Mount Holyoke College Top Questions

There's not too much to do in the area but we always find something. Normally weekends are spent drinking, but many students on campus are substance free. Many students leave their doors open or their laptops and belongings in the library. There are rarely instances of stealing, though they do happen on occasion. The dating scene varies. It's easy if you're gay because you can stay on campus or go to Smith, or even Diva's (club) to meet women. If you're straight, there's Amherst, Umass, and Hampshire and you can meet guys in off campus classes you take or at parties. There's no greek life on campus. Some people party a lot, others never. I met my closest friends in my dorm first year.

If you want to go be the life of the latest dance party on campus or sit and catch up on your favorite book you can do that too. But no matter what you do with your weekend, everyone goes to Sunday brunch, to fill up on omelets and crêpes and dish the lastest weekend news. I'm most involved with project theatre and spend most of my free time working on independent student theater or watching shows that my friends have worked on.

There are a lot of parties on campus, but the younger students generally don't attend because IDs are checked vigorously when drinks are concerned. Doors on the hall are mostly closed, but knocking generally elicits a favorable response to visitors. Going off campus (which is fairly easy to do if you've got a car or don't mind the bus) is usually the best way to find a party--and a date--but the culture here is more about close friendships with small groups rather than huge ragers with a million people. There is no Greek system, but Frat houses on nearby UMASS's campus are generally ready and willing to accept visitors of the female variety--the sororities not so much. You can do plenty that doesn't involve drinking, and there are always cultural events on campus (a Capella groups are my favorite, there are 4 different ones with unique repertoires and sounds).

I haven't been involved in any clubs yet since I have only been on campus for a semester. My friends and I don't party or drink at all, so a typical Saturday night would be getting ice cream from the soft serve machine in Blanchard and watching a movie in one of our rooms. Most students don't lock their doors during the week. I met my closest friends during Spring Admit orientation. Orientation is great because there are so many activities that it's really easy to meet people and make friends.

Socially its not the greatest school if you want an active social life on campus. There arent many parties for straight kids so most people who want to go out have to go to umass or amherst.

There's a lot to do on campus. We have several guest speakers who come (you can never get to seeing them all). There isn't that huge of a dating scene if you are into guys...although you can go to Hampshire, Amherst of Umass if you crave a co-ed scene. Mount Holyoke is loaded with tradition (milk and cookies every weeknight, Mountain Day -- a day we get off and go climb a mountain together...) all sorts of neat historical things.

Students often complain about the lack of activities on campus, but again, its what you make of it, like anything. The school I was at before was in a city and soooo boring. No club organized parties or events, no dorm parties, nothing, and it had a reputation as being a party school. I somehow missed the boat on that one. Comparatively, there is always on organized event/dance on the weekend, plenty of more academic events during the week, and if you get in with the right crowd, plenty of parties. But to be honest, and this is something I actually love about my school, the library is the place to be. There is a coffee shop in the atrium and plenty of chatty, social areas. I have actually found myself going to the library when I have no homework just to find out what is going on that night cause everyone is always there. And to be honest I got to know my bff so well because we happened to study in the same room. We always sat on couches on opposite sides of the room, then across from each other, and by the end of the semester, well, we were sharing a couch, what a love story, ridiculous, I know.

I'm in the orchestra. It's fun, I hope to do some stuff related to film and politics too. Some kids leave their doors open--its not like boys live here. The dating scene is what you make of it. I have a serious boyfriend but only because he's a girl from MHC's big brother!!! you NEVER know!! people party every weekend. sometimes thursdays if they don't have friday classes. most people stay up till 2am working. that's probably because they wait till 9 to start hw. i'm not so sympathetic to that. no frats... last weekend i did hw and hung out with kids on campus cause iw as sick. there's a movie theater right next door to where i live, and a few good restaurants so its fine...

There are numerous speakers that are brought to the campus each year. All of which are incredibly interesting. The dorms on campus are beautiful and feel more like you are living in a large mansion than a dorm. The dating scene is that big unless you are lesbian or bisexual. For those who are heterosexual, it is rather difficult to find dates. The towns and five colleges are within 20-30 of MHC by car. Amherst and North Hampton are adorable towns with plenty to do. Next to campus, there is a small movie theater whichscreens many of the big movies of the moment.

I am part of chorus, known as Chorale. I've made many friends in it, and I love our conductor.