Mount Holyoke students can take courses for credit at any of the other Five Colleges (Smith College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst) at no additional cost.
Approximately 40 percent of Mount Holyoke students study abroad during their four year career.
Each year, a small group of incoming first-years are selected for participation in first-year tutorials. These are opportunities to work closely with a professor and a few other students in an area of interest. Tutorials may involve research or special projects, and are two credits per semester (most tutorials go for the entire first year).
Many students design their own major or choose an interdisciplinary major.
The Frances Perkins Program allows women who are older than the traditional college age to attend Mount Holyoke. “FPs,” as they’re called, add spice to classes with their more experienced perspectives.
At the end of every course, students have the opportunity to complete a course evaluation, either anonymously or signed by the student. Academic departments take these very seriously when evaluating particular courses and professors.
Mount Holyoke provides the option of self-scheduled final exams. Students sign up to work one or more exam shifts (there are three exam sessions in a day) so that their classmates can choose when to take their exams. Most exams are scheduled this way, although a few are pre-scheduled. The entire system runs on the Honor Code, and students are not supposed to discuss their exams until the entire finals period is over.