Mount Holyoke College | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Mariko

Class: Sophomore
Major: Other
Gender: F

High School: Westview High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

You don't go to Mount Holyoke for the guys. You go because you will make the most amazing girl friends you'll ever have in your lifetime. I'd want to be closer to the city. It's just a little bit too small. Some people ask me "Where is Mount Holyoke?", lots of people just don't know anything about the school...other people know that it is prestigious and are really shocked. I spend most of my time running around from class to studying to meetings. What college town? There isn't even a pharmacy that isn't run by the school. The administration is really slow sometimes. The race controversy was pretty big (someone claimed in the newspaper that minority organizations weren't involved enough). There's a lot of school pride, but there is some school hate too. It's mostly because it's just stressful to be here. Mount Holyoke is just a sweet place. I'll always remember living with my three best friends in a quad and LOVING it. Lots of people complain about boys--I think it's natural, but it goes away after awhile, when you realize that you don't need them to be happy.

Academic Life

Yes, Professors know my name. Chinese Politics was my favorite, although Physical Geology is pretty amazing too. All my classes are my favorite in their own little ways. Macroeconomics was my least favorite. Students are always studying 24/7. Class participation varies. Politics Department is nice. I like Profs, they're always nice. Academic requirements can be stressful, so get them done early. Education tries to be both--we're supposed to get a good job AND just want to study for the sake of it. Definitely both.

Student Body

Very diverse, except there aren't any boys (and I think their perspective needs to be taken into account sometimes, too!). I think every girl feels out of place and completely in place at the same time. It's not normal for someone to want to go to a women's college in this day and age, and it takes some adjusting, but everyone is super friendly. People wear whatever they want (although the Uggs and leggings with no skirts kind of sketches me out). There aren't four tables of students, there are many students who are always giggling and reacting beyond tables--everyone knows everything else. There aren't cliques or sororities--it's like being in one BIG sorority. Mt Holyoke students are from EVERYWHERE in the world, with many different financial backgrounds. Yes, very aware and active, but can also be pretty sheltered. Predominantly left, but there are some hardcore righties on campus who like to heat things up. Yes, we talk about how we'll either be really rich or end up in a cardboard box.