Mills College is little known gem located in Oakland, the campus is surprisingly beautiful and picturesque. The majority of students and faculty at the college really strive to uphold the college's mission of social justice, and overall provides a very open and academic environment.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
It is important to visit the campus before making a decision to attend Mills, as it is a small liberal arts college and very unique, and therefor not suited for everyone. Getting a few good letters of recommendation really helps, as does having quality essays as those can sometimes be more important than test scores or GPAs. Be open to the idea of an all women's college, and have an idea of what you want to major in so you can make sure the school offers it.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Academically Mills is wonderful. One of the best things about a small private college is that the class sizes are always small (about 15-20 students per class) and the teachers really get to know you and your work. Every class is challenging, but in an inspiring way as the subject matter is often connected to social justice, and there are no easy A classes. The atmosphere of Mills is academic as well, it is not really a party school, and you are likely to find motivation and support from your peers.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The dorms on the Mills campus are very nice. Most dorm rooms are singles (you have to specifically request to be in a double) so you can have as much privacy as you want, the dorms in the older buildings are really charming and have a lot of character, and all the rooms are pretty spacious. Every residence hall has a nice common room, and most of the main common rooms have a grand piano which is a nice touch.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Mills really tries to provide good quality food with vegetarian and vegan options, and its is true the food is better than the unhealthy junk food serves at a lot of colleges, but it's not amazing. The breakfasts and lunches they serve at the dining hall are alright, but dinner tends to be lacking, and after a while it is easy to become tired of everything, as they tend to repeat the same foods over and over, still at least they are always inclusive and aware of various dietary needs and restrictions.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Mills really has a lot to offer as there are a lot of talented students in the arts. There is an art museum on campus, as well as a theater, and a music hall, and there are also poetry and prose readings. Again, it is not a party school, but the college shuttle does go right to Berkeley where there is a lot to do, and BART which can take you almost anywhere in the bay area so San Francisco is always an option as well.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
It is true that Mills is quite expensive, as all private colleges are, but they do offer decent financial aid, usually more than public colleges do. If you can afford it, or are willing to take out the student loans, the quality of education you will receive is definitely worth it.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
The college is great for anyone who is academically driven, those who might feel like they don't fit in other places, and people who tend to have more liberal social and political views will feel very comfortable here.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are no fraternities or sororities at Mills.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
The campus is very safe. Even though it is located in Oakland and you can often hear police sirens in the distance, the whole campus is gated and there is only one entrance with a security post that is staffed 24/7. Campus security also patrols the campus, and are also available to help with various things if you call them. The school will also send both email and text message alerts if anything happens on campus or in the surrounding area (which it rarely does). And the crime statistics on Mills are much lower than any other college I've ever looked at.
Mills College is little known gem located in Oakland, the campus is surprisingly beautiful and picturesque. The majority of students and faculty at the college really strive to uphold the college's mission of social justice, and overall provides a very open and academic environment.
It is important to visit the campus before making a decision to attend Mills, as it is a small liberal arts college and very unique, and therefor not suited for everyone. Getting a few good letters of recommendation really helps, as does having quality essays as those can sometimes be more important than test scores or GPAs. Be open to the idea of an all women's college, and have an idea of what you want to major in so you can make sure the school offers it.
Academically Mills is wonderful. One of the best things about a small private college is that the class sizes are always small (about 15-20 students per class) and the teachers really get to know you and your work. Every class is challenging, but in an inspiring way as the subject matter is often connected to social justice, and there are no easy A classes. The atmosphere of Mills is academic as well, it is not really a party school, and you are likely to find motivation and support from your peers.
The dorms on the Mills campus are very nice. Most dorm rooms are singles (you have to specifically request to be in a double) so you can have as much privacy as you want, the dorms in the older buildings are really charming and have a lot of character, and all the rooms are pretty spacious. Every residence hall has a nice common room, and most of the main common rooms have a grand piano which is a nice touch.
Mills really tries to provide good quality food with vegetarian and vegan options, and its is true the food is better than the unhealthy junk food serves at a lot of colleges, but it's not amazing. The breakfasts and lunches they serve at the dining hall are alright, but dinner tends to be lacking, and after a while it is easy to become tired of everything, as they tend to repeat the same foods over and over, still at least they are always inclusive and aware of various dietary needs and restrictions.
Mills really has a lot to offer as there are a lot of talented students in the arts. There is an art museum on campus, as well as a theater, and a music hall, and there are also poetry and prose readings. Again, it is not a party school, but the college shuttle does go right to Berkeley where there is a lot to do, and BART which can take you almost anywhere in the bay area so San Francisco is always an option as well.
It is true that Mills is quite expensive, as all private colleges are, but they do offer decent financial aid, usually more than public colleges do. If you can afford it, or are willing to take out the student loans, the quality of education you will receive is definitely worth it.
The college is great for anyone who is academically driven, those who might feel like they don't fit in other places, and people who tend to have more liberal social and political views will feel very comfortable here.
There are no fraternities or sororities at Mills.
The campus is very safe. Even though it is located in Oakland and you can often hear police sirens in the distance, the whole campus is gated and there is only one entrance with a security post that is staffed 24/7. Campus security also patrols the campus, and are also available to help with various things if you call them. The school will also send both email and text message alerts if anything happens on campus or in the surrounding area (which it rarely does). And the crime statistics on Mills are much lower than any other college I've ever looked at.