My D is a HS Jr. right now and we’re putting together our tours, mostly of schools with good academics but also good theatre programs. Up to this point she has said no to the idea of a women’s college but I think if she took a tour she may feel differently. the girl’s Catholic school in our area is has quite a reputation with the girls being very snotty and b**chy and I know that has colored her feelings. She hates any kind of pretentiousness, girl drama, etc. She’s very liberal and outgoing. I know she has the stats and I was very impressed with the MH woman who visited our HS during college preview night. She was very interested in encouraging my D to come take a look. Has anyone else out there said no to MH only to change their mind after visiting?
My D isn’t all that interested in women’s college but she did like Mount Holyoke. It’s a beautiful campus and none of the girls we met were snotty or bitchy. We felt very welcomed and the school had a very relaxed vibe. If you’re going to the area anyway for the 5 college consortium, definitely check it out. They do have special days you can sign up for that have themes (like a special class on essay writing) and that’s how I got my D there–I figured she could use the essay writing tips for all of the schools she’s applying to. Luckily they sort of coordinate with Smith so that you can do Smith’s day on Saturday and Mt. Holyoke’s on Sunday or something like that. The UMass tour takes a couple hours so you can probably combine it with Amherst or Hampshire if she’s interested.
Get your daughter to the campus for a formal admission program if you can. My D actually wanted to attend an all women’s college but initially preferred urban areas so Barnard, Bryn Mawr and Wellesley were high on her list. When we visited Mount Holyoke it was really overcast and lightening literally struck when we got out of the car. My D insisted the campus was too remote and that the bad weather was a sign that MHC was not for her. Fast forward to her accepted student day visit. Sunny day, engaging presentations, friendly students. At other campuses she did find some cliquiness but not at MHC. She is now a very happy first year there. I tell her now that the lightening was a sign she was supposed to be there not the other way around. 
I think the thing that did it for my daughter was the Focus on Admission event we attended her junior year. It was really about admissions to all very selective LACs, so the information was totally useful for other schools. It was in August last year, which unfortunately is not when school is in session, but maybe combined with a visit later (Shadow Day is especially great!) during the school year? https://www.mtholyoke.edu/admission/visit/focusadmission
Neither of my Ds thought they wanted a women’s college, but both changed their mind after visiting MHC. Both applied and were accepted, one with great merit money. Both ended up at other places (one due to money – the one who didn’t get merit several years ago, one who got merit but decided on a STEM school). There is another poster out here who was dead set against women’s colleges (a dad), and said his D was as well. Several posters recommended MHC anyway, and they eventually decided to visit. Guess what jumped to the top of her list? They are still waiting on all acceptances, I think. She might not end up there, but it was quite a turnaround, and the visit really helped. I agree that MHC is NOT snotty or pretentious. Lovely campus, diverse student body, and 5 college consortium. I asked my kids to have a couple of “mom’s picks” on their visit lists (and one of them ended up at “my pick”!). You could ask your D for the same. Tell her if she doesn’t like it after visiting, she doesn’t have to apply.
I was the same exact way! My parents convinced me to tour MHC while I was out in the area to visit Umass. I had never even considered a women’s college and was sure I would not like the tour but I could not have been more wrong! It proved to be the first and only college campus I ‘fell in love with’ and I really hope your daughter does give it a try!
Somehow this post reminded me of my visit to Mount Holyoke in the spring of my junior year of high school. I went on tour with a high school classmate and our mothers. After seeing Smith College, I was unimpressed. When we got to Mount Holyoke, I knew, somehow, that this was it. Before we left, I told my mother I wanted to attend and wanted to buy a Mount Holyoke sweatshirt. She replied, “Don’t you want to see if you get in first?” I applied early decision and got in. I loved my four years there. A Mount Holyoke sweatshirt still hangs in my closet – almost 50 years later.
One reason MHC is high on our list is the students we met when we toured. We arrived late and a lovely student did a great job of walking us over to where she expected the tour to be and also gave us a short introduction along the way. When we joined up with the tour, the guide was friendly and welcoming. She was one of the best guides we’ve encountered after taking many tours. Later we had a chance to chat with her and another student while our D interviewed and we were impressed.
I’m a current firstie at Moho and I only toured / applied to this school because my dad made me. He was really into the idea of a women’s college and I was looking at UMass so he made me visit Moho on that trip. On the tour, I still said no way would I come to a women’s college. But then I kept looking into it. I read student perspectives online. I came for admitted students weekend, and very slowly I fell in love. Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Honestly if you think she would be good here get her to look at it however you can. Drag her along on tours, have her do an overnight stay. You really have to learn about the atmosphere to change your mind.