How to Apply to Chemistry at Mount Holyoke College: A Women’s Liberal Arts College Where You Do Not Apply to a Major and Declare by the Second Semester of Sophomore Year, with a B.A. Only, at Least 44 Credits in the Major and an ACS-Approved Department, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Mount Holyoke College is a gender-diverse women’s liberal arts college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Undergraduate chemistry is offered by the Department of Chemistry; students apply to the College through the Office of Admission and declare a major after entry. Here is what you need to know, based on the College’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. The College has a separate Biochemistry major, which is not covered here; medicine, nursing, pharmacy and similar programs are outside this article, so see the College’s website.

1. Degrees and areas

• Degree: the degrees page says the College confers one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated A.B. or B.A., the same degree). The chemistry program page lists a major and a minor, with the Bachelor of Arts as the outcome. The pages read do not mention a B.S. in chemistry, or separate degrees or tracks such as medicinal, materials or environmental chemistry; the course list does include electives in materials, environmental chemistry and biomolecules.
• Department: the Department of Chemistry (Carr Laboratory, telephone 413-538-2214). You apply to the College as a whole, not to a school within it.
• Major requirements (at least 44 credits): CHEM-150 General Chemistry: Foundations (4) or CHEM-160 Integrated Introduction to Biology and Chemistry; CHEM-202 Organic Chemistry I (4); CHEM-223 Chemical Measurement and Analysis (4, or CHEM-306); CHEM-231 Inorganic Chemistry (4); CHEM-308 Chemical Thermodynamics with Lab (4); 4 credits of chemistry at the 300 level; 4 more credits of chemistry at any level; and one of CHEM-309 Introduction to Materials, CHEM-312 Chemistry of Biomolecules or CHEM-329 Cosmetic Chemistry (4). Mathematics: MATH-101, MATH-102 and MATH-203 (Calculus I, II and III, 4 credits each).
• Footnotes on the page: at least 16 of the 44 credits must be completed at Mount Holyoke; CHEM-223 and CHEM-231 may be taken in any order after CHEM-150 (or 160); PHYS-205 (Introduction to Mathematical Methods for Scientists) can count as a chemistry elective.
• Other requirements: seniors taking CHEM-395 give an individual oral presentation at the annual Senior Symposium. The pages read do not list a thesis as a requirement of the major.
• American Chemical Society (ACS): the page says the Department of Chemistry is approved by the ACS; the ACS Committee on Professional Training sets the criteria, and the chair of the approved program certifies each year the students who have met them. Extra requirements for ACS certification: PHYS-110 and PHYS-201; a course in biological chemistry (for example CHEM-312); a course in polymer or materials science; at least four in-depth (300-level) courses; at least one semester of independent research (CHEM-295 or CHEM-395); and 400 laboratory hours at the 200 level and above, including up to 180 hours of independent research.
• Recommendations for graduate study: CHEM-325; PHYS-110 and PHYS-201; in-depth courses in at least four sub-disciplines; MATH-211 or PHYS-205.
• Minor (at least 16 credits): at least 12 credits of chemistry at the 200 level or above, including at least 4 at the 300 level; independent-study (295/395) credits do not count toward the 16.
• Related route: dual-degree engineering programs with the California Institute of Technology, the University of Massachusetts and Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering (the degrees page says you can earn a Mount Holyoke B.A. and an engineering B.S.); the chemistry page lists them as related programs. Details are on the College’s engineering pages and are not covered here.

2. How admission to the major works: apply to the College, declare in sophomore year

• At application: you apply to the College as a whole. The pages read do not ask for an intended major and do not describe a separate admission line or a cap on places for chemistry.
• Declaring: the degrees page says each student must declare a major in the sophomore year, no later than the end of the eighth week of classes of the second semester; a departmental major is at least 32 credits with at least 8 at the advanced (300) level, alongside interdisciplinary and self-designed Special majors. Grade requirements or limits on places for the chemistry major are not given on the pages read.
• Changing into chemistry: conditions for moving into the chemistry major from within the College are not published on the pages read; the department’s telephone number is 413-538-2214.
• Graduation overall: 128 credits, at least 68 outside the major department, plus a First-Year Seminar, a language requirement, a multicultural perspectives course, distribution across three divisions and 4 units of physical education.

3. Prerequisites and course placement

• High-school courses: neither the College nor the department pages read set a specific high-school chemistry, mathematics or physics requirement.
• Where to start: the chemistry page says all students, regardless of background preparation, begin with CHEM-150 (General Chemistry) or CHEM-160. CHEM-150 covers electronic structure of atoms and molecules, bonding, molecular shape, functional groups, stoichiometry, reactivity and equilibrium, and is offered in fall and spring; CHEM-160 must be taken together with BIOL-160, is offered only in fall, is limited to first-year students, is meant for students interested in biochemistry, neuroscience and the health professions, and shares one lab section (8 credits in all).
• AP / IB chemistry and waivers: a footnote on the page says that, with documentation and approval, a 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam, or “A/B in IB Chemistry” (as printed), waives the CHEM-150/160 requirement; students who skip it must still accumulate 40 chemistry credits and 220 lab hours before graduation. The same page also says all students begin with 150 or 160, so both statements stand; confirm with the department before choosing courses. The Biochemistry major page adds that students with IB, A-Level or AP credit may be able to place directly into CHEM-223 or CHEM-202.
• Mathematics: the major requires MATH-101, 102 and 203. Among the course prerequisites, CHEM-308 needs MATH-203 or PHYS-205 plus CHEM-223 or CHEM-231, all with a grade of C or better; MATH-101 is recommended for CHEM-231; CHEM-202 needs CHEM-150 or 160, and CHEM-302 (Organic Chemistry II) needs CHEM-202 with a C or better.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit (College policy page): 4 credits per AP exam graded 4 or 5 (advanced-placement credit is capped at 32 credits), but advanced-placement credit cannot be applied to fulfill college requirements, and no credit is given if you take the corresponding Mount Holyoke course. IB credit is for higher-level exams graded 6 or 7 only (8 credits per HL exam if the total is below 36 or any grade is below 6; 32 credits if three HL and all exams including subsidiary are 6 or 7 with 36 or more points); A-Levels give up to 32 credits for four or more exams in liberal arts subjects at grade C or better, with no credit for O-Levels or AS-Levels. The international FAQ adds that students with the full IB Diploma of 36 or more points including three higher-level grades of 6 or 7 may apply for sophomore standing, and A-Level students with C or better may apply for 8 credits per exam, granted after enrollment on presentation of official results to the Registrar.
• Honors: the pages read do not describe an honors route, grade threshold or honors thesis for chemistry. The College’s graduation and honors page was not read.
• Chemistry competitions: the pages read do not say how competitions such as the Chemistry Olympiad are viewed in admission.

4. Research and laboratory work

• The chemistry page says independent work is encouraged and usually takes the form of a problem allied to a faculty member’s research; the department’s summer research program is eight to ten weeks of paid, full-time research; students may pursue independent work at any time at Mount Holyoke. For CHEM-295/395 you fill out the department’s application form, usually due right after the advising period each semester; places depend on lab capacity and not all applications can be fulfilled; one credit averages about 3 hours of work a week; safety training is required before research begins. CHEM-199 (Introduction to Research) is for first-year students, needs instructor permission and CHEM-150 or 160, and is marked “Not Scheduled for This Year.”
• Research groups on the research page: Katie Berry (non-coding RNAs in bacteria and their protein partners); Kyle Broaders (polymeric materials and living cells); Wei Chen (polymer science and surface chemistry); the Gomez group (computational materials science, ionic conduction); Himali Jayathilake (synthesis and assembly of metal nanoparticles). Equipment includes a high-field NMR, two atomic force microscopes, gas and liquid chromatographs, IR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrometers, microwave-assisted synthesis, calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, electrochemistry and molecular-modeling facilities.
• Learning goals on the program page: understand hierarchical representations of structure, spectroscopic and analytical technologies, and use energy, kinetics and thermodynamics quantitatively; design and conduct independent experiments with modern instrumentation, analyse data, evaluate primary literature, communicate in written, oral and visual forms, and assess laboratory safety. The page also lists the Beckman Scholars Program as a related program; that page was not read.

5. Deadlines and application materials

• Rounds and deadlines: Early Decision I (binding) 15 November, notification in late December; Early Decision II 5 January, notification in late January; Regular Decision 15 January, notification in mid-March (the application-process page) or late March (the deadlines page). Financial-aid deadlines match the application round. Regular Decision admits have until 1 May to decide. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Application platform and fee: the Common Application or the Coalition Application on Scoir, one only, treated equally. The international admission page states “It’s free to apply to Mount Holyoke College.”
• Materials: the Secondary School Report with an official transcript; a counselor recommendation; two teacher recommendations, at least one from a core academic subject (English, foreign language, history/social studies, mathematics or science; the pages do not require a science teacher); an optional Mount Holyoke writing supplement, optional test scores and an optional art supplement; and a midyear report by 15 February for Regular Decision (the application is not complete without it). Early Decision applicants sign an Early Decision Agreement.
• Interviews: evaluative interviews are not part of the review; you can sign up for a non-evaluative MHChat with a current student. A table in the international FAQ says interviews are optional with dates of 26 November, 5 January and 25 January; the two pages differ, so confirm with the Office of Admission.
• Testing: test-optional (SAT/ACT). All entering first-year students who have taken standardized tests are asked to send official scores for the College’s research: Early Decision students in January (ED I) or February (ED II), Regular Decision enrolling students in May, and anyone who did not submit during the application by 1 August at the latest. Self-reported scores should not be superscored. Home-schooled applicants who studied only through self-study or an online curriculum must submit the SAT or ACT.

6. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026-27): tuition USD 71,178, housing USD 10,836, food USD 10,760 and student activity fee USD 272, a total of USD 93,046; the page also estimates books and supplies at USD 1,000, travel USD 0–1,500 and personal expenses USD 1,000. The pages do not distinguish in-state from out-of-state. All students must have health insurance; US citizens and permanent residents may waive the College plan if their own meets Massachusetts requirements. The standard for fall 2027 entry is not published on the pages read; see the College’s website when it appears.
• Need-based aid: submit the CSS Profile and the FAFSA (US citizens and eligible non-citizens), with parental tax returns or income verification, by the deadline for your round. The College says it meets the demonstrated need of admitted students. Under the Mount Holyoke Commitment, students from US families with household incomes of USD 150,000 or less do not pay tuition; families above that should still apply. The page reports that over 82% of aid applicants receive grant aid and the average first-year package is USD 53,200.
• Scholarships: every first-year applicant is automatically considered, with no extra form: 21st Century Scholars (about 25 a year), the Chin Scholars full-tuition award (two a year), the Posse Scholarship, and the Leadership Award for US citizens.
• In-state preference or guaranteed admission: not described on the pages read.

7. International applicants

• Who counts: anyone who is not a US citizen or permanent resident and does not hold US refugee or DACA status. First-year applications are reviewed according to the country where you are educated.
• English proficiency: non-native speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Academic English, Duolingo or PTE Academic. Apart from Cambridge qualifications (C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency, 185 minimum), there is no minimum score; the page lists averages: TOEFL iBT 100, or 5.5 for exams taken on or after 21 January 2026; IELTS over 7.0; Duolingo over 130; PTE over 68. The international admission page gives an average TOEFL of 105 for admitted students. TOEFL code 3529. Scores can be self-reported by uploading a PDF; official scores are needed before enrolling; with several results the Committee usually emphasises the test date with the highest composite; MyBest Scores is not accepted. Scores must arrive by the round deadline (15 November, 5 January, 15 January) according to the English-requirements page; the international FAQ table gives 26 November for ED I English scores. The two pages differ; confirm with the Office of Admission.
• Waivers: considered for students who have attended high school in the US since 9th grade, or since 9th grade in a school outside the US where English is the primary language of instruction (bilingual schools do not qualify); other circumstances can be explained. The College does not waive the requirement based on SAT or ACT scores. A waiver form is submitted through the applicant portal; replies take 7–10 business days and approval is not guaranteed.
• Materials: in addition to the items in section 5, non-US citizens not seeking need-based aid submit the International Financial Declaration (IFD); those seeking aid submit the CSS Profile and parental tax returns or income verification. Documents not in English need professional translations; transcripts, test and English results are expected as official documents; students in national curricula or programs such as IGCSE with external assessments must submit those results.
• Agents: the College says an agent is unnecessary, may deny an application if part of it was completed by someone other than the applicant, requires the applicant’s own contact information on the Common or Coalition Application, and does not communicate with agents.
• Aid and scholarships: international students can receive need-based aid (a combination of grants, loans and campus work). You must apply for it with your admission application; once admitted it is too late to start, and need-based aid is awarded for four years. The page reports that 45% of incoming international students receive need-based aid (average USD 58,686) or merit scholarships (average USD 17,500). The Global Perspectives Award is for non-US citizens; all applicants are automatically considered. International students are over 20% of the student body.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages read do not mention the Chinese gaokao or how it would be used; this is not published, so ask the Office of Admission (admission@mtholyoke.edu).
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: no China-specific requirements are published on the pages read. General rules: non-English transcripts and recommendations need professional translations, and students in national curricula submit external exam results (the page’s example is IGCSE, not a Chinese exam); ask the Office of Admission how this applies to Chinese high-school records.
• English results: see section 7.
• International curricula: AP, IB and A-Level students can use the credit rules in section 3.

9. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 6. The tuition page also notes the College health insurance is required for all international students and cannot be waived, and lists a student visa item under non-billed costs.
• Departmental awards: the pages read list no scholarships specific to the chemistry department; ask the department about research support.
• Outcomes: the chemistry program page prints no employment or graduate-study data for chemistry majors. The admissions page says 92% of 2025 graduates for whom outcomes data could be obtained (70% of the class) were employed and/or in graduate school within six months; that figure is college-wide, not for chemistry.

10. Transfer students

• Eligibility: graduated from high school and earned between 16 and 64 transferable college credits; about 50 transfer students enrol each year. Applicants over 25, veterans and those with a dependent other than a spouse apply as Frances Perkins Scholars.
• Deadlines: spring entrance 1 November (notification early December); fall entrance 15 March (notification mid-April). The page shows no year; check that it applies to fall 2027.
• Materials: the Common Application for Transfers with a personal essay and a “Why are you considering Mount Holyoke College?” essay; official high-school and all college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are not accepted); two recommendations, at least one from an academic instructor; a midyear report for those currently in college; English proficiency results for non-native speakers; and the IFD for non-US citizens. Financial-aid documents are submitted with the application. The pages read set no GPA or prerequisite-course requirement for entering the chemistry major.
• Transfer credit: no more than 64 credits in total for external work, of which at most 32 for advanced-placement-type work; credit is generally given for liberal arts courses with C- or better; math courses below Calculus I (such as pre-calculus or algebra) earn no credit; semester credits transfer one for one and quarter credits convert at 0.66; transferred grades do not enter the Mount Holyoke GPA. To count a course toward a major, the policy page says you should also seek pre-approval from the department. Transfer students must complete at least four semesters and 64 credits at Mount Holyoke (including Five College interchange credits).

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED I 15 November; ED II 5 January; Regular Decision 15 January; free to apply; two teacher recommendations (one core academic); test-optional
• Need-based aid: CSS Profile and FAFSA by the deadline for your round

International applicants (including China):

• TOEFL (average 100, or 5.5 on the new scale), IELTS (average above 7.0), Duolingo (above 130) and others, no minimum score, or request a waiver; IFD or CSS Profile
• Gaokao use is not published; ask the Office of Admission

After entry:

• Begin with CHEM-150 (or CHEM-160); plan MATH-101, 102 and 203; declare the major by the eighth week of the second semester of sophomore year; for ACS certification, plan physics, a biological chemistry course, a materials course and at least one semester of independent research

Transfer students:

• 1 November (spring) or 15 March (fall); 16–64 transferable credits; pre-calculus does not transfer

Sources: Mount Holyoke College, Chemistry program page; Chemistry research; Department of Chemistry; Biochemistry program page; Degrees and graduation requirements; Application process; Application deadlines; Standardized testing policies; International admission; English proficiency requirements; International admission FAQ; Transfer admission; Transfer and advanced placement credit policy; Tuition and fees; Financial aid; Merit scholarships. The dates on the admissions pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry and see the College’s website for the latest.