Hampshire college Review

Great to walk around and a super friendly atmosphere, also has a really nice campus

This is the best college to go to if you are self directed and passionate about learning.

Hampshire was overall a mixed bag for me. The college isn't for everyone, BUT, you can get a solid education there and the school is INCREDIBLE for creative students. The Professors are definitely accomplished and could be teaching at Ivies, but they chose Hampshire because of its pedagogical structure and it's unique approach to undergraduate higher education.The five college consortium is one of the BEST things about Hampshire overall, since the five combined campuses provide unparalleled resources and programming that you can't find outside of a major urban area in an undergraduate institution.

I started off-campus classes starting in the Spring semester of my first year (@UMass & Amherst), and it was the best way to utilize the consortium. ONLY taking classes at Hampshire alone is a big mistake. Getting off-campus (leaving the "Camp Hamp bubble") and taking classes at the other four schools, attending cultural events, using the other libraries and collaborating and socializing with students at the other campuses are among the BEST aspects of the consortium.

I made Hampshire work for me, but it's not a college that will work for everyone. Coming from a big, competitive (but alternative and creative) public NYC high school (I attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn). After I graduated from Murrow I realized I was ready for a smaller liberal arts college experience. All my "target" choices were liberal arts colleges similar to Hampshire: (Emerson, Sarah Lawrence, Reed, Antioch, Bennington, Bard, Skidmore, Marlboro & Goddard). I also chose Hampshire over my "reach" schools: (NYU, RISD, Yale, UC Berkeley, & Oberlin). And my "safety" schools: (Hunter, UVM & SUNY Purchase). I'm pretty sure I was the first student from my high school to go to Hampshire, although I knew someone from my high school's sister school (John Dewey High School; also in Brooklyn) who went to Hampshire at the same time I did.

We were both studying radically different things academically, which is what makes Hampshire so vital and dynamic as an educational institution, not to mention makes it interesting because everyone is doing their "own thing". The campus, while NOT "traditionally Ivy-covered Georgian style New England college buildings" are not completely terrible, and the facilities are certainly on par with many other colleges it's size.

In fact, I would say Hampshire has above-average facilities for creative concentrations like Dance, Visual Arts, Music, Film/Video & Photography and decent facilities for Theater (although a dedicated performing arts center with a larger performance space(s); in addition to the black box EDH theaters), was something I was constantly telling the College President that we needed to build.

The Studio and the Mainstage theaters weren't sufficient enough with ALL the theater students that needed (and wanted) to use them. I still enjoyed Hampshire's theater program overall, and the thing that was the best about it, is that the entire season was all directed and produced and designed by students, with faculty only occasionally directing a show. The other schools in the consortium have quite dynamic performing arts programs as well, with UMass' spectacular world-class facilities at it's Fine Arts Center.

If you want that more "traditional New England college," Amherst, Smith & Mt. Holyoke are all just down the road. In fact, Hampshire's facilities were more than adequate for me to study Theater & Film and to do my own original work. I studied abroad in London for a semester and augmented my on-campus work with work in NYC and out on the West Coast. Hampshire CAN really work for you IF you are a VERY self-directed, self-motivated and focused student.

Hampshire is "graduate school for undergraduates." You'll know after the first year if you'll stay or not. If you get Div I done, you are more likely to stay at Hampshire once you file your Div II. You'll know once you're through either your first semester or first year if the college is or isn't for you. You'll just know.

Great education. Unique opportunity to take advantage of the resources of 5 colleges and get a stellar education.

Good school if you want to focus on preparing for grad school

You know it s doing something right when the alt right feels the need to review bomb it.

Like all liberal arts colleges with high tuitions, it has its share of snobs, but it also has lower income people with financial aid to be there, including grants and scholarships as opposed to loans.

Great academics. Abundant resources for research and learning. Many well regarded professors, passionate about their subjects and about the non-traditional approach to pedagogy and inquiry. Many of professors have prestigious degrees and publishing records that could probably land them jobs at Ivy Leagues and the like, but they chose Hampshire because of its values.

Beautiful area even if some of the buildings get ripped on for not being up to people s aesthetic standards (yawn).

Last I knew, the mattresses suck. Bring your own or a mattress pad. Wish there were more late night food options for the night owls.

Its was apsalutly terrible! Not even aloud to talk to anyone! Everyone there is afraid of covid like the plague

This is a great school with a unique educational program. Open campus with working farm, libraries, and museums. It's been struggling with falling enrollment and funding issues, but it is working hard to keep providing a great education.