Colgate University (Computer Science) VS Hamilton College VS Union Colllege?

Colgate is my first choice for transferring (and is my fallback) to transferring to Purdue University - West Lafayette and/or Rutgers University - New Brunswick. Colgate University is again, my first choice & Fallback to transfer if Purdue/Rutgers don’t accept me.

Reasons for Choosing Colgate University OVER Union College (Schenectady) (AND the others)

  • Colgate University's Computer Science program true, is small to mid-sized, however it appears to be significantly more difficult/challenging/hard when compared to other LAC Programs, and even some real Universities (like the University of Rochester, (UR)))

Comparisons between Colgate’s CS/Economics + UR’s CS/Econ programs (U of R was a fallback, now taken off the list).

The University of Rochester’s Computer Science program is most likely, even smaller than Colgate’s. UR is more of a medical university (as I live in the Rochester area).

  • I’d rather go to Colgate University than the University of Rochester for Computer Science + Economics (because the school itself, 3rd time, is very comparable to Cornell University).
  • True; The U of R’s Economics degree program + business school is larger than the computer science program, and it’s close to home, but Colgate’s economics program is (smaller) yet some may argue even harder than the U of R’s.
  • I know I'm comparing an LAC to a University, but when you think about all these things, + the safety of U of R vs Colgate - "Pseudo-LAC University", Colgate wins by a longshot, also similar acceptance rates.
  • It's basically a "pseudo-Liberal Arts College" AKA "Liberal Arts University". It's very similar to Cornell University, I read a forum on here (College Confidential) that a transfer/graduate from Colgate's CS program got into a top 10 Computer Science Master's/PhD Program (like Caltech/MIT).
  • the school offers internships/co-ops, probably required to graduate
  • the school offers an Honors program, and obviously a dean's list and whatever
  • As mentioned above; Colgate is a University very similar to cornell University
  • it's a private research intensive liberal arts University.
  • significantly closer to home to where I live in New York State (Not NYC)

If/when accepted to Colgate; I will intend to double major in computer science and economics.

Reasons for Hamilton College - Clinton as an option (alt. to Colgate):

  • it's an official "Liberal Arts College", probably bigger than Union College in Schenectady.
  • lower acceptance rate, more, or equally as prestigious as Colgate or Union College.
  • I can double major in the exact same things at Colgate at Hamilton (CS + Econ).

- Based on the looks of their program; It appears to be a harder program, as they offer up to 500/0+ level classes.

Union College - Schenectady as Last choice

  • very STEM Based; very comparable to RIT/WPI/whatever (on a forum I posted)
  • hard engineering/technology/science-based programs

Negatives to Union (reasons for last choice):

  • not much to do in Schenectady area
  • area reportedly relatively unsafe
  • very small (smallest LAC) I'm looking in to on my list
  • weaker economics/business administration program(s) (known fact)

My question is what programs are harder, and will more likely increase the chances of a better job offer from which LAC mentioned above? (Colgate vs Hamilton vs Union College (schenectady)

You can view a comparison of the CS offerings for your schools of interest within College Confidential in the Math/Computer Science sub-forum of the College Majors forum: “Computer Science at Some Smaller Schools . . .”

You can read an analysis related to their economics departments elsewhere online: “Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges,” IDEAS.

However, your “fallback” schools extend, by student standardized scores, into the top 40 in the nation. (And are generally much more selective than the schools you seem more interested in attending). In this sense they appear to be unlikely actual fallback schools: “The 610 Smartest Colleges in America,” Business Insider.