<p>In the search for “non-STEMY” colleges ( I can sympathize as mother of a very humanities pointy D’15), looking at what students are actually studying gives us real information. By far the most humanities focussed of the 3 MA women’s colleges would be Smith. Here are the 5 most popular majors for each college for the class of 2013 – not one science or math on the list for Smith. While the top 20% of students at MHC are studying English and Psychology, the rest of the list is comprised of Sciences and Economics. At Wellesley the largest cohort (18%) is studying Economics but then the rest are majoring in Psychology, English and Poli Sci with the exception of a smallish group (6%) in Biology. </p>
<p>I would think that hearing from a family of strangers that they spent one afternoon at Smith and << Their impression was that Smith was too GLBTQ and "STEMY>> is possibly one of the very least reliable ways to ascertain real facts in this important endeavor. </p>
<p>Five most popular majors for 2013 graduates at Smith:
Social Sciences 23%
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 10%
Psychology 10%
Visual and Performing Arts 10%
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies</p>
<p>Five most popular majors for 2013 graduates at Mount Holyoke:
English Language and Literature, General 10%
Psychology, General 10%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 9%
Economics, General 7%
Economics, International Relations and Affairs 7%</p>
<p>Five most popular majors at Wellesley:
Economics, General 18%
Psychology, General 10%
English Language and Literature, General 8%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 6%
Political Science and Government, General</p>
<p>Yes. That’s “some”.We did not meet any who were exclusively applying exclusivly to women’s colleges. We also met many who were surprised that they liked MHC. </p>
<p>Lux, Google Maps is not hard to use…really
Smith is 8 miles from Amherst College; MHC is 9.3 miles
Smith is also closer to UMass.
MHC is ~ a mile closer to Hampshire College, but except for Hamp Halloween, Smith students rarely, if ever, have a need to go to Hampshire.</p>
<p>I’ve stated numerous times that I’m very fond of MHC. Best of luck to your daughter. </p>
<p>PVTA bus picks up right in front of MHC admin building. It is a straight shot north up Route 116 to Hampshire, Amherst College, and then UMass. One then has to change buses at UMass to get to Smith. A bus runs up and down Route 116 serving the 4 schools on the east side of the Connecticut River. A different bus goes to Smith.</p>
<p>D, while at MHC found it tougher to take a class at Smith as compared to Hamp, Amherst, or UMass as a result.</p>
<p>CrewDad, it’s not just about map distances if one does not have a car.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what your point is. The PVTA bus picks up almost in front of the Smith Campus Center on Rt 9 and then it’s a straight shot up Rt 9 to Amherst College/UMass. There’s a long line of women waiting for the bus on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s also a direct bus from Smith to Hampshire College. It’s a short 20 minute ride. However, as I said, there would be no reason for a Smith student to take a course at Hampshire. Actually, the Hampshire curriculum is designed to takes advantage of the consortium. </p>
<p>MHC students don’t have a problem taking classes at Smith. There’s a *direct/express<a href=“i.e.%20no%20stops”>/i</a> bus from MHC to Smith and vise versa. It takes 30 minutes and the bus runs every hour Monday-Friday. </p>
<p>One advantage of attending Smith is that there are > 60 restaurants/pubs, numerous coffee cafes, two grocery stores (both with great deli depts) a few ice cream shops and bakeries, etc, all within walking distance. No bus required. There’s also the famous Calvin and Academy of Music Theatres, etc.</p>
<p>I honestly think that it is useless to compete and attempt to convince anyone of the “superiority” of any of these college. However, to deny that difference exist among different colleges, including the Seven Sisters, is disingenuous. </p>
<p>The differences in population and vibe, if you will; are very real, and intentional. </p>
<p>Hi guys!
Does anyone know which 7 sisters schools and other top colleges have really good political science and history programs? (I know Wellesley has a very popular Political Science program, but other info can be helpful)</p>
<p>@LuxLake I don’t think anyone other than you is suggesting the superiority of any of these schools and no one is suggesting they are all the same. You’ve made some inaccurate and derogatory remarks about some of these schools, so folks are responding to that. </p>
<p>Sincerely, best of luck to your daughter in her college search and selection process.</p>
<p>I think when Luxlake was referring to the relative isolation of Smith vs the other 4 colleges, he was talking about the bus system. It is, of course, in a very cool and vibrant little city and not isolated at all in the general sense But it’s a bit harder to get to from the other campuses. We were just visiting over the weekend and we did hear from several students that visiting Smith was more difficult than visiting the others because you had to either change buses or wait for a much-less-frequent bus line. Apparently the bus that runs most frequently only connects MHC, Hampshire, Amherst, UMass in a straight line.</p>
<p>Well, you could as easily argue the same in reverse. MHC college is relatively isolated because it’s more difficult for Smith students to get to MHC than the colleges of importance. You could also argue that MHC is much more isolated because bus transportation is required in order to get to town with more than 3-4 restaurants, one coffee shop, and no grocery store or night life, etc, etc. No so for Smith students. Smith is also only one mile from I-91, which makes it much easier to get to from most directions.</p>
<p>Whether Smith is easily acceptable to MHC is in reality a moot point. Smith students can as easily as MHC students access the only two colleges that Smithies are interested in cross-registering – co-ed UMass/Amherst College. </p>
<p>Kidding aside: The accessibility of the other 4 colleges should be an insignificant determining factor for prospective students to either college. A noteworthy number will not cross-register. And the students who do, it’s usually only for a semester.</p>
<p>@elli1234 – my d. was a poli sci major at Barnard, with a focus on international affairs --and I was very impressed with the caliber of the department, and the amazing credentials & experience of many of her profs. Also a very popular major at Barnard. </p>
</p>
There’s also a direct bus from Smith to Hampshire College. It’s a short 20 minute ride. However, as I said, there would be no reason for a Smith student to take a course at Hampshire. Actually, the Hampshire curriculum is designed to takes advantage of the consortium. </p>
</p>