<p>Dear OnlyOne2013,</p>
<p>As a student at Colgate, I would just like to comment on your questions as well as some of the responses. First off, the Village of Hamilton definitely seems small, especially as a prospective on a visit. I think it’s important to realize that a lot isn’t obvious to the eye; we DO have two art galleries and museums, one on campus and one a block from downtown. We have two pharmacies, the local Crowe’s Apothecary and big-brand Kinney’s. In regards to places for food, there is Grand Union, the main super market, Hamilton Wholefoods, and a Price Chopper is coming soon. we also have the Saturday farmer’s market on the village green. In regards to transport, there IS transportation to and from GU and anywhere downtown. (GU and Kinney’s are close, so that’s the same stop.) Essentially, as someone without a car there is still access to the same places. In all likelihood though, because about 50% of the students have cars, a car is always an option as well.</p>
<p>Also, there is a TON going on in the area; it hurt me to read that “The town offered little or no opportunity for recreation, shopping, diversion from the campus social scene,” as clearly admissions didn’t do a good enough job telling them about the opportunities and they didn’t do enough research. But for recreation, Colgate has one of the premiere Outdoor Education programs. There’s anything from the ski hill with cross-country (ski/run) trails, courses and/or rental gear for mountain biking, rock climbing, canoing (lake morraine is 2mi from campus), kayaking -whitewater-, caving, tree-climbing, backpacking, ice climbing, snow camping, etc. The Adirondacks are about 4 hours away and we take full advantage.</p>
<p>For other recreation, there are TONS of club sports (ski team to rugby, waterpolo, ultimate frisbee, triatholon club) and multiple local events - (half)marathons, triatholons, etc. ~ and this is all besides the gym. </p>
<p>In regards to the social scene, there is a lot going on - between community events or opportunities (currently Applefest/apple-picking) there are weekly events such as Open-mic night at the Barge Cafe (for poetry readings, songs, etc.), acapella concerts, trivia night at the Colgate Inn (this is extremely popular amongst students AND faculty!), etc. to name just a few.</p>
<p>Overall, students are so active and busy that they really don’t have time to shop, but there is an outdoors store as well as a few different boutiques in town, and the occasional trip to Syracuse or New Hartford malls are an option as well. - The Center for Leadership and Student Involvement (CLSI) DOES organize trips every semester to Syracuse, and specifically to the mall.</p>
<p>Lastly, I would like to comment on the D1 atmosphere and the way that shapes the student body. Although Colgate is D1, it is part of the Patriot league, and only very recently began giving a few athletic scholarships. As a student in the classroom, it is honestly extremely difficult to tell which of my peers are varsity athletes, except that they might be wearing varsity paraphernalia. </p>
<p>*<em>Varsity athletes make up almost 1/5th of the student body. It would be impossible for Colgate to have lower academic standards for athletes and still post such high academic admissions scores. Last Spring the average Varsity GPA was a 3.2. *</em></p>
<p>Because we’re in the Patriot League, we get the best of the D1 without compromising academics. Students are truly STUDENT-athletes, and yet we encompass the “ra-ra” enthusiasm as a large D1 school. As an ex-varsity athlete, YES, it takes up a LOT of time; but I think the average Colgate student surpasses the time commitment of a varsity athlete through their own, multiple extracurricular commitments. Personally, I think you’re fooling yourself if you think the athletic program is as independently opperated/influential as it might be at a large Pac-10/Big East school, and you’re cheating Colgate of the academic experience purely based on the assumptions and stereotypes of “D1”. - It actually sounds like Colgate may be the balance of academics and athletics you are looking for or would approve of.</p>
<p>I hope this helps gives a “deeper” or just different side of Colgate. Colgate is filled with incredible opportunities, not all are evident in a quick campus visit!</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>