Hobart William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY, USA

Reviews

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Abigail M. W.

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am currently taking a wide variety of classes, being a current first year. HWS has 8 required goals that must be completed for graduation. These goals help to broaden your horizon, while meeting your Major/Minor requirements. This school has great opportunities for any student that is willing to put effort in. Small class sizes allows for teacher student relationships that help you succeed. The professors are extremely accommodating, they have open office hours, as well as appointments if you don't have time during their office hours.
Am enjoying being here
I live in the area, so I am bias to saying that I enjoy being here. However, you can also say that the area is great, if I haven't wanted to leave. The lakes are amazing, and with the lake frontage that the college offers students are able to relax by the lake. The weather here gives you the best of each season. During fall you are able to enjoy local corn mazes, pumpkin carving, and other fun activities. During the winter and spring seasons you are also able to enjoy the beauty of the finger lakes. Our campus is very involved, having many events each weekend. Campus Activities Board works very hard to give the student body activities that they will enjoy, throughout the year. The campus is very small, and in the center of Geneva, which also easy access to any campus facilities, as well as the growing city. I can admit that it is a smaller town and can be boring at times, but the school works very hard to set up activities to keep students occupied. If you have a car, it is also a great center point between Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton.
Bang for the buck
HWS is a more expensive college, however they have many scholarship opportunities. You will be paying for great facilities, as well as small class sizes and excellent professors. The library IT staff is extremely helpful, as well as Career services and the Center for Teaching and Learning. They help you from day one, to improve yourself and your abilities as a student at HWS.
Tips for prospective students
I suggest, not only for student for this school but for any prospective, to research the weather in the area, and do a visit during their worst season. This gives you a better idea of how you will be able to live in the climate. Also, I recommend determining what area you would like to live in, urban, rural, suburban. This can help you eliminate schools in general. Since this is a small liberal arts college I recommend doing and overnight, and getting acquainted with the campus/staff. Any prospective would benefit from an interview with the admissions staff, as well as an overnight and visiting a class.
Great for these types of students
Student Leaders, that are dedicated in their studies. Students here are very hard working, and are always putting their biggest effort into everything they do. Most of the student body is involved in one or more clubs, varsity sports, and/or intramural athletics.

Student

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The teachers are passionate and engaging. The student diverisity isnt the most diverse, but has a decent mixture of people and ideas. Massive renovations are being made to improve infastructure and dining
Tips for prospective students
Bring heavy winter clothing. It gets very windy. Take advantage of programs and clubs early to enhance your experience.
Academic Rigor
Classes are challenging and engaging. If you want to be challenged the harder courses are available and worth your time.
Dorm Life
Dorm quality varies heavily. Some dorms are really old and need to be worked on, some are very nice.
Food and Dining
Sedexo dining is average. When you get a kitchen as an older student, it is nice.
What to do for fun
Sporting events, clubs, food trucks, and rarely concerts are all fun events to partake in. The downtown bars and restaurants as well as beautiful lake, and other waterfalls,and wildlife in the area are fun. If you don't like small towns Geneva is not for you.
Bang for the buck
The academics are good value. Some of the facilities need improvement and are clearly being upgraded year by year.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The campus fair in the spring is very fun. Food trucks fair rides, etc... We also do school wide community service which is an important part of being an HWS student.
Great for these types of students
If you like a small close knit community, the outdoors, and dont need to be close to a city, this school would be good for you.
Clubs and Activities
Students have the ability to create any club, and even to develop this into a theme house, which we have around 30 of. It promotes community service, self expression, and working together to share things you are passionate about with others. The them house program is a great program and deffinetly worth trying. It also increases the quality of living options available.
Greek Life
There isnt much Greek life.
Campus Safety
Campo officers are friendly and easy to talk to. They take their work seriously and make you feel safe. The shuttles to stores and down town also are a nice added security.

Trevor from Geneva, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hobart is a very interesting place with many opportunities available to those students who aren't afraid to go out and get them. The faculty is beyond helpful and will challenge you intellectually if they know you can handle it. Also, the environment on and off campus is a very humble one that forces you to look outside of yourself and ultimately grow as a human being.
Tips for prospective students
Prospective students should ask as many questions as they can while checking the school out so that they know whether it is the best fit for them and if you decide to come here find a really great professor or dean that can be your mentor intellectually.
Academic Rigor
Academics are academics anywhere you go and Hobart is no exception to the rule. You get out of it what you put in and everyone is expected to work really hard in order to get the most efficient education possible. There are many tools here to help students who find themselves not living up to their potential.
Dorm Life
As first years there are both single sex and co-ed dormitories. They consist of a decent amount of diversity and there is never a need to feel like you aren't welcome anywhere on campus. I almost found it strange that so many strangers would say hi and want to talk to me coming from a city like New York.
Food and Dining
The food here is excellent and the dining choices on and off campus are the students' most raved about thing. We have the famous Joe's Hot restaurant which is the most popular choice of students right across the street from the bristol gym on campus.
What to do for fun
there is a shopping center 15 minutes away, movie theater, roller skating rink 30 minutes away, fraternity parties, cultural club parties, other annual club events and more.
Clubs and Activities
There are many cultural clubs which i am a part of and they all throw different annual events specific to their clubs orientation.
Greek Life
We have fraternities but no sororities, sorry.
Campus Safety
campus safety are very chill people and usually wont bust your chops but if they do see something wrong they respond immediately and thank god for them. I know they have saved many lives from their quick paced thinking and actions.

Caley from Phoenix, AZ

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Since it is a liberal arts college, I spent my first year taking a wide variety of classes to try to figure out what suits me best. It has a huge range and they really encourage their students to have a varied education. There are no required classes but there are ceratin goals that the school makes everyone reach througout the four years.
Am enjoying being here
Since it is a small town school, everything takes place on campus. Being one of the few students from the west coast, I really enjoyed the fact that all the action took place close by.
Bang for the buck
It is an expensice school, but you get alot for it. It was a priceless career center, and you make great relationships with the faculty. I never had a teaching aid in any of the classes this past year.
Tips for prospective students
Try to meet as many people as you can right from when you get on campus. Also just visit all the schools you can to get a feel for which is the best fit.
Great for these types of students
HWS is great for student athletes.