friends

big dorm room

ice cream

liberal artsy courses

j-term

I think that’s it :/

If you’re going to have the balls to write a crabby post about someone’s grammar and writing style, I would expect yours to be in top form. But alas, you’re a hypocrite.

“Hollins is all woman’s school”

—> Hollins is an all women’s college.

I’m not saying my writing is tip top, but I don’t give rude critiques to others when they could be more easily be applied to myself.

Dear Charlsie,

I’m kind of glad that you have dedicated an article to the positives about Hollins. Not because I thought it was necessary, but it will get some people to shut up now. Your writing gives an honest view of Hollins. And if some people can’t handle that, oh well. Charlsie writes what Hollins, and any other college, deserves-the good, and bad.

I think colleges shouldn’t pile on the bullshit when you’re a prospective. My vision of Hollins in high school while visiting and meeting students/faculty/administration is drastically different than how I see this place now. Hollins works their asses off for anyone who sets foot on campus who could put $$$ in the bank. Once you enroll, it starts to fade away.

For example, the cafeteria pulls out the stops when prospectives arrive for food. But if it’s just plain ole’ Sunday for students, don’t expect to find much that’s appetizing. The whole campus is very misleading-not just their food quality. The place puts on a great show.

I was told before enrolling there are plenty of opportunities to meet guys-hmmm.

NOOOOOO.

That’s a hundred times more true if you come here with no car. Don’t rely on making friends who have cars. They don’t probably don’t want to go where you want to. The only place I think you’ll ever meet a man is off campus. So if you can regularly escape, your chances are higher. But this place is absolutely dead on weekends, and I’m not exaggerating. A lot of students flee on Fridays, and I can hardly blame them. If I had a car, I would too. VTech and Roanoke College are the closest colleges to us, and I cannot name one student who has visited there for a weekend-ever. Hollins has graduate students, but they’re never seen on campus except in their classes. They don’t hang out around campus. So if you’re into older guys, and by chance one of them is in a class, maaaaybe you have a glimmer of hope. Chances are he’s uninterested, unattractive, and if he’s decent then you’ve got probably got competition.

Guys don’t come here unless their faculty’s kids, grad students, or visiting their girlfriend.

I wish someone told me before I enrolled, “If you’re looking for the genuine college experience-don’t come here.” I am not a partier by any means, but I’d like something to do on a Friday night besides sit at my computer, or take the shuttle to wal-mart. And I’d like a shuttle that’s reliable, so I don’t have to hitchhike home with a complete stranger.

I stayed overnight in a Hollins student’s dorm as a prospective, and despite our vast differences (social skills/cliques, tastes movies/music/clothes) she was extremely welcoming. Actually, the bulk of the floor of her dorm popped in the room to greet me and shake my hand.

As a Hollins freshman, I spent the majority of my first semester eating alone. And when I walked in the cafeteria, sometimes I got cold stares-from people I didn’t know!

My best example of being misled applies specifically to my faculty, but unlike Charlsie, I don’t have the balls to name some names or give specific examples.

With this economy, Hollins is greatly concerned about getting students to stay, and getting their tuition money. Retention rates are important to them. So they work their butts off making pretty photographs and cheery videos. As a prospective, I received postcards numerous times from Hollins students. They said something like “Hello, my name is blah blah, I am majoring in blah blah. I love Hollins! This place is beautiful. I hope you come and visit again soon! We look forward to hearing from you. You can email me at blahblah@hollins.edu.  ” I got like 4 of those my senior year. I didn’t think much of the crap, but my parents were impressed. Once I arrive as a freshman, I learn that those postcards were written by students for work study hours! They are instructed on what to write, copy it on postcards over and over until their hands are exhausted, and it goes towards their tuition.

This place gives an excellent façade.

I think that if prospective students got honest answers, they’d be more likely to go to the college that’s right for them. But giving their students a fulfilling college experience is not the number one priority at Hollins. Hollins wants as many to come as possible so they make money! But what they need to learn is that this greedy strategy backfires- students end up hating it because it’s not what they expected, and so they often leave. Or, it results in a student named Charlsie writes her experiences on the internet.

Hollins needs to realize that it’s job is to satisfy the educational needs of the current student. It’s main job is not to recruit and put on a show full of dog crap. That just ends up with unhappy students, and an unhappy college.

My sorority

My internship

My job

My friends!

:]

Would I even have slight bit of motivation to look good in the morning at all woman’s school?

probably not.

But i do know, hollins is pretty good school for the academic part.

“in lieu of Valentine’s Day” ?? Get an editor.

and, I’ve stayed here knowing senior year is going to be the BEST during all the traditions!!

Love the column, and can’t wait to read more!! MEMOREWMOREWWW!