About Me

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Intro

I'm the oldest of the famous Seven Sisters, and some might say I'm the prettiest, too, with my campus that features two lakes, woodland trails, waterfalls, horse stables, and a botanical garden. It isn't all about looks, though. Brains definitely run in the family. 

The Seven Sisters were established in the 19th century to parallel the once-upon-a-time exclusively male Ivy League colleges, and these days my students kick butt in a variety of fields of study, dominating everything from economics to English.

Maybe it's because I am the oldest of the Sisters, but I feel tradition is of the utmost importance. One of my most cherished traditions is Mountain Day, when students get to ditch class for a beautiful fall hike on the Mount Holyoke Range (Netflix and chill is totally an option, too—it's your call). 

There's also the Laurel Parade on commencement weekend, when students dress in a sea of white and carry laurel leaves to founder Mary Lyon's grave at the center of campus. Yes, her grave is on campus.

Don't worry she doesn't haunt me or anything.

Name

Our jocks are known as the Lyons, but every class also has their own mascot and color. By the time of convocation, you'll be appointed to the Green Gryffons, Yellow Sphinxes, Blue Lyons, or Red Pegasi. Get your outfit together because class spirit is no joke.

Hometown

South Hadley, Massachusetts, is kind of a one-horse town, but on the upside, Village Commons is right across the street from campus. At Village Commons, there's a movie theater, a salon, a couple of restaurants, a bookstore, a café, and some indie shops. It's not much, but it's convenient and it covers all the key bases.

This is extra awesome during winter when it snows—you never have to go too far to get what you need. When students are itching for a bit more pizzazz, there are a number of cities only about ten miles away (I'm looking at you Northampton, Amherst, and Springfield) and Boston is less than two hours by car.

Birthdate

1837

Body Type

I am definitely petite, but my students are thick as thieves. I have a little more than 2,000 students, most of them undergraduates. The advantage to being small is that you will have no trouble finding your nearest and dearest, and the professors in your department are also sure to know you, which is great for letters of recommendation. 

My tiny class sizes are optimal for learning...though consider yourself warned: You will definitely be noticed if you roll in late, or worse, unprepared.

Since I'm a women's college, all of my students identify as female or agender. I'm proud to accept transgender women, and I was the first of my Sisters to admit trans students. Per usual, I had to set an example for them, reminding them that gender is a social construct.

Current Living Situation

I'm kind of out in the boonies, but that just makes me more mysterious. Most students live on campus, but off-campus housing is available as well. On campus, there are seventeen gorgeous residence halls, and trust me when I say you really do want to live here. You may not live anywhere quite as beautiful again, and the resources on campus will make your life much easier.

I take good care of my commuter students, too, though. These daily drivers enjoy their own lounge in Blanchard Campus Center where there are computers available for use, plus free printing.

Relationship Status

Not to brag, but I have loads of friends. In addition to my Seven Sisters (okay, technically there are only five of us left), I have two brothers, Dartmouth and Amherst. I'm also part of the Five College Consortium, which means that any of my students can take classes at Amherst, Smith, UMass, and Hampshire, too.

Politics

I'm definitely a lefty, and my home state of Massachusetts is one of the most notably liberal states in the union. Bleeding heart liberals that we are, intolerance isn't really our style, so whatever your belief system, expect to be respected.

You should apply to me if...

you're ready to take your education super seriously in a cozy, woodland paradise.

Website

http://www.mtholyoke.edu