My kid visited, was admitted, and liked it enough to visit again as an admitted student. Really attracted to some things—it is gorgeous, warm vibes, good faculty to student ratio, lots of resources. But ultimately decided it was too small/isolated for her.

My daughter is at Mount Holyoke and is loving it. She is engaged in classes, has a wonderful friend group, active in a bunch of clubs, and had internship arranged with help from the career center.

My kid applied and got in. Really liked the school and the opportunities. South Hadley is dreary, but there is easy access to Amherst and Northampton via bus.

Hands down the worst financial package of all the schools we applied to. Minimal merit aid relative to the price, and sticker price is currently $93k. As a donut hole family the math just didn’t math. We did do the Net Cost estimate, the ask was HIGHER than that calculation.

DD chose another women’s college with a similar vibe but a much lower cost.

Why is someone reporting all the posts about the social scene? Actually far more relevant than the stuff that is left.

DC and I also liked MHC tour, solid choice. Also look at Bryn Mawr, seemed similar, but with train line to Philly and bico with Haverford to increase school size and academic and ec opportunities.

Fabulous school.

I loved our tour of Mt Holyoke! Beautiful campus with a stunning library, friendly and informative guide. Seems like a really solid school that’s perhaps a little less intense than some of its historic women’s college counterparts (Smith, Bryn Mawr). Pioneer Valley has enough going on, the Five (now Four) College consortium, and MHC students seemed happy and engaged.

Anonymous wrote:Former labor secretary Elaine Chao went there for undergraduate (then HBS). Seems to attract a lot of elite families.

Elaine Chao is 73. A lot has changed in the world in 50+ years.

Anonymous wrote:Former labor secretary Elaine Chao went there for undergraduate (then HBS). Seems to attract a lot of elite families.

Chloe Zhao also graduated from there, saw big post about her when we visited the school.
It seems attracting lots of rich kids with so so stats from China, 25% are international students, cash cow for school.

It's a powerhouse school with an influential alum network. I think the issue is that the college started out as the Ivy League counterpart for women but now that marketing proposition has become obsolete so it's in transition. If you just look at objectively at the academics, the rigor and the quality of teaching and the caliber of student well it's amazing. But it's harder to sell people on an all women's college these days. although who knows that might change given the current climate.

Because even in 2026 people want to believe that the number one reason women go to college is to find a husband.

Wellesley, Smith, Mt. Holyoke - all amazing.

Former labor secretary Elaine Chao went there for undergraduate (then HBS). Seems to attract a lot of elite families.

Western Mass is lovely. The 5 (well now 4) college area is hardly depressing.

MHC is in the same category as Bryn Mawr, Colorado College, Smith, Reed, Oberlin--all excellent colleges. sheesh.

Anonymous wrote:Western Mass can be a bit depressing

Compared to what - inner cities? Deep South MAGA states?

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe it’s still in business.

you've got to be kidding me. This is a mainstay top lac, a staple in New England and beyond. I can see the all women's college proposition falling out of fashion but the school was hardly in trouble last I checked last year.