes only get smaller as you go to higher levels. All of my professors know my name and most make a concentrated effort to get to know their students. My Comparative Lit professor made sure we learned the names of everyone else in the class by making naming everyone a part of the final. I loved this and thought it greatly enhanced the class atmosphere. Intellectual discussions occur outside of class on rare occasions, but by the time class is over most students are ready to take a break from academics. Hamilton stresses strong writing skills and provides a lot of support to students, especially through our writing center, to turn out students who are strong writers.

Most classes are capped at 40 students, so professors are expected to know your name, whether you participate in class or not. Class participation is essential to a Hamilton education. Most classes go back and forth between lecture style and discussion. Heated debates often occur in most of my classes during discussion time. Students are not very competitive with each other. The real competition at Hamilton is with yourself. Grades are not talked about very much, which makes many feel more relaxed about academics. People set their own goals instead of trying to live up to someone else's. Academics are hard, but not too hard. Time management is definitely a good skill to have. Students are able to study during the week and still have fun on the weekends.

While students generally party hard on weekends, the same people are serious, motivated students. Almost all of my peers participate in our small classes, none of which are taught by teaching assistants. Hamilton is a liberal arts education which hopes to shape well-rounded individuals who have aptitude in nearly anything.

There are no real requirements except that you take a certain number of writing intensive classes (which may or may not actually be "writing intensive"). There is also a quantitative lit requirement, which is usually easy to fulfill without going all hard core math and science. Faculty is great, unlike at many big universities,they are into teaching, not research, so they are always available. Students are friendly with professors and go in for office hours. Competition academically isnt really a thing here at Hamilton, and my friends and I rarely discuss grades, not that we don't care about them, we just don't like comparing. My advisor is fantastic, love her. I'm an American Studies major, which is tiny here at Hamilton, but there are a good number of courses available that fit under that heading. At Hamilton, though we have a helpful career center and a top-rated alumni network for post-grad job hunting, we prefer to learn for learning's sake. All that ivory tower stuff.

Hamilton is a very academic-focused school. One unique thing about academics at Hamilton is that there are no required courses, which is great because everyone in your classes are there because they want to be.

The chemistry department is fantastic. Of course there is always that one professor who you want to see fired because they're not competent to teach a dog how to roll over, but we also have some of the best scientists in their fields. Your professors will know your name from the time you take their class until you graduate and will actually be sad to see you go. My chemistry advisor is more like a mom to me than a professor and I know I can count on her to help me with anything either in or out of class.

Academic at Hamilton are great, for the most part. There are occasional weak spots, jaded professors riding their tenure, bs classes, etc. However, for the most part professors are stimulating, the material is thought provoking, and the administration can usually be navigated to make it totally accommodate your needs. You just need to comitt yourself!

Professors don't only know your name, they know your friends' names, the instrument you play, the soccer team you support; in short, these people get to know you as a friend. Your opinions on medieval french literature in the classroom are important, but of similar import is your conversation about the new movie that you have in the cafe. Everybody must participate in class. For some part it's a component of a grade that's easily satisfied; for others it takes much longer to become comfortable with the small-group public speaking. Some students are more competitive than others, but overall people are relaxed. I have never, ever heard of a lab project being sabotaged. People get offended if you ask them about your grades; discuss the papers and books as much as you want, but each student is expected to figure out the final work on his own, and the success or failure of the work is private business. Most unique class I've taken: Witches and Witch-Hunting. We had some of the most bizarre discussions in that class, but it was always interesting.

No cake walk here classes are known to not be easy. Quantum Physics and Parables (a religious studies class) were two amazing classes that i took the same semester that suprisingly had many crossovers. During finals week my QPhys class had diner at my professors house who is amazing. Class participation is extremely common and expected. Students are not competitive. Hamilton has almost no general requirements, which gives you great freedom. Hamilton education is not geared at getting a job but the career centers provides great access and help gaining career related experience.

As I mentioned earlier, professors are very friendly at Hamilton. Whenever I am in the science center I see professors in the office and their doors are always open. I am a biochemistry major we are a unique group, there are six of us. I have been out to dinner with my thesis advisor a couple of times. It is not unusual to eat of with professors. I have also had meetings with professors at the cafe on campus.

Classes are pretty challenging and I spent a lot of time doing work to get the grades. Professors are very accessible and often enthusiastic to meet with students to discuss anything.

I love the relationships I am able to have with professors here. They know my name, are always available, and they genuinely want to help me succeed. Though some classes are lecture style, most of my professors have encouraged class participation. I don't find that Hamilton has a competitive atmosphere, though plenty of students are strongly academicly oriented. If you are looking for engaging, intellectual conversation outside the classroom you can definitely find it here. The most unique classes I've taken to date are Theatre 101 and 102. I can't really describe them except to say that I believe every student should take Theatre 101 just for the experience. The education here is definitely geared towards education for its own sake. There is career counseling available, and a Pre-med track for those interested in pursuing medicine, but for the most part students are here to learn not make their five-year-plans. The most exciting thing about Hamilton for me is the open curriculum it offers. I have the freedom to study and learn as I choose, so that I am not stuck taking classes that I hate.

Professors are very friendly and always willing to help students if students put in the effort to seek help. Class participation is very common, students seem to be confident in their arguments and opinions so very few are shy in class. Classes here are fairly difficult and procrastinators will have a very difficult time keeping up. Students study all the time but still make time to goof around and have fun.

Courses here are very challenging.

Joining choir was the best decision I ever made. The director is fantastic and the social atmosphere is open and inviting. Join small departments with small classes, and the professors will know who you are before a month is out. Then they'll say hello, come to things that you're involved in, and be generally pleasant for the rest of your career.

Hamilton has a great student/professor ratio. All my professors know my name, and even professors that I had the semester before. My favorite class at the moment is probably Linear Algebra. I love the professor, he livens up my mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I hated philosophy. The material and professor were not the least bit interesting. I would say students study pretty often, but it is not like Hamilton has an overwhelming amount of work.

I'm a first-year physics major, and I've only had three professors in the department before. But all of them know my name. The classes in every department are small (for the most part), and professors are always available for help. There's no core, so students can take what interests them in building their liberal arts experience. Education is geared at learning for learning's sake, which is wonderful. Classes of all kinds are encouraged, and the emphasis on writing and research makes everything worth it.

Professors know all their students names because our class sizes are very small. Class sizes are any where from 6 to 30 and 30 is pushing it. My favorite classes are dance classes because they are relaxing. My least favorite are Econ classes because they ruin your life. I think those are the hardest courses at Hamilton. Students study all they time. You have to if you want to pass at Hamilton. There's not a class you can slack in and expect to get a good grade. Not even Dance. Their pretty tough here. Class participation is unavoidable because we have small classes. The more silent you are, the more noticeable you are. Students are very competitive. You would have to be to get into a school like that. It's only natural that it would transfer over to college years. I feel that Hamilton's academic requirements are challenging but attainable. Like I said before this is not a school for slackers. The education at Hamilton is geared towards equipping you with skills that are going to help you succeed in life and in a career.

Grade inflation may be huge at other schools, but at Hamilton, you may be working your ass off for a B+ in a course. There are no easily aced classes here. From physics to art history, you're going to be challenged, and professors don't accept anything but the best.

The professors here don't skimp when it comes to school work. You will get big papers and you will be expected to speak in class on the material assigned, cruise control just simply doesn't cut it at a school as small as this.

very good. excellent even. great professors who really care about the students. one of my professors asks me about my team and how things are looking for next year every time he sees me. they really seem to care about the students. I took a great class in the geoscience department that focused on the current events in africa and how they were effected by geology. It was the reason i became a major.

This is one area of Hamilton that really lives up to everything tour guides say. The classes are small, and most of the time professors get to know you really quickly. It's pretty common to sit down and eat with professors at lunch, or have a professor recommend a class/job/book to you based on interests you've expressed in class. If you want to get an A in a class here, you really have to work; this isn't the type of school where you have time to party all throughout the week and still maintain a good GPA. Most classes give a ton of homework, so you have to really be prepared for that.

I have had very few negative experiences with professors at Hamilton, and there are several professors here who are simply wonderful. As a history major, I particularly recommend Professors Ambrose, Kelly, and Paquette. I know some students (and faculty) dislike Paquette due to his forceful personality, but for intelligence, professionalism, and sheer volume, he is unmatched. It is simply impossible to fall asleep in his class and, resultantly, impossible not to learn something. Professor Kelly is one of the funniest and most entertaining professors I've had here-- and it's no small feat to be funny in a class about the Nazis. His dry sense of humor and absolute lack of political correctness is incredibly endearing. Professor Ambrose needs no introduction; auditing a class with him is what prompted me to come to Hamilton, and the classes I've taken with him (every semester) have kept me here. I sincerely doubt that any college in the nation can offer a professor to far surpass Ambrose in energy, knowledgeability, and human concern for his students. Maybe that accounts for his extreme popularity despite his less-than-generous grading policies. But engaged and engaging professors are a hallmark of a Hamilton education, and every department offers a wide array. Every professor I've had in the math department (Bedient, Boutin, and Knop) has been unnervingly kind and amiable. Professor Knop especially is one of the sweetest, jolliest men you could ever hope to meet. I would also recommend Professor Bartle (whom a friend likes to describe as a "chain-smoking Winnie-the-Pooh") from the Russian Studies department.

My professors all know my name. Class participation is very common, and I feel as though I'm really learning how to think and write more clearly. Some students study all the time, others not at all. My favorite professor is my current Comparative Literature professor, who is amazing. Everything he says in class is very impressive, but the way that he responds to every comment made in class is equally impressive and demanding. For example, he will respond to a comment by saying, "I agree with that statement except for one word. What word was it? Why did I disagree?" He pushes everyone and doesn't hesitate to ask very personal questions to keep the class engaged and make the texts seem relevant and accessible, such as "If the males in the class could have one night with one character in the texts we've read, who would it be? Would it be Lol Stein?" I am never bored in his class.

the professors are incredible (for the most part.) i took Cicero, Hamilton, and Jefferson with Professor Rubino sophomore year and it was fantastic. my favorite courses are on the smaller side (which usually indicates that those enrolled actually want to be there and aren't just looking for a classroom they can hide in and still get an A) and place a great deal of emphasis on class discussion. students aren't very competitive, which isn't to say they aren't motivated, but that they understand the benefits of synergy rather than competition. the mathematics and classical studies departments are rife with fun, thought-provoking professors. i love hamilton's chill attitude toward the selection of courses, but seniors are closed out of a lot of electives because of their class year.

All the Professors know your name by the first or second day because of the small class sizes.

Professors at Hamilton are great -- you're not just a number to them, but rather they really get to know you. They may invite you over for dinner or meet your senior seminar group at the Pub, but regardless of how you're getting to know them, they really care.

One thing I love about Hamilton academically is that you get to know the professors in your department so well that it doesn't even seem like they are professors anymore. I have been on a first name basis with all of my psychology professors since my freshman year. Everyone in the department is so friendly and the school is small enough that you can get a ton of individual attention from the professors and ask them for help whenever you need it. The genuineness, love for teaching, and compassion that these professors show their students is unprecedented. I could not be happier with the opportunities I received academically during my four years here.

professors are great and know my name. students work hard and talk in class. we are smart kids and show it. students always want to beat each other out. computer science majors are the best and the professors are the best.

I'm in the Hispanic Studies department (Spanish), and I was double-majoring with Chinese until this past year. My professors know my name, but outside of class are not very friendly. I come from a very small town at home so I'm used to knowing everyone when walking down the street, and even the people I don't know I still say hello to. That does not happen here at all. Most people keep to themselves or their own groups, and that goes for professors as well. I do not spend time with my professors, and in fact, I feel that my attempt to speak with them outside of classroom time is a burden on their life. My favorite class has been a computer science course. The professor is very understanding, hysterical and really energetic. You can tell he knows the information and does not take himself so seriously that he lacks all sort of communication ability with his students. Some professors think of their subject as being the only subject and their insights into life as being the only way to think of things, but he does not. Everyone participates in class, but there are no intellectual conversations outside of class. Rarely would I overhear a conversation about anything more than random social things when walking around campus or sitting in the dining hall. Students are not too competitive. The academic requirements aren't very difficult, and I'm glad that there is the ability to choose what you want to take without having a set of core courses as many other liberal arts schools have. Hamilton educations are geared towards learning for learning's sake. This semester I am taking an education class where I go and teach ESL to refugees in Utica, and this is the first class that has actually given me some sort of real world experience.

Hamilton has no core curriculum, which is one of the biggest pulls for the school. This means once you pass an easy qualitative literacy test or class, and take three (actually enjoyable) gym classes and pass an easy swim and fitness test, you have no requirements outside of your major. You choose to take the classes you want to, no requirements. This is great because you don't waste time in classes you are uninterested in, but also means that every student in your class wants to be there, insighting better class discussions and allows the professor to be more challenging. And Hamilton professors expect you to work hard. They are demanding, but my writing has improved a hundredfold under their tutorage and that is an essential skill that I can take with me after graduation. My favorite classes are taught by Professor Ambrose in the history department because even though he is one of the most challenging professors on campus, he is a genuinely nice person and so enthusatic about history he often runs around the classroom or stands on desks to get his point across, which is really inspiring. At the end of the semester he also invites all his classes to his house to have dinner with his family, which is a great experience. The English department is also very strong, although some professors are better than others. I once read the advice from a Hamilton alumni "to take the professor, not the class" and that is really true. No matter the subject, a great professor can make a class amazing and inspiring, and a poor professor can ruin it.

No requirements! All my professors know my name and most show up to my swim meets and choral concerts. I have been invited out for coffee, lunch, or dinner on multiple occasions. Easy to get a B you have to work hard to get an A unless of course you are a communications major.

Academics at Hamilton are superb. The professors take attendance and know me personally. My biggest class size is 35 and I have a class where there are only 15 of us. My classes emphasize discussions and give everyone a chance to share their views. The classes are all so interesting and the professors are extremely passionate about their subjects.

At Hamilton, every one of your professors will know your name. Most of the time you will have a very personal relationship with your professor, which includes them asking you about sporting events, coming to games and being interested in your life outside academics. My personal favorite class is Calc II because its a great class and I have an awesome professor. Mathematics offers a wide variety of mathematical skills including calculus, vectors, linear algebra, differential equations etc. The department has great teachers who are willing to spend any amount of time to help you understand the material.

Hamilton is one of the four colleges in the country to have no distribution requirements. The lack of a core curriculum allows students to take classes they enjoy. The classroom environment at Hamilton is full of energy and eagerness to learn.

In my experience, Hamilton academics have been great. The professors are extremely helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. I have really grown as a student during my time at Hamilton and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Now that I'm a senior, I started to worry that the Liberal Arts education wouldn't serve me well getting a job. However, I, like many of my friends, have all found great jobs in a number of fields and am happy to say that the Liberal Arts education prepared me for the real world in ways that a more "specialized" education couldn't have. We know how to solve problems, we know how to analyze and sell ourselves into any position we want. And that's impressive.

Students here are serious 9-5 kids. We study hard, but know when to put the books aside and socialize. Professors are very accommodating and friendly. I have never had trouble getting face time with a teacher or with meeting their work expectations.

Professors know everyone's name. They expect a lot out of their students and give students the tools to succeed. Students study very often and some students in certain majors are competitive but on the whole, students are pretty relaxed. I believe academics here are on par with middlebury, williams, and amherst, though they are often underrated.

Class participation is very important. I've had only one FANTASTIC professor, and one really good one. The rest were all pretty boring. I'm surprised we don't have better professors. But we have alot of really cool seminars. Hamilton is about learning, but there is a vast Alumni network which ensures you can get a good job.

From my experiences one year here, I think the academics are amazing. For the most part the classes are very small and professors try to get to know each of their students. The best way to describe the competitveness here is passive. Nobody acts competitive but when they find out they got the best grade in class or that their friend is doing better than them, they are driven to do better.

Professors are very close with students and teach all their classes. No classes are taught by T.A.'s. Class sizes are very small, 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} under 20 students and most average about 10-12. There is a lot of interaction with professors, and since Hamilton does not have a graduate school, all the research professors do, undergraduate Hamilton students take part in. Class participation is very common and required anyway by most professors. Students are competitive, but constructively. The most unique class I have taken was a team taught, multidisciplinary class on Global Warming that went over not only the science of it, but the politics of it as well. I do spend time out of class with my professors, and often they come to my games. Education here at Hamilton is definitely geared toward learning for its own sake, but a good job as a graduate is also understood.

One of my first classes that I took at Hamilton was Outdoor Adventure Writing. This class was completely awesome. We read books about and by famous explorers such as Shackleton, Lewis and Clark and Conrad Anker and then set off into the Adirondacks for hiking, kayaking and canoeing to have and write about adventures of our own. What an incredible way to start off my first semester at Hamilton.

Professors get to know you quickly, and often invite you to coffee or dinner at their house. It is an open curriculum, so there is no specific math, English, or science class you have to take in order to graduate. This is great, and lets you concentrate on taking classes you like.

Professors are great at Hamilton. They know my name, my friend's names, and probably my dog's name too, if I told them. I study a few hours every night, and then probaly read for an additional hour and a half. Take something from the history or government departments if you have the chance! There are no core curriculum requirements.