Hollins University
Roanoke, VA, USA

Reviews

Hollins University

Katy

a current student here
18 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Classes are so interesting here and the professors really care about the students. Class sizes are small so everybody can participate. No worries about stating your mind or giving your opinion; open discussion is expected.
Am enjoying being here
It's easy to make friends at Hollins. Without the competition for boys' attention girls can get to know each other in an open environment. The campus is compact and easy to get around, and my dorm is a blast!
Bang for the buck
This is a private school so the cost is high, but the finance office comes through with great scholarship support so don't let the cost deter you from applying.
Tips for prospective students
Come for a visit! We enjoy hosting prospective students so it's easy to arrange a visit and you can stay with a current student in her dorm room to really get a flavor of college life. Try attending the Hollinsummer program. The cost of the program comes back to you as a scholarship if you decide to attend.
Great for these types of students
Students who attended a small high school will discover that a small college is actually more comfortable for them because of the individual attention that's afforded when the teachers aren't overloaded. Girls who want to focus on their education without all the drama that boy-girl relationships offer will love it here!

Murryn from Gibsonville, NC

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It's a very vibrant campus and community- so much so that people will be disappointed if you don't find an EC to occupy your time. The classes are small and professors are available to students for discussions and conversations.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared for intense work in classes, they don't baby you. You'll need to stay on top of your work because once you start slipping, it's very hard to get back up to standards. It is however, very easy to go talk to teachers if you have concerns.
Academic Rigor
As I said before, stay on top of it. When it starts going downhill, it gains traction very quickly.
Dorm Life
I like the dorms. The place is usually clean, the Wi-Fi works fine. Almost everyone is friendly. People are willing to talk about issues instead of boiling over.
Food and Dining
Some people say the dining hall isn't up to par, but it's warm food on bad days. It may need seasoning, and pizza and pasta do get old quickly, but there's always something available.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There's Tinker Day, when the school cancels day classes, people dress in ridiculous costumes, and climb a mountain. On the mountain, there are skits, songs and various performances from each class, and prizes are awarded. It's a very invigorating experience, or so I was told. There's no requirement to go, and if you should choose to stay home, you have the campus to yourself and can sleep, study or do anything you like.
Great for these types of students
If you're artsy, political, and/or fall on the LGBTQA+ community, this is a great place for you. There a seeming multitude of opportunities in the theatre, performing and tech. There are marches and protests about social justice and political issues. The campus also has a majority of kind and welcoming people for those in the LGBTQA+ community, and will respect pronouns, gender and sexualities.

Jamila from Roanoke, VA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins is an amazing, all woman's private college that brings out all of the intellectually strong, and talented qualities of every woman that attends the school. The campus is very diverse, which makes it more easy for minorities to be comfortable in their social environment. Overall, Hollins is an amazing school that guides bright, young women to becoming successful in the real world.
Tips for prospective students
I strongly suggest that prospective students engage in the unique events that Hollins has to offer, just so they can get an idea about what Hollins is all about, and what kind of fun things we have on campus.
Academic Rigor
The classes at Hollins can be academically challenging, but with the small classes, students can get the individual help they need from their professors. Hollins also has a Quantitative Reasoning Center and Writing Center of dedicated student tutors, to further help you with your classes.
Dorm Life
The dorm life at Hollins is very rich. The dorms are located close to the academic buildings which makes it easy for students to go from there room to class without having to worry about being late. There are also several specialty houses in which students with certain interests can apply to these houses, and can live with others that share the same interests. One negative aspects of the dorm buildings however, is that because Hollins is so old, most of the buildings do not have elevators, or good working air conditioning or heat.
Food and Dining
The food at Hollins can either be hit or miss. The cafeteria serves its food buffet style so students can get as much food as they want. The bad thing about the food is that it is often not very healthy, and there isn't many vegetarian options available to those who don't eat meat. We also have a little restaurant located under the cafeteria, that serves exceptional fast food.
What to do for fun
Hollins plans many events to cater to the entertainment of the students. Students who attend these events often enjoy them, and can usually request to have them again. Because Hollins is isolated from the city, there aren't many things to do outside of campus, however, there is a shuttle, free of charge for taking students out into the city. Hollins students are so unique, they get creative with their own kind of fun things to do on campus, however.
Bang for the buck
Hollins offers its students a variety of opportunities and not only helps them to excel academically, but also socially in the schools small environment. At Hollins, you will not get the same experience as you would a regular school which, in my opinion, is getting more bang for your buck.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
At Hollins, we have Tinker Day! A very anticipated day, in which seniors will have Tinker Day scares and bang on pots and pans in the dorm hallways, on random days, until the actual day. Tinker Day is a holiday in which all classes are canceled, and all of the students and staff, including the school president, dress up in wacky costumes and climb Tinker Mountain. At the top of the mountain, we sing songs and indulge in fried chicken and tinker cake.
Great for these types of students
Hollins is great for students well-rounded students, who are open minded about other types of individuals and their opinions. Hollins is also great for students interested in writing, international studies, visual art and science because of the exceptional academic departments and professors who teach these subjects.
Clubs and Activities
Hollins offers a wide variety of clubs from fencing, to the gay,straight alliance club we call OUTloud. Hollins have clubs for everyone, with different interests and the people within the clubs are very friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The only negative thing about the clubs is that they are at night, which is understandable because of the classes during the day.
Campus Safety
The Hollins campus is a very isolated, small campus, which makes it safe. The students gave it this nickname, The Hollins Bubble to describe it because it is so secluded from the county, or other parts of town. Hollins also has a security department that's located in the center of campus, that is open 24hrs, in which security makes rounds all day and night.

Kyri from Estes Park, CO

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins has top-notch class schedules, professors, and students. The professors really care about their students' education and will often check in if you are struggling in some way. The community is very tight-knit and accepting of new people.
Tips for prospective students
Branch out and try classes you might not ordinarily take! If something sounds interesting and isn't in your field of study, go right ahead and take it -- we have class perspectives for a reason. Even classes that seem completely random will probably count toward your graduation requirements.
Academic Rigor
The classes are challenging and fast-paced, and active participation is encouraged and sometimes required. As long as you perfect your time management, schedules should not become overwhelming. Any time there is confusion, professors are willing to answer questions.
Dorm Life
The freshman dorm is somewhat small, but has air conditioning, something the other dormitories on campus don't have. The buildings are all fairly old, and have a cozy feel to them. Walls can be pretty thin, though, so make sure you have a respectful rapport with your neighbors, in case you -- or them -- are being too loud, so you can resolve the problem easily and not have to involve an RA.
Food and Dining
Moody Dining Hall is average at best, but unfortunately has its sub-par days as well. If you are paying very close attention to what you're eating, you can eat healthily. Because we're in the South, some of the food is a little more fatty than necessary. There's also a sad lack of vegetarian variety, though if you're happy with beans, tofu, and salad, you can continue a veggie diet.
What to do for fun
Every weekend there are shuttles into downtown Roanoke, where there are a lot of cute local shops that are fun to explore. There's also occasionally a farmer's market and bazaar, with stands from many local businesses. Other things include the mall, movie theater, mini golf, Mill Mountain and its zoo, and a host of restaurant choices.
Bang for the buck
Though high, tuition is very transparent as to what it's used for, and every time there's a tuition hike they let us know exactly what it's going toward. This year, tuition was slightly higher in order to include laundry, so we no longer had to mess with quarters in the washing machines.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every year on a surprise date is Tinker Day, when all classes are cancelled and we dress up in crazy outfits and hike up Tinker Mountain to partake of fried chicken and Tinker cake, and then watch a number of skits from the different classes.
Great for these types of students
If you are quirky and creative, feminist and with a rebellious streak, you will fit in here perfectly. Don't be scared off if you're more conservative, though -- our campus is diverse in lots of ways. Just keep in mind that if you're against LGBTQ rights, you may want to keep quiet about your opinions, as we have an unusually high percentage of queer students here.
Clubs and Activities
Because we're a small liberal arts school, we don't have a whole lot of sports, but we do have soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and volleyball, and a few other non-varsity sports. As for clubs, there are too many to list here, but there is at least one club for everyone. One such example, a club I participate actively in, is WA2, or Women Who Appreciate Anime. We meet every Friday and watch 2 hours of Japanese animation, bring different Japanese culture traditions to campus (kakurenbo, or hide in the seek in the dark; Maid Cafe, a maid-themed Japanese cafe; and others), and together with the specialty house Otaku Hall, put on a convention every January.
Greek Life
Since we're already like a giant sorority, we don't have any official sororities on campus. The closest would be ADA, but they aren't so much Greek as a secret society that raises awareness and excitement for events coming up on the horizon. Instead of togas, they wear purple.
Campus Safety
Campus security is very present and makes sure all of our students feel safe at all times. They are very approachable if you notice suspicious activity, and will take care of it immediately. I have never felt truly unsafe walking alone, even at night.

Maya from Knoxville, TN

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Women who are going places start at Hollins University. After only a few weeks on campus, I know that this is completely true.
Tips for prospective students
A visit to the Hollins campus is a must! Come either over the summer for the Hollinsummer Program or stay with a current student! No matter what you do, get on campus to truly get the feel of this amazing place to see if it is right for you.
Academic Rigor
The balance is perfect here. You feel as though you are being challenged , yet everyone is focused on making sure you are not becoming over whelmed.
Dorm Life
Tinker is a good first year dorm setting, however, Hollins has some of the best specialty houses, for example Near East Fine Arts and Carvin International House are some of my favorites!
Food and Dining
A lot of students are not the greatest fans of our dining hall, but as long as you break up your meals between the main dining hall Moody and the more casual Rat downstairs of Moody. Dining at Hollins can certainly be enjoyable.
What to do for fun
Due to the amazing valley that Hollins is located in, the University has many different offerings for on as well as off campus fun! Downtown Roanoke is a great place to just escape to as well!
Bang for the buck
Many high school students believe that just because private university's tuitions are high, means that unless their family has the money, they cannot go. However, Hollins makes the best effort to hand out as much financial aid as possible because they truly want you here!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Hollins was founded in the nineteenth century, so most of the buildings being older, ghost stories naturally abound, and the added spookiness of the Hollins cemetery set beside the campus is great for a good scare as well as a lesson in history. Also Hollins is steeped in great traditions such as Tinker Day where on a day in the fall classes are cancelled, Hollins women dress up and hike to the top of Tinker Mountain to do skits and eat fried chicken!
Clubs and Activities
Hollins is filled with clubs to get involved with! Also, if you know of a passion of yours that you believe needs to be shared, it is really easy to begin a club of your own!
Campus Safety
Hollins is a small campus and there are security personnel at the school 24/7. I have never felt unsafe here!

Grace from Hollins

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins is a welcoming environment. The students are far from typical, and there is a niche for everyone here. Hollins has great resources for both academics and social life, as well as life after college.
Tips for prospective students
Visit campus. A lot of people know whether or not Hollins is for them based on a campus visit. If you can, do it. And if you can't, use the other resources admissions gives you. Ask if a current student or faculty member can call or email you. We're often eager to bring in new women.
Academic Rigor
While Hollins doesn't have the intense academics of an ivy league school, it also doesn't have the intense pressure. Classes are challenging, but professors are always open to helping students who might be struggling or are feeling overwhelmed. Students are encouraged to be curious and explore what the courses are about. Discussion is a huge part of nearly every class. Classes are small; I've had as few students as 5 and as many as 20, but usually between 10 and 15. The professors really know what they're talking about, and they are so eager to teach what they love.
Dorm Life
The way I see it, there are two downsides to the dorms on campus: most of them aren't air-conditioned, and you aren't allowed to have microwaves in the rooms. Some people don't like the fact that you have to live on campus for all four years, but I think it really takes the pressure off of finding and paying for a place to stay. The older dorms are gorgeous: tall ceilings, big windows, wide hallways, etc. The newer ones are standard and functional and pretty much only used by first-year students. Rooms campus-wide are a good size. Visitors from other schools have told me that our doubles are bigger than their triples. Housing lottery (where upperclasswomen pick their rooms for the following year) can sometimes be cutthroat and emotional, but I'm guessing it is at most schools.
Food and Dining
Dining is hit or miss. I dislike the fact that students are required to be on the meal plan unless they have a valid religious or medical reason, but it does make sense; kitchens in some of the dorms are tiny (ok, I speaking of West in particular. Tinker's are good; East's is good; the apartments have good kitchens) and not always the cleanest. The food is sometimes really good and sometimes isn't. It depends. The school does make en effort to provide variety to suit different needs, and Hollins often pulls from the community to get fresh fruits and veggies (and recently, milk. Which is super good). One issue I have is inaccurate food labels. Labels are often wrong and don't disclose allergens or have 0's for all the nutrition facts. Not cool.
What to do for fun
There's always lots to do on campus: Hollins has tons of clubs, and between regular meetings and special events, something's bound to be going on. The Hollins Activity Board (HAB) arranges movie screenings and concerts and other fun things like that. Around Roanoke, a lot of girls go hang out downtown or visit neighboring school.
Bang for the buck
Between the classes and study abroad and internships and our alum network, Hollins is well worth the cost.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Hollins has a ton of traditions: First Step, where the seniors take their first step onto front quad (the quad is reserved for seniors); Tinker Day, where everyone eats donuts and climbs a mountain in crazy costumes; ADA, a secret society that is all about school spirit; Freya, an anonymous secret society that walks a night for different causes; Ring Night, where the juniors do crazy things to earn their class rings from their secret senior sisters; Hundredth Night, the night marking 100 nights until graduation. And those are just the main traditions. There are also things like White Gift Service, Sophomore Senior Banquet, Holiday Tea, and loads more.
Great for these types of students
All types. There is no type at Hollins. There's a place for everyone who wants one.
Clubs and Activities
There are a ton of clubs at Hollins, and they're all super active. Like politics? Join College Republicans or College Democrats. Like activism and social equality? Outloud and FMLA (Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance) might be for you. Enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, or anime? Try the Cyborg Griffin or WA2 (Women Who Appreciate Anime). Like literature? There's the Cyborg Griffin, Cargoes, the Album, and Grapheon. Tons of clubs. Tons of activities.
Greek Life
No sororities at Hollins. We do have specialty dorms, which are dorms based on an interest, such as French, Spanish, anime, community service, outdoor activities, and more.
Campus Safety
Campus safety is open 24 hours a day year-round. These people in the security office are really dedicated to what they do. There have been some security incidences since I've been at Hollins (mostly in the apartments), but the campus community is always alerted when they crop up.

Josepha from Roanoke, VA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins is the perfect university for students who admire one-on-one interaction with their peers and professors. Hollins is full of loving, caring and supportive administration, students, staff, and etc. I highly recommend Hollins to students who really want to focus on their education and be a part of an amazing community.
Tips for prospective students
I recommend that you visit campus and book an appointment for a campus tour too! The campus is beautiful and you'll be able to explore what a classroom setting looks like, what the food is like, and interesting facts about the 176-year-old campus.
Academic Rigor
Academics at Hollins is challenging and it stimulates your thinking, all in positive ways. You have plenty of time to explore what your interests, study abroad, do internships during short-term/semester/year. You also have the opportunity to pursue the Batten Leadership Institute Certificate, it compliments any major!
Dorm Life
Living in the dorms on a small campus is great! I get to hang out with my friends anytime and all the student services and resources are always near!
Food and Dining
You have a variety of choices at our dining hall here at Hollins. The services try their best at accommodating any dietary restrictions. They are also always open to feedback and suggestions!
What to do for fun
I like to visit the Roanoke star or go downtown with friends and explore the different restaurants and events that happen there. I also like to go hiking to beautiful sceneries in the mountains. Another thing is kayaking and paddle boating at the beautiful and breathtaking Carvin's Cove!

Rory from Roanoke, VA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins is a place for students who want the opportunity and support to get a head start on their career. Hollins is a place where you can try a myriad of new things. It's a place where you'll be encouraged to be unique and make a difference.
Tips for prospective students
Visit campus. Consider if a small college is right for you, because it is a very small college, but the small college aspect provides a tightly nit community of individuals who want to help you to do your best.
Academic Rigor
The academics here challenge students to improve themselves in not just their own career field, but others as well. Hollins prides itself for its liberal arts education which provides experience in multiple fields for a more refined education.
Dorm Life
The dorms are larger than you would see in most colleges and the roommate pairing system is very accurate if you answer all the questions truthfully.
What to do for fun
There are plenty of events on campus that student clubs run to give students a break from studies. In addition to this there is a shuttle which runs downtown, to the mall, and Wall-mart, so if you need off campus for a little while there's a way to do that.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
At Hollins we have Tinker Day which is a day in the month of October, no one knows quite when it's going to be, but at 6 AM the seniors run through the residence halls banging pots and pans to wake everyone up and let them know it's Tinker Day. Class is cancelled for the day. We all get up and go to the dining hall where we have Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast, then we dress up in our craziest outfits and climb up Tinker Mountain (a mountain next to Hollins). At the top of the mountain we participate in and watch skits, and eat fried chicken and Tinker Cake.
Great for these types of students
Detail oriented students who want a close community of supportive individuals who will help you be your best self.
Campus Safety
We have an app that you can download on your phone and contact campus security if needed. We also have emergency buttons around campus, and campus security is open 24/7 and will be available if you ask. I have never felt unsafe or unprotected on campus.

Bryanne from Bellflower, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Hollins University is dedicated to enriching young women and preparing them to be the best they can possibly be in their desired field. Through private education, women are challenged to become successful in the world of men.
Academic Rigor
The classes are rigorous, but the class sizes are small, and thus makes it easier for women to be successful academically.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Ring Night, Tinker Day, White Gift Service, First Step, and more!
Great for these types of students
Women who are ready to challenge themselves and grow not just as a woman, but as a person.

Rachel from Toano, VA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The campus is quite picturesque. Staff is always willing to lend a helping hand. Students are never bored.
Tips for prospective students
YOU WILL LOVE IT HERE.
Academic Rigor
The coursework definitely keeps you on your toes.
Dorm Life
Your roommate will become your new best friend, and RAs are always there for you.
Food and Dining
three words - cant get enough
What to do for fun
Roanoke is such a great little area - there's stores to shop at, zoos to visit, movies to go see, and mountains to climb! (There's even a zoo on top of a mountain!)
Bang for the buck
It's a tight knit community
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Tinker Day! In October, on a surprise weekday, everyone dresses up and skips class!
Great for these types of students
Hardworking, Inquisitive
Clubs and Activities
Every club you could ever imagine
Greek Life
None

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