Mount Holyoke College

Academics

The oldest of the Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke College is a Western Massachusetts private liberal arts college for female, transgender, and nonbinary students. There is “an incredibly wide range of classes and activities at the school,” and with such a diverse selection of classes “even if it’s a ‘traditional’ class, it doesn’t feel traditional.” Forty percent of students are STEM majors, and more than a third of students choose an interdisciplinary major. “Office hours and professor-student relationships are generally excellent and prioritized,” and students say that “working closely with faculty is highly encouraged and accessible.” There are “lots of great programs, research opportunities, and connections,” and “self-scheduled final exams are innovative because they are also student-run and give the students taking finals freedom to decide when they want to go home (if they are leaving campus after finals), how much time they need to study, and what time…works best for them.”

Professors “are extremely passionate and respectful of students, often encouraging them to take risks and promoting opportunities.” They help students to “engage in collaborative efforts” with project-heavy classes that range from “creating a board game for an anthropology of play class to creating short films for language classes.” As one student puts it, “You get the sense that not only are you learning from your professors, but that your professors are also learning from you.” Immersive learning is common, and “this happens through field trips to local spots, or through use of our many campus facilities, particularly the art museum, maker space, and library.”

Student Body

Mount Holyoke has a “culture of smart women and people,” and most here “are very studious overall. People are mostly just focused on their studies and then hang out in smallish groups for socialization.” There “is a close sense of community amongst Mount Holyoke students,” and “you can ask peers you don’t know for help and they will do their best for you.” Almost a quarter of students are international, and students agree that “college is a great time to get exposed to other parts of the world and other people’s experiences.” Many here are “outspoken and social justice-oriented” and “Mount Holyoke really helps students build their confidence and hone their unique voices, including their capacity for activism.” As a women’s college that is gender diverse, Mount Holyoke provides “a very safe queer space and also a very inclusive and welcoming community towards anyone.” This open environment makes it so “people are very comfortable to express themselves the way they like, from the way they dress [to] the way they talk, the way they act, and [the way they] stay true to their own values.”

Campus Life

At Mount Holyoke College almost all students live on campus in one of eighteen residence halls, and can focus their stay in a Living Learning Community with others who share their academic or extracurricular interests. This produces “a very peaceful environment” where “people like to hang out with friends in low-key settings.” There “are an overwhelming number of activities to do,” but in a good way; students say “it’s easy to get involved AND to have a leadership position.” Though you can find off-campus trips and events, students love staying on site: “People spend a lot of time outside here because the campus is just gorgeous. There’s often local vendors or college-sponsored events on the green.” It helps, too, that “the dining hall is delicious and there is always a variety of many foods.” Those looking for a party school should note that’s not the vibe here: “students find more entertainment by going thrifting, to a coffee shop, seeing movies, or picnicking” and the “walking paths on campus are very popu