Hi, I’m looking for some advice… I really love Mount Holyoke college because they have strong programs in the languages I’m interested in. They also have the sports I’m interested in participating in, and the clubs I like. I really like the idea of an all women’s education. I think I would participate in class a lot more and it would be more a time for personal growth than socializing/partying. But I was also thinking, maybe a coed environment would expose me to more things and I’d develop a better relationship with men (I’ve never had guy friends or a boyfriend cause I’m too shy)… however, I know that the most important thing in college is getting a good education, so maybe it would be better to go to a place where I know I can get a great education without any distractions (ie boys and dating, things of that nature). I just worry that if I go to an all women’s college I’ll still be very inexperienced with men when I graduate, and I won’t know how to interact with them ever…I’m really a introverted, shy person. What do you think? I want to apply early decision to Mount Holyoke because I love the school (and I don’t want to write a ton of supplemental essays for schools that I’m not as interested in), but this is throwing me off a bit… I guess I just need to get some reassurance that it won’t be a huge problem (which it very well may be - I know there is the 5 college consortium, but knowing me, I won’t have the guts to go up and start talking to a guy at one of the other colleges). Also, another concern is that Mount Holyoke doesn’t strike me as having a very outdoorsy/athletic student body, which I’m very much so. I’m also really into healthy eating and vegetarianism. Would I fit in there?
bump
I think you would find your people there. But only you can decide for sure about co-ed vs not. If your stats are pretty strong, you could apply RD, and visit multiple schools that you get into.
Good idea, I think I will apply RD to most schools (early action to a few) and visit schools again after because I’m really not 100% sure @intparent
That sounds like a good plan. My D was also one who couldn’t pick one school as THE school. But she applied to a solid group of schools that were well-suited to her and she had good results. She did a round of visits after she was accepted and in the end she did chose MHC and is happy with her decision.
I think you will find that there are plenty of outdoorsy/athletic kids there. The same kid may be in an a capella group and on the lacrosse team or in an improv group and on the club ice hockey team. Remember it is a small school but does have many varsity teams. Somebody has to be on those teams! Plus there is an active outdoors club.
FWIW, my D has found it feels very comfortable to be on a women’s campus but has gone to parties at the co-ed schools with friends so there are certainly opportunities to branch out.
@LeftofPisa Thanks for sharing. Just out of curiosity, did your daughter apply to Smith? I just visited there today was very impressed! However, I found Mount Holyoke to have a little bit more of a laidback/nuturing and homey feel to it, and if that’s the case, Mount Holyoke may be a better fit for me.
@nopuedodecidir, She did. And was accepted. It was one of the final 4 she visited to make up her mind. I think she did find that same more homey vibe at MHC and that was part of her final decision-making. Also, she had thought she would want the more exciting vibe of Smith right in Northampton but in the end really liked the wooded setting of MHC. But probably the biggest factor was merit aid. MHC offered her a very generous merit award and I think that probably tipped the balance. I think she would have been happy with either choice actually. They are both excellent LACs, as were her final co-ed choices (Oberlin & Kenyon, FWIW). I am a big believer that this is one of those things where there can be many right answers. 
My feeling is that most students are never 110% totally and madly in love with their final choice of school. College is a lot like real life–never perfect. With that said, My daughter saw the same advantages in a superior women’s college education had some of same hesitations about the lack of minute to minute interaction with men at a womens college. you are correct, the Five college environment provides for co-ed interaction accedmenically and socially. My daughter found that taking classes at the other schools was her gateway to making friends across gender lines. Since you mentioned “outdoorsy” you may want to look at MHC outdoor club. My daughter also took a PE credit at Hampshire for x-county skiing. Two afternoons a week the group toured the snowy woods and fields around the pioneer valley all equipment included–a great way to learn a new sport and make friends. Best of luck.