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Colgate University

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA+ Faculty AccessibilityA-
Useful SchoolworkA Excess CompetitionB+
Academic SuccessA+ Creativity/ InnovationB+
Individual ValueB- University Resource UseA-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA+ FriendlinessB
Campus MaintenanceA Social LifeB-
Surrounding CityD+ Extra CurricularsA+
SafetyA+
Describes the student body as:
Arrogant, Snooty, Closeminded

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful, Arrogant, Self Absorbed

Male
SAT1330
Bright
Lowest Rating
Surrounding City
D+
Highest Rating
Educational Quality
A+
He cares more about Individual Value than the average student.
Date: Feb 17 2004
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
The administration desperately tries to foster a sense of unity among wildly disparate student groups (aka cliques/ social demographics) around the common theme of Colgate "thinking big." Attend Colgate and you will be bombarded immediately with ridiculously arrogant university self- promotion and carefully selected and university approved class rituals (not spontaneous). You will notice the bubble mentality immediately amongst your classmates and the faculty. Graduate and you will get stuff in your mailbox all the time with same level of hubris and self- flatulation for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!

The board of directors sets the mindset. Colgate up until the 80's was a way station for jocks with average intelligence, aspirational central NY disadvantaged students and prep school washouts. A rising tide lifts all boats and Colgate found itself in the 80's in the midst of increasingly competetive college admissions standards among private schools nationwide. The board was insecure of its past as a second rate school and succesfully marketed its best assets, its faculty/curriculum and amazingly bucolic setting, and wrapped it up in a concocted ritualistic ideology.

There is nothing wrong with marketing and taking advantage of market forces. I only wish that I went to a school that spent more time on developing the ultimate liberal arts educational and social experience than its own self- perceived importance. I wish I went to a school that is self- confident. Make no bones about it, Colgate senior administration and board of directors see themselves as on a par with Williams, Amherst, Dartmouth etc. Colgate would love nothing more than to move up a few places on the USNWR College Guide. The university approved puffed up verbiage belies intense insecurity. Colgate is like the Great Gatsby of liberal arts. Colgate is more interested in fitting in with lofty company and ostentation than focusing on building something honorable.

Responses
responseColgate's ranking is worse now than it was in the 80's. Senior administration is aware of that and has made huge strides. The consensus is colgate is on a big move to the positive, over the history of the school it is likely your era will be its trough in terms of prestige, not the 80's.
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