Hampshire College
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FAQ: For Students
We asked our students and admissions staff to help us anticipate questions that prospective students might have about Hampshire. Did we miss something? You can get additional questions answered by phone, email, or AIM!
FAQ's About Academics
Do Hampshire students really take classes at the other colleges in the 5 College Consortium? How difficult is it to sign up for classes elsewhere? Do professors at the other schools always leave room for Hampshire Students? This seems too good to be true!
It's true...the average Hampshire student will take 7 or 8 classes off campus while they’re here. It’s easy for Hampshire students to take lots classes at any of the other schools because we have a flexible curriculum. Registration is a breeze. Simply pick up a five-college interchange slip, get the signatures you need (usually your advisor and the professor teaching your desired course), and turn it in. While they aren't required to, most professors hold a few spots in each class for five college students as a courtesy. The more persistent and persuasive you are willing to be, the better your chances of swaying the professor in your favor. Once you're in a class at another school, there is a giant fleet of free buses (second only to that of Disney World) to take you to and from each of the other colleges. These easily navigated bus routes are free of transfers, take no more than twenty minutes in the worst of traffic, and run from 8 am until midnight on the weekdays, and until 2 am on the weekends.
Can males take courses at Smith College and Mt. Holyoke College?
They can, they do, and they are often not alone!
How does the five-college library interchange work?
It works seamlessly! All of the catalogues are linked online and students may search for materials at all the schools or one in particular. Through the consortium, students have access to over 9 million volumes! To acquire a book from another library, you can simply request it online and it will be sent to Hampshire’s library for you to pick up, usually within one or two days. Periodicals and rare books are non-circulating for good reason, while some art books must be checked out in person, but that’s a simple undertaking with the free bus system in place. Hampshire is also part of a larger inter-library loan program so that in the (unlikely) occasion that a student can’t find the book he needs within the five-college system, he may request it from another library. The library is staffed with expert research librarians who can help students with this process and answer any other questions they have.
How many courses are students supposed to take each semester, and how easy is it to overload?
First year students are expected to take four courses each semester, for a total of eight classes in your first year. Hampshire courses are reading and writing intensive and chances are you will be happily busy juggling four of them at once. Your advisor will strongly discourage you from taking more than the recommended four courses, particularly during your first year. Outdoor program classes like yoga and kayaking could work as a fifth class, since you won’t be required to do much work outside of class for them. After your first year your schedule will be more flexible, but you will never be expected or encouraged to take more than four academic courses at once.
There is an optional period during January (called Jan Term) where you can take an additional course, outdoors trip, or internship opportunity. The academic courses offered during Jan Term fit a whole semester's worth of work into approximately three weeks, so it's a great chance to envelop yourself in an interest while fitting an extra course into your year.
What exactly are the first year course requirements?
That’s simple, but it takes a little explaining. Students need to take 8 classes during their first year at Hampshire, otherwise known as their Division I. Those classes must include at least one in each “area of thought” as well as a “tutorial class.”
The distribution requirement encourages students to experiment, explore, and perhaps even discover a new passion! Everyone needs to take one class from each area of thought:Humanities Arts and Cultural Studies (subjects including art history, literature, photography, history); ;Interdisciplinary Arts ;(theatre, creative writing, studio art), one Social Science class (international studies, political science, sociology, religion), one Cognitive Science class (linguistics, education, neuroscience, digital animation), and one Natural Science class (mathematics, agriculture, biology, chemistry). It’s difficult to confine specific subjects to one area of thought because there are many classes that span two – Hampshire is known for its interdisciplinary work. Those classes that are inherently highly interdisciplinary are “cross-listed” and a student can choose which area of thought she’d like them to count in.
The other requirement of first year is that students enroll in a tutorial. This is actually a class, with about 10 to 12 other first year students and one professor who serves as the advisor for all students in the course. With about 30 different tutorial courses to choose from, chances are everyone will end up in a course they love with a professor who inspires them. These tutorials allow advisors to get a sense of who their advisees are as people and scholars (plus make sure they’re alive and coming to class) are a great opportunity for students to understand the expectations of their advisors. Tutorials are also an easy way to meet other new students with a common interests.
Does Hampshire accept Advanced Placement courses for credit? What AP scores are acceptable?
Hampshire does accept Advanced Placement courses, but probably not in the way our students want us to! If a student scores a 3 or higher on an AP course, she may use that score to alter, but not rid herself of, the distribution requirement in whatever area of thought the course it; So, if a student receives a 4 on the art history AP, instead of taking a 100 level course in the Humanities Arts and Cultural Studies, they may take a slightly more advanced 200 level course instead. It’s worth submitting AP scores to broaden the number of courses offered as options, but the scores won’t decrease the actual number of courses a student must take or the way they are distributed.
How accessible are faculty?
With the low student to faculty ratio of 11:1 you can be sure you’ll have almost instant access to you professors and advisors whenever you need them. Much of Hampshire depends on individual meetings and agreements between students and the faculty they are working with, so professors teach a reduced course load to allow more time for personal interaction. Relationships between students and professors tend to be informal in nature; students call their professors by their first names and professors often share their personal phone numbers with students. Appointments are easy to make during office hours, simply sign up for a slot on a list of available meeting times (usually on a professor’s door) and show up for your fifteen to twenty minute long appointment.
I know that students at Hampshire can combine various fields in their concentration, but can you do the equivalent of a double major? If so, how much extra work is it?
Even when our students plan to study two fields without combining them, they often find subtle connections between them. Having said that, yes, you may study two fields independently of each other. Keep in mind there is no official, concrete, can’t-be-negotiated, amount of work you have to do each semester. You'll work with your advisors to design a program that will help you develop your foundation knowledge and skills in the areas you're most passionate about--even if you're not quite sure what those are yet!
What exactly does one do during Division III? Do you still take classes or are you on your own?
As a division III student, you'll function much like a graduate student, designing your own schedule for completing your year-long independent project. However, there is certainly a support system in place for you. Whether your project takes the form of a cultural studies paper, a dance performance, a photography show in the gallery, or a chemistry experiment, you will meet with your faculty committee frequently for guidance. Faculty often also hold group sessions where students working on their projects can talk about the process and give each other advice and feedback. In addition to maintaining routine contact with their committee, students are required to complete two advanced educational activities during their Division III year. These activities can take the form of advanced-level classes, internships, teaching assistant positions, or guided independent studies and are generally pursued one-per-semester though it is possible to complete them both in one semester.
What type of degree will I have after graduating from Hampshire?
You will have a Bachelor of Arts degree. The diplomas don’t specify the specific genre of B.A.--but graduates often place the name of their concentration after the B.A. in resumes and applications. (For example, they might list a B.A. in Multimedia Design and Educational Psychology.)
Are Hampshire students BORN self-motivated? Is there some sort of system in place that we'll have access to in learning the ropes for picking out the right courses, finding internships, and generally learning to be those fabulous people that intimidate me every time I read a profile of some Hampshire student?
Some Hampshire students have been evidently self-motivated for years when they get here, while others have the potential to be but haven’t been encouraged yet. The admissions counselors carefully screens applicants for the ability to be successful in our program. That means that if you're accepted, you know that we have faith that you have the potential to thrive at Hampshire.
We believe our program is designed to develop in students a tremendous capacity for leadership, initiative, independent work, creativity, and ability to make a contribution to their community. Hampshire's resources will give you the guidance you need, and set you up for increasing independence each year. You'll have an easily-accessible advisor to help you choose your courses at the start of every semester, several offices devoted to helping you find amazing opportunities off campus--The Career Options Resources Center, The Global Education Office, and the Community Partnerships for Social Change Office, to name just three. Your most useful connections and inspirations will probably be your close relationships with professors and your contagiously passionate peers.
What percentage of Hampshire students receive their bachelor's degree in four years?
On average, 65% of students who begin a Hampshire education graduate from Hampshire within four years. It’s important to note that this statistic includes students that transfer or leave for one reason or another. Out of each graduating class, 80% of the students have completed Hampshire in 4 years, 10% in more, and 10% in less. Clearly the vast majority of students who graduate finish up in four years or less. That said, Hampshire is not the right place for everyone! It is a very demanding place and there are always students who believe that four years at Hampshire will be effortless because there are such flexible requirements--those students are in for a rough surprise. Usually advising has a conversation with a struggling student long before they are actually in danger of being asked to leave against their will, however, some decide it is simply not the right place for them at that point in their life and Hampshire respects that decision.
If I decide Hampshire isn’t the right place of me after I get here, how easy is it to transfer out without grades or traditional survey classes?
Transferring from Hampshire will be similar to transferring from any liberal arts school--if you did well here, it won't be a problem. If you are transferring because you've done poorly, you're likely to have a hard time convincing another college that you'll do better there. However, transferring really depends on the school a student is applying to transfer to. Most other schools are familiar with Hampshire and know how to read our transcript, but the degree to which a particular institution is willing to transfer courses and activities for credit really depends on that particular institution. Generally, it is easier to transfer credits to a similarly minded liberal arts college than a giant research university, but that’s the caveat of transferring from any small liberal arts school.
Keep in mind that when students from ANY college transfer to a new college, they don't take their GPA with them--which means it is no harder to transfer from an institution without grades. Students will generally get credit for any course in which they received a C grade or better. Hampshire will provide you with a transcript explaining our system, and it is likely that you will receive 3 or 4 transfer credits for each Hampshire class (depending on the number of course hours.)
Does not having traditional grades have an affect on getting into graduate school?
Not having grades probably will affect your application to a graduate program, but not in a negative way. Most graduate school programs have received a Hampshire transcript (or one from a similar college) and will be familiar with the format, which includes detailed narrative evaluations describing your growth through each Division and end-of-semester evaluations from representative courses. Though this format does create more work for graduate admissions committees, it also serves to set you apart from other candidates and is far more illustrative of you as a person and scholar than a simple GPA could ever be. You will also have a representative GPA that includes grades for any off campus classes you have taken, either through the five-college consortium or during a semester away. Still, the sample GPA is just that, a sample, and your actual transcript is usually at least 20 pages long and filled with specific information about how, and what, you study. This opens an opportunity for you to talk to a graduate dean of admissions about your transcript--which is always a good thing. Also, the Div III you do in your last year is essentially graduate-level, original work, which is very impressive to grad schools. Finally, the Hampshire program really prepares you to be a confident self-advocate, and to talk about your work articulately, which will serve you well as you go in search of grad programs (and employment.) About 65% of Hampshire graduates go on to attend graduate school, and 85% of them report getting accepted to one of their top two choice programs.
FAQ's About Life Outside of Class
It seems that Hampshire is essentially on a farm and although Northampton is nearby, it’s not quite a metropolis. How easy/expensive/practical is it to take trips to Boston and New York?
The valley is deceptively sleepy at first, and most students find they don’t need to get to big city life as much as they had originally thought. While it isn’t exactly urban out here, there are plenty of things to do in the area that are easy to get to. Since there are over 30,000 undergraduate students in the area, local businesses know how to cater to students’ needs, wants, and whims! Every week there are big name bands booked (look at www.iheg.com for current listings at the most often attended venues), lots of cafes and coffee shops (with wireless internet) to sit in, vintage clothing to rifle through (much less expensive than it would be in a major city!), independent and mainstream movies to watch, used book stores to scour, and side streets to explore.
In addition to the fun of Northampton and Amherst, there is plenty to do at Hampshire, and on the campuses of the surrounding colleges. The campus bulletin boards are plastered with fliers advertising lectures, workshops, performances, concerts, exhibits, and meetings. Hampshire hosts over 80 student organizations, as well as a Cultural Center, Women's Center, and Queer Community Alliance. Hampshire students are not bored.
But, if a Hampshire student does want to go to New York City or Boston it's quite feasible. The Peter Pan busline stops on our campus and in Amherst and runs to both cities. It's not cheap--around $50 round trip to Boston and $80 to New York--but it is convenient. Boston is about an hour and a half by car and two by bus. New York is three by car and about four by bus. Another, more alluring option, is the ever popular carpool. There is a ride board by the school store, and there are almost always people looking for friends to chip in for gas when they’re making the trip.
How common is drug and alcohol use on the Hampshire campus? Do students feel pressure to engage in substance use?
Students can find drugs and alcohol here if they want to and they can also avoid them if they want to. The statistics on drug and alcohol use are comparable to those of most small liberal arts colleges (actually, Hampshire students report consuming less alcohol than those at the average liberal arts college). Campus life fosters an environment where respect reins supreme. No one is going to condemn a student for choosing not to partake in certain activities, provided that student doesn’t openly shun those who do choose to partake in them (as long as they are not endangering themselves or their friends). Students get out of the Hampshire experience what they put into it...the individual is always in control. Drug use at Hampshire is bizarrely similarly to academic life at Hampshire in the sense that it is exceedingly self-initiated--if a student does choose to drink or use drugs it was a personal decision. Do remember that Hampshire expects so much of its students academically that no one could make it through if they were high and/or hungover all the time! Attending a party sober is never a faux-paux because there is a strong contingency of students who go to parties where alcohol is present and choose not to consume. Students who make this choice won’t be alone and won’t be bothered about it. If a student wants to actively avoid coming into contact with any substances there are plenty of well-loved and strictly sub-free options on campus ranging from movies to lectures, ice cream parties to knitting circles, games nights to improv comedy shows. There are also substance free residence halls where no student or guest may consume or be clearly under the influence of any substances at any time. (And of course, Hampshire's campus falls under the same laws and regulations as every place else in this country!)
How’s the food?
The food is great…as far as institutionalized cuisine goes. The dining commons offers an extraordinary array of choices considering its size, and the staff strives to use local produce and dairy whenever possible. Many meals are even made with vegetables grown at the farm center right on campus. There are always multiple vegetarian and vegan options (Hampshire is one of the top vegetarian-friendly schools in the country!), a salad and sandwich bar, stir-fry station, make-your-own-waffles, and soft serve ice cream! In addition to the dining commons, students may eat soups, salads, snacks, and sandwiches at the Bridge Café-- the Bridge stays open later than the dining commons and has pool tables, ping-pong, foosball, and a lovely view of the basketball court. Once students move into the mods, they generally abstain from the meal plan in favor of home-cooked meals but can certainly opt-in if they so desire.
If you're really persuasive, you can get your parents to sign you up for the off-campus meal plan as well. It's not affiliated with Hampshire, and is in addition to any Hampshire food plan. Tons of restaurants in the area participate, so if you're on the OCMP you can get food at many choice area restaurants!
What do students do on the weekends?
What don’t students do on the weekends? The variety of weekend activities is as diverse as the Hampshire community is. Weekends inevitably include a healthy dose of academia–-with students spending time researching and writing projects, collaborating on creative endeavors, attending lectures, and getting some pleasure reading in on the side. But of course there is still time for catching up on sleep and having fun. A smattering of popular possibilities includes: movie screenings in the main lecture hall, openings in the campus gallery, rock climbing and kayaking trips, student-produced dance productions, a capella concerts, midnight breakfasts, craft workshops, snow-shoeing, jam sessions, campus-wide dance parties, and house office barbeques. And that’s just on campus…there are also too many open activities at the other four colleges to even begin to list them all.
What kinds of athletics and outdoor programs are offered?
Hampshire has an umbrella group called Outdoor Programs and Recreational Activities. They oversee tons of classes on everything from ice climbing, to whitewater kayaking, outdoor leadership, martial arts, yoga etc...
There are two athletic facilities at Hampshire which include two weight rooms, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, indoor track, rock climbing wall and rock bouldering cave, swimming pool, sauna, bike maintenance shop and equipment rentals. (There's also a community bike program, though many students bring their own bikes and rollerblades to campus.)
Beyond that, there are currently intercollegiate teams in ultimate frisbee, soccer, fencing, basketball, and volleyball. (Ultimate frisbee is our most popular sport!)
Basically, if there is interest, you can play/start any sport you want to. There has been cricket. And rugby. The founders of Hampshire wanted to create a sports program that wasn't based on just a few people competing and a bunch of other 'fans' observing. They wanted everyone to engage in sports and recreational activity...thus our super amazing outdoors program!
You can also play on any of the club teams in the five college consortium. Due to NCAA rules, though, you cannot participate in varsity sports at the other schools
If one has a work-study position as a part of one's financial aid package, how would one go about setting up such a job?
There are two options for work-study--on campus and off campus. Both are facilitated by the Student Employment office. At the start of the semester every eligible student receives a list of available on campus jobs, at which point they call whoever is responsible for hiring people to fill the position they are interested in and set up an interview. Most every administrative office, special program, and academic area hires work study students, so it’s likely a student will get a job that will both pay her and interest her. Hampshire also provides students the fantastic opportunity to get work-study wage for work at community non-profits. There is a list of organizations available online--and there are a wide range to choose from. Those positions are set up in a similar fashion so it’s all set after a few phone calls, an in-person meeting, and a little paperwork. If a student starts seeking out a job right upon arriving on campus, he will have no problem finding one. The people who may run into some difficulties are the ones who wait until mid- to late-September, and then start looking.
FAQ's About Residential Life
Do the majority of first-year students have singles, doubles, or triples?
The majority of first-year students have singles. However there are a significant number of first years housed in doubles. Each hallway in the dorms has one double room, and chances are it is going to be filled with incoming students. The doubles are quite large, and the school always tries to carefully match roommates according to interests/living habits.
What are the differences between Merrill and Dakin Houses? How are the two houses set up?
Merrill and Dakin are far more similar to one another than they are different. There are, however, a few key distinctions. Dakin's residents are mostly first-year students who live ten to twelve per hall. Each hall has its own bathroom and lounge. This lounge has a television (with cable), a balcony, and a refrigerator, but no proper kitchen. There are kitchens available for your cooking pleasure in the basement and the house office. Merrill, on the other hand, tends to house residents who are continuing students, primarily second years. Of course, there are always first years who live in Merrill. In Merrill each floor is divided into two sections; the short side houses eight students and the long side houses twelve students. Each section has its own bathroom and each floor has a shared lounge. These lounges are equipped with a television (also with cable!), a balcony, a kitchenette, and a refrigerator.
How are dorm rooms assigned?
Rooms are assigned to first year students according to the housing information sheet they fill out, in the order the school receives deposits. The earlier a student sends in his deposit, the more likely he’ll be to get a room that perfectly matches his requests. After your first year, housing assignments are determined in a lottery system based on points awarded for seniority. A group of friends may vie for an entire hall in either Dakin or Merrill, or an on-campus apartment in one of the mods.
What comes with a dorm room (single or double?) Does it come with a bed (and what size?) A table? A hot tub?
Student rooms come furnished with a bed frame, an extra long twin-size mattress, a built-in closet complete with hanging rod for clothes, a bureau with several drawers, a mirror (not full length), a desktop with supporting book shelves and drawer unit, a rolling desk chair, and a curtain. If it’s a double room, there’s two of everything. There is a ceiling light in every room but it is advisable for students to add a lamp of their own choosing--unless they are particularly fond of florescent lighting.
How do the co-ed bathrooms work?
Like any other bathrooms work! Students tend to be nervous about the co-ed factor before they arrive but, in reality, it generally takes no time at all to become comfortable with the situation. Each hall has its own bathroom with multiple toilet stalls, sinks, and shower stalls (with a shower and a little area to change in right in front of it--and a locking door!) There are seldom, if ever, lines for any of the facilities, since students are on different schedules. Students usually get a bath basket to keep shower stuff in and either leave it in the bathroom by the sinks or store it in their room and carry it to the showers.
What are laundry facilities like on campus? How many washers/dryers? Where are they? Do they cost money?
There are washers and dryers in each residential area open all day and all night and they are FREE (by which we mean you pay for it as part of your tuition), so you won't be scrounging around for quarters all year. Merrill and Dakin houses each have sufficient machines located in their basement so no one needs to worry about taking their clean clothes.
Are students who live on campus allowed to have cars?
Indeed they are. All students have the option of registering a car for on-campus parking. Usually this registration allows one access to a parking lot quite close to their room, but from time to time a lot may fill-up, meaning students will have to walk to a little more, usually just to the next closest lot. There is a $150 fee every year, which essentially functions to cover the cost of snow removal and security in the lots. Keep in mind that there is a free bus system too! Often students who do bring cars still utilize the buses in stormy weather or times when it may be difficult to find a visitors’ parking spot on another campus.
FAQ's About Applying
Are the application dates received by dates or postmarked by dates?
All applications should be received by the published application dates.
Spring Entrance: November 1
Early Decision: November 15
Early Action: December 1
Regular Decision: January 15
Transfer: March 1
Do you accept the Common Application?
Yes, in fact we use the common application exclusively. However, we do have a mandatory supplement to the common application, which can be submitted or downloaded on our website.
What test scores are required for admission? How does Hampshire consider the new SAT Writing?
Hampshire is an SAT optional school--we don't require ANY standardized tests for admission to Hampshire. About 85% of students choose to submit them, and the average combined (verbal and math) score of those that submitted them was a 1260. We don't weigh SAT scores heavily at all, but we do use them as a reference point for your performance in school. The SAT verbal section, specifically, has been found to be a good indicator of a student's future success in a liberal arts school. (BY the way, our College Board School Code is 3447.)
As for the new writing section, we'll consider it if you choose to submit it. But we recognize that writing in a timed environment may not showcase your best work. As such, we place significantly more weight on the two writing samples you submit as part of your application.
One caveat: though standardized test scores are NOT necessary for admission to Hampshire, they may be necessary to receive federal financial aid *if* you will not have a high school diploma or GED before enrolling at Hampshire. If that is the case, you will need to take an approved ability to benefit test.
How many applications do you get? How selective are you? What do you look for in applicants to Hampshire?
Hampshire received approximately 2800 applications for fall 2006, and accepted just over half of them.
We look for applicants who have shown initiative, self-motivation, independence, self-awareness, curiosity, creativity, and the ability and interest in making a contribution to their community. We also look for strong critical thinking and writing skills, as well as a sense of commitment and follow-through. We know Hampshire's unique program is not for everyone, and our admission counselors read each application carefully to determine whether an applicant is likely to be successful at Hampshire.
We look first at the applicant’s program of study--have you challenged yourself? Have you taken advanced courses when they’ve been available? Have you taken workshops or college classes outside of school? Attended a summer pre-college program? Started a community service initiative? Petitioned to get a new instructor or program at your school? These are all good signs that you'll be self-motivated enough to meet Hampshire's expectations of you as a student.
We look next at your performance in these areas, which are evident through grades, test scores (if you choose to submit them), writing samples, and recommendations. We are looking for students with strong basic writing skills, as we do quite a lot of writing at Hampshire (about 20 papers per semester!!) We don't expect students to know exactly what they want to major in, but we do like to see students who are passionately pursuing their interests. We look for students who are active participants in life and who tend to create opportunities for themselves and take responsibility and ownership over their lives and educational paths.
What are your course requirements to get into Hampshire? What should I take my senior year?
We don't have strict course requirements for acceptance to Hampshire, but we do recommend 4 years of English, 3 of math, science, and history/social studies, and at least two of a foreign language.
Many students find that they are finally able to take more electives in their senior year and want to know if it's okay to do so. That will depend greatly on which electives you choose. We're looking to see you challenging yourself by taking 4-5 academic courses each year, so if your chosen electives are academic in nature (ie music theory, women's history, etc.), than you're golden. If your proposed schedule has less academic courses than what we recommend, but you are taking them at an advanced level, that may be enough to convince us that you are still challenging yourself. Your guidance counselor is the best source of advice regarding what you should plan to take--remember, they've helped many students before you get accepted to colleges and universities. However, if you want additional advice, feel free to call the admissions office with any specific concerns or questions.
Does Hampshire accept applications from non-traditional students?
Happily. We request the same application materials from all applicants. If you haven't been enrolled in school for a significant time period, we do ask that you write a brief account of your time since last enrolled. We also ask students who will not have a traditional high school diploma (or GED) to submit a transcript of their learning activities as they correlate to those of a typical high school student.
It is possible to apply to Hampshire College after your junior year in high school through our Early Entrance program. Should you decide to avail yourself of this option, please keep in mind that an on-campus interview and a letter of support from your college counselor or principal are required. Your high school will need to determine whether your work here will count toward a high school diploma, but once again, you do not need a diploma to apply to Hampshire (but will need to take an above mentioned ability to benefit test in order to receive financial aid if you do not have a diploma or GED.)
One note: We are happy to consider applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree, but you should know that financial aid is available not available to students who have either a B.A. or B.S. degree.
Do you offer credit for "life experience" to non-traditional students?
Hampshire does not work on a credit-based system (students progress by successfully completing a combination of course work and independent projects/field work), so we do not offer "credit" for life experience. On the other hand, it is possible that some of your experiences will help you move through our system more quickly; it all depends on what you have done and how it relates to what you study here. It may be possible to negotiate with your advisor/committee to include projects, internships and work experience as part of your concentration work. In the event that your experiences relate directly to an academic subject area, it MAY be possible to enter directly into a more advanced level class in that area, in effect “skipping” introductory courses. However, this would be done at the discretion of the advisor and professor.
Do I have a better chance of being accepted if I apply Early Decision or Early Action, as opposed to Regular Decision?
13% of Hampshire's 2006 fall class was drawn from the Early Decision pool; 21% from the Early Action pool. However, Hampshire does not commit to filling a certain percentage of our incoming class with students from the early applicant pool, so there is no technical benefit to applying early--besides being able to actually enjoy the rest of your senior year. The only possible benefit is that if you apply early, you are competing against a smaller applicant pool. It's easier to stand out among the few hundred early applications that Hampshire receives versus the 2,000 we receive regular decision.
If I decide to apply Early, will I receive a financial aid package with my decision?
If you apply Early Decision, you will use tax forms to complete financial aid forms, and you will receive a tentative financial aid award package with your acceptance letter. The award will be finalized once you file your current year taxes.
If you apply Early Action, you will not need to submit your financial aid information until February 1. Which means that you'll know by the end of January whether you've been accepted, but you won't know if you can afford it until April 1, when we send out the financial aid awards for all students we have accepted from our Early Action and Regular Decision applicant pools. You will receive our best possible financial aid package, no matter what application deadline you use-- provided you submit all financial aid forms by the deadline!
What essays are required? What do you look for in essays?
This is such a common question that we have a whole SECTION on essays, including examples, and critiques, in the advice section.
If I want to major in the arts, do I need to submit a portfolio or complete an audition? What if I don't want to major in the arts, but I still want to show you some creative work that I've done?
We do not EVER require an audition or portfolio, no matter what you plan to major in. Hampshire makes all admissions decisions based on your academic performance and 'fit' with our program, and once accepted, you have access to all of the programs and facilities.
However, because we do holistic reads of applications, we like to know as much about you as possible. If your creative work is important to you, feel free to submit a sample of your work, as long as it fits on up to 3 8.5" x 11" pieces of paper. (CD's or DVD's must be in thin paper sleeves.) Please note that a creative option is never going to be the deciding factor in an admission decision.
If I know that I want to take a year off before college, should I apply now and defer, or wait to apply?
This depends greatly on your personal situation. Many students find it is easier to apply while their peers are going through the same process, and when they can easily connect with teachers and guidance counselors for recommendations. This may be an especially appealing option if you plan to be out of the country during the application season for the year you plan to attend.
Hampshire does grant deferrals to accepted students who request one by June of the year they are accepted. All students who request one (as long as they are not enrolling in another college or University) are granted one, and a refundable $600 deferral deposit is required.
If you think your application may be strengthened during your year off--perhaps you will be doing a fantastic internship or study abroad program, or think you will mature during your year off--it might be wise to wait to apply. Your guidance counselor should be able to advise you, but you're always welcome to call us here at the admissions office to chat about your specific circumstances.