<p>What differentiates Mount Holyoke from other schools? What Mount Holyoke?</p>
<p>Hi Sarah,</p>
<p>My daughter is a first-year. I’d be happy to try to answer any specific questions you might have. Ask away…</p>
<p>Women’s colleges, in general, are different than co-ed in many respects (obviously!) In the classroom, there is not that phenomenon where the guys dominate the conversation. The campus is generally a more peaceful place… you can go to a neighboring college (U Mass, Hampshire, or Amherst College) if you want to experience that crazy party atmosphere or frat scene, yet return to the refuge of MHC and avoid drunken freshmen guys vomiting in your dorm hall. Women’s colleges also tend to have excellent alumni networks, very useful in finding internships and jobs. There is a sense of sisterhood and empowerment.</p>
<p>MHC, in particular: they have a new policy that gives ALL students a stipend to use for an internship after sophomore year (so you can take an unpaid one if necessary) and assistance finding internships; students are very serious about their studies, yet the atmosphere is supportive and collaborative, not competitive as it can be at some other women’s colleges. MHC seems to be a bit less strident in it’s social justice warrior-ness than some other women’s colleges, although there is still a strong presence of such. My daughter has found the interactions with professors to be outstanding (see below.) If you’re into horses, they have a stable and strong equestrian presence (you can take riding as a PE credit!)</p>
<p>Some anecdotes from my D:</p>
<p>1) She says it is a very welcoming and supportive place. For instance, she got sick the first week, and several of her brand-new friends brought her soups, juices, etc.
2) During the summer, she had been reading about the professors and was really excited about one particular Bio professor who seemed to have a very similar passion for bio -from a naturalist/evolutionary/field observation viewpoint- as herself (not that the bio department in general is like that - it is also very strong for pre-med). She hoped to one day be able to take a class with him. She was thrilled when she got into his Bio 101 class. Then she found out he was also her freshman academic advisor. The first day of class, they hung out for a while after class discussing the evolution of Trilliums and her passion and theories about specific insects. They have already been talking about internships for the summer in her field. He gave her the keys to the locked biology lab rooms where the upperclassmen do their entomology research. She spends a lot of her free time in there, looking at slides of insects prepared by students in the 1800’s. She has a whole research area of her own in there now, just a few weeks into freshman year, and frequently meets outside of class with the professor. Looking back on my own college experience, this just seems so wonderful and lucky. She has immediately connected with a professor who shares her passion, is more than willing to spend time with her, and is already helping her pursue her career path. WOW.
3) Her dorm room is incredible… huge, two walk-in closets, and a window seat overlooking the lake. I posted some photos on the Mount Holyoke page of this site: <a href=“http://collegeconfidential.com/vibe/mount-holyoke-college”>http://collegeconfidential.com/vibe/mount-holyoke-college</a>
4) She loves the little traditions and sweet women’s college surprises: M&Cs (“milk and cookies”, a nightly study break time for socializing and snacks); Mountain Day (when classes are called off and everyone hikes up the mountain and eats ice cream); the care package she received during finals week from the Alumni Association of our home state; etc.</p>