Admission Chat Transcript 11-01-2007 for  Room 1
MHCMichelle joined.
mhcCatarina joined.
Liz joined.
Liz left.
Liz joined.
MHCVivian joined.
Liz OK, I visited MHC a couple of weeks ago, and had a great overnight stay. I was a bit concerned, however, that my three first-year student hosts didn't seem to be engaging in much beyond academics. Can you give me an idea of what you are involved in other than the academic program?
mhcCatarina left.
MHCCatarina joined.
MHCMichelle Hi Liz!
MHCVivian There are over 150 clubs on campus.
MHCMichelle I'm glad you had the opportunity to visit. There are a huge variety of opportunities for involvement at MHC...pretty much whatever you are interested in, there is a way for you to get involved
MHCVivian as well as the 5 college consortium
MHCMichelle Also as first years they may have been trying out a few things, it can be a little overwhelming to decide between all the activities!
MHCMichelle What types of things are you interested in?
Liz Thanks, I understand that there are many opportunities for out of class activities. I guess I wasn't so worried about there being many clubs and organizations, but more concerned that the women with whom I stayed didn't seem to have the time to be involved in any of them. They sort of said that th
MHCMichelle It can definitely be overwhelming, especially in your first semester!! But rest assured, you will have the option of being involved in as many or as few activities as you're interested in
MHCVivian I would chalk it up to them being new. I think when you first come on campus you can feel overwhelmed by the amount of activities and such.
Liz What about the two of you? What sort of things have you been able to do outside the classroom?
ander20k joined.
MHCSmstanto joined.
mhckalsang joined.
ander20k left.
mhckelsey joined.
hgal6190 joined.
ClaireBoyd08 joined.
MHCMichelle I'm a senior, so I've been involved in many different things in the past years. This year, I am involved in several SGA committees (Health, Athletics, Alcohol and Drug Awareness), I volunteer, am on the Newman (Catholic) group, and I hold two jobs
hgal6190 hello
ClaireBoyd08 Hello to all!
MHCMichelle and it's fine balancing all of that with academics, it depends on how you arrange your schedule and prioritize your time
MHCMichelle Hi and welcome!
ashleyleblanc joined.
MHCVivian Hello Newbies:)
hgal6190 hi!
MHCSabahat joined.
hgal6190 I already love Mt.Holyoke its my number one choice right now
mhckalsang Hey everyone
mhckelsey Hi everyone
MHCSabahat left.
bananajojo16 joined.
MHCMichelle awesome! what questions can we answer for you all?
MHCSmstanto left.
bananajojo16 left.
ClaireBoyd08 So what is MHC student life like? Is the curriculum challenging?
MHCVivian Wonderful hgal!
Johanna joined.
hgal6190 what is the equestrian progra like? I'm really interested in bieng a part of that
Liz Thanks Michelle. Did you pretty much stick to the books during your first year or were you able to get involved in things?
hgal6190 program*
mhckelsey equestrian program is awesome
mhckelsey people come just for that
Johanna Hello my name is Johanna from Hartford,ct
mhckelsey you'll see lots of girls brining their horses here or riding the school's horses
mhckelsey they're a really close group of friends too
hgal6190 awesome! sounds great Kelsey
MHCVivian I'm from the Hartford area Johanna
Liz What about musical groups, singing groups in particular?
MHCMichelle No, I was able to get involved in things right away. Within the first few weeks there is an ORG fair and a CAUSE (community service) fair, where all of the organizations and opportunities come out to tell you what you can be involved in. So right from the get-go you can sign up for lots of different
hgal6190 I saw the part and its gorgeous
mhckelsey acapella!!!!
Johanna hi
ngumkowski joined.
hgal6190 barn*
Johanna how long have you been at mhc
MHCSabahat joined.
mhckelsey i'm a sophmore too
mhckalsang I am a sophmore
MHCSabahat left.
ClaireBoyd08 Hey, I'm Claire from Texas-- Sr. in HS
MHCMichelle There are a variety of musical groups...A capella, Vocal Jazz, Glee Club, etc etc
MHCVivian I've been here for about 1and 1/2.
Johanna why did you guys choose mhc for a prospective school
ashleyleblanc left.
hgal6190 are the tryouts for the equestrian team competatitive and exclusive or does anyone get to participate in some aspect of the barn?
mhckalsang I fell in love with the campus,and MHC was the right size for me
mhckelsey pretty much anyone can be a part of the equestrian group in one way or another-there are a variety of PE options that oftentimes students will try out and take and then move into the teams
mhckelsey they are competitive though overall because we are natioan champs :) at least in dressage i know that much
Johanna vivian are you part of the cultural clubs at mhc
hgal6190 great! I was a little worried because I dont get to go riding except in the summer. My name is Dagny by the way, I'm sorry I didnt mention that earlier
ClaireBoyd08 How is the financial aid resourses at MHC for a middle-class girl from the midwest?
Liz Whether you're a first-year or upperclass woman, what do you really appreciate the most in your MHC experience?
ngumkowski Has anyone designed their own major? I am interested in business and marketing but I love MHC, so I will need to design a major
MHCVivian I'm not a student, I'm an admission officer but quite a few of the students in our office are involved with the cultural houses.
mhckelsey hey dagny
Johanna oh because I will be staying overnight on sunday
mhckelsey dont worry about prior experience, they'll be a class or part on the teams for you
ltheurer joined.
ngumkowski Sorry, I did not introduce myself -- my name is Nina
MHCMichelle I appreciate the fact that you can mold the MHC experience to fit whatever it is you're looking for...there is every opportunity for you and you can really make it your own
mhckelsey i'm not an equestrian but i played vball my first year so i know a little about athletics and my good friend was in a PE class so i visited her there and i've seen some competitions
ClaireBoyd08 Is there a dance program offered?
mhckelsey the stables are gorgeous if you haven't seen them and so are the horses of course
Johanna what do admission officers take notice of when they first see an application
mhckelsey there is a dance program
MHCShannon joined.
mhckalsang Yes, we have an amazing dance program, there is also a 5 college dance program
MHCShannon left.
hgal6190 I have seen the stables and you're absolutly right, they are breathtaking, I'm from Chicago so I've hardly even seen anything like that
mhckelsey its a five college program so its very connected to the other four colleges: amherst, umass, hampshire, and smith
mhckelsey no way!!! hgal you're from chicago! me too
mhckelsey well wilmette
ltheurer are there also dance classes available for PE requirements?
mhckelsey are you from directly in the city
Liz Michelle, what opportunities have you taken advantage of, and what sorts of things have you gotten into that you might not have elsewhere?
ClaireBoyd08 Awesome! I am a classical dancer of 16 years, and it is something I would like to continue as a hobby.. are their any scholarships through the dance program? Or how are scholarships in general gaged?
MHCMichelle Designing your own major is certainly a possibility. Since business isn't a liberal arts area, it may take more planning on your part. It would also involve taking classes off campus through the 5-College consortium. If you want to do it, though, it is certainly a possibility!
hgal6190 really? thats awesome! I'm from Evanston but I go to a school in Wilmette
mhckelsey yeah there is dance for PE: ballroom, folk, ballet, jazz
Faithie joined.
mhckelsey omg i was born in evanston and lived there for 10 years
mhckalsang yes, there are dance classes that meet PE requirements
mhckelsey I went to North Shore Country Day School, where do you go?
Sheila joined.
hgal6190 this is such a coincidence! I go to Regina Dominican
mhckelsey awesome! i played vball there for three years in the summers
mhckelsey so glad you've visited mhc wish i had known
hgal6190 same here
Johanna I was wondering if I should S.A.T scores because mhc does not require them
mhckelsey how's life back in IL?
ltheurer yeah i was wondering that also
Sheila left.
ltheurer are they looked at enough to make a difference?
Johanna I dont know I want to find out though
MHCMichelle Submitting SAT scores is entirely your choice. If you choose to submit them, we will consider them
hgal6190 pretty good, its getting colder (finally) so its back to normal Chicago weather
Sheila joined.
MHCMichelle if not, it won't count against you
Johanna oh okay thanks
Sheila Hi!
ltheurer that's good to hear
mhckalsang Hey Sheila,
mhckelsey yeah here too, but i just took an incredibly beautiful fall run around campus and town
Sheila I was just wondering how this 'works'
mhckelsey its gorgeous out east here all you guys
ltheurer it really is
hgal6190 it is, and so different from the midwest
ltheurer i'm in ma too and it's such a nice day
Johanna do you feel that you made the right choice by attendning mhc
Sheila thats good to hear
Sheila I am in California right now
mhckalsang Sheila, you can ask any questions you have about MHC
MHCMichelle oh definitely! I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else!!
ClaireBoyd08 I can't wait to visit campus.. can interviews be done over the telephone, because I will not be able to make it out east until Feb
Faithie Hello everyone!
mhckelsey yeah but i've found the same midwestern friendliness out here too. there's a good portion of us from back home, but i was really excited to get away and meet all kinds of new people from all over
MHCMichelle They cannot be conducted over the telephone..there may be a director traveling to your area, or an alum can also do interviews
Johanna How was you ffirst year concerning transition from high school to college
MHCVivian claire - unfortunately, we can't do phone interviews
Sheila but I have two friends at MHC that have told me all about MHC so I want to give it a shot applying as a transfer
ngumkowski what other schools did you consider - and why did you choose MHC over them
Sheila I have a couple of questins
hgal6190 its so good to now people are as friendly out there as they are here. mhcKelsey, what are you majoring in?
Sheila questions**
ltheurer sort of a long shot question, and i don't want to interrupt, but does anyone know anything about the history or russian departments?
ClaireBoyd08 Okay, no problem-- when is the best time to contact the school to set up an alumni interview?
mhckelsey i'm double majoring in English and Spanish
mhckelsey what are your interests?
MHCMichelle I considered a variety of small liberal arts colleges. Mount Holyoke always came out on top of my list when I considered factors important to me. But it really has to be a personal decision.
ltheurer mhckelsey, do you find the double major to be a lot harder than a single, or is it manageable?
MHCMichelle You can call anytime the Admission Office is open
hgal6190 I'm interested in political science, and I would like to either double major or minor in classics/Latin
MHCVivian Claire - sooner is better than later.
Sheila I am an engineering major and I was wondering how that works at MHC?
Johanna does the college with financial assistance
ClaireBoyd08 Sounds great! What can you tell me about the International Relations & Studies office??
Sheila And which semester is best for applying as a transfer?
mhckalsang yes, approx. 70
ngumkowski I loved the size of the school and the atmosphere, the girls all seemed so comfortable
MHCVivian Johanna - yes we do
mhckelsey double major is manageable and lots of people do it. I'd recommend it if you love two things and really can't decide between the two and are ready to focus in and go into things in depth in two major areas, especially if you're going to join the two in a senior thesis or something
ltheurer ah, that's good to hear, i'm afraid it'll be really difficult
Johanna thanks
MHCVivian International relations is one of our most popular majors.
Faithie left.
mhckalsang 70% of our student is on some form of financial aid
Johanna oh okay
ClaireBoyd08 What is required of the major? Are there language requirements, study abroad options for the major?
hgal6190 thats good, I'm really passionate about political science but also want to continue my classics studies
hgal6190 and be on the equestrian team of course :)
mhckelsey you'll be able to do both passions i think
mhckelsey most mhc women have mutliple (often too many :) intersts
Johanna is anyone here on any athletics team at mch
Johanna mhc
mhckelsey i was last year on the vball team
mhckalsang We have an amazing International relations department. You can choose to major in IR or you could pursue a 5 college IR certificate.
hgal6190 thats how I am right now, actually
mhckelsey what sport are you interested in
Johanna cross country
ltheurer left.
mhckelsey really?! they just won the seven sisters tournament
ngumkowski what is a 5 college certificate?
Sheila anyone seen my questions ::smile
mhckelsey the cross country team that is
ClaireBoyd08 And what exactly does the 5 College IR certificate mean?
Johanna yea i read about that
hgal6190 is any one on the debate team?
mhckelsey i have a few friends on that team
MHCMichelle Sorry Sheila
MHCVivian Sheila - can you repeat?
Johanna oh cool
mhckelsey they're also a close group of friends and have a really nice coach i've heard
mhckalsang You can choose to take classes that are offered in the 5 colleges: MHC, Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, UMass.
mhckalsang The certificate will count as a minor.
mhckelsey a lot of people run around the lakes on campus too even if they're not on the team :)
Johanna yea i ve been talking to their coach and will possibly meet them all on monday
mhckelsey oh that'll be perfect
Johanna yea
hgal6190 awesome, thats basically what we have at my school so it would be nice to continue that in college
mhckelsey what time are you coming on monday
MHCMichelle We don't have an engineering major here, but there are partnerships with Dartmouth, UMASS, Caltech to get an engineering degree
ClaireBoyd08 Neat, is Italian offered? I was an exchange student through Rotary to Italy, and I would defenitely like to continue my study of the Italian language along with Intl Relations?
MHCMichelle I believe it is a 5th year option
Johanna well im actually staying overnight unitl monday and will arrive on sunday
ngumkowski so do you get a certificate in additon to a MHC diploma? And how many courses do you have to take in the other colleges to get a certificate?
Sheila I am an engineering major...and I wanted to know what the student population in the field is...and what are the options if i join MHC...and also what the best time for transfer is?
Liz left.
MHCMichelle Sheila see my comment above
mhckelsey i hope you enjoy your overnight stay-i'll be in the office monday so we may run into one another
Sheila Do you have classes that contribute to an engineering major?
MHCVivian The engineer programs are 5 year programs where you received 2 degrees.
Sheila Thanks Michelle
Johanna oh cool
Johanna thanks
MHCMichelle the best time to transfer would be whenever you feel ready/prepared. Probably the sooner the better!
mhckelsey where'd my chicago girl go? :)
Liz joined.
MHCVivian sheila - yes we do.
hgal6190 I'm here!
hgal6190 :)
mhckelsey haha what's up?
mhckelsey this is crazy confusing with everyone typing and chatting
Liz left.
mhckelsey i haven't done a lot of AIMing type stuff since highschool
hgal6190 I know! I'm just beginning to get used to it
mhckalsang Claire, Italian is offered here along with 11 other languages
Johanna thanks a lot kelsey bye
mhckelsey sure bye
MHCMichelle Yeah, a general apology if we don't get to your questions right away!
hgal6190 do you know anything about the debate team?
Johanna left.
ClaireBoyd08 What are the other languages offered?
Sheila so how many years would i spend at MHC? and would I have to reapply to transfer to one of those schools?
mhckalsang Thats perfect, since we have a language requirement for IR majors.
mhckelsey i know the debate team gets to travel to other colleges and universities kind of like Model UN
MHCVivian Spanish, german, Japanese, Arabic
MHCVivian Latin
mhckelsey French German Chinese
mhckalsang Sanskrit
hgal6190 awesome, Model UN is what I really want to do, I do student congress now which is basically the high school version
mhckelsey five college hebrew
ngumkowski left.
MHCMichelle I believe you spend 4 years (8 semesters) at MHC and then take 1 year at the other school. You arrange it through the department once you're a student here.
mhckelsey yeah MUN is popular and there is a debate society but I know less about that
Sheila so there is an engineering department?
MHCMichelle I also believe that there is some flexibility as to when the year at another school occurs
ClaireBoyd08 This sounds great,how is MHC's financial assitance?
hgal6190 alright sounds great
Sheila what are the chances of getting financial aid as a transfer? is it based on need even for international students?
hgal6190 Unfortunatly I wont be able to come to the equestrian overnight program on November 15, because thats opening night for our play, but I do plan to come for an overnight visit
MHCMichelle no we don't have a department. Here is a link to check out if you'd like to read more: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/math/other/engineering/
Sheila thanks Micheele
mhckelsey good you totally should. what's the play?
Sheila Vivian, whats that you were saying about a double degree?
MHCVivian claire- we try to meet 100% of your need minus your family contribution. Meaning that everything after what we say your family can provide. Fin. aid packets vary. They are really dependent on your families financial situation.
mhckalsang Approx. 70% students have financial assistance. And yes international students also recieve financial aid/
MHCMichelle The application for financial aid is considerd regardless of first year/transfer status. If you have questions about your individual financial aid options, you can contact the office directly. They will certainly help you out!!
Sheila left.
hgal6190 Triangle Factory Fire Project,
ClaireBoyd08 I also won't be able to attend an overnight visit until spring.. Nov. 14-18 is our play of Cinderella
Sheila joined.
mhckelsey i've never heard of it
hgal6190 I love that play, we did that last year actually
MHCVivian You fill out the fasfa and a profile on our site and studet financial services creates a package for you.
hgal6190 yes, its rather depressing
mhckelsey hey two people have play conflicts with the overnight stay :)
hgal6190 haha the two people from Chicago
Sheila i lost the site, could you plz type it again?
mhckelsey wait someone else besides hgal is from chicago?
Sheila and how does aid for international students work?
hgal6190 I thought someone typed that
hgal6190 maybe I misread it
MHCMichelle http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/math/other/engineering/
mhckelsey maybe i did too lol
mhckalsang International Students have to submit financial aid forms found on the college board website.
Sheila sorry, i logged out by mistake n lost it
ClaireBoyd08 Is anyone here from Texas or the midwest?
hgal6190 lol speaking of the play I have to get to practice here soon, thank you very much for your help mhckelsey!!
mhckelsey midwest represent!!!
MHCMichelle You apply for financial aid with your application, and then they review your status and submitted documents and design a package for you
Jennifer_Wass joined.
mhckelsey no problem hgal good luck and email me anytime ander20k@mtholyoke.edu
MHCMichelle Welcome Jennifer
mhckalsang The financial package for international students arrives with the acceptance letter and will carry on for 4 years.
ClaireBoyd08 I am just wondering how big of a change the NE is for a girl raised in an extremely conservative atmosphere
hgal6190 thank you!!
Jennifer_Wass Thanks!!
mhckelsey i played vball with a girl from texas and we called her that-Texas everytime she made a kill!
mhckelsey where in texas are you from claire?
hgal6190 left.
ClaireBoyd08 The Panhandle, near Amarillo in the North
Jennifer_Wass I just wanted to drop by and say hello, I am planning to come visit MHC next week for the open house
MHCMichelle awesome!!
mhckelsey the NE is hard to generalize and base on MHC because we really are our own little or rather big world sometimes
mhckalsang Thats great
MHCMichelle do you have any questions?
mhckelsey very global, all over the map (49 states 80 countries)
ClaireBoyd08 Fabulous! I am in desperate need of some diversity! ;)
mhckelsey and there is a liberal as well as conservative population on campus
mhckelsey you'll totally find it here and it's amazing!!!
mhckelsey i sit next to a girl in my Critical Social Thought class who writes in her notebook in Mandarin while mine is totally messy English
mhckelsey I think that's pretty cool
ClaireBoyd08 That is really neat
Jennifer_Wass Does anyone know what the Self Designed studies program is about?
mhckelsey you may have to adjust to the weather here though ;)
kirsten joined.
MHCMichelle Jennifer, there is the option to design a special major/minor if what you're looking for does not exist
mhckelsey the self design option is a really nice thing to have because it just makes our list of majors almost endless
mhckelsey 49 regular majors plus the self designed ones
MHCMichelle I am designing a minor in Physical Anthropology, for example
ClaireBoyd08 are admissions decisions made on a rolling basis?
mhckelsey you meet with an advisor or few and compile a good curriculum of courses that apply to your major
mhckelsey and i think you're encouraged to write the honors thesis to kind of sum up your self designed major and make the connections between your passions more explicit
Jennifer_Wass ok i see
MHCVivian Claire you must apply by one of our application deadlines. Eaerly decis. 11/15 and 1/1 or regular decis. 1/15.
MHCVivian I meant early...
ClaireBoyd08 Is early action not an option here? It would be great to know a little sooner..
Jennifer_Wass How about the Frances Perkins Program? I am applying to that program. Do those students typically interact with the rest of the campus?
ClaireBoyd08 But early decision isn't an option without knowing the exact amount of financial aid
MHCMichelle Yes, FP students do interact!! It's all the same classes and opportunities are open to everyone
Sheila The website has been a great help!
Sheila Thanks guys...will be back to chat the next time therez a chat!
mhckelsey I love the FP students-i eat breakfast in Pearsons (the dorm next to the FP house) with lots of FPs and have some in my classes
MHCVivian early action isn't an option...sorry..but we do have a regular decis.
mhckelsey we're always asking those FP
Jennifer_Wass Great, I have done lots of research, however its nicer to talk to people than just read what is written ya know?
Jessica joined.
mhckelsey students with kids to bring them to my sociology of the family class
ClaireBoyd08 And decisions are mailed April 1st?
Jennifer_Wass Thats really cool
mhckelsey FPs are really appreciated by the student body because they bring a whole different perspective to classes
MHCMichelle yeah definitely! That's why we're here :)
mhckalsang left.
MHCVivian claire- yes
ClaireBoyd08 Okay-- sounds great!
mhckelsey left.
Jessica how are the foreign language classes at wellesley?
mhckelsey joined.
MHCMichelle I wouldn't know as this is Mount Holyoke :)
ClaireBoyd08 Thanks so much for answering my questions.. I'm afraid I have to jet to Nutcracker practive and then musical rehearsal! Grazie mille!
Jessica haha, sorry, I mean Mount Holyoke
MHCMichelle but the classes her are great!
Jennifer_Wass Its a scary decision, because I see myself working in the corporate world, but I have been given this great opportunity to study liberal arts at MHC, so I am trying to pick between MHC and a business school.. What are your opinions
mhckelsey i love that we're all so theatrical and artistic-running off to play practice or recitals
MHCMichelle There are many different languages, and if you want to study one we don't have, the 5-college consortium makes it really easy
mhckalsang joined.
icebar joined.
Jessica is there a maximum class size for the foreign languages?
ClaireBoyd08 Bye y'all! See you on the east coast!!
Tina joined.
MHCCatarina Hi Tina! Any questions?
MHCMichelle I don't know about the classes in general. My French class had 8 students, so it was excellent
icebar left.
ClaireBoyd08 left.
Alice joined.
Jessica that's pretty cool
mhckelsey Jennifer: a lot of the corp firms actually like to have people with a liberal arts education because it's broader.
kirsten left.
mhckelsey having a woman's college in your background also makes you stand out to future employers whether they be in the business realm or not
MHCCatarina Jennifer, I think that is a very personal decision. But we know that a strong liberal arts education will prepare you well for the business world. You will write, speak, and debate well and be very well-rounded educationally.
mhckalsang Hey, MHC prepares you for all possible careers. We have the biggest banks come and recruit on campus. An education here will make it possible for you to analyze different aspects of life.
MHCMichelle I think it depends on the languages, but generally they are small in size and there are 4th hours where the class breaks up even smaller for more personalized opportunities
Jessica thank you
Alice kelsey, what is the reason for that?
mhckelsey my spanish classes have like 6 students in them! language classes are rather small which is great for attention and immersion practice
Jessica I guess this is an odd question, but what do you think is the most interesting about Mt. Holyoke ?
mhckalsang I recently met an alum who holds a high position in citigroup
MHCEmma joined.
mhckelsey sorry alice what are you refering to?
mhckelsey the business question or the language one?
MHCMichelle Can you clarify a little Jessica?
Alice standing out to employers because of a women's college in your background?
mhckalsang Some common firms that come on campus are : JPMorgan, Citigroup, Lehman brothers...
Jessica or most unique--what set it apart before you decided to go there, what seemed unique to wellesley when you arrived
Jennifer_Wass That all makes great sense, I definately agree with a lot of the things you say
Jennifer_Wass Thanks :-)
mhckelsey well its still a choice that stands out because a small portion of students look at a woman's college, even fewer apply, and even fewer get in so its already an elite group and self chosen decision and employers recognize its rarity
Alice thanks
mhckelsey you'll stand out as a woman who wanted something a bit different and who wanted to excel surrounded by a different culture of women who were also interested in their studies first and foremost in a college education/experience
MHCMichelle Well I think Mount Holyoke is unique in one way for its diversity, and it is something I REALLY appreciate because I came from a very non-diverse high school. My friends all come from different backgrounds, religions, cultures, countries, etc and the worldy community here is just incredible
mhckalsang The most interesting fact about MHC, is not no matter what your are interested in you will pursue a passion here. You know that your being prepared by the best in your field and aim to become the best in future.
mhckalsang Its quite awesome
MHCCatarina I think the most interesting thing about MHC is the sense of community here. It's an amazingly supportive, yet challenging place to go to school.
Alice Is there something that made you guys chose MHC over the other colleges you were looking at?
Jessica yeah, that sounds like what I picked up on while I was there
mhckelsey most interesting thing as in best thing about mhc is that everyone can fit in here and feel good about themselves-everyone finds their own definition of success here and gains confidence to go out in the world after grad
mhckelsey the traditions are also precious!!!
Jessica I stayed a few nights for a leadership program and it seemed so amazingly diverse
MHCEmma Alice: It was the sense of community that stood out to me.. and that is what has kept me here
mhckelsey most interesting as in quirky thing hmmmm what do you think mhc gals?
Jennifer_Wass I will be coming to visit on the 12th. Does anybody have reccomendations as to what to see and where to make sure I visit?
MHCMichelle excellent. Visiting here really gives you the best feel for our campus and community
mhckalsang Diversity on campus was a huge attraction for me
MHCEmma Jennifer: definitely make sure to take a tour! you'll love the campus!
MHCCatarina Jennifer, you're coming to the FP Open House, right? You will be taking a tour of campus so you'll see alot then.
mhckelsey Jennifer-be sure to see all five colleges because even if you end up at MHC you will most likely be involved somehow on the other campuses and they will be a part of your classroom experience here
mhckelsey they also are in some of the nearby towns that we all make our way to for various activities.
Jennifer_Wass oh good idea
mhckelsey left.
Jessica how accessible are the other five colleges?
Tina left.
Jessica as in, how easy is it to actually get to one of the other colleges
Jessica are there buses? how late do they run? that kind of thing
mhckalsang You can access the 5 college through a free bus service
Alice about how big will the freshman class be?
MHCCatarina It runs every 20 minutes.
MHCEmma left.
Jennifer_Wass Nice talking to all of you, It sounds like an amazing place girls, I hope I get in!! Wish me luck!!
MHCCatarina The class of 2012, as in most classes, will be comprised of approximately 525 unique young women!
MHCMichelle Best of luck!!
MHCCatarina Bye Jennifer.
Jennifer_Wass ::biggrin
mhckalsang I took a class on "India in Film ' in Amherst college and was able to make it on time for every class. It is really easy to get around.
MHCVivian Bye Jennifer
Jessica sounds great
Jennifer_Wass left.
Anna joined.
mhckalsang welcome Anna
MHCMichelle hi Anna!
Anna Hi!
MHCMichelle any questions? :)
Alice hmm
MHCVivian Hello Anna
Alice can you describe what kind of technology is available in the library, etc.?
MHCMichelle Just about everything!
MHCMichelle are you looking for something in particular?
MHCVivian we are very high tech here:)
Alice nothing in particular lol. thanks
aswayne joined.
aswayne left.
mhckalsang We have a state of the art technology services, most of our residence halls and academic buildings are wireless.
kirsten joined.
alison joined.
MHCCatarina Hi Kirsten!
mhckelsey joined.
Alice what kind of dance programs are there?
kirsten Hi, all!
mhckelsey there's the five college dance program with the other four colleges
mhckelsey we also bring in great dance performers like American Ballet Theater last year that I saw
mhckelsey it was beautiful
Jessica I'm wondering about music at Mt. Holyoke
alison left.
MHCVivian Because of the 5 college consortium we have a HUGE dance dept
mhckelsey our own dance shows are well attended too
mhckelsey we have senior thesis performances that are more modern at times and more traditional ballet dances, there's folk dance, jazz, ballroom etc.
MHCMichelle There the opportunity to major in Music, to take classes in music, and to be involved outside of academics entirely! What are you interested in?
Alice awesome..
mhckelsey our dance faculty is considered really good too
mhckalsang left.
Jessica but on the academic side rather than extracurricular
MHCVivian classes are availabe in ballet, jazz, etc as well as kinesology
MHCMichelle Vocal...Instrumental?
Jessica can you recieve music lessons on an instrument?
mhckalsang joined.
mhckelsey Jessica-yes you can and get credit for it
MHCVivian You don't have to be a maor to take dance course either
mhckelsey so bring your instrument from home and take classes and you can get music credit for that which falls into the humanities and arts distribution requirement
MHCMichelle Yes of course. I am actually taking lessons for the first time yes semester. It's very easy, a simple audition. And then you can do it for either 1 or 2 credits.
MHCMichelle *this
Sheila left.
mhckelsey left.
mhckalsang left.
Alice does anyone know anything about taking Chinese?
Jessica how many classes do you take per semester?
MHCMichelle what would you like to know? It is a very popular language, and many students travel abroad to China with their language skills
MHCVivian alice- chinese course are offered on campus
MHCMichelle there are several opportunities, two of my close friends went to China last semester/summer
Jessica and, if you take four courses (say a science and lab, a language, an english course) is it too much to take a music lesson or a dance class as well?
MHCMichelle Jessica, you traditionally take 16 credits (4 classes)
Alice are there small classes for that? are there many levels? [i don't know much about it yet]
MHCMichelle and no, I don't think balancing all of that will be an issue
Jessica are lessons one on one or in small groups?
MHCMichelle There are introductory classes and then you follow the progression through the higher levels.
Anna Oh, languages got me thinking- If I'm interested in taking a class at UMass-Amherst is that feasible without a car?
MHCMichelle Jessica: they are one-on-one lessons
Jessica thank you
MHCCatarina Yes - you can take the 5 college bus -it's free! and they run every 20 minutes.
MHCMichelle Yes definitely. There is a free bus that runs between the 5 colleges
MHCVivian annaa - we have a bus that goes to all 5 of the colleges
Alice for getting into MHC (i'm applying early) does taking the SAT 2s count for a lot? i have not taken them.
MHCCatarina we're completely test optional at MHC. That means that you can choose to submit SAT I/II or ACT scores but they are not required.
Alice OK so if it shows up that i've not taken them, they won't hold it against me probably?
Anna How much will it affect my schedule? Can I still take other classes during the same day? Do you know anyone who has balanced that with sports practice?
MHCCatarina If you have taken the test(s) and feel like the scores are in line with your other achievements, then we encourage you to submit.
MHCCatarina Anna- no, we definitely will not hold it against you. Approximately 30% of our applicants each year do not submit.
MHCMichelle It all depends when the classes you want to take are offered. It is completely possible to play sports and take off-campus classes
Anna Great, thanks!
Alice ok thanks, MHC girls.. i'll keep this window open so i can learn more, but i have to go. thanks for all the help! i hope i get accepted.. :)
MHCMichelle Good luck!
mhckelsey joined.
Anna left.
mhckelsey left.
MHCSabahat joined.
Alice left.
MHCSabahat left.
Jessica are there opportunities for scientific research at Mt Holyoke? I'm interesed in chemistry, physics, biochemistry
MHCVivian Yes, yes and yes!
Krista joined.
MHCMichelle I'm a biology major. I've been doing independent research since the summer after my 1st year, and now I am turning it into a thesis
sam joined.
MHCMichelle there are many opportunities in all subjects. Its best to meet some professors and see what types of research they are doing/what you'd like to do, and then contact them. They are always looking for new students to do research in their labs
Krista left.
MHCCatarina Hi Sam!
Krista joined.
sam hi
Krista hey
MHCMichelle You can also do research during summer programs and internships. Many students begin projects off-campus and then continue them at MHC
MHCCatarina do you have any questions for us?
Krista how is the social scene?
MHCVivian Hi Krista and sam
sam what type of internships are offered for the education field
kirsten left.
kirsten joined.
Krista Hi Vivian
mhckalsang joined.
MHCMichelle does that answer your question Jessica?
Jessica yes it does! thank you very much
MHCMichelle great!
mhckelsey joined.
SheilaMWebb joined.
MHCVivian sam- you can intern at Holyoke Public Schools (our neighboring town) or
mhckalsang Welcome Sheila
MHCVivian you do something at the childcare center on campus
sam what year can you start to intern at the school?
mhckelsey whoever just asked about social life at MHC-its so broad and endless-so many options for whatever you're interested in, postings and chalkings all over campus, flooding your inbox with all kinds of things to attend
mhckelsey clubs really want your participation
kirsten Hi. I'm interested in archaeology and anthropology. Can I study that here or can I do it in the Five Colleges?
mhckelsey concerts, shows, matches, and games are all really well attended
MHCVivian You can intern whenever you want:)
MHCMichelle Hi Kirsten
mhckalsang Social scene here is totally what you make of it.
Krista awesome. thanks!
mhckelsey people do a lot on campus as well as off campus in the surrounding towns and the other four colleges just minutes away by car or free bus
MHCCatarina Anthropology is a major at MHC
MHCMichelle I am designing a minor in Physical Anthropology...MHC doesn't have archaeology, but we have a great Cultural Anthro department
Krista Is the study abroad program very popular among students?
sam would it be like student teaching or observing
Jessica I remember there was a pretty fun party when I stayed. And I remember international club making smores. It was pretty reassuring
SheilaMWebb left.
MHCMichelle you can take classes at the other colleges and do summer research experiences (field schools, digs, etc) to supplement your courses
MHCVivian Krista - 40% of our students study abroad. The nationalaverage is about 10% so I think we are doing pretty well:)
mhckelsey Each person creates the social life best suited to them-sometimes i just watch a musical dvd in my room wtih my roommate, othertimes i'll go to concerts or see the stores and art galleries in Northampton with friends, go out for icecream, just walk around the other campuses, all where i feel comfort
mhckalsang There always something to do here, we had Hello goodbye perform last spring, there was an amazing concert where local bands came to perform.
mhckelsey we follow around local bands that are really good and cute :)
kirsten Does MHC do any field work itself?
mhckalsang I agree..Kelsey and I are big fans
sam thanks I'll be back on later with more questions... thanks again
sam left.
Krista Wow, very impressive. How is the relationship with teachers?
TJ joined.
MHCMichelle further questions Kirsten?
MHCVivian Kristen - hands on work is a possibility in many majors
mhckelsey relationships with teachers are really great-the advising system is strong and students will talk with advisors on course scheduling, grades, other concerns, or just talk about literature for half an hour
MHCCatarina Krista-professors are extremely approachable and very passionate about teaching!
MHCMichelle No we don't have a field work program. but it is very easy to set one up. I went to Jordan on a field school this past summer.
MHCVivian hi tj
mhckelsey some will babysit professor's kids, walk their dogs, go to their houses for teas
mhckelsey lost of students trickotreated at president Creighton's house last night :)
kirsten Thanks!
mhckalsang Our profs can only teach 2 classes per semester..So they hold regular office hours and are very supportive.
lxschultz joined.
lxschultz Hello!
MHCMichelle Hi!
Krista Are they all friendly? Or do their personalities all vary greatly?
kirsten left.
mhckelsey personalities definitely vary but that's the fun of taking a variety of courses
mhckelsey they're as diverse as the student population is
MHCVivian Our prof are very committed to their students and want them to succeed.
lxschultz what is it like attending a women's college?
mhckalsang They are very supportive and are really there to talk to you
lxschultz versus co-ed?
ngumkowski joined.
mhckelsey 50% women, 23% people of color, and all with amazing backgrounds, quirky intellectual passions and a variety of interests they're willing to share with you
MHCCatarina Hi ngumkowski.
Krista Wow
mhckalsang I am always hanging out with my Econ prof. Our conversations vary from his sabbatical in India to current course work
Krista Really? That's so cool.
MHCVivian Advising and teaching style will vary but the commitment to teaching and supporting students is very much their goal
ngumkowski left.
mhckelsey in a women's college lxschultz-you can really be comfortable being whoever you are, take your classes serious and have fun both on campus and off-being in a consortium is definitely a bonus for a variety of academic and social reasons
mhckelsey left.
MHCMichelle I think its excellent attending a women's college! I find that women here are bold and passionate and that really shows through in every aspect of life on campus.
Krista The teachers at my school don't make much effort to get to know you. So I'm somewhat shy in class. Do the professors make an effort to get to know you? Or do they expect you to approach them first?
lxschultz does MHC require applicants to file CSS/Profile for financial aid?
SheilaMWebb joined.
mhckalsang Krista, they are really there for you. All of them have such a diverse backgrounds, interests etc. You can learn so much from them just meeting them outside of the class as well.
MHCMichelle yes, that is required, along with the FAFSA
MHCVivian Lxschultz- yes we do
lxschultz okay, thank you
SheilaMWebb left.
lxschultz how are the dorms? I have driven by the school...all of the building look "old" for lack of a better term.....beautiful though (don't misunderstand)...
Krista What is the most popular major at MHC
Alex_ joined.
MHCCatarina Biology, then IR (international relations), English, and Psych
mhckalsang Krista, in my 1.5 years here I have been able to create a bond with all my profs. They love what they do and it shows each day in class
Alex_ left.
Krista That's awesome.
Krista What is the freshman experience like?
Jessica do you ever miss having guys in class ?
MHCMichelle I think the dorms are great. They are old buildings, but they have been rennovated and the school is continuing this yearly. The dorms feel like home, and they are comfortable and beautiful. We are also building a new res hall which will feature different types of rooming options :)
Krista Cool.
MHCCatarina We definitely have older buildings but we have also purposefully kept our newer builds architecturally in sync with the rest of the campus. There are pros and cons to each res hall. Some have nooks and crannies; other have bigger windows/nicer views.
mhckalsang All departments on campus are great. 98% of our faculty members have received the highest degree in their field..So you are being taught by the best
elizabeth joined.
MHCMichelle I personally don't miss having guys in class. It's liberating, actually! But men from the 5-colleges do take classes at MHC (because the classes are great!) So you'll have the occassional guy in your class. You really don't notice it to be honest
MHCCatarina Hi Elizabeth; where are you from?
elizabeth hi im from minnesota!
MHCCatarina Cool. have u come to visit MHC?
elizabeth yeah i had an overnight there just a few weeks ago!
lxschultz How was your overnight experience?
mhckelsey joined.
elizabeth it was really good, i liked it alot, i just dont know how im every going to decide on just one college~!
MHCCatarina it's a tough choice, elizabeth. What are you still wondering about?
Krista What is a typical Friday night like for you girls?
lxschultz good question!
MHCMichelle Its different EVERY week!
mhckelsey I spend friday nights with Kalsang!!! one of my bffs here
lxschultz Does MHC have a gym, like to workout in (ellipticals, treadmills, etc) ?
mhckalsang Krista, Perfect question..I have never had a typical Friday night
MHCMichelle there is never a lack of things to do..
mhckelsey yes we have a gym which is undergoing 15mil. renovations just now and this summer so by next year it will be completed
MHCMichelle Yes we have a gym. There is a cardio area with exercise