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Hampshire College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Hampshire College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Hampshire College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Hampshire College reviews, or contribute your own Hampshire College review if you're a current student there.

  • 10 out of 11 people found this review useful.

    Eliza from Columbia, MD

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    You'll be stressed, and getting through the Hampshire system does take a lot of work and patience, but if you put in the time you'll learn so much you can't even fathom it.
    Bang for the buck

    Hampshire makes their system an expensive education for a number of reasons, but you really should take that as a motivator to work as hard as you can.
    Tips for prospective students

    Don't be fooled by the overt Hampshire Stereotype. Hampshire may have roots in the hippie movement of the 1970s, but has really become more modern than you'd think.
    Great for these types of students

    Nerds, Creative Types, Creative Nerds.

  • 7 out of 9 people found this review useful.

    Paige from Oklahoma City, OK

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Hampshire seems to be less about academics and more about self expression. Going to class seems to be optional since the only thing of importance is a research paper of your choice on a topic that is never discussed in class.
    Am enjoying being here

    I feel like I am walking on egg shells every time I walk out of my room. If you do not enjoy doing drugs or smoking cigarettes in the gazebo finding friends is difficult and sometimes impossible. Being politically correct is the only way to get by at this school. The food at Saga (the cafeteria) is awful and the co-ed bathrooms take some getting use to. Hampshire is like a bubble. The public transportation is unreliable and getting anywhere but the school takes a while. Be prepared for a 4 hour trip to Target which by car would take 30 minutes.
    Bang for the buck

    I feel like I am wasting away. The classes are not very challenging and the professors seem as enthused to be in class as I do. Class options are very limited and if you take a class at a 5 college it is very inconvenient.
    Tips for prospective students

    Your supplements are very important. No matter how awful your test scores are or your GPA if you can put together an intriguing essay you are in.
    Great for these types of students

    Very liberal and care-free. There is no structure here so if you are self-motivated and have a clear and unique idea of what you want to study you will do very well.

  • 3 out of 3 people found this review useful.

    Patrick from Beacon Falls, CT

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    With the system that Hampshire is running you learn quite a bit. Even in just the second semester a student can have all of their classes focus on just one subject, or have classes be at multiple ends of the spectrum.
    Am enjoying being here

    The way the campus is set up people are close to each other without being cramped in. The way it is has proven to allow people to become friends faster.
    The campus is close enough to Northampton and Amherst that they are only 5-15 minute bus rides away. You can find just about anything you need in these towns if you cant get it on campus.
    Overall on the subject of staff and professors, just ask them if you need something and they always seem to be willing to help if they can. I have yet to run into a member of the staff that is rude or stingy when asked for assistance.

    If you want to know about the food, its not as bad as people will say.
    People will tell you its bad but its not. Sure the dining hall lets us down now and then, but otherwise its an alright meal to have.
    Bang for the buck

    Hampshire does seem that it can cost quite a bit to come here but with personal experience I can say that the financial aid office is willing to help you at every turn.
    Hampshire is definitely worth the money it costs. Its system of education is something a student has to get used to but it is so much easier in the end as long as you are willing to put the effort into it.
    Tips for prospective students

    If you come and visit don't expect the stereotypical college experience.
    make sure you have a sense of humor.
    Great for these types of students

    Willing to experience ALOT of new things
    If you love to write.
    If you would rather have an education almost completely focusing on --what you be your major/ concentration

  • 6 out of 9 people found this review useful.

    Melissa from Providence, RI

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Tips for prospective students

    Don't be afraid to be yourself.
    Great for these types of students

    This school is for creative & passionate students.

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Ben from San Francisco, CA

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Did learn a lot

    Absolutely! A positive college experience should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses, about what it is you want to do in the world, and most importantly, should teach and educate you about the larger world, and the society we live in, and how to function in it, and think critically. Hampshire actually does do that for their students, and although the educational structure can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at times, once you've navigated it, it's something you can definitely be proud of.
    Did enjoy being here

    Yes, overall, I always felt safe and protected on the Hampshire campus. It's a very safe environment, and the Five-College area in general is pretty safe.
    Bang for the buck

    Hampshire aint cheap, and tuition/living expenses goes up EVERY year. Unless they give you a decent amount of financial aid, Hampshire is a prohibitively expensive school. Luckily, I had good financial aid, and good familial support.
    Tips for prospective students

    #1. KNOW what you want to do before you even get into Hampshire

    #2. Have deep pockets.....see bang for the buck.

    #3. Be pro-active and aggressive about getting your academic plan together, know the professors you want to work with, and keep yourself motivated from start to finish over the entire four-year period.

    #4: ALWAYS expect and prepare for constant revising and re-thinking. Become your own educational strategist. Be a strong advocate for creating your own educational plan and communicate it to anyone who will listen and help you achieve your goals while you are there.
    Great for these types of students

    Passionate, self-directed, motivated, interested in what they are doing, vocal, political and self-structured, creative and open-minded, tolerant, accepting, diverse.

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Amy from Uxbridge, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Going to Hampshire is one of those experiences in life where you get out of it what you put into it. I have learned an incredible amount here, not just about the academic subjects in which I am interested (as well as material from some semi-random courses I took), but I am learning from my peers and learning about myself.
    Am enjoying being here

    Hampshire wasn't my dream school, honestly, but once I got here, I realized that it is the perfect school for me.
    Bang for the buck

    Unfortunately, because Hampshire is such a new school, it has basically no endowment, which means very little financial aid.
    Tips for prospective students

    Be yourself! Hampshire faculty, staff, and students admire others with passion and commitment. Be confident in who you can be, because, even if you have no idea who are right now, Hampshire will help you figure it out.
    Great for these types of students

    Self-motivated
    Passionate

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Crystal from Pittsfield, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Hampshire is a place where you can be yourself. You can create your own field of study and you aren't held back by requirements, grades, or any of the the various academic norms that you find in other colleges. This school is the best because you have unlimited options and freedoms to explore your passions.
    Tips for prospective students

    If you aren't self-motivated, this school is not for you. Typical Hampshire students love what they do and don't let anything stand in the way of success. Hampshire students are dedicated to their educations, not their grades. If GPAs are what motivate you, then you probably won't thrive the way Hampshire students do, because we don't have grades or GPAs. Hampshire students have more internal motivation that external motivation.
    Academic Rigor

    Many people think that Hampshire is easy because we don't have grades or GPAs, but really it's a pretty tough school. The expectations are high and there is a great deal of reading, writing, researching, and discussing the class materials. You can't get by on sheer memorization. We also have an intense divisional system that requires students to be doing grad-school-level work by the end of their undergraduate career.
    Dorm Life

    The dorms are pretty cool. Not the cleanest or quietest, but there tends to be a lot of friendships formed in the dorms. There are shared lounges, some with kitchens even, and almost all of the lounges have balconies. And over 80% of the dorms are singles, so you have your own space if you choose.
    Food and Dining

    You have three choices: Saga, our main dining hall, doesn't have a lot of options, but there is always a salad bar and vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options to try to please everyone. The food there is far from the best, but it's better than some of the other colleges I've eaten at. There is also the Bridge Cafe, a cool little spot where people tend to study and eat. It's a bit pricey, but the food is good. Then, a few nights a week starting at 11pm, there is The Night Truck, a sweet little food truck that sells sandwiches and snacks to people who are up late studying. The food is the best, especially when you're hungry in the middle of the night.
    What to do for fun

    There are always lots of student groups and events at Hampshire. On any given night, you can find sports in the recreational center, film screenings, guest lectures in a variety of fields, plays, games of Mythos (live role playing games), or cooking parties. People also enjoy getting together to play games in the quad, jam on instruments, or make public art.
    Bang for the buck

    Hampshire is VERY expensive, but it is so worth the cost. You walk away with an incredible education and you learn so much.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    -When you pass Div III, you get to ring the Div Free bell to let everyone on campus know that you have succeeded. During the last weeks of the semester, the bell can be heard all over campus as students finish their finals.
    -The Yurt is the result of a class called Experiential Education, which built the little space as a place for students to come together. It now serves as the home base for our radio station.
    -Roberta is the card-swiper at Saga who loves to tell fun stories to students as they come through. She's a bit eccentric, but well loved.
    Great for these types of students

    Activists, hard workers, students who can't decide WHAT they want to do, artists, scientists, hipsters, friendly people.
    Clubs and Activities

    If they don't have it, you can make it. We have all sorts of clubs and student groups, everything from Shake and Bake (reading Shakespeare while baking together) to the ISO (International Socialist Organization) to The Red Scare (our ultimate frisbee team).
    Greek Life

    No Greek Life. We're too cool for that.
    Campus Safety

    The campus police are very nice and very helpful. Most people feel safe at Hampshire, and if incidents happen, there are often community discussions about it. EMTs and counselors are always available too.

  • April from Berwyn, PA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Hampshire is a great place for people with a passion for learning. You can create an educational path that nurtures your interests, instead of having to sit through classes you don't care about just to get your degree. To be successful here, though, you have to be extremely self-directed and independently motivated.
    Tips for prospective students

    If you're trying to figure out if Hampshire is the place for you, ask yourself why you're going to college. If the answer is just to get a job as soon as possible, maybe you should look elsewhere. Hampshire gives you an incredible opportunity to explore for a few years. You can study anything and combine interests in endless ways. If you want to go to a college that will push you to grow and expand your comfort zone, this might be the place for you. But you've gotta be willing to push yourself, too.
    Academic Rigor

    Hampshire classes range in difficulty as much as any school, but on a whole they are more challenging than most of the classes my friends took at other (private and public) colleges. Prepare to do a LOT of reading and writing. No tests or grades means SERIOUS papers. Written evaluations are wayyy more useful feedback than letter grades.
    Dorm Life

    Most people have singles their first year, BUT the rooms aren't very big. There are four floors and no elevators - you'll get a workout, but grow tired of all the stairs. The bathrooms are all gender; you get used to it right away.
    Food and Dining

    SAGA (our name for the dining commons) is pretty bad. By the end of the first week, everyone will be complaining about the food. It's catered by Sodexo - the company that supplies food to most U.S. universities AND prisons. The students have lots of ethical as well as quality complaints about Sodexo. There's not really anywhere else on campus to eat, either, since the only cafe is also run by them.
    What to do for fun

    I spent a lot of my first year playing outside and exploring the woods. Amherst and Northampton are college towns, so there's some book shops, restaurants, record stores, and small music venues... but don't forget that Hampshire is still basically in the middle of nowhere. Most of the fun gets made by the student body.
    Bang for the buck

    Soooo expensive, but OK financial aid. Also, there's not another place quite like Hampshire... so what it lacks in practicality, it makes up for in uniqueness.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    There are lots of favorite spots in the woods - the Zen Garden, the Hampshire tree, the trampoline, etc. Hampshire Halloween and Spring Jam are big parties put on by the institution that happen in October and April, respectively.
    Great for these types of students

    Self-directed, assertive, curious, kind, free-thinking. The more passions/interests you bring, the better. You've gotta be creative and willing to adapt. Hampshire is a funky place, but if you love being there, it's hard to imagine being anywhere else.
    Clubs and Activities

    There are soooo many to pick from. There's everything from blacksmithing to socialism, figure drawing to pastry making, Shakespeare to hip hop, and feminism to permaculture. Get involved - it's one of the best ways to meet people and very rewarding.
    Greek Life

    HA. That doesn't exist here. The closest thing we have to a frat is Frisbee Mod. (A mod is an on-campus house.) Don't be misled, there's plenty of drinking and usually parties. However, as someone told me the first time I visited, no one wants to get you drunk but you. Meaning there's minimal pressure to partake and no one's gonna be handing out free booze.
    Campus Safety

    Occasional theft, but little to no violence. Overall a very safe place.

  • Urantia from Brooklyn, NY

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    hampshire college is a private and small liberal arts school with great programs. it is rich in diversity and is very unique.
    Academic Rigor

    classes at hampshire are great in my opinion. many of them are very focused and detailed which helps the student become very familiar with one thing instead of being slightly familiar with multiple. faculty and teaching assitants are very good to talk to and meet with as long as the students ask questions are attend those meetings.
    Dorm Life

    dorm life at hampshire has been a great experience for me being that majority of the dorm rooms on campus are singles. i was able to get a single and this has really taught me what it is to be independent.
    Food and Dining

    what i like the most about the food and dining commons is that there are always options and even if the students do not like the food that has been cooked, the students can cook things themselves. however, the food has improved. dining areas are usually always kept clean which is a bonus.
    What to do for fun

    there are plenty of things to do for fun based on someones interest. there are great things to do other than sports. it is as simple as going for a relaxed walk through the woods or getting on the bus into town where there are theaters, etc.

  • Amanda from Amherst, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    this is the place to go if you want something different. hampshire opens every door. this place is the best.
    Tips for prospective students

    be outgoing, but don't try to hard. be creative with your education. go on the easter keg hunt.
    Academic Rigor

    our motto is to know is not enough.
    Dorm Life

    everyone can have a single room! great parties with great people.
    Food and Dining

    great for vegans, bad for carnivores.
    What to do for fun

    dance until you wake up in the woods.
    Bang for the buck

    at times it can feel like you're paying too much. that's only if you're not using the resources available to you.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    our halloween is called trip or treat. it's a giant concert outside on the lawn. every easter we have a keg hunt. our radio station is run from a yurt.
    Great for these types of students

    great for all types of students. the access to umass, amherst, mt. holyoke, and smith makes hampshire a place for everyone.
    Clubs and Activities

    if there isn't one you like, make one.
    Greek Life

    greek life doesn't exist.
    Campus Safety

    safe, but not smothering.