It’s ~15 minute walk or ~ 5 minutes by bike.
Yeah, 15 minutes is a good bet. It’s about 5 min from the south end of the main campus, and Kendall is on the far north end. But MHC’s campus is honestly pretty small. Kendall is actually pretty close to most of the academic buildings on the north end of campus.
You can look at Dickinson’s floorplan here (I’m pretty sure your portal login should work): https://www.mtholyoke.edu/reslife/floor_plans
Congratulations on your acceptance!
@CrewDad - so would you suggest bringing a bike? If so, locally if we are driving in from Hartford, CT (flying there from South Florida) better to buy one up there- any suggestions as to style, features? & Florida ? Do you need anything to protect it from the snow?
Not CrewDad, but I don’t think the campus is big enough to warrant a bike. It won’t save you any time; it’s faster to just walk rather than walk to the bike rack, unlock your bike, bike to the next building, and re-lock your bike (if you’re even moving between buildings - many of the academic buildings are connected so you don’t have to go outside in the winter). Unless you really enjoy biking as a sport or hobby, if you’re coming from far away it’s a big hassle to bring it up, and you can’t use it much during the winter. If you’re buying it here you need to consider storage. MHC does not provide any storage space over the summer, so it’s all on you to find a storage location. Many of the dorms are not configured for easy bike storage during the school year, especially the older dorms.
I know a few people who have fold-up scooters, which are much more portable (can be folded up and tucked into a classroom corner or closet), and don’t require as much of an investment.
Thank you, @CrewDad and @FireflyLights ! That is helpful.
@FireflyLights - thanks- We are headed up to visit in April & D is doing an overnight and I believe attending classes. Anything you wish you had known (things to bring, planned ahead for) or things you wish you knew before heading to MHC?
Also- D’s long term plans currently include grad school for biomedical. Any info you would like to share on research/labs/ classes in biological sciences is welcome.
thanks
I’m not doing research in biology, but I think it works the same way as it does in chem. There are science club and department events where professors discuss their research, or you can read up about it online, and you can send an email to professors whose work sounds interesting and ask if they’re accepting new students in their lab (sometimes a professor is planning on going on leave, or has too many students to add any more), and usually you’ll set up a time to come and talk about their research and what you’re interested in. Then you work it out with the professor - whether or not it’s for credit (getting credit overload - more than 20 credits - approved is a real pain in the butt), how much credit, at a 200 or 300 level, the hours you’ll be expected to work, and your responsibilities. Most people start research sophomore or junior year but some start as first years.
Because Mt Holyoke is a small school, you need to be smart planning your schedule. Classes offered in sequence (like Chem 101/201) are usually only offered in the fall/spring (the major exception is comp sci, which offers both its intro classes both semesters). You could not take chem 101 in the spring, since it is not offered. I don’t think this is made clear enough to incoming students planning their schedule. Biochemistry and Neuroscience, for example, are extremely restrictive majors because they have large numbers of required classes which are offered only in sequence (Biochemistry, for example, is a 48 credit major, when a standard major is 36). If your daughter is planning on majoring in biochemistry or biology she needs to take intro bio and general chem 1 her first semester (unless she has credit to place out of either, or takes the combined class, 160) so she can proceed to take bio 200 (intro 2: developmental bio) and general chem 2 her second semester, and then bio 230 (cell and molecular bio) and organic 1 (required for biochem, strongly recommended for bio) her third semester. These classes are sequenced:
intro bio -> bio 200 -> bio 230, which requires gen chem 2
gen chem 1 -> gen chem 2 -> orgo 1 -> orgo 2, for biochem continuing to biochem 311 -> biochem 314)
(all of these classes have labs)
In order to get in to upper-level electives it is best to complete them as early as possible (if you’re a bio major you don’t need to take orgo 2). Getting in to these classes is normally not an issue - the departments have experience in making sure these classes have the right capacity - but sometimes people are not aware of how important it is to begin taking them immediately since most of them are only offered every other semester, so if you miss one you’re a full year behind.
@SFLmom Things to bring:
-an umbrella (ideally with some kind of pattern so it is more identifiable than the hundreds of black umbrellas)
-a big coat and associated accouterments (gloves, hat, scarf which can go over the nose if necessary)
-waterproof boots
-an electric kettle (appliances are allowed as long as they do not have an open heating element, so microwaves, kettles, and mini fridges are fine but toasters and hot plates are not)
-tea from a favorite shop from home, or just plain old lipton or swiss miss hot chocolate
-a stick-on cushion for the desk chair (wait to get - some dorms have them built in to the seat, but many do not - it saved my butt while writing many papers)
-a heavy-duty backpack
-putty with which to put up posters (my family is big on greeting cards, so I have a blank wall where I stick up my cards and slowly watch as they fill the space)
-command hooks of varying sizes
-posters to put up on the wall (blank walls are very, very depressing when you’ve just moved across the country and are starting school with a bunch of complete strangers- posters make it feel more homey)
-desk lamp
-blanket(s)
-duct tape
-ziplock bags
-a few good books (the library here is extensive and books are heavy and take up space, but it’s good to have a few from home, rooting for you from their shelf like old friends)
-bins for under the bed storage of non-seasonal clothes, tools, ziplock bags, tape, and other minutiae (my non-lofted bed is about 13 inches off the floor)
-earplugs
-advil
Wear something you don’t hate when you get your OneCard photo taken on the first day (this goes for any school id, really). You will have to see that photo every day and it’s nice not to cringe when you look at it.
A fused surge protector is a must, extension cord(s), small LED flashlight
The Target, Walmart and Bed Bath and & Beyond are pretty good about keeping enough stock of the most sought after dorm room items, but it’s wise to shop at the beginning of orientation week to ensure certain items aren’t sold out.
I’ll add not to panic if you don’t have everything the first day. It’s so easy to order things off of Amazon, and students get a free 6 month Prime trial which gives free 2-day shipping. Also, a LOT is cheaper – I found mattress pads, sheets, desk supplies, etc and didn’t spend too much. My daughter definitely wanted her fan for move-in day though, and I ordered a second so she’d have a dedicated one pointing at her while she slept.
Hi everyone-- thank you for this thread!
My D was admitted to MHC and is deciding between MHC and a local state school. One issue at MHC is the cost. It’s a wonderful school and certainly worth it, but even with some excellent financial aid, D will blow through her college fund and have nothing left for grad school. Because of this, going to MHC means definitely needing good employment right out of school-- at least to build up some $$ for grad school. Can you comment on what people do right after graduation from MHC? What kind of jobs are out there for grads? How helpful is the alumni network?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
@cindylou1028 - we are in a very similar situation. My D was offered a full cost of attendance at a state school but prefers MHC. We are hoping for an adjustment in financial aid. D was offered 21 Century Scholarship and some grants. It was generous but would still strap us quite a bit. I have similar questions about getting into grad school in the STEM fields. Are you headed to admitted student weekend.We are not able to make it but will be up visiting the following week. There is also a parent facebook page that may have more activity.
MHC has a great reputation among grad schools, and provides lots of resources to help students build their careers and get jobs right out of college. A benefit of MHC over a state school is the student to faculty ratio which allows students to connect with faculty and get things like research positions and internships and mentors. Also, students have not just the MHC alumni network but all of the seven sisters, which is a great connection considering 2 percent of American women go to women’s colleges but 20 percent of women in Congress and 30 percent of a recent Businessweek list of rising women in corporate America are graduates of women’s colleges.
From the website, I’ve gathered that there are two ways to study engineering at MHC: Dual degree or Nexus. What is Nexus about? I’d also like to know how much competitive it is to apply for Dual Degree engineering since we’d have to apply to the other college/university as well.
It looks like the Nexus is sort of a pre-engineering program using the offerings primarily at MHC but also through the 5-col consortium – https://lynktest.mtholyoke.edu/acad/nexus/engineering-courses?_ga=1.242388999.40915685.1487967554
Yeah, Nexus programs are designed to be interdisciplinary minors involving an internship component which are related to specific fields.
How was Spring Fest? 
I hear it was a lot of fun! I made the wise (sarcasm) choice to take a fifth class this semester and I’m feeling the bite right now, so I went to a concert and mass and not a lot else. My friends who went said it was a really enjoyable time - good food and rides. It was beautiful outside - no one is quite in sunscreen mode yet, so we had lots of lobsters in class on Monday.
I’m trying to decide between my state school and MHC. I absolutely love MHC and it’s been my top choice for a long time. One thing that’s keeping me from making my final decision (other than the cost lol) is that, outside of certain circles, MHC is relatively unknown. Has that been an issue for anyone? I doubt it has, but these are the things that keep me up at night haha