At What Price?

ticklemepink
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:35:04 +0000

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That’s what I heard about Colgate in my freshman-sophomore years in high school. My father ('72) wasn’t all that gung-ho about asking me to consider Colgate just because I was a legacy because he still remembered Colgate as being a huge drinking school though the academics were getting strong. He was just like, eh. Then I saw major changes in Colgate in my junior-senior years that made me actually want to apply there and take it as a serious runner next to Smith. All it took was a terrible drunk-driving accident that killed 2 Colgate students and 2 visiting friends for Colgate to wake up and realize what it was getting itself into- admitting idiot, immature students taking its academics for granted. Ever since, Colgate went full-force to change its image, especially in Greek life. Now it’s at its best shape its ever been in.

Now, I definitely do not want Smith to face such a catastrophe on campus that it needs a wake-up call to change its admissions or image or whatever it takes to attract and retain its freshmen class. Smith does need to set some priorities to make everyone happy. Colgate been successful in granting very generous aid to lower-income students by admitting as many wealthy students as possible who will pay the full ticket price. It did not need to make any kind of budget cuts (and we are completely renovating a library and building a new science center) to accomdate anyone. That’s what I liked about Colgate- taking full charge without losing face. Smith is definitely treading on thin ice and will risk embarassment down the road if it doesn’t change even if it means having to be cruel and aggressive to some of its policies.

So interesting that we’ve been comparing these two colleges lately… not because I’m here, is it??? :)