Hampshire College
Reviews

A+ for Straight Women/Lesbians/Gay Men, F for Straight Men :\

The ladies of Hampshire College are underrated. From hipsters to hippies to punks, they tend to have a great sense of style and natural beauty. However, with such a wide selection of lovely and available women, the small percentage of straight men on campus are tools. Why? Because they CAN be. Of course there are exceptions to this rule. Sadly, these exceptions tend to be taken. Hampshire women often hookup with guys who are way beneath them, which gives a lot of losers an inflated sense of hotness. It is truly tragic. However, queers tend to do well in the romance department, because there are a lot of hot lesbians and gays. That said, most people--regardless of sexual orientation--just want to hit it and quit it.

Shows, Bonfires, and Dancing

On the weekends there are usually one, two or all three of what is listed above to attend.

I Feel Completely Safe on Hampshire Campus.

Hampshire has trained public safety and highly qualified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) always on call. The students are all here for the same reasons, to learn and to enjoy the experience of college. There are rarely ever fights or thefts on campus and if there is, it is usually people that do not attend Hampshire. I have never felt scared or unsafe on Hampshire's campus.

Housing Policy

Hampshire College has a great housing policy. There are two dormitory buildings available for first year students to live in. Each of these dormitory buildings has free laundry and is only a two minute walk from the dining commons. The rooms are 90% single rooms, each with a huge 4' by 4' window. All the hallways are co-ed, unless you request a single gender hall. The rooms are extremely spacious and come furnished with a desk, dresser, chair, and closet. The social atmosphere is great. Each hallway has a lounge which is equipped with two couches, a television with cable, a full sized fridge, an oven, and a sink. In addition every lounge has a balcony large enough to put the sofas outside - which is very popular in the fall and the spring when the weather at Hampshire is beautiful. If you do not want to live in the dormitories there are three other housing communities on Hampshire; Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. Each has their own architectural style. Greenwich is near Hampshires farm and close to the soccer fields. Prescott is home to the Tavern, a lounge and music space on campus. And Enfield has the community health collaborative where you can get free chair messages. It also has mixed nuts, Hampshire longest running student business on campus, a store where you can purchase eggs, milk, and other products for your kitchen.

Campus Strictness

Hampshire College is amazingly tolerant of their students. They understand that Hampshire students are individual and self motivated and for that reason almost all of the buildings are left open at night and students are encouraged to organize activities on their own. If a cop were to see someone drinking they would simply as them to pour their drink out. The same policy goes for smoking cigarettes or marijuana. Marijuana is decriminalized in the state of Massachusetts so therefore the police cannot get you in trouble for it beyond a small fine. The campus is extremely safe despite the relaxed environment. Public safety officers are always around if any student needs assistance. So are the student trained Emergency Medical Team, who will immediately respond to any students need.

Greek Life

Hampshire College does not have greek life. Instead they have upper class students living in "mods" which are apartment style housing communities. Each one has its own name; Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. Each apartment community has its own distinct architectural style of either rural, urban, or suburban. Each of these housing communities has their own themed parties and events, so you get the benefits of the greek life party, without the exclusivity. At Hampshire, everyone is invited to all the parties

There are six residence halls in...

There are six residence halls in the Dakin dormitory, each with four floors. These residence halls are connected by bathrooms on each floor. There is a game room and a laundry room in one of the basements of this building.

There are three mod neighborhoods:...

There are three mod neighborhoods: Enfield, Prescott, and Greenwich. Enfield is probably the most coveted and resembles townhouses. Prescott has a very urban feel, complete with balconies and outdoor, metal stairways. This is the only housing option without doubles. Greenwich is the oddball of the bunch. The buildings are called donuts or spaceships depending upon whom you ask. They are octagonal, resulting in eight mods per donut, each in a pie-slice shape. The dorms are called Merrill and Dakin, and most of the halls are co-ed. Most students start out in the dorms for at least their first semester.

Prescott is the best on-campus...

Prescott is the best on-campus apartment housing. Dakin is the best dorm. Greenwich is awful. Prescott is like city living, Dakin is the most social, and Greenwich is out in the woods and falling apart.

Hampshire has a unique curriculum....

Hampshire has a unique curriculum. It's interdisciplinary, which means you aren't tied down to one single subject. Check out www.hampshire.edu/academics/531.htm for more information. The teachers are good, and the workload is heavy.

Everyone is geeky!

There is nothing within walking...

There is nothing within walking distance at all from Hampshire College. There are some good restaurants within biking distance, and there's a free, good bus system. There are also good delivery services and a good variety of food offered.

There's ugly architecture here;...

There's ugly architecture here; otherwise, the facilities are alright.

Anyone can bring a car. The rules...

Anyone can bring a car. The rules are pretty good, but there isn't a lot of space—some people in some dorms have to park near others because there isn't space available near where they live.

Haha, yes, there's lots of weed.

The bus route goes just about...

The bus route goes just about everywhere you could want and is free for all Five College students. It is really easy to use.

Off-campus housing is the most...

Off-campus housing is the most difficult thing to try to get. Even though it will save you money, the amount of energy, effort, and trouble it is to try to get approval to live off-campus is not worth it.

There is a wide variety of...

There is a wide variety of students on campus. There are all sorts of genres and styles. There is a place for everyone.

I have never had a problem parking...

I have never had a problem parking on campus. I did not have a car freshman year, but friends of mine did, and it was not an issue. I have a car now, and it is easy and free to park.

Being in Massachusetts, most of my...

Being in Massachusetts, most of my time spent at school is in the snow. The fall and spring are great opportunities for hiking, biking, and doing a lot of outdoor activities. You should make sure to pack warm clothing but also boots or sneakers so you can go on the local trails. It is cold most of the year, though.

I'm not a huge party person, but...

I'm not a huge party person, but the parties I have been to on campus are always fun with a lot of dancing. Most parties have themes and are open to everyone. As for off-campus spots, the only place I have ever been is Diva's, a local club that has a college night. It is really great because you meet a lot of kids from the five other colleges.

Amherst is a great area for...

Amherst is a great area for organic, local food. There are several farms around where you can buy local, seasonal foods. However, there are also chain grocery stores such as Stop & Shop and Trader Joe's. As for restaurants, there is a great variety of foods to choose from. There's Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Moroccan, Route 9 Diner, and so much more. Not everything is available for delivery or take out, but most places are just a free bus ride away.

The atmosphere is amazing. Just...

The atmosphere is amazing. Just the other day, I went to go look at newborn lambs (who were adorable) and later, I went into Springfield. It's pretty eclectic if you give it the opportunity and actually get out. If you just limit yourself to the one campus, then you'll probably be disappointed. But Hampshire wasn't meant to be experienced as one little liberal bubble. It's part of the Five College Consortium, and Holyoke and Springfield are both really interesting cities that people don't give them enough credit for.

Hampshire is just about the safest...

Hampshire is just about the safest place I can imagine. We hear about crime on campus about once a semester. I walk around here at night, and I've never felt unsafe. My neighbors steal bowls from my kitchen every so often, but that's about as bad as it gets.

PVTA (Pioneer Valley Transit...

PVTA (Pioneer Valley Transit Authority) is extraordinary. The public bus system brings students to any of the five colleges or stops en route. The buses run until about 2 in the morning on weekends and midnight on school nights. There are also numerous ride shares, designated driver services, and carpooling systems. PVTA is so convenient that even though I have a car, I use the bus system. You can get just about anywhere within the area with just a bus or two. And, if not, chances are there is a car you can borrow or people who are going in the same direction that are more than happy to take conversation, snacks, or shared gas money as compensation for a ride.