In the series “Student Voices,” current students write about the reasons they chose Hampshire and how our educational model works from their perspective.
If you are looking at colleges in Massachusetts with small classes, Hampshire College may be ideal for you.
Usually there are not more than around 25 students per class, and I’ve typically been in classes that were smaller than that.
At much larger colleges, there are often classes with hundreds of students and they are more based on long lectures. The small classes at Hampshire make it a more intimate learning environment. Students usually sit in a circle and hold in-depth discussions, instead of being lectured by the professor. Because there are not too many people, everyone has the opportunity to speak and contribute to the conversation.
Smaller classes also provide more opportunity for workshopping—that is, students presenting work or ideas to the whole class and receiving feedback from everyone. In larger classes, there may not be enough time to thoroughly critique every student’s work, but small classes make it easier for everyone to get the constructive criticism they need.
Hampshire College is a school to consider if you prefer discussions to lectures, and if you enjoy a more close-knit learning environment. Personally, being in smaller classes has helped me become a more engaged and active student, and it’s one of my favorite things about Hampshire.
