Mount Holyoke is a welcoming environment for individuals of all backgrounds, a place to establish life-long bonds with others who share the common history of life as a woman (but has expanded to include trans*men and trans*women). Although women have made tremendous gains in equal treatment and rights over the last century, our journey is not yet over.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Be sure to involve yourself in at least one extracurricular activity, whether it is a job, sport, or student org. You'll meet new people, network, and find so many ways to relieve tension.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Depending on the professor, classes may range from straight-forward and simple to cryptic and spending all your nights the week before a paper is due frantically typing and wishing for some kind of caffeinated IV-drip. However, as long as you plan ahead and start major projects as early as possible, and develop close bonds with professors, the academic stress is entirely manageable.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Our CAs and SCAs (formerly SAs and HPs) are there for everyone, no matter what - I've had wonderful SAs that I have developed very comfortable relations with. Dorm life at a women's college is not drastically different from dorm life at a co-ed institution... aside from the fact that our dorms are absolutely beautiful!
Describe the food and dining at your college.
We have several dining hall selections on campus; we have seven all-you-can-eat buffet-style dining halls (located within dorms), and one cash-value Cafe (I am the manager at this dining hall). The dorm dining halls have hot breakfast each morning, and any dorms without dining halls have a continental breakfast Monday through Friday mornings. The food is very good, as far as college food goes; it's much better than food I've eaten at other colleges. The only downside is the dining halls get VERY crowded, particularly from 12:20 to 1 and from 6 to 7.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There are four other colleges located nearby, so there is always something to do in the area. Grab a few friends, and head over to the party you were invited to at Hampshire, Smith, Amherst, or UMASS. If you're not into the party scene, there is a small cinema in Amherst that always has amazing films playing. We even have a small cinema in South Hadley! Tower Theatres is located within the Village Commons, and plays two recently released films. If you or your friends have access to a car, a black-light mini golf joint just opened up at Holyoke Mall.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
One of my favorite traditions is the bagpiper. Every year on Mary Lyon's birthday, a man in a kilt walks around campus playing bagpipes. I especially love this because he always begins in the middle of class time and all everyone can do is listen to the bagpiper.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is no Greek life at MHC. However, I've heard some refer to Mount Holyoke as a big sorority.
Mount Holyoke is a welcoming environment for individuals of all backgrounds, a place to establish life-long bonds with others who share the common history of life as a woman (but has expanded to include trans*men and trans*women). Although women have made tremendous gains in equal treatment and rights over the last century, our journey is not yet over.
Be sure to involve yourself in at least one extracurricular activity, whether it is a job, sport, or student org. You'll meet new people, network, and find so many ways to relieve tension.
Depending on the professor, classes may range from straight-forward and simple to cryptic and spending all your nights the week before a paper is due frantically typing and wishing for some kind of caffeinated IV-drip. However, as long as you plan ahead and start major projects as early as possible, and develop close bonds with professors, the academic stress is entirely manageable.
Our CAs and SCAs (formerly SAs and HPs) are there for everyone, no matter what - I've had wonderful SAs that I have developed very comfortable relations with. Dorm life at a women's college is not drastically different from dorm life at a co-ed institution... aside from the fact that our dorms are absolutely beautiful!
We have several dining hall selections on campus; we have seven all-you-can-eat buffet-style dining halls (located within dorms), and one cash-value Cafe (I am the manager at this dining hall). The dorm dining halls have hot breakfast each morning, and any dorms without dining halls have a continental breakfast Monday through Friday mornings. The food is very good, as far as college food goes; it's much better than food I've eaten at other colleges. The only downside is the dining halls get VERY crowded, particularly from 12:20 to 1 and from 6 to 7.
There are four other colleges located nearby, so there is always something to do in the area. Grab a few friends, and head over to the party you were invited to at Hampshire, Smith, Amherst, or UMASS. If you're not into the party scene, there is a small cinema in Amherst that always has amazing films playing. We even have a small cinema in South Hadley! Tower Theatres is located within the Village Commons, and plays two recently released films. If you or your friends have access to a car, a black-light mini golf joint just opened up at Holyoke Mall.
One of my favorite traditions is the bagpiper. Every year on Mary Lyon's birthday, a man in a kilt walks around campus playing bagpipes. I especially love this because he always begins in the middle of class time and all everyone can do is listen to the bagpiper.
There is no Greek life at MHC. However, I've heard some refer to Mount Holyoke as a big sorority.