<p>Hi everyone!
My name is Alyssa, and I am a soon-to-be firstie from California. I would like to take a moment to explain how I came to my decision to choose MHC, in the hopes that doing so will help guide other girls who had questions like mine.</p>
<p>First off, I'd like to admit that I never, ever pictured myself attending a women's college. As many of you know, this year has been confirmed by Newsweek to have been THE hardest year in history for college admissions in the U.S. After applying to a whopping 16 schools, I was only accepted to four and waitlisted at two. Mount Holyoke was one of the acceptances. At first I was extremely disappointed in the results, and I had no idea how I was going to decide. But after spending time on MHC's website and tooling around College Confidential's MoHo page for advice, (mainly from ConCerned Dad,) I decided that MHC was a contender. </p>
<p>Now, almost a month later, I have just completed a campus visit with all the bells and whistles: two class visits, a tour, an info session, and an overnight in a dorm with another prospective student. By the end I was so excited about MHC that my mom and I were ready to turn in the deposit straight into the hands of the Admissions Office, and we did! Here's what made the decision such an easy one: the people. My tour guide, info session leader, overnight host, and every current student I met was absolutely delightful. All the young women were intelligent, confident, and treated me like their equal. No one tried to give me the hard sell, they just showed me all that MHC has to offer. The two classed I sat in on, (an English and a Religion,) were enthralling, and I hadn't even read the materials! Besides the outstanding academics, the dorms I saw were huge and well-maintained. The girls in the dorms were down-to-earth, friendly, and sometimes eclectic. </p>
<p>What an inspiring place. MHC is truly a gem, and I can't wait to return in the fall! Please, feel free to ask me any questions about my visit!</p>
<p>I agree with you Alyssa!!! The people there really made my decision to attend Mount Holyoke all the better. My overnight host was AWESOME. She was in South Rockefeller and came from Miami, Florida (just like me). She answered all my questions, gave me permission to use her laptop, and gave me unlimited access to all her food/snacks. She even gave me her cellphone number just in case I decided to attend Mount Holyoke and ever needed her assistance (a car ride maybe haha.) I can’t wait to start in the fall and see her and the other amazing people I met during my visit there.</p>
<p>Very helpful and informative! Would you mind sharing with us which other colleges you applied to, and which ones you got accepted to/waitlisted at/denied from just to give us some reference? Thank you!</p>
<p>RIP, I am touched that I influenced you. Now, I REALLY hope that you will like it there. Plan for it to be hot in September. Bring shorts and a fan, if possible. But check with your (future) roommate(s) as to what equipment she(s) is (are) bringing. Only one fridge (small) allowed per room, else – poof – fires. Have some fun now planning your courses. There are SO many to choose from. ISIS is really good to help pick courses. You can tell it when you want to take a course, and it will list all courses at that time slot. Unfortunately, expect that many of the cool PE classes to be filled. As a rising sophmore, my D was closed out of her choice since seniors picked, then juniors. You have the added hurdle of the sophs picking before you. Same with classes. Also, be completely truthful in answering the roomate survey. If your roomate has a steady boyfriend who sleeps over, where will you sleep? My D had to find others who let her sleep on their floor, which was not too fun, and caused major friction among all concerned. Some like to party, some don’t. Make sure you’re correctly saying what you are. Will you be happy if your roommate(s) parties on a Thursday night in your room when you have an 8:30AM class or an exam the next day? Or will you join her partying? Some dorms have a partying rep, I think the 'Delles. Some are old dorms with high ceilings, some are newer with lower ceilings, and “new dorm” (Creighton) is, well, new. You will get a single if you ask, but then you will wake up (oh well). Juniors are lucky to get a single. I think Wilder is getting a renovation this summer. For dorms, consider where dinner is served. They all serve breakfast. The student center offers food all day till late, but lines are often long there as most food is made to order. Jocks like the dorms near the sports complex, duh, but those are a hike to many classes.</p>
<p>Here’s what I especially appreciate, as a parent, about MHC. Go ahead and read the postings here. Look back as far as you wish. The tone is respectful and articulate. Just what D experienced when she went for a campus visit. Good luck to you RIPpolonius - and the other incoming firsties.</p>