Hartwick College

Date: Dec 21 2009
Major: Anthropology (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm disappointed with a lot of the comments on here, so I figured I'd put my two cents in. I'm an Anthro and Art History major, as well as Museum Studies minor, and I really feel like Hartwick has been a great place for me to learn and grow. I didn't enjoy it at first (mostly because I was too wrapped up in other things that weren't exactly positive) but as I grew as a person, I also grew to appreciate it and I'm truly glad I'm here.

So here's my take on things…

People: In general, I think that most people on this campus are fairly approachable and easy to talk to, professors and students included. Many of the students, in my opinion, seem to be fairly clean cut, etc., but I wouldn't call them dull—there's some fun personalities here. I've met a few close/true friends, and really that's all I feel that I need. As far as comments of many students being "rich" (implying that students are automatically "snobby"), I'm not sure that's true. For every Mercedes or BMW I've seen on campus, there are probably 10 other car's like mine (Dodge Stratus) driving by. No sense in judging/stereotyping people by what they drive anyway…

Money: Hartwick is expensive, no doubt about it. Financial aid packages are great, and my money has diminished a little bit over the years (mostly because of work study) but otherwise I have no compliants because I feel like I'm getting a good education. However, if the college did get up to let's say, $55,000 a year (which could very well happen in 15 years) I'm not sure I'd say the same thing… I'm not sure where the breaking point would be when it comes to tuition.

Departments: I love the departments I've been involved with. Every single one of the professors has been not only helpful, but they have enlightened me in ways that I didn't even think were possible. Classes feel more like conversations and I've never felt like I've been talked down to. Many of the professors have interesting stories to share, and I really believe in the experiences they've had and I've never doubted their ability to teach me what I need/would like to know. Also, Hartwick is a liberal arts school, and I feel as though we are very strong in the humanities. In my opinion, if you're interested in Business, Administration, Computers, etc., I wouldn't advise coming here, but that's just how I feel and it's not based off of me knowing anyone in the departments, etc.

Area: So it's pretty obvious that Oneonta isn't New York City. There's a small mall, a Walmart and things like that, but if you look more closely you'll find cute shops downtown. I myself am hooked on this coffee shop called Capresso and that's just one example of a nice local place to visit and study downtown. There have been times when I've been bored or felt like I needed something to do, but for the most part I've made my own fun with my friends. On that note, I'm not sure why everyone is placing Hartwick in the category of being a "party school". Sure, people are drinking, doing drugs, etc., but I wouldn't say it's extreme, or any more or less than what any other campus in America is doing. I've seen plenty of people in the library at all hours of the day, night, and weekends, and I'm convinced that most students here are not slackers and that they work very hard to get assignments done… it's an individual choice I guess.

Also, the campus has a great view all year round, and in my opinion it is much more inspiring than Suny's campus up the hill, which feels more concrete and industrial.

Administration:

I do feel some sense of distrust towards the administration, that maybe they're a little bit detached from students, but I can't really explain it anymore than that. Otherwise, I've had no problems with creating my schedule, getting packages/mail, and dealing with other faculty on campus that deal with clubs, or in the bookstore, etc. Generally people are willing to work with you if you work with them.

Dorms: The dorms aren't terrible. I've visited other college campus' and I have to say that ours are comparable, if not better. Granted, Smith Hall (the Freshman dorm) may need some repairs, but other than that, with a good bed set and some posters, it can become pretty homey. Hilltop/Oyaron dorms are generally clean/silent (you can even control your heat which is nice). Even though the walk can be harsh in the winter, I think they're worth living in. I've heard people complaining about noisy dorms, etc, however I've never had these experiences, except on rare occasions during the weekend when I wasn't doing homework anyway.

Food: The food could be better. In terms of variety I'd say it's lacking, so for myself, I usually buy breakfast and lunch items from the grocery store. I like organic and vegetarian dishes for the most part, and the stir fry section of the commons seems to mostly fufill my needs. Yet, if I don't want stir fry, there aren't many other options. The salad bar is great, no doubt about it, but besides that I feel limited in my choices. There is a lot of pizza, sandwiches, fries, burgers and those sort of things, but healthful options can be scarce. However, I find the workers in the commons to be quite friendly and hardworking, and to me that seems to make up for many of the commons downfalls because I know they're doing their best. Table rock, the cafe downstairs from the commons, has a few natural options, some soy crisps, organic yogurt and drinks, and that's one nice aspect of my meal plan.

Overall, it's been a positive experience.