<p>I know all about the 5 colleges...I just want any info that focuses on Hampshire College.</p>
<p>From the LA Times about choosing the new Hampshire College president:</p>
<p>My sister and parents were looking into it a few years ago since it looked good on paper. They drove there, saw nothing but farmland for miles around and only a few buildings as the campus, and drove back. She never considered applying ever again.</p>
<p>I think it started up in the early 70's.....had a kind of crunchy granola alternative sort of reputation. Don't know much more than that.</p>
<p>I originally wanted to go to Hampshire, so I did a lot of research on it. It is more "alternative" than anything, the curriculum is really flexible (maybe too much) and most people are interested in humanities, soft sciences. It doesn't look like a bad school (never visited) but theone is probably pretty accurate, it's in the middle of nowhere. Tuition + living expenses = high.</p>
<p>Thanks! anybody else?</p>
<p>I was looking at it also, its graduation rate kinda put a damper on it, cost was alos an issue, and the fact they have a strong writing requirment crossed it off the list.</p>
<p>Its a rare case of a school currently much worse than it used to be.</p>
<p>But you can take class at Amherst, Smith, MH, and Umass! that's a big plus.</p>
<p>Yes, being able to take classes at the other colleges is a plus, but be sure to read the fine print. Is there a limit on the number of classes you can take outside of Hampshire? Can you only take a class if there is an opening after all of that colleges students have registered? What are the logistics of riding the bus between schools? Remember, this isn't like the Claremont colleges which are essentially on the same campus, these schools are miles apart.</p>
<p>Is it really that bad?</p>
<p>I believe you can take all your courses off campus, that could be wrong...I also heard you have to take 2 courses on your own campus every semester. This may be a rule for Amherst College, I don't know if it varies between the colleges. I know a Hampshire girl who is taking 3 courses off campus.</p>
<p>Hampshire is very secluded. The surrounding area is physically beautiful, but it is in a rural area of town not at all like Amherst College and UMass, which are both located within a short walk of the heart of Amherst. </p>
<p>I have taken 2 courses at Hampshire, and I loved them both very much. At the end of the courses, you don't get grades, you get evaluations, which feel much more fulfilling, in my opinion. It requires a high level of self-motivation and responsibility, because the curriculum is so free, but this often means a huge amount of innovation, creativity, and inspiration on part of the students. At the same time, it can also mean that those who aren't self-motivated may end up playing hackey-sack all day long. </p>
<p>The five colleges are well-connected with the efficient bus system. Hampshire has access to all the others. Atkins Farm Store is a short walk from Hampshire, but for most everything else you will want to take a bus or car.</p>
<p>Hampshire students have a reputation for being "trustafarians", but all of the Hamshire kids I know are very lovely people.</p>
<p>I vaguely know a parent with a D at Hampshire. According to her mother, she is very happy there. The D has always been one "to march to the beat of her own drummer", and is an avid reader and writer. She comes from a middle class family, and she did not receive a merit scholarhsip, but the financial aid package made the school affordable enough for her to be able to attend.</p>
<p>I hate to ask...but what is a D?</p>
<p>Sorry. I am glad that you asked, it just stands for daughter. When you read DD it just means darling, or dear daughter.</p>
<p>JPod-why do you say that Hampshire is doing worse than it did in the past? In fact I think it is one of the few "alternative" schools that has not suffered from a serious financial dip in the last few decades (unlike Bennington and Antioch, to name just two) and it's admissions are going crazy in recent years. For some people it looks better on paper than in life, in large part because it was built in the 1970's so it can be considered quite ugly. My friend's mom however, who is an architect, loved it, she thought it looked so "retro hip" and industrial style. Funnily enough, I think that this campus that has been considered ugly for years is about to hit it's stride! The students, for the most part, are a bright, interesting, motivated group. It is very easy to take classes at the other schools PARTICULARLY if you go to Hampshire because they have fewer (if any) rules about it. It is rural and beautiful but the transportation situation is great. Amherst is a five minute bus ride (the 5 college bus leaves campus every 15 or 20 minutes) and is a charming town with restaurants, stores, ice cream shops, etc. and Northampton (much larger, also incredibly charming) is about 20 minutes away. The Peter Pan bus service leaves from the middle of town and gives you easy access to New York, New Haven, Boston, etc.</p>
<p>Very gorgeous place. The one teacher I have met there was excellent, liked math (always a plus!), and full of good stories. The dorms aren't very nice, but the cafeteria food is quite good (though I have heard complaints).</p>
<p>(I went to a summer program at Hampshire about a year ago.)</p>