Hampden-Sydney College
VA, USA

Reviews

Hampden-Sydney College

A student from Bedford, VA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I believe that I am getting a top notch education at HS-C. My professors have been interesting and helpful. Class size is just right.
Am enjoying being here
I do enjoy the campus and all that is offered.
Bang for the buck
Expensive but I hope it will pay off in my future.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the college. Beautiful location and campus. You might fall in love like I did in the first 10 minutes on campus.
Great for these types of students
Well rounded self motivated seeking a great education among a brotherhood.

Christopher from Hampton, VA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hampden-Sydney College is where youthful boys, become young men. While at H-SC you will experience a welcoming College and Community that shows the southern hospitality of Virginia.
Tips for prospective students
Study hard, and take your education seriously! The professors here demand much more from you than your High School teachers, for they expect you to meet their academic demands promptly and creatively. Always be on the lookout for any sports whether they be club or Division III, Clubs and organizations, or affiliations when you enter Hampden-Sydney College, of course Academics are important, but finding a group where you thrive and can show your best potential makes the college feel proud in having men who are passionate about what they love.
Academic Rigor
As stated previously, academics is taken very serious here. Always be present and prompt to class, while also keeping up with your assignments, or else you'll fall behind or end up having to withdraw from the courses you are enrolled. The courses offered here are supposed to make you feel interested and passionate about what you are studying, not just to meet core requirements.
Dorm Life
Depending on whether you live in Freshman housing (Carpenters, Whitehouse, or Cushing), Venable Hall, or any other housing such as The Blakes, Hampden Houses, and etc you will find that it is different for everyone. While I live in the Carpenters I have experienced substantial living such as a lofted bed with a long desk, my own closet, dressers, and a common bathroom, and a newly installed common area.
Food and Dining
The hospitality of the workers is great, they're very kind, and generous; however, the food in the dining hall can frequently vary and most times you will hear guys bashing on the food. Sure, it may not be the best food in the world, but at least it is edible and that the workers try to make it as best as they can. It's buffet styled with some serve yourself, but mostly it is moderated by the workers.
What to do for fun
There are many aspects of fun to have on campus at Hampden-Sydney College, for non-alcoholic fun, we have game nights at Venable Hall every friday of the month, free rental gear for camping, canoeing and sport of the like, and fishing in the surrounding lakes. There is much more to experience if you also get involved with certain organizations and clubs!
Bang for the buck
Education-wise, Hampden-Sydney College is worth every dollar spent. Not only do you get the chance to learn in small classes, but you also get to be involved in one of the only three non-religious all-male colleges in the United States.
Clubs and Activities
As an active participant in the Classics Club, Circle K International Organization, and Catholic Campus Ministries I have found that there is much to be offered at such a small institution! You have the chance to join many intramural sports teams, charitable organizations and communities, and religious environments!
Greek Life
Greek life is bountiful at Hampden-Sydney College, and it is a way to further develop a brotherhood with your fellow Hampden-Sydney Brothers. With our many Fraternities, most of the students look forward to pledging and serving in these wonderful organizations.
Campus Safety
There are minimal problems with intruders, theft, and other incidents, for we take pride in our Honor Code and Honor Court System. These two combined help the Hampden-Sydney College Community run efficiently and safely.

Timothy from North Chesterfield, VA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Southern, Conservative, all-male liberal arts college in the heart of Virginia. Preppy, but not too preppy, and if you're not rich it's not a problem. This school will teach you what it is to be a man.
Tips for prospective students
This school is great, but not for everyone. Be somewhat confident in your field of study, but know that the liberal arts education will be almost universal, regardless of your major. They say you can do just about anything with a degree from Hampden-Sydney, but don't come here entirely to find out what you want to study, because the range of options at this school isn't huge. Get ready to apply yourself during the week, and then have a blast during the weekend. There's something for everyone. You've just gotta find your niche, even if you're not a partier.
Academic Rigor
Get ready to work hard. This school has great, personal professors who have specifically designated office hours that can be stretched if you absolutely need help. No other school nearby will be as academically sound as this one. Some classes are tougher than others, but you can't fudge many, if any classes at this school. If you're not keen on buckling down and applying yourself, don't go here.
Dorm Life
The dorms all have their pros and cons unless you're an upperclassmen with first pick of housing. With that said, most of the fun isn't found in the dorms. Dorm parties aren't big at this school, as most of the fun is down at the fraternity circle, which is the social center of the school. It can be hit or miss depending on where your placed, but for it's purposes, the dorm life is alright.
Food and Dining
The main dining hall is very good all things considered, and the campus has it's own restaurant called the Tiger Inn. It serves cheap, quality food and has beer on draft and in the bottle for those who are of age. Local dining is great if you have a car, as it's about a 10 minute drive to anywhere. There's a great variety of places and they're all great quality.
What to do for fun
Get involved in clubs, groups, and organizations early on. In the Fall semester, there's a football game every other weekend which is essentially center of activity in the area. Frat parties are fun, safe, and usually easy to get in to. The town also has a movie theater, a bowling alley, and Longwood University is pretty close by. The main fun on campus, however, comes from making connections and having friends to do things with. This school isn't for the socially faint of heart. Get out there early, and you'll always have something to do.
Great for these types of students
The people at Hampden-Sydney are often well off, or rich, and therefore preppy. In addition, they're most conservative and there's a southern feel to the school. There's heavy use of tobacco as well. Most guys can survive at this school, but it's not for those who can't live independently and take charge of their own social, academic, and professional lives.
Greek Life
Greek life is the center of this school. It's all male, so the fraternities on campus are the center of attention. Getting a bid is pretty easy because of the size of the school, though dues can be pretty expensive. There are about 12 social fraternities and a couple professional fraternities. Friday and Saturday are the big party nights, and there are a couple parties each night, depending on the time of year. Greek life is highly recommended by anyone who attends this school.

Jamshaid from Baltimore, MD

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A great, small, private college that is an amazing match for any student. Like every college, HSC has its flaws; however, the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. The phenomenal professors and unbelievable opportunities available on campus make HSC one of the best colleges in the United States.
Tips for prospective students
Get ready to learn from some of the toughest yet fairest professors in the south. Get ready to make some life-lasting connections with some of the greatest, smartest and kindest friends. Get ready to make an impression on the world.
Academic Rigor
HSC is an easy college to be admitted into and yet it is one of the hardest colleges to stay in. HSC has some of the most intelligent professors and a wide variety of majors and minors.
Dorm Life
The dorms could use a little work but the frequent interactions and lasting connections made between roommates and sweetmates outweigh all of the negatives.
Food and Dining
Like many other private colleges, food and dining is probably the only fault in HSC; however, that is probably due to the fact that after several weeks of eating in the same environment everyone starts to miss a good home-cooked meal.
What to do for fun
There are many clubs and activities available on campus. There are IM sports played on campus and many team sports that can be played. There are multiple fields on campus which provide more than enough room for students to play any sport from rugby, to campus golf, to ultimate frisbee. Clubs and activities vary from chess club to international club to math club.
Bang for the buck
Like every other private college, HSC is definitely expensive; however HSC offers more than enough financial aid for nearly all of the students. Plus, the other opportunities available through HSC, such as the vast Alumni Network, make the cost worth it.
Clubs and Activities
Phenomenal opportunities are readily available around every corner of the campus. There is something to do for every student on campus.
Campus Safety
Campus security makes the campus one of the safest places around.

A Leader on Campus

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Hampden-Sydney is a school for young men who truly want to learn. The academics here are top-notch, and the school itself does not inflate the grades of any students - a typical practice done at many other colleges. Professors are always available to help a student that needs assistance.
Am enjoying being here
Hampden-Sydney can be a great place for the guys who fit in, but a bad place for the guys who do not. On the weekends, the main excitement on campus happens at Fraternity Circle, where girls from neighboring schools - Sweet Briar, Longwood, Hollins, Lynchburg, etc. - flock to party. For guys who fit into the fraternity scene there will be plenty to do; for the guys who are not so comfortable with this scene there is little to do.
Bang for the buck
Be warned, the dining hall is not a five-star restaurant.
Great for these types of students
I strongly believe that any young man who seeks brotherhood can fit in and find his place at Hampden-Sydney.