Each spring a new set of students enter Mount Holyoke, and are known as spring admits. Unlike their peers who have a semester under their belt, spring admits are just starting their first semester. Their experience can be overwhelming and confusing, yet exciting. In essence, endless possibilities could occur. But one thing is for sure, there are many complexities to being a spring admit.
In the admission process, spring admits do not differ from those who are offered fall admission. “Spring admits are evaluated in the same way that all applicants are evaluated. They are great students who we want to have at Mount Holyoke and who we feel will have the independence and maturity to assimilate mid-way through the academic year,” says Emily Allyn, a spring entrance liaison. I agree that spring admits are independent and mature, but they also face isolation as a result from it.
As a spring admit, Nicole Gaidis ’11 said, “I felt that our orientation, org fair and overall welcome to the school was sadly lacking. There was no sense of cohesion between events; it felt very scattered and pulled together without much thought. I did appreciate the events being put together, but there seemed an overall lack of effort to really integrate us into our class and the school as a whole.”
Spring admits also have a tendency to stick together because of the unawareness they endure from the Mount Holyoke community. It is not surprising that spring admits form a cohesive group since they are small in numbers. This semester there are over ninety students who have entered as spring admits. Emily says that “many have taken classes at community colleges or local universities so they are already in the swing of college work and will transfer those credits to Mount Holyoke. Others have done a combination of work/internships and academic work, while some have taken the fall to travel or do volunteer work.” Having some type of college experience does not necessarily mean getting a handle on the academic environment of Mount Holyoke. Nicole Gaidis recalls that “many of [her] professors were completely unsympathetic in regards to the fact that it was [her] first semester or completely disregarded the fact that [spring admits] existed. [She] had no idea what ELLA or ISIS were, and had even less experience navigating them.” Furthermore, Lyz Hazelton ’11 says that “[she] also didn’t know when [she] came in that if you enter in the spring, Mount Holyoke assumes that you’ll graduate in seven semesters instead of eight.”
In addition to facing tough academic adjustment, spring admits miss out on Mount Holyoke traditions that only occur in the fall—one of them being Convocation. Spring admits do not go to their first convocation until the following fall semester. Nicole felt deprived of the sisterhood claims and unfortunately, describes being a spring admit “as a mixed bag” for her. Lyz dislikes some of the obstacles she endures because she is a spring admit, but overall loves being one.
Mount Holyoke’s Admission Office attempts to welcome spring admits to the best of its ability. There is even a secured website for spring admits that is provided especially for them. Emily informs me that “there are links to frequently asked questions on spring entrance, resources for possible study abroad options and information about doing academic work or internships prior to coming to Mount Holyoke.” Because Emily Allyn is the spring entrance liaison, spring admits are encouraged to contact her. However, that is not enough. A better job should be done in welcoming them, because in the end, this is a school of sisterhood. For example, spring admits should be paired up with their peers who could show them the ropes. Also, the entire Mount Holyoke community should welcome them in the first weekend of the spring semester at Chapin Auditorium—a mini convocation.
Related posts:
- High spring enrollments renew discussion over spring admission
- Springing Forward
- Spring 2008 carnival to go on-with a new twist
- Spring weekend replaces annual spring concert
- Love in the AiR for theater group
