Mount Holyoke College

Once a great bastion of women's education, Mount Holyoke no longer has the slightest idea what it's mission is.... If you listen to the ever-so unpopular president, the college exists to serve the "gender marginalized." Not women. But all people who are biologically female (even if they id as "male" or "other" or trans. Faculty have been instructed not to use the word women, and students and faculty alike live in terror of making a political mis-step. As the college's identity has flagged, so have its admission's efforts (or perhaps it was the other way around.). Regardless, most students today are NOT remotely able to do the work that their sisters even as recently as 10 years ago. Save your money. I'm sorry to say that MHC is not worth the sticker price.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

I have found the people at this school to be very close-minded and unfriendly. When you go to visit this school as a prospective student, you are told how wonderfully close the community is and how friendly everyone is. In my experience, this could not be farther from the truth. Most people are absorbed in their own cliques, and are more interested in their phones than actual conversation. People don't even so much as make eye contact when you walk past them. It's common for people to have headphones on or ear buds in while walking around campus or in the dining hall, giving off the vibe "Don't talk to me."

The courses in my major are not rigorous at all, which is very disappointing and frustrating, especially because you are paying so much money to come to this liberal arts college that prides itself on having stellar academics. My high school classes were much more rigorous and engaging. I can't speak for other majors, however. A positive is that most of the faculty are friendly and care about students' learning.

Before you commit to Mount Holyoke, really think about if you are going to be happy at an all women's college. I regret not giving this more thought. As a heterosexual woman, I feel very isolated at Mount Holyoke. Yes, you can go off campus to meet men, but it's not the same as having co-ed classes everyday and seeing the same people multiple times a week. It's also a lot more difficult to build male friendships at this school than at a co-ed college, in my opinion. I'd say that you really should think about how much you value having men in your classes and how much you value male friendships before you decide to come here. An all-women's college is a big change if you've had co-ed schooling your entire life, although some people here would disagree with that statement.I am happy to say that I'm transferring to a different college next year. Some people love Mount Holyoke, but it is definitely not for everyone. Besides the women's college aspect, think about if you want to go to college in New England, in a small town. It gets COLD here, and there's not much going on in South Hadley. All of these things combined can leave you feeling pretty isolated, especially if home is far away. Also, make sure you sit in on a couple of classes that interest you. I really wish I had done this because maybe I wouldn't have made the mistake of coming here if I saw how the classes were beforehand. Even if you don't know what you want to major in, just sit in on a couple of classes in a subject that you MIGHT want to major in. I hate to say it, but I don't think Mount Holyoke's academics are what they used to be.

2nd Year Female -- Class 1921

Campus Aesthetics: A, Surrounding City: F