How's Colgate? - Page 2

mtpyankee · 10-25-2009, 07:36 AM

I am thinking about applying to colgate but all I hear is a lot of drinking and how it is a major event. I am also really into outdoor recreation. Is the skiing fishing and stuff like that good at colgate and how accesable is it to students?

ticklemepink · 10-25-2009, 02:22 PM

Are you kidding me? There are students who will make Outdoor Ed their life because they love being leaders and the nature. There are a LOT of trips and activities available for everyone. I do believe that they have some fishing involved. I did one Outdoor Ed class and it was very interesting. Colgate is basically your backyard.

Naw, there are still plenty of students who don't drink, or at least not every weekend (shocking, I know). I wouldn't let it to be a major reason for not applying to Colgate. When you visit, definitely ask to meet with Outdoor Ed staff and see from there.

mhc48 · 10-25-2009, 06:28 PM

Next year after you've graduated high school and gone off to college, mptyankee, when you come back home for Christmas vacation or maybe Spring break, and compare notes with your old high school friends, you'll find that there is a lot of drinking and that it's a major event in just about every college and University in the US. Whether or not it dominates your own college life: where ever you wind up going to, really depends on who your friends are and what their priorities are and what you want to do.

mtpyankee · 10-25-2009, 07:07 PM

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Also one other question:
Are the sporting events well attended? I have been to other schools such as Penn State and such and when there is a football game there is NOBODY on campus. Even though Penn state is at a much larger scale are the sports attended and which ones more than others?

mhc48 · 10-25-2009, 07:37 PM

Neither in size nor attendance at sports events will Colgate (or any school like it) match a place like Penn State or Ohio State. If your grades and other qualifications are good enough for Colgate but you want that sort of atmosphere, consider the University of Michigan or USC. Of course you'll lose a lot of other things: the two are totally different college experiences.

mtpyankee · 10-25-2009, 07:48 PM

Yea...

My problem is I am looking for a school that is medium in size. 5-6 thousand ideally. I just like Colgate because of the general atmosphere and I can see myself there. I am from New Jersey and I do not want to go Too far away (California) I would consider as far as Midwest. My grades are good, if I were to compare them to average scores at Colgate, without giving away my exact numbers, I would say I am just above average. (using collegeboard.com stats).

I really want a college atmosphere where kids are all at the football game or basketball; whatever sport. I don't really care how good the sports are; I just like the spirit you could say.

I guess what I am looking for is hard to find. I am also considering Villanova, Wake Forest (don't extremely love Wake though) and Georgetown. (Georgetown is a bit of a reach).

Based on what I have said if you know any other schools feel free to tell me. Public vs private and financial aid is not important.

ticklemepink · 10-25-2009, 07:52 PM

Tell me about it, mhc, I'm getting my degrees in both places!!!

Schools like Michigan and Penn State really puts schools like Colgate and Dartmouth to shame with their sports. But they're on completely different level. For example, we just hosted Delaware State last weekend and it was embarassing. VERY embarrassing because Michigan pounded the team. Schools play against other schools of similar caliber. Hockey is the same way as well. Michigan and Colgate hockey games are well attended as well but there's a whole level of difference in energy in the arena. Coming to Michigan games was like going to Colgate's game against Cornell ALL THE TIME (Colgate vs. Cornell tends to be the most rowdy game all season).

Both Michigan and Colgate have wonderful school spirit. I own so many clothes from both places! It's all what mattered to me that the students were passionate about their schools. The more passionate the students were, the more likely they'll show up for sports and club and student organizational events. If the campus is basically dead, largely due to commuter students, then it's hard to enjoy anything about the school.

But I will tell you that when the football team plays well or against Cornell, the game will be well-attended. But Colgate is very accepting of non-sporty people so you'll find a few students hanging out in the library or the student union while the game's going on.

Nevetheless, by going to big schools like Michigan or Penn State, you DO lose out a number of aspects that makes liberal art colleges like Colgate so appealing, namely academics and personal connections. I know that some of my OWN professors for my graduate seminars would probably rather take a small pay-cut than to teach undergraduates. They just have a strong dislike of working with "immature" students. But those who have taught in smaller schools before coming to Michigan tend to be more cooperative and even enjoy teaching undergraduates. Still, there are number of departments where lecturers or TAs will teach lower-division classes, not the professors.

GoGiantsfan11 · 10-28-2009, 08:40 PM

Hey mptyankee...

My son is also looking at Colgate.. Seems to want the same things you want.. 3,000-8000 students, great school spirit .. would like to attend basketball games, football games. etcc.. Outdoor person.. skiing etc.. . Just to give you an idea we are also looking at BC, Holy Cross, Villanova, The College of New Jersey.

mhc48 · 10-28-2009, 10:07 PM

Mind you, I'm parent and of a not very spectator sports oriented daughter - now as of May, alumna, but I never got the impression from her that any team sports competitions were well attended at Colgate. My son who also had the grades to get in at Colgate and visited a few times, but loves sports, wouldn't even consider Colgate. He's at Michigan and as happy there as my daughter was at Colgate. if you are really into school spirit and sports, there really is nothing like parading through Ann Arbor on a Saturday to the Big House and sitting there with 108,000 other Wolverines. Especially not when they they beat Notre Dame. Soon it will be like that at Crisler when basketball season begins and they try for another shot at the Big Dance.

mtpyankee · 10-29-2009, 04:27 PM

GoGiantsfan11, yea it seems like the college search for your son and myself are very similar. Like I mentioned I am considering Villanova and BC too. TCNJ that you are looking at drew me away because of the lack of downtown. I have been to Ewing, NJ for basketball camps at TCNJ and there is really no campus town and a lot of the surrounding area is a bit more rough as you near Trenton.

If you come across any other places me or you, I will be sure to post them.

ticklemepink · 10-29-2009, 10:20 PM

mhc- Interesting that you have a child at each of my schools. Like I said, Michigan and Colgate are in completely different leagues. You can't compare the two. You have to compare Colgate's spirit and team game attendance with its own league like Lehigh and Georgetown. Both are excellent academically but in very different settings (I've been very spoiled by Colgate professors so coming to Michigan was quite an adjustment). I mean, if you're gonna try to compare the two in the same sentence, it'll be that Michigan-Delaware State game, where there's basically no competition because Delaware State is on a different playing level. It doesn't mean Colgate isn't superior to Michigan but Colgate is excellent in its own field.

I do admit that Ann Arbor's more exciting than Hamilton, NY. But it depends what you're really looking for. I'm happy as a clam in quiet, scenic towns with excellent farmer's markets. And both offer that.

ALSDAD13 · 11-02-2009, 06:20 PM

Hey GoGiants and MTpyankee - add my daughter to your list - are you looking at pre-profesisonal at these schools (seven year program and Early Assurance?)

dunkswfur · 11-09-2009, 08:42 PM

Last year Colgate conducted a survey about many of the aspects of the social life at the school. The results are beginning to be released now, and would prove really useful for prospective students looking for raw, honest information beyond that in brochures.

Here are links from the school's newspaper:

Maroon News - Climate Survey Results Released, Shed Light on Student Experience

Maroon News - CCLS Spotlights Greek Life