<p>D and I will be in the area on Sunday and will take a walk across campus. We don't seem to be able to make an official tour work on this trip but would like to see what we can in case we don't make it back to the area.</p>
<p>Does anyone know of a few buildings that might be open on a Sunday afternoon? I assume at least the Campus center or Libarary will be open.</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you go around back by the greenhouse and up toward the gym, there’s a trail there and it’s very pretty and maybe the gym is open on the weekend (I don’t know). I think the library is one of the prettiest buildings I’ve ever seen. Most of MHC’s buildings are impressive but once you’ve seen the library, the rest might seem like lesser buildings. The English dept building (I don’t know the name) is directly across from the library and, again, beautiful.</p>
<p>Doenload and print the nice 3D-ish map B4 you go.</p>
<p>My D is a firstie. Since the school term is on-going, most of the buildings should be open, or at least you can just wait until a student comes by to get you in. Library is nice. The library standard tour is, go in, up one of the 2 stairs (under the 4 class flags) into the big “Hogwarts” room, turn right and right, past the foreign newspapers, then left down a long hall into the room with computers where students work cooperatively. (note the computer peripherals vending machine) Then up and right to a classroom building, then down and out onto the “green” (actually now white, under 2’ of snow). Across the green is the mushroom topped science building. Before going in, check the floor with the hexagonal periodic table. Inside, a 5 floor modern atrium. Labs across, snack bar in basement.</p>
<p>Student cernter is open 7AM to 12MN. Food, mailboxes, store.</p>
<p>Dorms are scattered all around. See if a student will let you see her room. Almost all dorms have a nice living room with couches, piano and grandfather clock. Some dorms have a cafeteria open for 3 meals.</p>
<p>The phys ed building should be open. Gym, machines, pool, dance studios.</p>
<p>Before leaving, do check admissions, they may be open, in a panic working on applications. Also near admissions, check out the shops and restaurants. There is more than what first appears, including a movie house. Makes the campus seem less remote.</p>
<p>Note that the 5 college bus (to Northampton/Smith, Aamherst, UMass, Hampshire) stops right on campus, and that Bonanza Bus (to/from Springfield and beyond, including NYC (and Boston?)) stops on the main street at the bus stop next to the library – real convenient for my D.</p>
<p>On your own, you can see pretty much what you would on the tour, but you will miss the talk which is more interesting, about how MHC works and what it’s like being there. My D is as happy as a clam. Very busy with courses, homework, and extra-curriculars. But not so busy not to text a few times a day and call once, thankfully. She has no time for boys yet, but it’s on her long list of things to do.</p>
<p>(By the way, my D saw Wellesley and refused to even apply there, didn’t like the setting or the uber-achiever rep. [I spent many days of my MIT youth at Wellesley and hoped to interest her in it]. My D ED1’d at MHC and got in.)</p>
<p>Well thanks. This was more information than I hoped for. </p>
<p>My daughter was deferred to RD at Wellesley. I hope she senses the vibe that you (ConCernedDad) talk about at MHC. She really pushes herself now but is not the competitive type at all. She competes with herself.</p>
<p>“Hogwarts room”? She is sold!</p>
<p>When you visit, I recommend getting lunch, or a snack in the student center if it is open. People watch, and eavesdrop - just a little, to see if your D feels comfortable. The brand new dorm near the music building and across from the theater is absolutely amazing - see if a student will let you in. The “Rockies” are two beautiful older dorms near the campus green, and worth getting a glimpse. (Looks like one big building, but it’s North Rockefeller and South Rockefeller)
My D ended up not applying to Wellesley, didn’t feel at all comfortable, and picked up on the academic competitiveness, which she felt was a huge negative. One thing I loved about MHC as a student was that we never knew our class rank, and students were encouraged to study together, help each other, etc, and that would not have been possible if we were all worried that helping a classmate prepare for exams would mean she might get better grades than me, and then bump me out of my rank! The women at MHC are self-confident enough to know that they can be successful without bringing other people down!</p>
<p>so i’m pretty sure you already visited but just for future reference, there are tour information packets and maps in a box on the wall by the back door of the admission office so you can walk around and learn about every building and the history of the school.</p>
<p>FYI: This was all helpful information. Much appreciated. It would have been nice to have that info from the admissions office, but we pretty much hit what we could on a cold Sunday.</p>
<p>We loitered in the sports complex a few minutes and a very nice proffessor from the dance department invited us in to watch a rehearsal. A really cool dance. The kind of experimental stuff you get to do in college. 
She talked with my D, gave her a newsletter etc. D may minor in dance so it was a really nice visit. She was going to look up her arts supplement also.</p>
<p>We also headed to Smith for a quick walk through campus which warmed her up to it a bit more. We walked around the “performing arts campus”. Nice that the music, dance and theater spaces are all close together.</p>
<p>Went looking for a Valentines present for the W in North Hampton and hit a couple stores. After leaving one I said, “Kid, that is what you call a head shop. And that stink is petchuli.” Hello wisdom, goodbye innocence.</p>