Colgate University

Photo by: Andrew Daddio. Retrieved from: www.usnews.com

Colgate University is a private liberal arts college offering 52 undergraduate majors that enable students to earn their Bachelor of Arts degree. The campus is in a 515-acre rural property in Hamilton, New York, USA. Colgate competes in the Patriot League conference of the NCAA Division I.

The school is picturesque, which belies the frenetic energy that goes on within, especially during the semester when ambitious and self-driven individuals ace their subjects and finish their courses. Students of Colgate know how to work hard and play hard, and it shows in their achievements in various aspects of college life.

School History

The original campus was a Baptist Seminary chartered in 1820. In 1823, the Baptist Education Society merged with the Baptist Theological Seminary and the institution changed its name to Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution. In 1826, the school started expanding by acquiring farmland and building the West Hall, which is the earliest structures in campus. In 1846, the school was changed to Madison University. There were plans to transfer the campus to Rochester in 1850, but the plans didn’t push through. Some faculty members, students and trustees went on with it and founded the University of Rochester.

It was in 1890, that Madison University underwent its last name change to Colgate University, in honor of James B. Colgate, a son of one of the trustees. He presented the college with a million dollars endowment, which is known as the Dodge Memorial Fund. The college formally separated from the theological aspect of the college when it merged with Rochester Theological Seminary in 1928 to form the Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Colgate decided to open its doors to men and women when it became coeducational in 1970.

Campus Life

More than ninety percent of the student body lives in campus, creating thriving communities that lead to life-long friendships. First-year students are assigned rooms in six residence halls. Each residence has community leaders, which are upperclassmen that serve as resource persons, mentors and organizers in the residence hall. Each hall is under the supervision of two professional staff members that live in campus along with students.

Roommate designations are decided by staff of the Residential Life Office. Students are sent a specific form that they use to inform the school of their preferences. Room assignments are determined according to the wishes of the students, and the potential for a good fit. There are also interest-based housing options that are open to freshmen, like Wellness Living, Leadership Options for Tomorrow (LOFT), and the Harlem Renaissance Center. During sophomore year onwards, students are the ones that create their own roommate arrangements. The rooms are selected using a random lottery system.

Juniors and seniors are given more opportunities to obtain the best lodging options in campus. They can choose to live in college apartments, fraternity or sorority houses, and townhouses. Some students prefer to live off campus when they reach their junior year.

There are more than 180 student-formed groups and organizations in Colgate University, among which the more popular are the a cappella groups and the comedy improve group that perform regularly in the village coffee shop. There’s also the LGBTQ groups that are active in promoting the welfare of the LGBTQ community in Colgate. The school supports LGBTQ students by offering counseling in delicate subjects like gender identity and the coming out process.

Financial Aid

Financial aid packages are offered to students that applied for financial assistance after thorough assessment by the administration. Aid awards comprise grants, a part-time work in campus, and a student loan. Because each student has a unique case, the financial aid package offered to him or her is designed to meet one hundred percent of the need. In general, the Colgate Grant funds comprises the biggest part of a regular financial aid award.

Students looking to borrow money for their educational expenses will receive loans from several sources, including Federal Direct Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and a Federal Perkins Loan. These loan types vary according to interest rates and terms of repayment. The kind of loan received is based on the student’s federal eligibility and availability of funds. Alternatively, a student may wish to work in campus for ten to twelve hours each week to cover his expenses.