1 In 4 College Freshmen Starts School Spring Semester; Eyewitness News Visits Hamilton College Students
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: January 18, 2013
Despite the long-standing image of college freshmen moving into their
dorms wearing shorts and sandals... Some are wearing jackets and boots.
Studies are showing that 1 in 4 first-time students at American colleges
is now starting school in the Winter.
Eyewitness News visits Hamilton College during the Spring Semester Orientation. There's people who can't immediately afford tuition, those unsure if college is right for them, military veterans and the list goes on. At Hamilton College, most of the new students were only accepted as January admissions, but the school made sure to offer them some special opportunities.
"It gives you a real sense of individualism. Being in another country, complete separation from the life you had prior," says Samuel Copman, Hamilton Freshman and January admission.
When Copman graduated from high school, he didn't follow his classmates to a traditional college in the U.S. Instead, he spent his first semester studying abroad through Hamilton's London program.
"It's a lot of transition periods. I'm kind of excited just to start classes again after ending senior year and now it's been 9 months," says Copman.
And he's not alone. Hamilton has nearly 50 first-year students starting this Spring, and 40 of them spent the Fall semester in London.
"It was a completely different experience, dorming and just living on my own. We had to cook our own meals, and buy our own groceries, so it was very independent," says William Wassmer, Hamilton Freshman and January Admission.
Hamilton representatives say the London program is an option for students who don't get accepted Fall semester. It gives students the opportunity to explore another country, while becoming friends with one another before even starting school.
"Coming in second semester is hard enough as it is and daunting enough as it is, but coming in knowing 45 other people takes a lot of the stress out," says Abby Pynchon, Hamilton Freshman and January Admission.
The students say there are social stresses but more than that, they have anxiety about starting their academic classes in January.
"I think everyone's a little bit nervous about class difficulty. They told us this morning classes will be much more difficult," says Copman.
Even though January admission wasn't their first choice, these students don't regret their decision.
"Going to London was best 3 months of my life," says Pynchon.
"I just feel a lot better doing the London program. I just feel more mature and ready for this Spring semester to start," says Wassmer.
This week has been orientation for several colleges in our area. And next Tuesday, January 22nd, marks the beginning of Spring semester.
Eyewitness News visits Hamilton College during the Spring Semester Orientation. There's people who can't immediately afford tuition, those unsure if college is right for them, military veterans and the list goes on. At Hamilton College, most of the new students were only accepted as January admissions, but the school made sure to offer them some special opportunities.
"It gives you a real sense of individualism. Being in another country, complete separation from the life you had prior," says Samuel Copman, Hamilton Freshman and January admission.
When Copman graduated from high school, he didn't follow his classmates to a traditional college in the U.S. Instead, he spent his first semester studying abroad through Hamilton's London program.
"It's a lot of transition periods. I'm kind of excited just to start classes again after ending senior year and now it's been 9 months," says Copman.
And he's not alone. Hamilton has nearly 50 first-year students starting this Spring, and 40 of them spent the Fall semester in London.
"It was a completely different experience, dorming and just living on my own. We had to cook our own meals, and buy our own groceries, so it was very independent," says William Wassmer, Hamilton Freshman and January Admission.
Hamilton representatives say the London program is an option for students who don't get accepted Fall semester. It gives students the opportunity to explore another country, while becoming friends with one another before even starting school.
"Coming in second semester is hard enough as it is and daunting enough as it is, but coming in knowing 45 other people takes a lot of the stress out," says Abby Pynchon, Hamilton Freshman and January Admission.
The students say there are social stresses but more than that, they have anxiety about starting their academic classes in January.
"I think everyone's a little bit nervous about class difficulty. They told us this morning classes will be much more difficult," says Copman.
Even though January admission wasn't their first choice, these students don't regret their decision.
"Going to London was best 3 months of my life," says Pynchon.
"I just feel a lot better doing the London program. I just feel more mature and ready for this Spring semester to start," says Wassmer.
This week has been orientation for several colleges in our area. And next Tuesday, January 22nd, marks the beginning of Spring semester.
