Taking Courses at Hampshire College

During my time at Hampshire, I was a highly focused student. I took as many courses as I could on campus, and then took classes off campus as soon as I was allowed to in my second year. For better or worse, I focused more on coursework than on proceeding through Hampshire’s Divisional Exams. By my fourth semester, I had only completed one Divisional Exam in Social Studies, although I had found topics and committees for my exams in Natural Science and Humanities and Arts.

Started My Own Small Business At Hampshire

By that time, I had also started my own small business providing van service to New York City. I felt disappointed that I was not able to keep up with the level of physical conditioning that I was accustomed to, and chose to take off what would have been my fifth semester to train on my bicycle and recharge.

Making Good Progress Toward Graduation

My fifth semester was the best in my Hampshire College career. In addition to completing four courses, two of them off campus, I also completed the major body of work for the two Division One Exams I had started.

My Natural Science Distribution Requirement

My Natural Science Exam was to be on the use of fibrous algae as it could be processed and used in paper-making. This combined my interest in finding an alternative to tree farming for woodlot management with my interest in creating PH neutral paper for fine art.

My Humanity’s and Arts Distribution Requirement

I also did an independent study in play-writing with a concentration on a playwright named Christopher Fry. The play that I wrote over spring break that semester placed second in the Dennis Johnson play-writing competition, beating out seniors and other students for whom play-writing was their primary focus.

Progress on My Concentration

I was also doing well for my Division Two Exam, compiling all of the courses that I had taken into a concentration. All that was left to complete my Division Two was to find additional committee members. I had completed the major body of the work I had been focusing on – the study of problem solving methodologies that exist independent of disciplines.

Too Much Ambition, Not Enough Friends

If there was one mistake that I feel that I made at Hampshire College, it was that I didn’t spend enough time making friends and networking with the people there. I maintained my relationship with my girlfriend in New York City and I didn’t spend many weekends with the people in my dormitory.

Not Enough Networking with Professors

I also didn’t make very close relationships with the professors at Hampshire, even those who worked with me as my advisers. Retrospectively, I realize it was unusual of the college to allow me to write for their school newspaper when I had chosen my academic studies over most connections with the other students.