Colgate University

 Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY on a 515 acre campus. It was founded in 1819. It is located on sloping hillsides. The total enrollment is almost 3,000 students.  The population of Hamilton is equal to the size of the Colgate student population. Colgate was recently named one of the friendly towns by Forbes magazine.

Students are required to live on campus for the first 3 years.  International students represent 9% of the school's population.

In the 2015 US News magazine, Colgate was ranked # 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges.

The most popular majors at Colgate are: Economics, International Relations, Political Science, History and English

Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology

 

Drake Hall

The Core Curriculum
Created in 1928, the core curriculum teaches students empathy, informed debate, and critical thinking - skills that are required of global citizens. Students are required to take four core classes in any order by the end of their sophomore year:

• Legacies of the ancient world -Studies the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern texts that have lasting influence on academic discourse and critical thought.
• Challenges of Modernity -Explores pivotal issues of modernity (i.e. urbanization, scientific discovery, imperialism, capitalism, aesthetic innovation) through texts across media and disciplines.
• Communities and identities -Ensures that all students appreciate the identities cultures, and human experience inherent in communities and regions of the world.
• Scientific perspectives of the World -Applies scientific methods to an issue in society or outside the realm of natural sciences and mathematics.

In addition to the four core classes, all students are required to take at least one Global Engagements course - to analyze the conditions and effects of cross-cultural interaction, so that they will be prepared to responsibly confront the challenges of the 21st century. 

In addition there is an Areas of Inquiry requirement ensures that students take six courses from a range of disciplines. This section is divided into three areas: Human Thought and Expression; Social Relations, Institutions, and Agents; and Natural Sciences and Mathematics.


In addition to the Core Curriculum, Colgate offers more than 20 faculty led off-Campus study programs and well as short term extended study programs.

Colgate has been ranked first by the Institute of International Education in percentage of students participating in mid length off campus study programmes.


Colgate is integrally involved in the Hamilton community. It's Upstate Institute provides services to the community such : Volunteer Income Tax Preparation, Summer field school etc.

Financial aid
Colgate meets 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need for all admitted international students who apply for Financial aid

Athletics
Colgate has 25 Division I teams including swimming, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball

Center for Leadership and Student Involvement

Notable Colgate alumni are:
Andy Rooney
Kim Edwards
Lee Woodruff
Ivy Austin

5 Things about the New SAT from a Time Magazine article by Brian Witte

The Redesigned SAT will be released in 2016.  Below see 5 tips to prepare for the New SAT

1. Practice with graphs - The Redesigned SAT will increase its focus on algebraic and general problem solving,as well as data interpretation.  To prepare for this shift, review and practice with ACT Science materials.

 The writer of the article recommends that test takers should consider taking both tests, SAT and ACT.  

2. Learn to work without a calculator - One of the most significant changes on the Math section is a calculator free portion.  This allows the SAT to test for real mathematical understanding, as opposed to the ability to enter numbers into a machine

3. Understand new answer formats - Test takers will no longer be penalized for wrong answers.  When preparing for the exam, the test taker should focus on not just finding the correct answers, but quickly identifying incorrect responses too. Another important change in answer formats will be the extended-thinking question in the Math section.  This question will be a word problem followed by several questions, all of which test problem solving skills.  The answers will be "open"  or student produced.

4. Focus more on reading and less on vocabulary - The Redesigned SAT will feature a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion. Here the primary shift will be the emphasis on parsing real-world texts. Study materials for the SAT Literature Subject test can be helpful when preparing for the new SAT.

5. Investigate the essay - Beginning in Spring 2016, the essay portion of the SAT will no longer be required for all students.

For the complete article, see link below

http://time.com/3893236/college-new-sat-tips/

6 Huge changes for the Common App in 2015-16

New changes have been announced by Common Application.  Please see below:

 No essay. Common App member colleges will have the choice of whether or not to require the Common App personal statement

 Unlimited essay edits. For the first time, the Common App will place no restrictions on the number of times a student may edit or change their personal statement

 Print review anytime. Applicants will be able to "preview" the completed portions of their application-screen by screen-at any point, not just as part of the submission process

New essay prompts

1.Some students have a background, identity, interest,or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount and incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience.

3.Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act. Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community of family

Optional recommendations

No penalties for competing applications

See link below for full article

http://www.examiner.com/article/6-huge-changes-for-the-common-app-2015-16