There are so many opportunities here for students, from studying abroad, to getting jobs on campus, to getting involved in club activities. The student-to-faculty ratio is small so the professors really get to know you by the time you're an upperclassman. The intimate campus and the individual attention received makes M.C.L.A. the perfect place for getting an education, gaining opportunities, and being a successful student.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
The single most important thing to do at M.C.L.A. is attend class. Attendance is very important, especially in small classes where participation is a major part of the grade. Also, get to know the professors; they can help you achieve any goal you put your mind to.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
This really depends on both the teacher and how much you want to push yourself. If you're okay with doing the bare minimum to pass, then the school isn't challenging. However, if you are actively interested in challenging yourself and seeking a great education, there is work to be done! The teachers will provide thoughtful insights at the end of class and thoroughly review material. Homework is not assigned to keep the student busy, but rather to further their learning outside of the classroom.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The dorms at M.C.L.A. are fantastic. Freshmen have the option of living in Hoosac Hall or Berkshire Towers. Hoosac Hall is the more typical college dorm, with large halls filled with student rooms. Berkshire Towers, where I stayed, has three suites per floor. Each suite has eight students and a common room. It is a comfortable environment for a nervous college freshman, and making friends is very easy.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Though there will always be people who complain about food, and though college food will never be as good as a home-cooked meal, M.C.L.A's dining services are pretty darn tasty! I have enjoyed many of the meals that they cook up. There is a wide variety of food every day and for every meal. Each meal is all-you-can-eat, so whether you're going in for a quick bite or staying awhile to chow down, the food is easily accessible and there is plenty of it. It is also refreshed quickly, so that students get good, hot meals.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Downtown North Adams offers bowling, dining, movies, and shuttles to the mall. Though the town is small, students find plenty of entertainment. On-campus fun times include trips to New York and Six Flags, dances, movies on the quad, and sporting events.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
M.C.L.A. is priced like a state school and acts like a private school. It is personal and has a small student-to-faculty ratio, and there are many opportunities available. The faculty respect the students and respond to their problems and questions promptly. The teachers are absolutely fantastic, and it is easy to get to know them. If you attend M.C.L.A., the world will open up to you.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are few unusual traditions that I know of, though every year there is a Drag Dance. It provides free food and lets students cross-dress for an evening of hilarity!
A fun location on campus, at least in the winter, is Hoosac Hill. Located behind Hoosac Hall, this hill is the perfect place for sledding!
Which types of students will excel at your college?
M.C.L.A. is great for students who want an affordable school with a small campus that will nurture their success. It is also perfect for the student that isn't sure about what career they would like, or even what major! The school has a large number of Undeclared students, and offers a variety of classes to them that will help in their important decision of choosing a major.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are about fifty clubs on campus. M.C.L.A. has everything from an Anime Club, to an Equestrian Club, to Theatre, to Dance, to Arts and Crafts Club. At the beginning of each Fall semester, each club sets up a table on the quad to recruit new members and advertise themselves. This event is simply called The Club Fair, and there are always free sundaes. You'll find that there really is a club for everyone, and making a new club is easy!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Though I am not affiliated with any sorority, I do know that M.C.L.A. has several fraternities and sororities available. Most of them require Sophomore status before a student can pledge, while others allow Freshmen in. Many of the Greek organizations have houses just off of the campus, and will have routine meetings to assist the members academically and socially.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Public Safety does a good job of protecting the M.C.L.A. campus. Every once in a great while there will be a burglary in one of the townhouses, but that is almost always because the students left a door unlocked. As long as the students are smart and lock the doors, the campus is a safe place. Even walking around at night is safe; the community is small, so people watch out for each other. (The campus is also very well lit and has emergency call phones.)
There are so many opportunities here for students, from studying abroad, to getting jobs on campus, to getting involved in club activities. The student-to-faculty ratio is small so the professors really get to know you by the time you're an upperclassman. The intimate campus and the individual attention received makes M.C.L.A. the perfect place for getting an education, gaining opportunities, and being a successful student.
The single most important thing to do at M.C.L.A. is attend class. Attendance is very important, especially in small classes where participation is a major part of the grade. Also, get to know the professors; they can help you achieve any goal you put your mind to.
This really depends on both the teacher and how much you want to push yourself. If you're okay with doing the bare minimum to pass, then the school isn't challenging. However, if you are actively interested in challenging yourself and seeking a great education, there is work to be done! The teachers will provide thoughtful insights at the end of class and thoroughly review material. Homework is not assigned to keep the student busy, but rather to further their learning outside of the classroom.
The dorms at M.C.L.A. are fantastic. Freshmen have the option of living in Hoosac Hall or Berkshire Towers. Hoosac Hall is the more typical college dorm, with large halls filled with student rooms. Berkshire Towers, where I stayed, has three suites per floor. Each suite has eight students and a common room. It is a comfortable environment for a nervous college freshman, and making friends is very easy.
Though there will always be people who complain about food, and though college food will never be as good as a home-cooked meal, M.C.L.A's dining services are pretty darn tasty! I have enjoyed many of the meals that they cook up. There is a wide variety of food every day and for every meal. Each meal is all-you-can-eat, so whether you're going in for a quick bite or staying awhile to chow down, the food is easily accessible and there is plenty of it. It is also refreshed quickly, so that students get good, hot meals.
Downtown North Adams offers bowling, dining, movies, and shuttles to the mall. Though the town is small, students find plenty of entertainment. On-campus fun times include trips to New York and Six Flags, dances, movies on the quad, and sporting events.
M.C.L.A. is priced like a state school and acts like a private school. It is personal and has a small student-to-faculty ratio, and there are many opportunities available. The faculty respect the students and respond to their problems and questions promptly. The teachers are absolutely fantastic, and it is easy to get to know them. If you attend M.C.L.A., the world will open up to you.
There are few unusual traditions that I know of, though every year there is a Drag Dance. It provides free food and lets students cross-dress for an evening of hilarity! A fun location on campus, at least in the winter, is Hoosac Hill. Located behind Hoosac Hall, this hill is the perfect place for sledding!
M.C.L.A. is great for students who want an affordable school with a small campus that will nurture their success. It is also perfect for the student that isn't sure about what career they would like, or even what major! The school has a large number of Undeclared students, and offers a variety of classes to them that will help in their important decision of choosing a major.
There are about fifty clubs on campus. M.C.L.A. has everything from an Anime Club, to an Equestrian Club, to Theatre, to Dance, to Arts and Crafts Club. At the beginning of each Fall semester, each club sets up a table on the quad to recruit new members and advertise themselves. This event is simply called The Club Fair, and there are always free sundaes. You'll find that there really is a club for everyone, and making a new club is easy!
Though I am not affiliated with any sorority, I do know that M.C.L.A. has several fraternities and sororities available. Most of them require Sophomore status before a student can pledge, while others allow Freshmen in. Many of the Greek organizations have houses just off of the campus, and will have routine meetings to assist the members academically and socially.
Public Safety does a good job of protecting the M.C.L.A. campus. Every once in a great while there will be a burglary in one of the townhouses, but that is almost always because the students left a door unlocked. As long as the students are smart and lock the doors, the campus is a safe place. Even walking around at night is safe; the community is small, so people watch out for each other. (The campus is also very well lit and has emergency call phones.)