Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, New York 13323
Admission: Tel (315) 859-4421or
Fax (315) 859-4457
http://www.hamilton.edu
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
862men/847women
Part-time:
6men/18women
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
3,882
Number accepted:
1,564
Number enrolled:
464
Average SAT scores:
V 630 M 620
Average GPA:
NA
Freshman retention rate:
94%
COSTS:
Tuition:
$32,600
Room and Board:
$9,850
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,000
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
52%
Average financial aid package:
$17,900
FACULTY:
Full-time:
152
Part-time:
122
Ph.D.:
98%
Student-faculty ratio:
10:1
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, New York 13323
Hamilton is located on a 1,250-acre hillside campus.
College Description
Chartered in 1812, Hamilton College is the third-oldest college in New York State. As a small residential college of 1,650 undergraduates, Hamilton is dedicated to offering its students the opportunities and facilities necessary to achieve a well-rounded education, both inside and outside of the classroom. ð Hamilton is located on a 1,250-acre hillside campus overlooking the Mohawk and Oriskany Valleys of scenic central New York. In 1978 Hamilton College merged with Kirkland College, a women's school, and the campus today reflects the blending of traditional and contemporary design. Situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks, the College offers easy access to skiing, fly-fishing, and hiking. But for all the charm of its surroundings, Hamilton is still convenient to the metropolitan centers of Boston, New York, and Syracuse.
Academic Life
Hamilton strives to provide its students with a broad liberal arts education. The College does not have a core curriculum, but students must meet requirements in science and mathematics, social sciences, the arts, and humanities; an essential foundation for the educated individual. Students can meet the requirements of two separate academic majors or can choose a major and a minor. ð Throughout their four years, Hamilton students work closely with professors in small classes. The College has increased the number of its professors by 10 percent in the 1990s, creating a student/faculty ratio of 10:1. The personalized approach allows students to develop the ability to communicate their ideas critically, creatively, and analytically. ð The broad education program reflects an appropriate respect for breadth and depth in the study of liberal arts. While diverse in its offerings, Hamilton's curriculum is significantly interconnected, fostering cross-pollination between departments. Further, academic departments have integrated course offerings to create popular majors like Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies, biochemistry, environmental studies, linguistics, public policy, and women's studies.
Campus Life
A vibrant co-curricular life thrives on campus. Literary and humor publications, a weekly newspaper, musical and drama groups, a campus radio station, and academic and political clubs are some of Hamilton's more than 70 student organizations. Students also run a large public affairs council and the campus activity board; lectures, visiting performers, and other cultural activities are an integral feature of the weekly schedule. Multicultural and religious groups enrich campus life, while volunteer service organizations help maintain a healthy relationship with the greater community. Students hang out at Cafe Opus, the campus coffee bar, and can unwind with professors at the Little Pub. ð Residential life at Hamilton provides opportunities for students to learn from classmates in a positive environment conducive to academic achievement, personal growth, and a respect for the rights of all residents. Housing options include traditional residence halls, a co-op, suites, and campus apartments. Students may also elect to live in substance-free, smoke-free, and quiet housing.
Facilities and Resources
Library facilities include the 527,000-volume Daniel Burke Library, the Dana Science Library, a music library, and Audiovisual Services. Circulation, reference, and interlibrary loan services are available to the entire community. The Schambach Center for the Performing Arts is home for much of the music program, containing ample classroom and rehearsal space, as well as the 700-seat Wellin Hall. The adjacent List Studio provides visual art studios and dance rehearsal areas; the Minor Theater offers a more intimate setting for rehearsal and the study of drama. ð Students have access to 600 IBM and Macintosh computers in three computer centers on campus. More than 200 microcomputers, scanners, and printers are also available to students. The Levitt Center houses network data access, seminar rooms, and videoconferencing capabilities for students and faculty to conduct significant public affairs research. All students have access to the Internet and e-mail from their rooms. ð The Saunders Hall of Chemistry provides laboratories designed for student experimentation and research. Geology, biology, psychology, and physics, housed in the Science Building, utilize two electron microscopes, robotics and laser laboratories, and psychology experiment-rooms.
Athletics/Sports
Fourteen men's and thirteen women's varsity teams participate in NCAA Division III competition. The College is a charter member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), and competes in several other athletic conferences. A significant number of Hamilton students are involved in intramural and club athletics as well. ð The Ade Fitness Center features Stairmasters, ergometers, NordicTracks, Nautilus equipment, and free weights. Volleyball, squash, racquetball, and all-weather tennis courts are open to the community, as is the College's nine-hole golf course. The William McLaren Bristol Swimming Pool, an eight-lane "stretch" pool, provides Hamilton with modern aquatic facilities that fully meet intercollegiate standards for competition as well as the needs of casual swimmers.
Financial Aid
Hamilton awards financial assistance on the basis of need to more than half of its 1,650 students. The average Hamilton aid package was more than $22,000. Through a comprehensive program of scholarships, loans, and jobs, Hamilton attempts to meet the full financial need of all admitted students. Without consideration of need, the College recognizes eight to ten outstanding members of the first-year class as Bristol Scholars. Bristol Scholars are awarded grants of up to $10,000, in addition to a $3,000 research stipend and faculty mentorships. Similarly, the Schambach Scholarship meets the full financial need of ten extraordinary applicants, while matriculating National Merit Scholarship Finalists receive $2,000. In addition to the PROFILE form of the College Scholarship Service, candidates for assistance must file the FAFSA and a Hamilton financial aid form by February 1.
Admission Requirements
Hamilton seeks to enroll well-prepared and strongly motivated students from as many backgrounds as possible. The admission staff and the College are dedicated to finding candidates who will contribute to the diversity of talents, interests, and experiences on campus. Applicants are expected to have taken advantage of the most rigorous academic curriculum available at their high schools. A strong record of personal accomplishment-taking into consideration the opportunities available-is also an important gauge of the candidate's ability to contribute to the life of Hamilton. Although a solid academic preparation is the most important consideration for admission, other special talents and interests may be considered. Outstanding achievement or potential demonstrated in the arts, music, and athletics may be influential in the admission process. Scores on the SAT I or ACT are required for admission. The College strongly recommends, but does not require, the SAT II test. Interviews are also strongly recommended.