<p>This is the forum for prospective students, transfers and freshmen, to address their concerns.</p>
<p>Hi there! It looks like the MHC forum seems a bit dead. Well, I have a question and i'm a prospie. I'm wondering whether MHC is one of those colleges that do seriously like high stats and numbers...or if the person inside is really what matters. Lets say you don't have the most sparkly SAT scores and your average isn't the highest either but is still in the 90s....but you have a great personality and have lots of ecs that show your leadership and passion. What would you say MHC would say to that? Thanks!</p>
<p>Fellow prospie putting in her $0.02:</p>
<p>At the info session I went to, they basically repeated ad infinitum that they take a very holistic view of candidates. They're also SAT-optional. I can't answer your question fully since I'm not an actual student there, but hopefully this is on the right track.</p>
<p>I applied for the class of 2011 and was accepted. (Though I'm going to Bryn Mawr, I still think I can help! :) I had good grades, but not fantastic ones (I do horribly in Math) decent SATs, but nothing insane (2070, if that helps...?), and some extracurriculars about which I was very passionate. I also wrote rather personal essays and had a wonderful interview. So I definitely think they're not the "an applicant is as good as his/her scores" school, even though it's an amazing college. Good luck!</p>
<p>They care about everything but SATS and they definitely are welcoming to diversity (lots of international acceptances).</p>
<p>Does anyone know about needbased international financial aid for MHC?</p>
<p>What's a score that you should put in for the SAT/ACT? I've only taken it once and it was a 1970 total (with a 610 reading.... but 700 math and 660 writing). I could've done better I feel, but I'm never great at standardized testing.</p>
<p>Would these scores be worth submitting? I have decent grades and extracurriculars (I could go in detail but I'll spare you), so I'm not sure about these.</p>
<p>Also, how's the pre-med program there?</p>
<p>gracieloos: I think those scores would be competitive (no guarantees)and it would certainly be worth applying. Good luck!</p>
<p>P.S. From what I understand, the science program is strong.</p>
<p>How good is their financial aid? I'm in a bit of a rut to my college decisions out-of-state, so the total costs needs to be equal to my in-state tuition (in UW). Loans are also not very likable in my family, so do they use a lot of packages with loans? I know this is probably a bit specific and that it's different for each family, but I was just wondering.</p>
<p>How competitive is their merit aid?</p>
<p>Also, how's the weather? In the winter mostly? Too cold? I'm from the NW so I'm used to cold and rain, but not a lot of snow.</p>
<p>Is there a lot to do in South Hadley?</p>
<p>Where's the nearest airport?</p>
<p>Sorry for the millions of questions! :)</p>
<p>Don't know about airport or merit aid, but need-based aid was the best package we received when my daughter was accepted.</p>
<p>The closest airport is Hartford, CT (BDL) and is about 45 minutes away. The Valley Transpoter ( <a href="http://www.valleytransporter.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.valleytransporter.com/</a> ) provides reliable transportation from the airport to any of the five colleges.
Mount Holyoke is located in the small town of South Hadley. The Village Commons, across the street from MHC, has a movie theater, several restaurants, a coffee house and some shops ( <a href="http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cic/about/region.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cic/about/region.shtml</a> ) Access to the other colleges in the five college consortiom is via a free transportation on the PVTA ( <a href="http://www.umass.edu/campus_services/transit/schedules_maps.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.umass.edu/campus_services/transit/schedules_maps.html</a> )
New England winters are New England winters, but last winter was quite easy.</p>
<p>My daughter, who began her college search looking for coed schools in a suburban metropolitan area with warmer weather, and who opened her search to opportunities just before she began the application process, absolutley loves MHC!</p>
<p>Like swiss_mj I was accepted to MHC but decided to attend BMC instead.
My grades are, well, not outstanding (I don't like humanities; junior year I failed my ethics class and got a C in German) but I had quite high test scores.</p>
<p>chrism, I was offered need-based aid in the range of tuition but it was significantly less than I got from BMC (and frankly, not quite enough for me to be able to attend but they might have just misinterpreted some numbers; e.g. half of my family's income is spent solely on taxes)</p>
<p>gracieloos, I received the merit-based Leadership Award as part of my fin aid package (10K as far as I can remember). You are welcome to have a look at my stats profile if you would like.</p>
<p>I go to Mount Holyoke, and they do wholistically look at students. If its one thing MHC prides itself in, it's giving everybody a chance. Mt. Holyoke gives very good financial aid-- especially to people who need the aid. What most people don't realize is that if they don't qualify for much, they won't get much. </p>
<p>The Leadership award is merit-based and given regardless of need. Its based on <em>leadership skills</em>-- not grades, at all...</p>
<p>About the Leadership Award:
[quote]
Mount Holyoke is pleased to offer a limited number of merit scholarships—awarded competitively—to first-year candidates who have an outstanding record of scholarship and extracurricular achievement in high school and who demonstrate noteworthy leadership skills.
[/quote]
<p>I don't want to get into an argument with you, but don't you think that "an outstanding record of scholarship" does involve grades?</p>
<p>Grades are minimal for the leadership award. A valedictorian with a lot of extracurricular activities, but no leadership positions does not get this award. One who is a leader as well as smart, will. On that same note, somebody who fights for a cause but has borderline good grades (3.3/3.4) can get the leadership award. What matters most is leadership, not academic achievement.</p>
<p>What if my leadership was say....</p>
<p>President & Founder of an Amnesty Int'l./Human Rights club (for senior year)
Vice President of Key Club
Secretary of Diversity Committee
voted most inspirational for cross country
(and pretty much a captain, yet not voted as captain because people believe too much in seniority. But I've been pretty much helping out anyway because I want to and am mature enough to not have a grudge.)</p>
<p>And I had pretty good grades (about 3.9 UW GPA) and okay SAT scores (I had a total of 1970 for my first time, 610CR, 700M, 66W)</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>ALSO, how's the off-campus life? I know the campus is supposed to be beautiful. But as in, is there a lot to do in South Hadley? From the previous post, apparently the airport is 45 minutes away. And that seems to be a huge turnoff for me. I'd like a suburb/urban area. Is there a lot to do in South Hadley with intern/job opportunities maybe?</p>
<p>South Hadley is not really a social hub. Most students go off campus for their social lives; it's difficult to get a job if you don't have a car. If you do, there are job opportunities in the area. Northampton and Amherst are the college towns to visit, because they are catered to students, and there are many more job opportunities. As for your leadership opportunities, I don't know-- they seem borderline for the award. You might, you might not. Leadership awards usually go to students who have a district position and not just a school one (as in lt. governor in key club). Good job on Amnesty. That could really be the deciding factor for the award. Your grades and SAT are fine; however, you must not worry-- Mount Holyoke does <em>not</em> require the SAT. Not satisfied with your scores? Block them.</p>
<p>gracieloos: honestly my D fell in love (I mean in LOVE) with the school when we visited, and just completed her first year there. Unfortunately the lack of a "college town" got to her badly and she put out some transfer apps. She was accepted to every transfer school she applied, and has decided to move to New York City. Talk about a change! </p>
<p>My D doesn't drive, and was 3000 miles from "home" which didn't bother her one bit. She loved the weather. She loved the school (excellent classes, stimulating women to socialize with), but not being able to do anything within her own community (walking distance, even a mile or two), was not going to do it for her. There wasn't much opportunity for off campus work without a car, so that wasn't an option for her.</p>
<p>MHC is DEFINITELY a school that reviews the whole person. My D did not submit test scores, had excellent recommendations, diverse ECs, not super high grades, but always took honors courses and AP classes when available. She interviewed in person when she visited the school in the fall of her senior year. In fact she appied ED, was deferred, and was accepted during the regular acceptance period. MHC has informed her that she is welcome to return if her transfer doesn't match up to her dreams. She received a warmly written letter from her advisor upon officially withdrawing. MHC is not for everyone, and I'm sorry it wasn't for my D, but she gave it her all. </p>
<p>I would highly recommend a visit if that's possible. Are you int'l? See if MHC can get you in touch with any students from your area to communicate with via e-mail or IM. Have you seen pictures (other than the MHC website)? The school and its surroundings are beautiful, but very remote. And yes, 35 miles to the nearest airport (Hartford, Connecticut). It costs a pretty penny (about $45 each way) by shuttle. There's no public transportation (that I know of) to the airport. Being in a remote area has it's pros and its cons, that's for sure.</p>
<p>I won't be able to make any college visits for any of the schools I'm applying to- which is a REALLY bad idea, I know. But because of cost concerns and overall time, I won't be able to this summer.</p>
<p>I like Mt. Holyoke and its opportunities- the beautiful campus from what I've heard, the teachers, academics, etc. And it seems to be the perfect size of a school I want. But the area and remoteness of it is what I HIGHLY am doubting applying for. Plus I've never really lived anywhere except the northwest, so going to MA would be a big change. I want a change, but I don't know how I would react to the remoteness even though I love everything else about the school.</p>
<p>That's why most of the schools I'm trying to look at are in California or at least in a city- but a lot of them are competitive, and it feels like MHC is a good match for me and I have a possibility of gaining merit aid (which is a big concern- financial aid). If MHC moved to somewhere near LA (like Scripps College is), then that would be wonderful....</p>
<p>Do you know of any other schools similar to MHC (also doesn't have to be women's only) but possibly located in a more urban area?</p>
<p>(The other schools that are on my list to apply are Scripps, Clark U, Occidental, Barnard, U San Diego, U Washington Honors, Rice, and Stanford. But as you CAN SEE, these are all pretty high reaches.)</p>
<p>gracieloos--
I really don't know what exactly the college is looking for in the leadership awards, but I got one and I don't think my leadership looked nearly as good on paper as yours does-- in fact, I'm not even sure, beyond one school-level thing, they base my "leadership qualities" or whatever on. If you decide that you want to apply to mount holyoke, based on what you posted, I'd say you'd have a chance. (Of course, I have no idea what the look for because everyone who got one seems to have a different idea of why...)</p>