The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Date: Apr 03 2011
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
MCLA is the box on top of the mountain. Even if you have a car, the only places to really go are Williamstown to get food, the grocery store/packy, or Northampton (a little over an hour away). As far as the town of North Adams as is, is very restrictive and boring. There are places to eat, but if you're a poor college kid, more than once a week isn't practical. There is a small movie theater, MassMoCA and some other VERY SMALL art galleries. It's a sketchy old dead mill town, what do you expect?

On campus, there isn't much to do daily, or on the weekends for that matter. There are some clubs, but not a whole lot of variety. The only activity really, are the greek houses for parties on weekends. They're suck. There is a bar close to campus…yay? If you want to drink, I suggest The Elf Parlor (also has coffee, tea, baked goods and some food, decent prices) or Deperados. There are several pizza places all over town. Village Pizza stays open till 2am.

Most of the teachers I've had so far are pretty nice. I've only had a couple that were awful, but I think that happens with every school honestly. Do not take a course with Albert Hyers (geography dept) if you don't have to!!! Otherwise the rest of the teachers as a whole are pretty friendly and helpful. There are exceptions but that's life. MCLA boasts about being a cheap school, but they really aren't that much better than some of the other state colleges/universities anymore. Honestly, just spend the couple extra $1,000s and go to Bridgewater State for any major other than Business (which is pretty decent here, easy too).

I'm sick of people complaining about the administrative system (other than RPS who really are quite terrible). It's the same frustrations at every other damn school (I worked for the Registrar's Office and tried out another school, only to be disappointed and come crawling back here). Each one has a slightly different way of organizing their academics system, but in general they way they go about things is the same. Even the public schools are a for profit organization, so yeah, they are all greedy jerks, get over it. It's just a sucky part of the American/Massachusetts Educational system.

All in all it's not a bad school. I don't like it, so I'm transferring again. I really just want out of this box. Somewhere warm and out of the mountains. I'll miss Elf Parlor the most. And that's sad. Good luck to all who are considering this school. My best advice: DO NOT PICK A SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S CHEAP. Education is an investment in your future. It's not convenient or easy. So choose wisely.