Several posts seem to indicate that MHC should do a better job helping new students with the transition to college. This is somewhat surprising since it also has the reputation of being nurturing. Is it just that the residential life branch does not organize events that help them make friends and feel part of the community? Is it expected that they will figure that out on their own, while also navigating new academic challenges? Other schools we are considering use orientation/freshman writing seminar or theme houses to help new students feel that they are part of some group early on. Even if it is just someone to sit with in the dining hall. Please comment on whether MHC does a good job in this respect. Thanks.
Hi! I am a current first year at Mount Holyoke and can give you some insight on the transition process. When I first got to MHC, we had orientation for about a week. During this, we had a ton of bonding activities and events and throughout the orientation, we had a “group” who we were with the entire time. For my group, we were also in the same residence hall, which was nice. We usually went to dining halls together, so we always had someone to sit with. It never felt that we had to figure it out on our own. If anything, the orientation process was overwhelming in the amount of people we got to meet! I found the process extremely helpful and when classes started, I had already made several friends.
There are also events for each residence hall, like game nights, which are a good way to get to know people. All first-year students are assigned to a first-year seminar, which is an intro to college reading/writing class with around 16 people, so these too can be good ways for first-years to bond. I am not in an LLC so I can’t really speak to their effectiveness, but I know there are several LLC’s on campus, including a first-year focus residence hall, and from what I hear, people seem to like them.
I am an introvert and was really nervous about making friends, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the transition was for me. Wherever you end up going, make sure to participate in the orientation and bonding events at the beginning of the semester and I’m sure you’ll be fine. Best of luck!!
I don’t know if Mount Holyoke needs to do a better job per se. My twins had extremely different experiences their first years at school.
For example, daughter not at MHC had an orientation for several days (I think 5) immediately after move-in. Her school has a policy that first years can never be alone during this time, and they’re always involved in an activity, usually with members of their dorms and/or halls, from 7am to about midnight, each day. No exceptions. This is absolutely wonderful for kids who have trouble making friends, who might be prone to loneliness and/or hiding themselves in their room, who are nervous about finding the dining hall, etc, etc. My daughter got to know people right away and was exhausted but liked it.
Daughter at MHC would have HATED that. She doesn’t like people telling her when to eat, sleep, and socialize. She needs space. Paraphrasing her words, she was perfectly capable of looking at the orientation schedule and a map, and getting herself where she needed to go, and she met people in the natural course of the first few days of dorm living. There were orientation activities, but for the most part they weren’t required. Milk and cookies? Ultimate frisbee? She’s there. Karaoke? Over her dead body.
Even as a parent, we found move-in and parent orientation to be entirely different experiences. D1’s school had a jam-packed, detailed schedule. MHC’s move-in can only be described as chill for us – two trips in, did the unpacking, went to the campus picnic, then my daughter took a several-hour nap. When we spoke with other parents later that afternoon, it turns out their daughters had napped too. 
So – my point is that every school is different, which is good because kids are different, and you need to find what works for you. My observation is that Mount Holyoke expects independence and responsibility from the students, and has the resources for anyone who needs them. It’s a particular vibe, and a perfect fit for my daughter, but not for everyone.
Very helpful Pheebers, thank you.