StudentsReview :: Mount Holyoke College - Extra Detail about the Comment
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Mount Holyoke College

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA- Faculty AccessibilityA
Useful SchoolworkA Excess CompetitionB+
Academic SuccessA- Creativity/ InnovationB-
Individual ValueB University Resource UseA-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA+ FriendlinessA-
Campus MaintenanceA+ Social LifeD
Surrounding CityF Extra CurricularsB+
SafetyA+
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Closeminded

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly

Female
Bright
Lowest Rating
Surrounding City
F
Highest Rating
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty
A+
She cares more about Surrounding City than the average student.
Date: Sep 14 2006
Major: History/Histories (art history/etc.) (This Major's Salary over time)
there is much to say about Mount Holyoke, because its not a school in which you can say a straight-forward "yes" or "no" when asked the question about whether you should attend or not. I'm a first-year and when I considered coming to Mt. Holyoke i read a lot of comments on StudentsReview but could never find one that truly helped me in understanding the school. The one thing I never truly understood was exactly how small the college really was. Mount Holyoke definitley creates a "bubble" in which there is an extreme feeling of isolation. I'm from out-of-state from a mid-size city and coming here was a complete change.

First, the social scene. I have a car but honestly theres not that many places to drive to. Yes, you can go to Amherst or UMASS to find your social outlet but you have to consider whether you want to work that hard to find a social life in the first place. I mean in most schools the parties and the social life is just right there but at Mount Holyoke its not unless you're a lesbian. Most of the parties on campus are dorm parties thrown by lesbians for lesbians and so there are a lot of girls hooking up right and left. Some people are okay with that, some people aren't. That being said, you must understand before you come here that if you want a TYPICAL college social life, YOU WILL NOT FIND IT HERE. It simply does not exist in the simple terms that most colleges function on.

Many girls miss the lack of men on campus and I must admit, it does become a nagging problem. Not because we need men but because the lack of men adds to the stifling atmosphere on campus. At some point you begin to feel that Mount Holyoke is a world onto itself, which could be a good thing if you're crazy about the school but is not a good thing if you don't.

Also, the girls here are a different breed, at least when measured against the girls from where I come from. Yes, many of them are lesbians but thats not the point. Many of the girls here are extremely self-possessed in their own intelligence, meaning that they know they are smart. Now you might ask why thats a bad thing…the point is its not but it can be when you become arrogant in your understanding. I am liberal in my views but sometimes the extreme liberalism makes me uncomfortable because I feel that there is no other voice on the other side of the argument. I have never believed in simply "bashing" the other side when there seems to be no defense whatsoever. I believe that part of believing so strongly in something is the ability to argue intelligently for your cause, not simply being arrogant in your beliefs and refusing to budge in any of your ideas, which many of the girls here seem to be like and which is supported by many of the professors.

There are three types of girls on campus, many of the girls here are some of those "girls" that simply seem to not know what a world is like outside of books and studying. A lot of them are the girls that only know life inside of the textbook. Then there are the lesbians who dominate campus life, as in they throw all the dorm parties. That being said, there are also the girls that know how to party and who party and live like normal college girls but they are definitley not the majority and they work hard for their lifestyle, whereas they probably would not have to had they not chosen to come here.

So I guess the most important question is…would I have chosen it knowing all the things I know now? The truth is probably not. I sometimes ask myself why i came here in the first place, when taking into account the ridiculously high tuition, the lack of social life, and the isolation and stifling atmosphere that surrounds the school. The academics are good but not incredible the way some people would have you believe, meaning that you could probably find the same thing somewhere else. Life is what you make of it and Mt. Holyoke is no exception. I can't say that I'm unhappy here but I can't say that I'm overjoyed either. Choosing this school is at your own risk, as all things in life are, but be sure to understand what it is and what it is not before making your decision. It is NOT your typical college, it is NOT like the real world, it is NOT a party hard kind of school. IT IS in an extremely small place, IT IS dominated by lesbian culture, IT IS a good place to get an education, and IT IS a place that you have to work hard to obtain any sense of reality where you are not cut off from the rest of the world. Good luck with your choice!

 
Responses
questionHi, I'm currently visiting as a prospective transfer student and upon reading your review i would like to just ask where is it that you come from and what activities you like doing. I want to know this if that's ok because i have mixed feelings about the school and so far i've heard great things from all the girls, but the thing is i dont know how much those girls and i have in common. Im seeking to combine computer science with arts if i do come here.I'm coming from So.Cal and although im not a crazy party animal anymore i do enjoy some parties, bars, etc still. I also enjoy cultural events, concerts, etc. do you have any suggestions? thanks
commentThanks for this, your review seems really objective, it was helpful :)
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