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.

There are a lot of lame school sponsored parties, which often makes for a sucky freshman year party-wise because you are still convinced you need guys to have fun. By second year people find their own niche depending on their interests, and find a friend group (even including boys) that they can socialize with. Mt holyoke may not be "hoppin" all the time, but there is SO much to do in the five college area. I'm constantly busy--there are tons of theater and dance productions to see. My friends tend to have a lot of costume parties since we decided dressing up to look bad is way more fun than trying to look good all the time. The nicest thing is that since the parties are often off campus, when you get home (or if you choose not to go out) it's quiet and clean. You never wake up to find the lawn littered with beer cans and a party is really never forced upon you if you are staying in the dorms for the evening. Sporting events aren't really popular, sadly. I think if the fields were more centrally located, people would be more willing to stop by and cheer.

There are tons of groups on campus. The a cappella groups are very popular and their concerts are very well attended. I think the biggest varsity teams are crew and equestrian, and the biggest club teams are rugby and ice hockey. Being involved in a group or a team is a great way to meet people and to develop a close group of friends who are always there for you. Some of my closest friends are my crew friends, although I meet people outside of crew through my girlfriend who seems to know everyone on campus. Dorm atmosphere varies depending on your neighbors - my first year all of us left our doors open while we were in the room and unlocked all the time. This year my roommates and I still leave our door unlocked, but it usually stays closed since we aren't as close with our neighbors. Athletic events aren't usually that popular - friends come to your meets or games, but the general campus usually doesn't except to the Faculty/Student basketball game. There are always guest speakers, concerts, movie screenings, parties, and dances going on, particularly on the weekend. There are a ton of school traditions, particularly involving welcoming the new first year students, but those are too good to tell you about before you experience them... Some people party regularly, others don't - either way you can find friends who are doing what you are. There aren't any fraternities or sororities, although if that's the scene you're looking for you can always go to UMass or Amherst. Saturday night usually involves relaxing with friends and watching movies or going off campus to eat sushi. In the winter there's an ice skating rink outside of the campus center which gets a lot of use from students and families in the area.

Equestrian, rugby, and crew are pretty popular in terms of sports. Athletic events aren't very popular, most are pretty apathetic. There are some great lectures on campus that quite a few people attend. Unless you're into other girls, the dating scene is virtually nonexistant. Don't come here if you looking for a boyfriend. Most people party off campus, parties on campus are not too common. Honestly, there is not much to do on campus for the weekend; most people go to Amherst or visit the boutiques in Northampton.

The campus is relatively safe. Most doors are left open inside the dorms. Parties are usually off campus at one of the other four colleges nearby. There is a free transportation system, the PVTA, that will take you anywhere in the five college area, it's very convenient.

It is a good thing that we are part of the Five College Consortium, because without access to activities and parties at other schools our own parties would get a little repetitive. While they are fun and crazy, it is important to leave campus and get to know people at other schools, and be exposed to different environments. That being said, we have some really well-known parties. Las Vegas Night is the most famous, probably followed by Undressage. People, guys especially, flock toour school for these events, and they are a lot of fun.

Social life is what you make of it.. HAVE A CAR. then you'll have a super social life. haha

I am involved with the ice hockey team and the chorale. I love both of them! I do lock my door when I leave the dorm, but I know a lot of people who don't. The traditions that happen every year are elfing, big/little sisiter, dis-o, pangy day, etc. What I did last weekend was play 3 hockey games, participate in Relay-For-Life, hem my dress for my upcoming chorale concert, practice my pieces for the concert, and my homework. That weekend was a particularly crazy one for me.

Equestrian is big! And rugby, but totally different ends of the spectrum! Students in dorms leave their doors open but I don't. The popularity of athletic events depends on the team, for example, basketball is very popular. We have great guest speakers!!!!! Dating scene is all girls, but straight girls find boys at Amherst, Umass and Hampshire. I met my closest friends on the volleyball team and in my dorm. I am doing homework if I am awake at 2AM on a Tuesday, or complaining about my coach. There's a million traditions, pangy day, convocation, disorientation, elfing (Amazing!), milk and cookies, all sorts of good things. People party on the weekends but not so much during the week, except for a few die-hards. You can go to Amherst or Northampton or a Mount Holyoke dance or something without drinking. You can eat off campus, you can drink, dance, go to clubs, whatever!

Thank goodness, it's not a big party school- people go to UMass or Amherst to do that. There was more drinking and smoking various substances than I expected, but it is college after all, and I went to a pretty tame, education-focused high school. People sometimes leave their doors open, and what do you know, stuff gets stolen. I had a big tiff with my ex-roommate about that- I don't want my 2,000 dollar laptop, ipod, or camera stolen. Dating scene: I guess it must be pretty good if you are something other than straight. People are more than comfortable displaying their sexuality here. If you are straight, you must either have a boyfriend beforehand, try your luck at other schools, or bide your time. I wish the theater department did musicals! I wish there was a non-substance dorm. Or at least a floor.

I try to get off campus as much as I can. Initially i was intimidated being a heterosexual female because so much of the social scene here revolves around the gay community but it's surprisingly welcoming.