I’m an International student and I’m currently struggling between Colgate and Pitzer. The ranking of Colgate is better and I think it is top20. But Pitzer is a member of 5C, which gives students chances to study in higher level colleges like Pomona and Mudd.
Which college has better reputation and education quality? I personally prefer Pitzer because of the location and the free environment. But my parents concern more about the ranking thing. So I’m confused. I will study Econ btw, and I love humanities.
Wow that’s a really nice comment to Colgate! Thank you!
I heard that the atmosphere of Pizter is more “hippie” ( I may misuse the word but I guess you know what I mean). Does “socially aggressive” mean very open, friendly and party a lot? I was afraid that Colgate was too academic-focused and kind of socially dead. The information I can get about these two colleges is really limited. If my thought was not true that would be great.
Colgate socially dead? Not a chance. Very much a study hard, play hard and party hard school.
Colgate would be similar to other northeastern liberal arts colleges.
It would have a more conservative student body and more preppy. It is more traditional but even this type of school has changed over the years. If you are outgoing then you will enjoy Colgate. If you like sports especially hockey, you will enjoy Colgate. Colgate is in the Patriot League, Division 1.
By faculty scholarship in economics, Colgate is eighth among 196 colleges reviewed: “US Economics at Liberal Arts Colleges” / IDEAS.
Colgate’s village has been regarded by Forbes as one of “America’s Friendliest Towns.” The campus itself is one of the most beautiful in the country.
Pitzer has some excellent programs, particularly in the social sciences, but is it not especially strong in either economics or the humanities. Other Consortium schools are notably strong in your fields of interest, however.
That said, if you prefer Pitzer, you should choose Pitzer. Rankings can be relevant if they are measuring qualities of importance to you, but in this case they don’t appear to be.
Both schools have excellent reputations. To make your decision consider the size. Pitzer is much smaller with about 1,000 students, while Colgate is 3,000. Location is also very different, Colgate is very remote in a more rural setting, and while the town it is in is very cute, it is very small and limiting. Pitzer is more of a suburban setting with access to LA. Weather will also be very different. Colgate has a winter climate for a good part of the school year, while Pitzer will be more seasonal. Colgate will be sportier than Pitzer
Don’t make the decision based on location. Please don’t. American college experience is all about the campus culture. LA will not compensate for a campus you don’t like belonging to. The US is very unique in this regard.
You will not have time during the week to leave campus and very little time on the weekends as well.
Thanks a lot! The “most friendliest town” sounds pretty attractive. But isn’t Econ a part of social science? Could you please give a brief list of what disciplines of social science is Pizter good at?
Thanks! Then Colgate does sounds really good to me. Since students usually don’t leave far way from the campus, a friendly town, like merc81 mentioned, would be great.
And one more question: to what extent are students there “conservative”? I know it can be hard to describe clearly but just a general idea?
It is very hard because it is still a college and colleges are still liberal. You will see it in dress for sure. The northeast is certainly more formal than the west coast and more traditional.
Colgate would be among the preppiest of eastern schools, with a fratty culture.
Colgate and Pitzer are both excellent top liberal arts colleges. Yes, technically Colgate is ranked above Pitzer, but most employers and graduate schools won’t know or care about the absolute numerical rankings of these schools, and they’re not going to run to USNWR to check. They’re more concerned about general reputation of the schools, and Colgate and Pitzer both have similar general reputations. You’ll get a great education and have excellent post-college opportunities from either.
So select based upon where you want to go to school.
I strongly disagree with the advice that location doesn’t matter (and not to make your decision based on that). Of course location matters, and of course you will have time to enjoy it - most college students have a lot of free time. Some colleges/universities pride themselves on their location and integrate themselves tightly into the city in which they are located - both on the urban and the rural side. For example, Columbia takes very seriously the “in the City of New York” part of their name; professors assign projects that involve working with the city, many students volunteer and intern in the city during the term year and a lot of social events (especially in the upper-class years) happen off-campus in the city. Another example - State College, PA is a town that’s all about Penn State, and the small core of downtown plus a lot of the apartment complexes revolve around college life. Campus culture is intimately tied into the life of the town.
I do agree, however, that if you always want to leave campus then you have probably made the wrong choice, and that a large city won’t compensate for a campus you don’t like. I will also say that you shouldn’t discount going to college in a small town. Small towns can be very, very cute and a lot of fun! College students have a way of making their own fun, and there can be something very bonding and exciting about everything in a small town revolving around the school and focused on the student experience. Besides, small college towns usually build businesses around what students need - I’ve been to both State College, PA (where Penn State is; lived there for a year) and New Paltz, NY (friends went to SUNY New Paltz) and they have lots of coffee shops, hangout spots, bars and nightclubs and other businesses that cater towards college students.
Actually, economics is a social science, so my language was not clear. From a bit of a distance – and irrespective of that earlier lack of precision – I’d say that Pitzer may be strongest in other social science fields such as anthropology, sociology and psychology.
I concur with juillet that location does matter. Colgate’s authentic countryside setting and four-season climate have lots to offer to students who have a sense that they will enjoy this type of environment.
Lastly, Colgate is listed as one of Princeton Review’s Top Ten Party Schools in their casual – and seemingly unscientific – survey.
Perhaps I could have been clearer. Location near or in a city is far less important than the campus environment. Location near or in a city is not magic, but sadly many students feel this way. Penn State would be considered rural and remote but a student would want for nothing there.
As you both know, internationals especially omit great schools that are considered rural or remote.
I think the OP knew what I was trying to say.
So, location does matter but often urban schools are thought to be superior socially and this is simply not true. The urban romance is often sickening.
You would be able to take more than “one or two” classes at the other Consortium colleges if you pick Pitzer. The colleges are right together and cross registration is easy. My Mudd junior has taken at least one, and sometimes two classes on the other campuses every semester except her first. So she has already taken 6, I think, and has 3 semesters to go. Also, while Pitzer is only 1,000 students, it is right alongside 4,000 other students at the other consortium colleges. And the train system into LA stops just a couple blocks from campus.
Colgate is going to be preppier, Pitzer more liberal/hippy style. Colgate probably is stronger in the Econ major. Pitzer has palm trees, Colgate has snow and autumn colors.
For econ itself, you can go through the source listed in post 5 (available online) for a rough indication of the strength of the programs at Colgate and the Claremonts.
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