(first of all, sorry about lack of capitalization, somehow it's not working every time i submit it!) mount holyoke is mohome, an intellectual, comforting, and aesthetic paradise, full of incredible people with incredible dreams, drive, and determination. this is the best atmosphere possible because unlike at my high school, you are not looked down upon for wanting to do well and work hard! it's extremely easy to be involved or go for or speak up about whatever you want here.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
the instant i stepped on campus for the first time (day of orientation, i did not visit the school beforehand), i realized i'd found my home. but, if you visit, please talk to some of the students! we love prospective students and first years and always want to encourage you to apply and attend. also, be prepared to feel the most comfortable and accepted ever and to have a mind blowing amount of eye opening and thought provoking conversations with everyone and anyone. :)
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
you cannot be stupid here. give it up. your days of passively going through your classes are over. there are no easy classes at mount holyoke. each class will challenge you and make you work. it's the best thing ever.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
i walk in through the kitchen and i grab an orange or cookie from last night's m&c's (milk and cookies are served every night!!) when i get back from classes, then plop into a homey chair in the living room and turn on the tv (we have basically every channel) or grab a book and just take a few to relax. other residents walk in and it's like a family member coming home. we're all sisters here. my dorm is actually really big, and i have a great view of a forest and field. the beds are not rock hard like i expected, and the bathrooms are very clean and nice. we even have baths! i did not expect that at all. sometimes someone will be in the living room with a big pot of tea and a bunch of cups and just invite anyone who walks by for a cup or a conversation. sometimes someone will put on a movie for everyone to watch together. there is always laughter coming from one place or another. and if anything ever needs fixing, just give a call to facilities and it'll be perfect the next day. the dorms are really pretty too, and all have something special to offer whether it's location or history or a special dining hall, or just the amazing residents. i can't stress enough how homey this place is.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
go to the interfaith lunch every wednesday. you always learn something new and the food is beyond amazing there. i actually really like most of the dining hall's food, there are always a ton of choices and at least something super delicious, but there are days too where i'm just like ... i need emergency salt and a few people bring their own spices to dinner interestingly enough i just recently noticed... hahaha. but overall it's wonderful, and if it's not (like my emergency salt days), that's probably because you were forced to eat in a dining hall you didn't want to by your friends who like that dining hall because it has halal meat that night even though you're a vegetarian and this means your choices will be extremely reduced. xd
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
so, so, so, so, so much. i just had a mud fight the other night for example. there are dances almost every weekend it feels like, culture nights every month, movie nights basically every week, one event or another every day, and a very stephen king-esq library that's easy to get lost in (but oh so much fun to do so). there's a movie theater across the street, and almost everything on campus is open until about 2am. there are free drop in classes at the gym most days of the week, language tables at dinner time, and people. so many interesting people. oh, and the stars are actually really nice here so i like to go outside to one of the darker areas and just stargaze for an hour or so with friends (it's also very safe here). there are parties almost every night too if you know who to talk to, but of course they're easy to avoid if you don't care about that. there are something like over 100 clubs as well, and most of them hold really cool events at least twice a semester. seriously, there is so much to do on campus that i'm just way too busy to know what's going on outside. haha.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
first of all, amazing financial aid. mount holyoke is super committed to focusing on academics first, and is need-blind to domestic students. in focusing on academics first too, the education is top-notch. we were even ranked higher than harvard in academic rigor last year. the professors are super happy here and they love teaching! never be afraid to talk to them as they're also super kind and will always help a struggling student in addition to being really cool individuals. also, there are so many amenities available to you! we have a nutritionist and physical therapists (even for strained shoulders!) and if you get the pre-paid health plan (very very cheap) you don't have to pay another dollar out of pocket for anything in-clinic! we also have incredible state-of-the-art basically everything. gym, art museum, library, science labs, music building... and not to mention there is a writing center where you can get help with your essays before they're due, very easily accessible math and science tutoring, and did i mention that the library is open until 2 am every night except fridays and saturdays? oh, and the clubs are also extremely well funded. and then don't even get me started on how great your career outlook is once you graduate from here and things like that... mount holyoke is worth what you take advantage of. it offers so much to you, but of course you have to be the one to actively go for it!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
elfing. it's a secret. but you'll love it. there are mysterious presents involved. each class also has it's own mascot (they rotate through 4), and they're really cool. and m&c's is the best. and you have to visit the octogon room, if you can find it! ;) there's also a giant sloth skeleton somewhere on campus if you can find it. haha. and so much more, but you have to visit to find out!
Which types of students will excel at your college?
lovers of thinking, in any way. :) you do not have to think one particular way to fit in here, you just have to think and speak and listen and think!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
so many. so well funded. so diverse. so much fun. i don't even know where to start with these. hahaha.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
none! yippee!! there are no popularity contests here. everyone is on common ground and free to be themselves without fear of judgement.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
the campus police are always prowling around and there are tons of blue light emergency buttons in case you need help with something. i haven't been here too long, but i haven't heard of any problems. also, pretty much no one locks their dorm room door. the students are super honest and honorable here. if you accidentally leave your stuff in the library or lose it on the ground, if you have your name on it expect someone to contact you on facebook telling you they found it and took it to the lost and found for you. it's so wonderful here!!!
(first of all, sorry about lack of capitalization, somehow it's not working every time i submit it!) mount holyoke is mohome, an intellectual, comforting, and aesthetic paradise, full of incredible people with incredible dreams, drive, and determination. this is the best atmosphere possible because unlike at my high school, you are not looked down upon for wanting to do well and work hard! it's extremely easy to be involved or go for or speak up about whatever you want here.
the instant i stepped on campus for the first time (day of orientation, i did not visit the school beforehand), i realized i'd found my home. but, if you visit, please talk to some of the students! we love prospective students and first years and always want to encourage you to apply and attend. also, be prepared to feel the most comfortable and accepted ever and to have a mind blowing amount of eye opening and thought provoking conversations with everyone and anyone. :)
you cannot be stupid here. give it up. your days of passively going through your classes are over. there are no easy classes at mount holyoke. each class will challenge you and make you work. it's the best thing ever.
i walk in through the kitchen and i grab an orange or cookie from last night's m&c's (milk and cookies are served every night!!) when i get back from classes, then plop into a homey chair in the living room and turn on the tv (we have basically every channel) or grab a book and just take a few to relax. other residents walk in and it's like a family member coming home. we're all sisters here. my dorm is actually really big, and i have a great view of a forest and field. the beds are not rock hard like i expected, and the bathrooms are very clean and nice. we even have baths! i did not expect that at all. sometimes someone will be in the living room with a big pot of tea and a bunch of cups and just invite anyone who walks by for a cup or a conversation. sometimes someone will put on a movie for everyone to watch together. there is always laughter coming from one place or another. and if anything ever needs fixing, just give a call to facilities and it'll be perfect the next day. the dorms are really pretty too, and all have something special to offer whether it's location or history or a special dining hall, or just the amazing residents. i can't stress enough how homey this place is.
go to the interfaith lunch every wednesday. you always learn something new and the food is beyond amazing there. i actually really like most of the dining hall's food, there are always a ton of choices and at least something super delicious, but there are days too where i'm just like ... i need emergency salt and a few people bring their own spices to dinner interestingly enough i just recently noticed... hahaha. but overall it's wonderful, and if it's not (like my emergency salt days), that's probably because you were forced to eat in a dining hall you didn't want to by your friends who like that dining hall because it has halal meat that night even though you're a vegetarian and this means your choices will be extremely reduced. xd
so, so, so, so, so much. i just had a mud fight the other night for example. there are dances almost every weekend it feels like, culture nights every month, movie nights basically every week, one event or another every day, and a very stephen king-esq library that's easy to get lost in (but oh so much fun to do so). there's a movie theater across the street, and almost everything on campus is open until about 2am. there are free drop in classes at the gym most days of the week, language tables at dinner time, and people. so many interesting people. oh, and the stars are actually really nice here so i like to go outside to one of the darker areas and just stargaze for an hour or so with friends (it's also very safe here). there are parties almost every night too if you know who to talk to, but of course they're easy to avoid if you don't care about that. there are something like over 100 clubs as well, and most of them hold really cool events at least twice a semester. seriously, there is so much to do on campus that i'm just way too busy to know what's going on outside. haha.
first of all, amazing financial aid. mount holyoke is super committed to focusing on academics first, and is need-blind to domestic students. in focusing on academics first too, the education is top-notch. we were even ranked higher than harvard in academic rigor last year. the professors are super happy here and they love teaching! never be afraid to talk to them as they're also super kind and will always help a struggling student in addition to being really cool individuals. also, there are so many amenities available to you! we have a nutritionist and physical therapists (even for strained shoulders!) and if you get the pre-paid health plan (very very cheap) you don't have to pay another dollar out of pocket for anything in-clinic! we also have incredible state-of-the-art basically everything. gym, art museum, library, science labs, music building... and not to mention there is a writing center where you can get help with your essays before they're due, very easily accessible math and science tutoring, and did i mention that the library is open until 2 am every night except fridays and saturdays? oh, and the clubs are also extremely well funded. and then don't even get me started on how great your career outlook is once you graduate from here and things like that... mount holyoke is worth what you take advantage of. it offers so much to you, but of course you have to be the one to actively go for it!
elfing. it's a secret. but you'll love it. there are mysterious presents involved. each class also has it's own mascot (they rotate through 4), and they're really cool. and m&c's is the best. and you have to visit the octogon room, if you can find it! ;) there's also a giant sloth skeleton somewhere on campus if you can find it. haha. and so much more, but you have to visit to find out!
lovers of thinking, in any way. :) you do not have to think one particular way to fit in here, you just have to think and speak and listen and think!
so many. so well funded. so diverse. so much fun. i don't even know where to start with these. hahaha.
none! yippee!! there are no popularity contests here. everyone is on common ground and free to be themselves without fear of judgement.
the campus police are always prowling around and there are tons of blue light emergency buttons in case you need help with something. i haven't been here too long, but i haven't heard of any problems. also, pretty much no one locks their dorm room door. the students are super honest and honorable here. if you accidentally leave your stuff in the library or lose it on the ground, if you have your name on it expect someone to contact you on facebook telling you they found it and took it to the lost and found for you. it's so wonderful here!!!