Nestled among the trees and lakes of South Hadley, Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College is truly a realm of its own. In fact, Mount Holyoke is so distinct that it is largely indescribable to people who do not go to there. But never fear—these five songs give listeners a preview of what it feels like for Mount Holyoke students to arrive on and eventually live in what sometimes resembles an alternative, matriarchal universe. One by one, these songs detail the process of stepping on campus for the first time and gradually discovering the characteristics that make MoHome such an unforgettable place.

Despite the fact that this song names a city that could not differ more from Mount Holyoke’s rural environment, it still might as well be called "Welcome to MoHome” because of its awestruck lyrics. Indeed, the line “it's a new soundtrack / I could dance to this beat / forevermore” resembles the early days of wide-eyed firstiehood and witnessing amazing sights, such as Jorge and Dessert Dilemma at Prospect, and thinking, “I could get used to this.” Additionally, the verse “Everybody here wanted something more / searching for a sound we never heard before” echoes the mindset of students who enter Mount Holyoke with the hope of discovering a passion that will not only pay the bills, but more importantly, change the world.

Speaking of the world, the international student population at Mount Holyoke is impressive for a small liberal arts college in New England, which is why this catchy Pitbull and Chris Brown jam makes the cut. Immediately upon entry into Mount Holyoke, students are fortunate enough to make friends with peers from different countries—an experience many of them may have been unable to access during high school. Through these bonds students not only gain a friend for life, but also the opportunity to learn about a different culture, and maybe even the chance to visit another country. With not only their sheer number on campus, but also their impact, Mount Holyoke has plenty of love for its international students—just not the creepy and objectifying love that Pitbull and Chris Brown sing about here.

Whether international or domestic, students at Mount Holyoke will ultimately find people who will support them unconditionally. After all, friends are the family one chooses, and this principle applies especially during college, when family can no longer serve as a constant physical presence through the thick and thin. This song, which is actually incredibly sweet despite its militant title, captures the emphasis Mount Holyoke students place on their friendships. Whether after erupting in laughter at Blanchard or sharing a heart-to-heart moment in a common room, reassuring moments such as these reflect one of the song’s most confessional lyrics about friendship: “I'm alright on my own, but with them I'm much better.”

Friends at Mount Holyoke not only provide each other with love and support, but also with motivation to accomplish their goals. No better song captures this drive other than this Beyoncé number, which determinedly states, “Okay ladies now let's get in formation,” a line which evokes power, but also education, since one can also interpret the “in formation” as “information.” As determined Mount Holyoke students work toward success, the entire campus essentially embodies the motto of, “I see it, I work hard, I grind ‘til I own it.”

Of course, Mount Holyoke is not 100% Beyoncé effortlessness. Attaining these goals requires work—a lot of it. Which is why this song, with its constant repetition of the word “work,” provides the perfect backdrop to shots of Mount Holyoke students in the library, dorms, or wherever they can settle down and tackle an assignment. While this song is not actually about academic work, the lyrics certainly resonate with Mount Holyoke students who wish they could persuade their professors to lighten their homework loads: “I hope that it gets to you / I hope that you see this through...please recognize / I'm trying, babe.” Hopefully no one calls a professor “babe,” but the desperation of that line still stands.

The primary reason behind this professor-begging is exhaustion. Students at Mount Holyoke are all perfectionists to some degree, and strive to never miss an assignment or submit incomplete work. But often, to work to one’s fullest means to literally get no sleep or sustenance. Similar to the plea in this song’s chorus, Mount Holyoke students sometimes work themselves too hard, and must remind themselves and the people around them that at the end of the day, they are simply “only human.”

Yet do not lose faith—while Mount Holyoke is certainly not easy in terms of academics, the people on campus, from friends to faculty and staff, make sure everyone stays driven, but also calm and confident. With its chorus of, “We are, we are going to be alright / “Cause we got, we got, we always got the fight in us,” this song serves as a reminder of this integral part of Mount Holyoke and its incomparable community.

These songs add up to an incredibly eclectic mix, much like Mount Holyoke itself. At the end of the day, no one song, image, or idea can fully some up an institution that is in a league of its own. But hopefully at least one of these tracks resonate with Mount Holyoke students as they move back to campus for a fresh, new, and rewarding year.