Hollins University

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Students Say - Academics
You're "not just a number" at Hollins University, a liberal arts school that creates "strong female leaders ready to face the world." Founded in 1842, this all-girls school is steeped in tradition while being "about individuality and free speech" and leaving "enough room and attention for you to grow." Basically, if you don't like something at Hollins, you have the power to change it, and pretty easily at that. As the motto states, "Women Who Are Going Places Start at Hollins." As one can imagine, alumnae connections remain strong, and the extensive net- work is often called upon to help Hollins graduates in the working world. The school provides excellent opportunities for study abroad, internships, and "building sisterhood." The highly individualized classes are challenging, "without being completely overwhelming or impossible," and the small size makes it "easy to make your voice heard and [to] connect with the material that you are learning." Professors "are so incredibly open with us; it is very flattering and gives me a sense of trust and responsibility that I was not allowed to have in high school," says a freshman. Indeed, the amount of credence given to making sure students' needs are met borders on overwhelming. The administration "always listens to us, and they all have their doors open at all times," and professors make themselves available at almost all hours, many "checking e-mails at midnight and giving you personal contact info for extra assistance." "Every teacher I have had has been 100% committed to making me feel comfortable with the subject matter they are teaching," says a junior English major. Classes often have an interesting twist, whether it is "the quirky teacher or the crazy science experiments, or both."

Students Say - Campus Life
Life is "very laid-back and comfortable" at Hollins, where "watching movies over bowls of popcorn" is just as popular as going to parties. The activities board tries to keep the nights filled with options such as productions, parties, and dances, and students are very active in political and environmental causes. A key to the Hollins community is the plethora of specialty housing, which lets people with similar interests live together. This option helps people to be "very dedicated to campus life and [to] embrace the strong sense of sisterhood that exists on campus and within the extended Hollins community." Long-held traditions such as Ring Night, Tinker Day, and First Step "allow for bonding between the classes and pro- mote sisterhood." During the week there are "fun and educational lectures that are optional, such as self-defense and environmental lectures," and the school also has a great outdoors program that has trips every weekend to go hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, etc. Downtown Roanoke can be charming, if not a little dull, and students often go to other nearby schools (like Virginia Tech and UVA) on the weekends to seek fun, or go to the monthly mixers. "We ship in guys," one student says.

Students Say - Student Body
With "everything from geeks and punks to the equestrians," the student body at Hollins is as diverse as it is driven, meaning it's pretty hard to qualify as "atypical." Almost everyone on campus is involved in multiple clubs and organizations, making it so "there's a little something for everyone," and this creates a tremendous sense of community among the Hollins girls. Many break themselves and their fellow students into three loose types of students: "the NEFA (Near East Fine Arts dorm) artsy types; the 'pearl girls' or 'Holly dollies' (who ride horses and wear pearls and pink with everything, even their sweatpants); and everyone else." Still, no one group is exclusive or snobby, and everyone "is more than willing to interact with everyone they meet, regardless of their style." "For all the girls who are tired of high school drama, this is the school for you," says a freshman. There is a "very strong" GLBT community here, and "everyone is very accepting of differences, especially regarding minority and sexual orientation, so it causes the population to be very aware." Most students tend to lean to the left politically, although "there is a strong conservative voice, as well."

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