Noteworthy advice for incoming students from first-year Mount Holyoke students

First-year students, still in the thick of their college transitions, reflect on what advice they鈥檇 give incoming firsties.

We asked. They dished. Now we鈥檙e serving up tips!

First-year students, still in the thick of their college transitions, reflected on what advice they鈥檇 give incoming firsties. Especially about things like classes and self-care. It鈥檚 amazing to see how excited they are for you 鈥 and how much they want you to know that 鈥渃ollege is absolutely so much fun once you settle in!鈥

A group of new students during the early days of Orientation
New students during the early days of Orientation

Orientation: recommendations

Get to know as many people as possible during Orientation, especially in your Orientation group. Plus, know that the specially trained cohort of Orientation Fellows and Leaders are available 鈥 and eager! 鈥 to help students with the transition to college.

  • 鈥淔eeling a little anxious or nervous? Everyone else is, too!鈥 
  • 鈥淭rust me, give it time and it鈥檒l be all good.鈥
  • 鈥淗ave confidence in yourself 鈥 you鈥檙e here for a reason, never doubt yourself!鈥

Picking classes? Dig into details.

To learn what a class is truly about 鈥 and how it鈥檚 taught and structured 鈥 look beyond class titles. Read syllabi and descriptions. If you have questions about a class, email department heads.

Students with Professor of Astronomy Darby Dyar (second from left)
Students with Professor of Astronomy Darby Dyar (second from left)
  • 鈥淏e 鈥榯hat person鈥 on the Facebook page asking about professors and classes.鈥 
  • 鈥淚 promise a good professor can make any course interesting.鈥

Picking classes: dos and don鈥檛s.

Do pick courses that sound interesting, and try to make friends in them. Don鈥檛 pick a course just because it sounds prestigious. Do explore a wide variety of courses and aim for a balance of reading-, writing-, math-, and language-intensive classes. Don鈥檛 overload on one area of study.

  • 鈥淧ick two classes that you know you鈥檒l succeed in and two just to explore.鈥
  • 鈥淭ake one class in something you鈥檝e always loved, one in something you鈥檝e always wanted to try, and two to fulfill distribution requirements.鈥
Students attend their first M&Cs, held in the library鈥檚 main reading room during Orientation
Students attend their first M&Cs, held in the library鈥檚 main reading room during Orientation

You have to 鈥渁dult鈥!

Your secret to success? Staying healthy. Self-care is the most important part of your college career 鈥 and there won鈥檛 be someone to tell you what to do and when to do it. So get enough sleep. Eat right. Keep in touch with family. And find ways to relax and decompress (like attending M&Cs).

  • 鈥淭ake a PE class! I took West African Dance and it was the BOMB!鈥
  • 鈥淭ry to avoid too much stress. Leave it all in high school.鈥 
  • 鈥淒ON鈥橳 SKIP CLASSES!鈥

Find the joy in joining.

Try out new things: student orgs, clubs, sports, hall events, campus programs. New experiences plus new people equals new friends. Changing it up every so often 鈥 study location, mealtime, events 鈥 is also good for meeting people.

  • 鈥淢y biggest piece of advice for a firstie? Join a whole lot of clubs. Also sports!鈥
  • 鈥淭alk to your neighbors! Get to know people who don鈥檛 share your passions.鈥
Montage photo of students praticing yoga and coloring in the Moasis space
Students take five in one of two MoAsis locations on campus, part of Be Well at Mount Holyoke

Breathe easy.

You don鈥檛 have to decide on 鈥 or complete! 鈥 your major in your first semester. Give yourself time to find your niche and settle in.

  • 鈥淪earch for people who bring out the best in you.鈥
  • 鈥淪mile in the face of challenge.鈥

Look up.

Be inspired by both upperclass students and alumnae. How do they push themselves? How do they go after what they want? How did they take advantage of everything Mount Holyoke has to offer? Ask 鈥 and you will find! 鈥 invaluable mentors.

Students connect with alumnae at the annual Careers in Public Service event in Washington, D.C.
Students connect with alumnae at the annual Careers in Public Service event in Washington, D.C.
  • 鈥淚 choose Mount Holyoke because the students here are powerful, persuasive and persistent. But also really easy to talk to!鈥
  • 鈥淧eer mentorship is definitely celebrated on campus, both formally and informally.鈥 
  • 鈥淭he alumnae network is a MAJOR plus. The kind of loyalty shared by Mount Holyoke grads transcends generations.鈥
Orientation Leaders, 2019
Orientation Leaders, 2019

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