<p>I am interested in both these schools and have to decide very soon.<br>
I want to study International Relations and International Business, as
well as languages. I also want to succeed. </p>
<p>I've gone to pretty tough private schools all my life, and I'm a good
student (3.4) lots of math, sciences, language, etc. Some say if I
was at public school I'd have an easy 4.0, but who's to say?</p>
<p>Which school is tougher or easier? I love them both, for different reasons.<br>
My heart leans more toward Mt. Holyoke, but I need to know that I can
make it there. My college counselor told me that Freshmen get "one" chance
at the scholarship and aid money, so that's a big reason for my questions.</p>
<p>Does anybody have knowledge of these two schools? Pro's/Con's? Tough/Tougher?
Tough/Easy?</p>
<p>Well, Mt. Holyoke is ranked #26 for National liberal arts colleges, while Goucher is #111. MHC is more selective than Goucher. If you were admitted to MHC, that means the admissions people think you will be successful. I think though, a bigger question is, how do you feel deep down about a women’s college? I graduated from MHC and loved it, but not all women want to be at a women’s college for 4 years. There are men at the colleges nearby (Amherst, UMass, and Hampshire), but not too many attend classes at MHC on a regular basis. Mt. Holyoke will definitely challenge you to do more than you ever thought you were capable of, and the environment is extremely supportive. Students compete with themselves, not with each other, and actually help each other to be successful in and out of the classroom. They have a great Int. Relations major, and proudly claim Anthony Lake (former presidential cabinet member). MHC has about 2000 students on campus, where Goucher has about 1500. The MHC campus and dorms are also absolutely GORGEOUS, all 800 acres, vs. Gouchers 237 or so acres. Can you try to visit either? MHC is in South Hadley, a small, somewhat quiet town, but it does have a few restaurants, churches, a movie theatre, some shops. Better is that it is a free 20 minute bus ride from Amherst, MA and Northampton, MA, both fun places for entertainment, shopping, cultural events, other colleges, restaurants, etc. An hour and a half from Boston, or about 3 hours from NYC.
I can’t tell you much about Goucher’s location.
Can you tell I am a very proud MHC alum? I loved my 4 years, and feel I was well prepared, and then some. Let’s just say my grad. school experience was easier than my undergrad, and I breezed through grad school. I am still very close to a former professor who has become a cherished friend. Real connections are made at MHC…</p>
<p>I don’t understand what you mean. Is she saying that if you don’t do well MHC will pull your financial aid? That she thinks that this is more likely to happen to you at MHC than Goucher? Do you know her BASIS for telling you that? </p>
<p>I’ve never heard of MHC having some sort of cut off gpa wise to keep your aid package other than doing well enough to stay there. If that’s what your GC is claiming, I’d verify what she is saying with MHC directly.</p>
<p>Let me tell you my own theory…</p>
<p>I think a lot of kids think that if they go to a less selective college, they will automatically get better grades. it doesn’t work that way…really. There are just way too many variables. </p>
<p>Choose the school where you can “see” yourself and don’t worry about the rest, at least if there’s no reason to make the decision based on money. Most people tend to do better academically when they are happy.</p>
<p>You can certainly “make” it there. MHC would not have admitted you if the staff wasn’t convinced of that. Very, very few people flunk out of MHC and I’d make an educated guess that virtually all who do do so because they weren’t studying and going to class or had issues like depression.</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke gives need based finanical aid in addition to merit money. In order to keep your merit aid at Mount Holyoke you only need to maintain satisfactory academic progress which they state as:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As long as you are not on academic probation, you will be fine at Mount Holyoke. I agree with teachandmom, it is an amazing school that will do a great job of supporting you and being supportive of you while you are there. In addition to the five colleges they have the 12 college exchange and study abroad program which will only further enhance your college experience.</p>
<p>“My college counselor told me that Freshmen get “one” chance at the scholarship and aid money, so that’s a big reason for my questions.”</p>
<p>By this your counselor might mean that even though you have a better scholarship offer now for Goucher, if you go to MHC instead, and then decide to transfer to Goucher you probably won’t be offered that kind of scholarship money. The big scholarship offers go to freshman students. Often transfer student aid is not nearly as good.</p>
<p>Couldn’t have said it better myself. Goucher might be a better choice if you were studying Performing Arts … but for International Business (as well as virtually any other major) MHC would have the better-rated program.</p>
<p>Full-disclosure: We visited both Goucher and MHC. Goucher didn’t make DD’s application list due to size and academics … MHC because it was all-female. I liked them both.</p>