Hampshire College Top Questions

For the most part, yes. However, as part of hampshire sciences department, I can say that there is good wor being done outside of art and social sciences. There arn't many of us, but we are a close knit and dedicated group.

Hampshire's stereotypes are not there because people hate Hampshire. They are there becaues people have met and interacted with the students and have visited the school and seen people run by streaking a tour group while smoking a joint, screaming about social change and how they are going to change the world but not until they come down off the mushrooms.

Not at all. Although you will run into some people who are VERY (I mean, VERY hippie-like) this isn't true about everyone. There are some people who don't shower, but by no means is this everyone, its a very laid back school. However, this doesn't mean that the people here don't work hard. Generally, the people who don't do anything, and just party/be hippie-like Xcore, get kicked out. Get ready to write LONG (we're talking 10-15 page) papers.

Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, this is true. And, in my opinion, it's impossible to answer a question like this because sure, I'm sure there are some students at Hampshire who have been sitting around for the last three years doing nothing but smoking pot and avoiding classes. But I think that the reputation that Hampshire has as a drug school with lazy students who don't actually do work is undeserved and outdated. I'm a drug free student who's worked extremely hard the four years I've attended this school. I've never gotten below an A in any of the classes I took off campus, and I've made a huge number of friends here, all of whom are also drug free. College is college - there are going to be students there who waste their money and the college's resources by doing drugs and slacking off. But the stereotype that Hampshire is a drug school with unmotivated students is inaccurate. It's also extremely common, so I am prepared to have to go through the rest of my life trying to set the record straight about what Hampshire's REALLY like.

Hampshire is a very liberal school, but it is a real school. No grades and no tests means you are evaluated on the work you produce. If you don't produce work or lousy work, you get a bad evaluation. If you do work your work, if you try your best, your hard work will be reflected in your evaluation. An evaluation says more about you than a simple letter grade. Yes we have potheads, but I challenge you to find a school that doesn't. We also have hipsters, preps, and even republicans.

It's a college. You're going to find people of all types here. Yes for the most part there are a lot of very liberal individuals, there are some drugs on campus, but that's unavoidable period. Overall most people here are pretty friendly and you're going to meet people like you at any college. It attracts all kinds.

Most are. There really aren't so many 'hippies' per se, but there is a lot of weed. What most kids don't realize is that there's as much drinking and partying at Hampshire as any other school. Everyone is extremely lazy, so you have to learn to take it upon yourself to be productive. And not everyone's a liberal, but moderate or conservative views are not accepted.

for the most part, yes. there aren't many down-to-earth, fun people here. there are many, many very, very egotistical people here. there's a lot of intellectual bullshit, and people can be very judgmental.

We have a good portion of crazy liberal students.

no. only the first years embody these stereotypes because they haven't yet figured it out. hampshire relies on self-motivation, but it certainly has some structure. it's easy to succeed if you work hard and are independent, and the successes experienced by hampshire students are usually more informed and full-bodied. hampshire students become excellent, driven members of their fields.

No. Of my four years at Hampshire I've been friends with people who are straightedge and those who are not. Many people I know do smoke pot and/or drink, but it has only gotten in the way of one friendship. The majority of students on this campus are committed to their work and relationships on this campus.

Not as much as they probably used to be. Hampshire costs so much money that the people who can go here represent a much more upper middle class homogonized culture.

Yes

There is a lot of pot smoking. There are many smart Hampshire students but a fair amount of disorganized idiots. People are some times over sensitive about issues but unaware of the actual workings of the issue itself. Hampshire is basically white, and the multi cultural portion of Hampshire mostly segregates itself from the rest.

there are a fair amount of hippies, but on the most part the majority of Hampshire students shower. Also, there is a lot of marijuana :(

Sometimes; it depends on who you talk to. There are definitely people who fit the stereotype, but plenty of people who don't.

No. Many people do smoke week and do many other drugs all the time, but there is also a small subfree or partially subfree community. Many people do drop out after one, but they are usually the ones who didn't want to come to college in the first place anyhow. At Hampshire, you get what you give. People here are much more accepting than most other places, but there is still discrimination against minorities.