Hamilton College Student Spotlight Interview with Aava Paudel

Aava Paudel majors in Economics at Hamilton College. She will graduate in 2028.

1. What led to your decision to attend Hamilton College, a small liberal arts school

located in Upstate New York?

When I was deciding where to go to college, I had a few non-negotiables. First was size.

I wanted small classes where I'd actually know my professors and they'd know me.

Second was breadth. I'm an economics major, but I wanted a school that would keep

giving me a genuinely well-rounded education, and Hamilton's open curriculum lets me

do exactly that. I take classes across departments, including South Asian Studies, where

I get to dig into my family's cultural heritage, its history, its politics, in a way I never would

have if I'd been boxed into a single track.

The last thing I was looking for was a place where I felt like I belonged, where I wouldn't

be invisible in a huge, competitive pool. Hamilton is fiercely competitive, but never at the

expense of other people. At Hamilton there's a real sense of communal well-being in

conjunction to personal success. This balance in my opinion is what makes Hamilton,

Hamilton.

2. Can you describe what kind of support/communities exist as a student from your

background at Hamilton College?

a. In what ways can a student find a supportive community at Hamilton College and feel supported?

One thing you will notice once you're on the hill is that the campus starts feeling familiar

within a matter of days. From the moment you step onto campus as a freshman you will

find support on every corner of this campus. There are cultural and affinity organizations,

peer groups and every new student is assigned three advisors: academic, career, and

an ALEX advisor. There's also counseling and wellness support if you need it. As you

walk along the campus, there are a web of people, groups and organizations that help

you settle into your campus life on the hill and continue to support you throughout your

college experience.

The honest answer is that the community at Hamilton is easy to find because you don't

have to find it alone, it comes looking for you a little. There's something for almost every

interest, and if there isn't, you can start one. But support also comes from just showing up and saying yes. Feeling supported, for me, isn't one big thing, rather it's the

accumulation of small ones. From professors knowing me, to being a part of clubs such

as South Asian Student Union or the Levitt Center think tank program and the OP

community at Hamilton. These are the places where I feel supported and seen.

What advice do you have for Juniors and Seniors in high school who want to

attend Hamilton College and...

a...... are wondering how to adjust to Upstate New York?

Hamilton sits on a hill where the winter brings snow. But this means that

you get to experience seasons: beautiful fall and spring seasons. My advice is to lean into it rather than fight it. Campus becomes your world in a good way, there's a shuttle into town and the seasons are gorgeous. You’ll be a part of campus tradition be it lighting of the village, or sledding on a rare snow day.

b.....navigating Hamilton's financial aid?

Hamilton is need blind, which means your financial aid is not considered when your application is being read. It also means that once you are accepted to attend Hamilton College, the college matches your demonstrated financial need.

c..... want their application to stand out?

At Hamilton you will have a lot of freedom and support to chart your own course so be honest, be curious and answer truthfully why Hamilton. Be you and be confident and demonstrate a sense of direction in your application.

4. What are some of Hamilton College’s most notable programs?

The open curriculum itself is the headline. Beyond that Hamilton has writing and speaking intensive programs that churn out a well written and spoken individual irrespective of their demonstrated major. There's also research, whether that's working under a professor or through a think-tank program and study-away options that range from a semester in DC or NYC to just about any corner of the world you want. And then there are programs such the Opportunity Program (which I am a part of): a community, with its own advisors, mentorship, and support built in from day one.

5. What advice would you offer a student who is considering attending Hamilton

College, but is on the fence about it?

Hamilton is the kind of place where people know your name, professors will grab coffee

with you, where you will have endless opportunities to produce your own work either via

research under a professor or independent studies in partnership with various campus

funds and offices. The open curriculum means you actually get to design your own path,

chasing the things that interest you rather than just checking boxes. Because campus

becomes your world, the community gets close fast, and you end up with the kind of

friendships and mentors that lasts a lifetime. If any of that sounds like what you're

looking for, don't let the hesitation talk you out of it.

6. One word to describe a Hamilton College student?

Grounded!