I visited MHC (as well as Smith) the other day and I was beyond impressed. I never thought that I would want to go to a women’s college, but after visiting, I felt like it would be a great fit for me.
I’ve always been a feminist and a leftist. I was just wondering if the community at MHC is very feminist and active politically. I know that transwomen are allowed to apply which is a good sign. But are the students themselves very feminist/leftist and is social activism not uncommon?
Thanks in advance! And also if anyone could answer the same questions about Smith, that would be great
Yes, absolutely. My D is at MHC and she’s very feminist/leftist. The students were the ones who advocated for the new trans admission policy: when we were on campus last summer we saw many of them demonstrating about it in a very positive and friendly manner. Social justice activism is very common. The school also really encourages students to find and use their voices for change.
Smith absolutely has a huge social justice contingent as well. I was just talking to my D about this the other day, actually, because there were some moms/students here on CC who were saying they found the atmosphere at Smith to be unpleasant for those who have less extreme beliefs than the vocal minority on campus… I do not know if that’s true other than the few anecdotes we heard here -and hopefully some current Smithies will chime in with their positive experiences- but my D did confirm that is sort of the “rep” of Smith among students in the area. That it’s more angry and in-your-face about politics, and less accepting. My D pointed to the differences in the Yik Yaks on the two campuses, where there is some anger and meanness on the Yik Yaks of the surrounding schools, but at MHC it’s extremely positive and supporting.
Either way, you will certainly find MANY like-minded young women!
Yik Yak posts are now how prospective students should judge the temperament of a college? Really? If one took the time to actually read Smith’s Yik Yak posts, they would find them amusing and sometimes irreverent, but angry? Hardly. 
If a few malcontents are to be believed and the atmosphere at Smith is unpleasant for those who have less than the extreme beliefs than the vocal minority, then why is it that Smith has one of the highest first year retention rates of any LAC? Unhappy students transfer, especially the 45 percent full-pay students who aren’t handcuffed by FA. I would hope that prospective students are discerning enough to ignore the hearsay and reported “rep” and discover for themselves the accepting social environment at Smith.
Having said that, there are, of course, always a few students at any college who from time to time feel the need to make life miserable for others. Much like most politicians.
“Yik Yak posts are now how prospective students should judge the temperament of a college? Really?”
Of course not, CrewDad! I was just relating an anecdote from a student in the area When I was in college I hung with the politically active crowd so I find discussions about the different ways people express their ideals to be fascinating. And I love Smith, not dissing it at all. Just relaying the observation of my own social-justice-minded daughter…
My Yik Yak comment had a more serious tone than intended. I should have included a smiley
Stacey, I didn’t for a second harbor the belief that you were dissing Smith. You’re much too gracious.
The cautionary advice I was attempting to convey is that it’s impolitic to believe others’ observations and unsubstantiated accusations without exercising due diligence. There are instances on CC when an individual has posted flagitious,spiteful and/or misleading comments to satisfy an agenda.
It should also be noted that anyone can post on Yik Yak pretending to be a student.
@CrewDad did a family member of yours go to Smith, by any chance? Because I’m considering Smith or Bryn Mawr, and I’m just afraid of the atmosphere at Smith–I mean, I’m very feminist and liberal, but I don’t want to go to a college that automatically disregards other viewpoints; plus, I don’t want everything to be politically charged. When I visited, I got the feeling that Bryn Mawr was more easy-going, but I only spent a couple days at each schools and I’m afraid I wasn’t sure about Smith’s “vibe” because I was expecting to to be in-your-face, so that’s all I saw…
Yes, I have family members who are Smith alumnae.
Care to explain?
@CrewDad explain what? Literally every single thread on here (or even current students’ tumblrs, which I may or may not be spending hours on instead of doing my homework ahem) with the seven sisters or just mentioning Smith says that it’s “in your face” or a bit bolder than the other sisters. But yeah, that’s all I ever really heard about Smith–that it’s louder and in your face–so when I visited, that stereotype was in the forefront of my mind. So yeah, Smith seemed to me to be more “in-your-face” than Bryn Mawr, but I really don’t know what the campus culture is actually like. Hence my trying to find out.
@chitownproud what does “in your face” mean? And what are they in your face about? 
ediyed sorry in a hurry will update later
Oops nevermind guess I’m not in a hurry anymore. Anyway so @pdubs97I just wanted to say that I never thought I’d go to a women’s college until I visited, which seemed to be the sentiment of most people there 
anyway though, I just feel like really the best way to tell is just through visits, because the activism (which is very strong at all of them tbh) will feel different to you. Personally, I found (of the Seven Sisters I was interested in) Mount Holyoke to be the most social justice activist-oriented, then Smith, and Bryn Mawr. Most people would say Moho is the least SJ oriented so again, matter of opinion!
@pdubs97 I really truly don’t know. Like I said, I’m just repeating what other threads say, and almost every single one mentioned Smith as being “in your face” (regardless of whether that person had attended or knew someone who attended Smith, so…). Bryn mawr seemed to be more, I don’t really know, smooth and not as “social justice warrior” than Smith. Even though I definitely want a school that’s socially aware (I mean, hello, women’s colleges, very aware), it seems that everyone’s impressions of Smith is that it’s tumblr in college form. And I don’t know if that’s true or not, hence my trying to figure out (btw sorry if i seem rude or anything I’m panicking because I have five days left to decide and I’m a really bad decision maker and yeah)
@chitownproud I visited Smith and the overall atmosphere seemed very positive. Nobody seemed angry like “tumblr feminists.”
@staceyneil I understand your YikYak comment. I added all of the schools I’m applying to YikYak and MoHo is definitely the most supportive and enthusiastic. (Anonymous) students are willing to offer helpful and kind words which is an anomaly for the platform.
Across a lot of other schools I saw people complaining about finals, wanting to transfer, etc. but the worst I saw on MoHo’s were complaints about the thin toilet paper. Lol. It is definitely a supportive community with strong ties to feminism from what I gather from YikYak, talking to current students, and talking to alumni.
I sdmit, I sat on my kid’s campus and watched YikYak for a couple of hours last week. It was an interesting look at the college… maybe we should add it as criteria for college visits going forward. 