<p>I've read in the other college forums... like the Smith forum in this site.. that Smith is far more academically challenging than MHC and MHC maybe a little slack in this aspect. Is that true? Will we be challenged enough at MHC? Will our undergraduate at MHC be intellectually exciting? What will we gain from an MHC education that would be unique to an MHC education? Current students and alumnae please feel free to say whatever you think is important and relevant to the topic here. Any input, especially positive ones ;), will be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>My daughter will be going into her second year at MH. She loved her first year. In the application process she was REALLY unsure about Smith or Mt Holyoke and is very happy she chose MH. No regrets. She has taken a class at Amherst with many older students. She did well and she said the level felt very comparable to her classes at MHC. Next semester she is taking a class at Smith so it will be interesting to see the difference.</p>
<p>I agree, the academics at MHC are outstanding. </p>
<p>My daughter, also a rising sophomore, is very happy with the academics at MHC. She is very happy with her college choice. The theme of "purposeful engagement" is quite appropriate. Students seem engaged academically, as well as with meaningful campus activities. She will also be taking a class at Smith this fall. It will be interesting to see if she makes any comparisons.</p>
<p>I am a current MHC student, and I've taken classes at both Smith and MHC, and I've talked to others about it, as well. Most of us agree that we think Mount Holyoke classes are harder and require more work, or are at least as challenging as Smith courses. A Smith woman who took a class here once told a friend of mine that she didn't know what a good class was until she came here.</p>
<p>The academics at MHC are stimulating, challenging, and some of my classes have honestly changed my entire world view. I love my professors, and they trust us to take on an extraordinary amount of new information.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Anywhere you go you are in charge of making your own academic experience challenging. MHC is very challenging and will push you academically. You have to be willing to put in the work at MHC or you won't get very far. ( The same being if you were in any other school).
Smith being more "rigoious" in nonsense. Mount Holyoke will challenge you in ever aspect. Academically, socially, and you will learn to take care of yourself and really grow up. There are many opportunities for success, internships, and involvement at MHC. If one finds themself academically bored or lacking it is because they themselves were not taking advantage of all the resources that MHC has to offer.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a particular area and do find a course insufficiently challenging--MHC profs are very approachable and would be more than happy to guide you and encourage you in exploring further.</p>
<p>It seems like they already answered the question for you. lol I'd say, try taking classes at Smith as well while you're at Mount Holyoke. The best way to find out an answer is to experience it yourself, don't you think so? I'll be attending Mount Holyoke for the Spring term. I hope to see you there...maybe?</p>