Family Matters; So Does Fit

Monica Inzer, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid

The admission process presents a unique set of challenges, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Monica Inzer says, "when the applicant is the child of an alumnus, with whom the College also maintains an important relationship." Inzer notes that Hamilton welcomes applications from the children of alumni. In fact, she says, the College is seeing an increased number of such applications because the current generation of alumni with children applying to colleges is from the era when Hamilton merged with Kirkland College and graduating classes became much larger. An applicant's family connection to Hamilton is one significant factor in the selection process, but it is considered among many other factors. Every "legacy" applicant's folder crosses the dean's desk to ensure that it receives every possible consideration for admission. And while the acceptance rate for legacies is slightly higher than Hamilton's overall acceptance rate, admission to the College must be earned. Having a parent who attended Hamilton does not ensure admission, nor does it ensure that Hamilton is the right fit for the student in the first place.