Northfield Mount Hermon - Review #1

I LOVE NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON. NMH is (I think) the largest New England boarding school (approx. 1200), which is great because there are always new people to meet and new experiences to share; on the other hand, 1200 is still a fairly small community, which means that there is always someone to wave to on the way to class or sit with on the inter-campus bus. NMH has two campuses, which is fabulous; each campus has a distinct feel and a unique atmosphere. My experience with the faculty at NMH was priceless. Teachers and students are generally on a first-name basis, you spend time outside of class with your teachers (for fun!), and class-time is always friendly, relaxed, and very comfortable. I am still keep very close touch with a lot of my teachers. The students at NMH are also very close. House communities are strong and bonding (forced fun as we used to call it) is assured. It's all worth it . . . I am better friends with my roommates and friends from NMH now than I was in high school. The relationships that I made in high school have lasted and will last. One great thing about NMH is the incredible balance that people are able to strike in their extracurricular lives. At NMH, it is possible to participate in sports and the arts, simultaneously; most schools make you choose between the two. The Performing Arts Dept. at NMH is especially strong; I matriculated to a conservatory from NMH (then transferred to Smith) feeling totally secure about the education that I had gotten academically AND musically/theatrically.

Boarding school was the best thing that ever happened to me. I came from a really small place where I didn't fit in and where people made me feel like being different was wrong and embarrassing. At NMH, I found people who were like me and I learned how to be myself and feel comfortable with who I was. I was given opportunities at NMH that I would never have gotten at another school. I spent time abroad in several countries, lived with people from three different countries, sang with choirs, jazz bands, symphony orchestra.

I would have gotten involved in more right from the start! I only wish that I had been at NMH all four years.

The campus situation and the performing arts department.

Attendance policies are kind of strange.

Enjoy every minute of NMH. Don't take your experience there for granted for one minute - you'll miss it when you're gone. Be thankful for everything that you are able to experience and learn while you are there!

The teachers! The teaching faculty at NMH makes the work fascinating and students are involved at such a high level that you never really get bored. Relationships with teachers are generally strong and I always felt comfortable asking questions or talking to teachers outside of class (about class, but on a social level as well).

It's a lot of work. If you jump in all the way at NMH, you really commit to a lot. Personally, I work really well with a very busy schedule and a lot to do. It is very demanding though, mentally and physically.

I did not participate in organized athletics, but I liked having access to two gyms and lots of options for athletic minor courses available.

NMH performing arts is GREAT. One motto: "NMH is a singing school." It's true, the entire school gets involved in great concerts like Christmas Vespers and Sacred Concert. The theatre program is excellent; students are involved at every level: performing, directing, set design, tech. The art program is also very strong. I always enjoyed going to see student exhibitions in Bolger (the art building). Dance is great too. One excellent thing about performing arts at NMH is that faculty and students collaborate all of the time. Ours is a performing faculty, which is important because students get to see what their professors do for a living and can teach them. It's nice to see a dance piece performed by students with their teacher. NMH is very committed to the visual/performing arts.

It's always a struggle to keep money in the bank for arts programs when the issue of competition with sports programs is at hand. NMH struggles with this like any school, but the faculty is very committed to making sure that sports are never favored over the arts.

There are always tons of volunteer opportunities at NMH. Big Brother, Big Sister is very popular. You can always get involved in local organizations as well.

Choices! There are tiny dorms and HUGE dorms. You can find an environment that works well for you. Dorm faculty is always on hand if you need anyone to help with homework or with personal problems.

Visiting hours are really strict and you really have to learn to live with roommates because there aren't many single rooms available.

Lots of options and grazing hours! Basically, the dining halls are always open. You can always get food.

I was always fine with NMH food!

I felt great about meeting new people. Everyone was super friendly and NMH does a lot of house and class bonding activities. Orientation is a huge deal at NMH, so you generally start classes knowing people. You also meet people through extracurricular activities and workjobs.

NMH is very diverse. Last time I checked, we represent something like 45 countries. Colleges can't compare when diversity is an issue . . . NMH prepared me for living and working in a multi-cultural environment and I loved it. College is pretty bland comparatively. I miss the diversity of NMH!

Took trips to big(ger) cities, watched movies, spent time with friends.

There is not much to do in Northfield and Greenfield, but there are movies to see and public transport is easy and cheap. NMH always does trips to Northampton, the Holyoke Mall, and bigger places like Boston and New York though, which are great because they are inexpensive and you can do a lot away from school.