Since passing Div III, I’ve been reflecting on my experience—and there are a lot of things I wish I’d understood from the beginning. If you have not started Div III yet, here are three things you should know:
If you are an art enthusiast or just looking for some fun things to do in Western Massachusetts, some of the local art museums are worth exploring. The area is home to some of the best college museums in the country, including the following:
The rippling effects of Hampshire’s founding mission of “inspiring students to create positive change in the world” can be felt throughout our campus. Our network of dedicated student activists and motivated group leaders inspires me and keeps me working as a leader on campus. I think it is one of the best aspects of our school.
We recently chatted with Justin Baldwin 08F about his work with plants, bats, and seeds. His work was featured on the cover of acclaimed ecology journal Oecologia.
One unique aspect of the Hampshire College experience is that students get to work closely with a faculty committee of their choosing. A student’s four years at Hampshire are separated into three Divisions, and the committee is an essential part of Divisions II and III. During Division II, students design a concentration based on their areas of interest. In Division III, students complete a major independent project.
On a recent Monday night, I sat with a group of fellow Hampshire College students in the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. The five of us who attended are members of a Hampshire stand-up group, and we had come to see Eugene Mirman—a comedian who graduated from Hampshire in 1996. He is now well known for his stand-up as well as his roles on “Flight of the Conchords” and “Bob’s Burgers.”
Visual arts concentrators at Hampshire College work with a variety of tools and materials as they explore their unique styles and artistic voices. Hampshire offers classes in art history as well as studio art. Hampshire alumni who concentrate in visual arts are often accepted into top MFA programs, and end up displaying work in galleries worldwide.
