Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Statistics

School Says - General Information
Hobart and William Smith are small, residential Colleges where learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. Nearly all of the 2,100 students live on campus and many live in learning communities and theme houses that focus on community-building. Students hail from 40 states and 11 countries, speaking, in total, more than 30 languages, and 59 percent of students study abroad. As a result, the HWS community is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive student body. With an average class size of just 17 students and an 11:1 student to faculty ratio, students develop rewarding one-on-one partnerships with faculty mentors, often resulting in published papers or presentations at national conferences. HWS offers 45 majors and 65 minors. More than 60 percent of students create an independent course or major and many courses provide service-learning experiences, internships and job opportunities.

School Says - Student Body
HWS students participate in more than 90 student-run activities and clubs. Hobart Student Government, William Smith Congress and Student Trustees present opportunities for leadership experience on campus. In the latter, students are voting members of the Board of Trustees. Additionally students can choose to take part in a variety of student media such as an abroad journal, yearbook, newspaper, student magazine, literary magazine, student radio and the Public Affairs Journal. The Colleges are also host to a number of student performance groups in voice, instrument, theatre and dance. Activist and service clubs currently in operation on campus include Amnesty International, Campus Greens, College Democrats, College Republicans, Colleges Against Cancer, EMS Corps, Habitat for Humanity, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Hugs Across America, HWS Votes, Make-A-Wish Club, PRIDE Alliance, Progressive Student Union and the WomenÂ's Collective. Examples of other clubs that are currently popular include: • Architecture Society • Arts Collective • Asian Student Union • Debate Team • Health Professions Club • Hillel • Hot Spot (Geology club) • International Student Association • Investment Club • Latin American Organization • Psychology Society • Sankofa: Black Student Union

School Says - Academics
HWS offers special advising programs in pre-law, pre-health and pre-business, as well as special programs in Education (NYS certification in childhood, childhood special education and adolescent); Honors; Independent Study and Writing Colleagues. The Colleges also offer joint degree programs in Architecture (3+4), Business Administration (4+1) and Engineering (3+2).

School Says - Admissions
High school record, school and community activities, recommendations, interview and talents are all considered as part of the admissions decision. Standardized test scores are optional, but required for those seeking Blackwell or Trustees Scholarships, or who come from a high school wityout a traditionally-graded transcript, or those for whom English is not a first language.

School Says - Campus Life
Hobart and William Smith are located on a spectacular 195-acre campus along the northern tip of Seneca Lake in the City of Geneva. The birthplace of the womenÂ's rights movement and the heart of the Finger Lakes region, this area is rich in history and natural beauty. It serves as a spectacular living and learning environment for students, faculty and staff. The rare natural topography offers combinations of rolling hills and expansive landscapes. Surrounding Hobart and William Smith is one of the largest acreages of vineyards in the country. The beauty of the area makes it a popular tourist destination and host to festivals, resorts and shops.

Students Say - Academics
Students come before all else at tiny, upstate Hobart and William Smith, a pair of associated single-sex colleges that share a campus, faculty, and administration, yet remain very distinct in their identities, combining to make the academic and social lives of the students as varied and interesting as possible. While "there aren't always tons of options" for classes, "there are lots of interesting choices offered for such a small school." This "liberal arts education with a flair" also places a strong emphasis on studying abroad as a part of a student's education. Tuition can be a workout for some however there are many grants offered. Students are enthralled with the school, from the "beautiful, green campus" offering "a small slice of New England stuck in upstate New York" to the "unrivalled experience." The "vibrant" professors have "diverse viewpoints," and though "you have to learn to adapt to different teaching styles," they treat students with complete respect, so "the academic experience is more in the vein of colleagues." Everyone here is happy with their academic experience, and even though there's an occasional dud, "for every professor who seems mediocre, there's two more who are absolute gems of teaching ability." "I have had professors invite me to office hours, send me internship opportunities, discuss my career goals, and even invite me to their houses for dinner," says another. As for higher up, the raves are similar. The administration works very hard to accommodate everyone on campus and "is usually successful at it." This success is partly due to the coordinate system, which allows for separate deans for both Hobart and William Smith, granting "more individual attention to the students." They will "get to know you and will stop on the sidewalk and have a chat whenever they see you." However, students do wish the administration was a little less strict in its policies and enforcement.

Students Say - Campus Life
Life in general is pretty hectic, but students are "very good at balancing school and socializing."Most kids always stay busy with their school work, but "really let loose on the weekends." Bars, frat parties, and campus parties can all occur in the same night, and the school offers "a very positive program" called Safe Rides, which provides late-night van rides. Geneva is a beautiful town, but it's no NYC. The cold winter months can be endless, and the rural location means students "make their own fun here," whether through tray-sledding, barbequing, or skinny-dipping, and it "kind of works out better." On nice days, the quad acts as a hub of student life, when students "bring horse shoes, Frisbees, footballs, baseballs, and blankets and just spend the day together." There's also skiing, malls and outlets for shopping, and a wildlife refuge not too far away. Without a nearby big urban center, students are "continuously immersed in campus life and happenings," and most are very happy with the offerings from the school and campus groups. Community service is very popular here, as well.

Students Say - Student Body
Preppy white person seems to encapsulate most everyone's perception of the student body, with "Polo, L.L.Bean, Lily Pulitzer & Lacoste everywhere." A lot of students come from affluent backgrounds, but in recent years, thanks to scholarships and opportunity programs, there's a significant number of international students and minority students and "they blend in seamlessly." there are "rich kids and alternative types melting all together in a pretty good harmony," sums up a student. People "usually get along with each other regardless of being typical or not," partially due to the rampant involvement in student organizations and groups. With fewer than 2,000 people in the student body, there's not much mystery left after a couple of years, when "you can walk to class and recognize at 90 percent of the people you see," but the general pervading friendliness of the school as a whole means that "there is a happy niche here for everyone."

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