Why not start Mount Holyoke College in the spring?
Emily Finnila ’27 discusses what it’s like to be a “springie” at Mount Holyoke. She has tips and tricks for quickly becoming a part of the community through clubs and activities.
When I got accepted to Mount Holyoke College as a spring-start student, I immediately ruled it out. Instead, I turned my attention toward the places that had accepted me for the fall and began to narrow down my choices. But as I looked through schools that I’d once been so sure of, I realized that none of them seemed to have the kind of atmosphere I wanted. Whether those schools were too big, had too many fraternities or had a campus that lacked personality, none of them felt right. That brought Mount Holyoke back into the picture as I realized that it was the best fit for me, even if it meant starting college later than usual. So, I accepted the offer to become a “springie,” finished the rest of my senior year and graduated.
I spent my newfound gap semester working at a Christmas store that stayed open year-round. My main takeaway from that experience is that cuckoo clocks are not a worthy investment for the faint of heart. The fall months seemed to fly by while also lasting forever, but looking back, I realize how much I grew as a person. That fall allowed me to get to know myself in a way that, in retrospect, was very valuable. I came to college with surer footing and a clearer sense of who I wanted to be.
When I finally arrived at Mount Holyoke in January, it was covered in snow — beautiful and cold. I moved into my residence hall room (shout out to Wilder!) and then went through a very chill, miniature version of the fall orientation. I got to put faces to the names of the other springies I’d been talking to online and, because our group was so small, we all got to know each other pretty well. Such a small orientation is one of the big hangups of starting in the spring, but I really appreciated it in the end because it was much easier to get to know people and make friends without feeling too overwhelmed.
After orientation, we all settled into our new classes and our first-year seminars. I took God, Free Will, and Morality and learned that philosophers have a lot to say on those topics. I enjoyed all my classes that spring, but what was most impactful — when it came to feeling like I was really getting the hang of things — were the clubs I joined and the events I attended.
I’m sure you’ve heard this spiel before, but get involved! Go to the Involvement Fair. Add yourself to email lists. Try really random activities — fence, knit, hike! Visit places like The Hoard, the WMHC radio station, the Mount Holyoke Outing Club gear room and the Mount Holyoke News newsroom. There are so many cool clubs here that you’ll definitely find something you vibe with. Of course, it won’t be totally seamless. You’ll go to events and feel awkward or try something new and realize it’s not for you. The key is to push through those uncomfortable emotions until you find something that you enjoy or discover that you’re happiest when you’re free of club commitments! Either way, the best way to make that discovery is to go out and do things.
I personally fell in love with the radio station. I went through DJ training with WMHC and got my own radio show as soon as I could. It was the first club I found that was a perfect fit for me. Once I knew I could learn how to do something like talk to strangers through the airwaves, I had the confidence to get involved in other areas on campus. As I write, I’m still a DJ with WMHC as well as a board member for the Mount Holyoke Review (one of our campus’s lovely literary magazines) and the Mount Holyoke Outing Club, and I plan to get even more involved.
To any future springies out there, I promise it will all work out. Starting school is messy, making new friends is hard and nothing will ever go exactly as you want it to. I have full confidence, however, that you will all succeed in whatever you want to do at MHC — just as the springies in my class have. You can’t walk into a single club meeting that a springie isn’t involved with in some way. You’ve got this! And, if you ever need help, just mention you’re new to the school and a springie will emerge from Blanchard Hall’s lunch rush to offer help and share their wisdom.
