Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY, USA

Reviews

Hartwick College

Sarah from Liverpool, NY

researching this school
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
The professors are extremely nice and fully knowledgeable. I spent an hour during a visit just chatting with a pre-law advisor. The staff seems close knit and able to have very personable relationships with both other professors and students. If you are interested in political science/pre law or anything in that area then there semester term at American University in Washington DC is fantastic. They also have tons of other J-terms and semester or even year long study abroad programs that are nationally recognized and loved by most students.
Will enjoy being here
The campus is in a nice are. It isn't total country but also not a big city setting either. When I came there was lots happening around campus including their OH! Fest where SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick come together to hold a street festival and lots of fun activities for both the students and the community. Pitbull was coming to perform a concert that night also! The students are all genuinely sweet, welcoming, and helpful, so it will be no problem fitting in. The only major turnoff I witnessed while there is the layout of campus. There are a lot of hills which require many staircases to go from building to building. The stairs seem not necessarily the best built and are outside and uncovered. With the weather we get in Upstate NY it is kind of scary to think that during your trip from the fitness center to the art center your 17 flights of stair journey may end in you slipping on ice and cascading to a broken bone or two!
Bang for the buck
One thing Hartwick is great about is Merit Aid scholarships. They can look at your psat or sat scores, although they are sat optional, as well as your gpa and that is solely the basis to finding your scholarship. If you can manage a CR+M score of 1200 or higher combined with a 92 or higher average you qualify for 22,000 per year off your tuition! I would say those combined with the endless internship, study abroad, and J-term opportunities you definitely will receive a bang for your buck.
Tips for prospective students
-Visit! That's definitely the best way to get an idea for yourself.
-If you can't make a personal visit then check out their website and scholarship calculator.
-Take advantage of all the awesome opportunities like J-terms and such. Every student I talked to considered it a highlight of their college career.
Great for these types of students
-Students who want great Study Abroad opportunities.
-Students who would like a suburban area to attend school.
-Students who don't mind the crazy Upstate NY weather!
-Students who like good relationships with their professors, pre-career advisement, and small class sizes.

Catherine from Duanesburg, NY

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
All of the professors I have had so far have been amazing. All of my professors are very willing to help you when oyu come to see them and they are very flexible if you cannot visit during office hours. I have one professor who even comes in on most weekends because he wants us to get what we are paying for.

All of my professors are very knowledgeable too. They know much about their area of interest but even other areas as well. And there is so much to learn outside of the class room. As a first year student, I participated in the MetroLink Program and had the opportunity to job shadow in Boston and New York City. I also completed an honors challenge by learning about fair trade and educating the Hartwick Community about fair trade. And now my friend and I will be starting a committee to work on getting more fair trade, local, and organic options at school. There are so many opportunities to learn in and out of the class room.
Am enjoying being here
I love Hartwick. Hartwick has such a community feel. Not only are the professors friendly and helpful, but so are all of the other staff members, and many of the students too. I am really glad I chose to make Hartwick my home.

There are many fun things to do on and off campus too. Oneonta is a nice small city and you can walk to main street from campus or ride the bus to Walmart or the mail. On campus, we have many events, and next year, we will have late night programming on the weekends. We have move nights ever Friday and Sunday, trivia nights on Thursday, we have concerts and open mic nights, Third Eye Blind, OAR, and Howie Mendel came recently. We also have a holiday ball, festivals, mud volleyball, and more. You will never be bored.
Bang for the buck
Hartwick has many great opportunities. You can do research and projects your first year. Because Hartwick is smaller, professors know your name and will work closely with you on classwork and work outside of the classroom. There are many employment opportunities on campus. Like I said above, I was able to participate in MetroLink as a first year student. Hartwick has other link programs as well. Hartwick has over 60 clubs and organization, we have many athletic teams, too.
Tips for prospective students
No matter where you go to college, take advantage of all of the great opportunities your school offers. Get to know the faculty and staff. Find people with similar interests. Join and/or make a club or organization. Give back. And definitely try new things, step outside your comfort zone, meet new people, study hard, and have fun!
Great for these types of students
small town, nursing, small class size, small city, community feel, not a number, active, engaged, determined, fun-loving, hard working

Annamarie from Windham, NY

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hartwick College has numerous of opportunities for their students for those who attend. Some courses are difficult, however there is plenty of help available in the writing center and office hours if needed. Small class sizes so students do not get lost in the class lectures.
Tips for prospective students
- Arrive to class early or on time, do not be late.
- School first and socializing later, partying may be fun, but grades are most important.
- If you need help, seek it, do not be afraid to ask for help.
- Do not judge a book by its cover, Hartwick may seem large with a lot of hills, but that is very easy to get used to once you know your way around, visit your colleges first, you will know what is right for you :)
- Never change who you are for other people, if they cannot accept you for who you are, then it really is not worth your time, this goes for ANY campus!
- Stay on top of your work, but also do not forget to have some fun once in a while!
Academic Rigor
Class sizes are small with a lot of one-to-one, student to professor and there are plenty of help opportunities if you need it, so do not be afraid to ask for help. Professors usually know you by name and give you warnings in advance if there is an issue with your grade or if you are missing an assignment. College is not high school, you may have felt you did not need to study for exams, studying is very important to keep on top of your work and grades, minimizing your stress.
Dorm Life
Dorms are fairly larger than most colleges. Various number of dorm houses with singles, doubles, and suites as well as town houses. At Pine Lake there are also a numerous number of cabins. The dorms are for the most part safe and clean. I live in Oyaron at the moment, and although it is a far walk (given the name O'faren or O'yonder) it is a very peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
Food and Dining
Wide variety in food in a few stations. The food is very good. Breakfast usually opens at around 7:30am on thw weekdays, giving an opportunity to eat before class, it switches to lunch at around 11am and then dinner at 4pm. Weekends and break hours vary.
What to do for fun
Oneonta is a small town, but if you look around, there are things to do. Hartwick itself had about 60 Clubs and Organizations. There are concerts, sports events, and other numerous activities.
Bang for the buck
Very expensive, however the opportunities make up for it entirely, the professors are very one on one with the students with plenty of opportunities to get help if needed, and the college really tries to make the students feel at home and entertain them when going for their degree.
Great for these types of students
I am a music major and I found out of all the colleges I applied and auditioned for, Hartwick was my home. Music majors have their own little hang out and are willing to help eachother with work or if another student needs a ride to a concert, they are their own little family outside the Hartwick community family. The music professors are fantastic and will critique you to help you improve. I would recommend this to any auditioning music major, as well as other students, the professors will really help you out, never be afraid to ask for help.
Clubs and Activities
There are over 65 Clubs and organizations on Hartwick Campus. I currently am part of the Fencing and gaming club and I really enjoy myself, I have heard great things about the other clubs and have seen their work, there is plenty of opportunity!
Campus Safety
Campus Safety is very good at helping out in a situation. If a student has a leg injury or any injury incapable of walking to your class, Campus Safety will come take you to where you need to go, including the hospital if needed. They are able to be reached 24hrs a day through switchboard main office. As well as there are blue emergency polls, if there is an emergency and the button is puched, they respond immediately. I have never felt uncomfortable being on campus day or night.

Justin from Fort Edward, NY

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hartwick College is a great school with about 1500 students. The faculty and staff here are greatly dedicated to the education of the students. They also do their best to accommodate for special or financial needs.
Tips for prospective students
Be honest and make all needs known so that they can do their best to help you with what you might need.
Academic Rigor
There are quite a few fields that you could major in, and a lot of them are difficult. While they are difficult, Hartwick is a great school and a great name to have when looking for a job. Hartwick can prepare you for life after college.
Dorm Life
The dorms are as good as you want them to be. The rooms and residence halls themselves are nice, but whether they remain that way is up to you and your fellow residents.
Food and Dining
The commons is a very diverse dining hall. They have everything from eggs to pastas to pizza to meats and even vegetarian menu items. We also have Table Rock cafe, which is absolutely delicious. There are many well known restaurants around in Oneonta, and even some that you wouldn't know of, but should definitely try.
What to do for fun
There are regularly scheduled events here at Hartwick, which are quite fun. Also, we have division I men's soccer, and women's water polo, as well as many other division III sports like football or basketball. Downtown Oneonta is also a place where so many things can be done.
Bang for the buck
Hartwick is around $48,000 a year, but they do offer many need based and merit scholarships. Hartwick is an excellent school, and has a very prestigious science department, of which I am a student.
Campus Safety
We have a very dedicated team of school officials, affectionately referred to as campo. They do everything in their power to keep you and your belongings safe

S.H. from Oneonta, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Other than the expensive tuition (though absolutely worth it), it's the dream school. Small classes, small but beautiful campus, and nice dorms. It's easy to connect with your professors and classmates because of the small campus population.
Tips for prospective students
Unless you have a good vehicle for the snow, don't bring your car up. It isn't worth it, plus finding a good parking space is annoying.
Academic Rigor
Since classes are smaller that the usual (think high school class size or less), having personal time with a professor for help is easier and more helpful. Classes are hard, but not to the point of a mental break down. One just has to know how to balance their social and academic lives well.
Dorm Life
This depends on what dorm you end up living in. Smith is the worst and most populated. Van Ess (my dorm) is the typical. Not bad, but not the best either. Hilltop and Oyaron are pretty nice. I've never been in Saxton or Wildern though. Leitzell is rumored to be the best, as are the townhouses on campus.
Food and Dining
Wonderful. Worth part of the tuition.

Ruth from Bronx, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hartwick College is ideal for students looking for a small and friendly campus. The professors here actually know who you are and are more than happy to help if you are behind. Hartwick makes the transition into higher education very manageable and achievable.
Tips for prospective students
If you are considering applying to Hartwick, you have to realize that because this is a private college the classes are difficult and you need to develop good study habits. You really have to learn good time management skills and study skills. Try not to be too studious and have fun! College is about discovering who you are as a person and it is okay to struggle your first year, it is expected.
Academic Rigor
Since I am a biology major, my first year classes are very challenging, but its to test who will actually remain in that field after the first semester. The amount of work at Hartwick is a lot, but most professors give you enough time in advance. The same is for exams. Professors don't usually throw you in the deep sea without warning.
Dorm Life
The dorms here are very safe and comforting. We have night watches from 11 to 4am. There job is to sign you in the residence halls if you are not from there. They patrol the floors hourly to check if anything is out of the ordinary and to make sure that students are obeying the silent hours rule. The resident advisers here are very friendly and easy to talk to. We usually have weekly events in the lounges to help students meet other students and to promote getting involved.
Food and Dining
Our dinning hall, called the Commons, is small in relation to the small campus. The staff that work there are very nice and polite. The food is fairly good. You just have to be creative when eating there. I recommend getting the unlimited food plan the first year to sort of test the food. The mac and cheese and chicken nugget days are my favorite! But if you prefer to cook, most resident halls have a kitchen.
What to do for fun
The first week at campus (welcome weekend for freshamn and transfers) Hartwick puts togother a series of events to help students and families ease into the moving and college process. Oneonta is a very small town, but has a lot of history. There are alot of bars for adult students. The greek life and sports teams parties are very fun. If you prefer to stay on campus you can participate in the many clubs Hartwick has to offer.
Bang for the buck
Considering that you pay almost 50 thousand dollars a year for Hartwick, you want to get the most out of it. Hartwick does a very good job at doing this. There are many resources that are available to students whenever they need them. The library for example has great staff and many tools you can use. The view of the campus is breath taking and very well groomed.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
A tradition that has always happened is the opening convocation ceremony where the entering freshman class goes through a preview of graduation in four years and professors and the president welcomes you to the college.
Greek Life
There are 3 sorrorities and 2 fraternities recognized.
Campus Safety
Campus safety is very involved and makes sure that the students feel safe in and around the campus. There are emergency poles all around campus so that if you ever unsafe or want someone to walk with they will accompany you.