<p>Helping my D through the maze of applying to colleges has really solidified that I want to do what I didn't get to do in 1987, and go away to college myself. (Short version: my father refused to fill out the FAFSA, I couldn't get any aid, so I had to give up my dream to go away to school and go to a commuter school, that I paid for my own damn self...until I got pregnant at 18, and had to drop out.)</p>
<p>I've been taking classes at the community college level for the past couple of years. I have a 3.85 GPA, and designs to transfer to a 4 year college to get a degree in music education. The classes aren't hard, but it's a tough slog. I have a full-time office job and a part-time singing gig, and a husband and 2 kids, and it's hard to find the time to take more than 1 class per semester. Last semester I only managed to take one course, and it was just a 1 credit course, 90 minutes a week. At my current rate, I will have my AS in 4 or 5 years. Finding the time to manage everything is so hard, and when things go awry, the easy thing to do is not sign up for class.</p>
<p>Smith is one of D's top choices, and when I visited the website, I found out about their program for non-traditional students, the Ada Comstock Scholar. I am seriously considering applying for the program. Do any current Smith students have any words of wisdom for me? Are their any Adas on the board who could provide some first-hand knowledge?</p>
<p>My D has had Ada's in her classes and thinks they're great.
I don't know that Smith has a music education degree...it's something you might need to cobble together via the Five College Consortium under Smith auspices.</p>
<p>Pot stirrers? On DailyJolt? What a mild designation.</p>
<p>My mom is basically in the same boat you are (she cam here when she was 16, went to HS for 2 years and then took a few courses at the local CC) and I work with a lot of women who didn't have the chance to go. Congrats for taking on this challenge! I'm not a Smith student so I can't offer you any advice but go for it and apply! It's a great opportunity. I know you aren't sure but you can do research now and decide which path to take later--an acceptance keeps both paths open but if you don't apply, you'll never know. Good luck!</p>
<p>As I recall, when my daughter started Smith there was a mother that was an Ada and her daughter was a traditional student. It seemed to work for them. Go for it, but I recommend talking with your daughter first.
Ellen</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. The husband was incredibly supportive when I mentioned it to him, the D was as long as I don't go at the same time as her. Smith is her first choice for American colleges, but she really is hoping to go overseas to Ireland, so we'll see what happens. </p>
<p>I was asking some friends of mine for their input, and one of my friends said she didn't have to imagine it, her mother DID go to college with her, which she said was very frustrating at a time she wanted to spread her wings and fly. I don't want to do that to D. Even if D ends up going to Ireland (or WPI, or one of her other choices), it will probably be a year before I'll be ready to make that kind of huge change, but I feel good having a plan in place, even if I don't implement it for a few more years.</p>
<p>I believe that you can't be an Ada until you've finished your associate's degree. So it seems like you could go to Smith after your daughter graduated (or maybe start when she was on junior year abroad, and just have one year together there when she'd be a senior).</p>
<p>Also, Mt. Holyoke has a similar program (Frances Perkins Scholars) and I think Wellesley does too, if you want a broader range of places to apply...</p>
<p>"I believe that you can't be an Ada until you've finished your associate's degree."</p>
<p>You’re required to have a minimum of 32 transferable credits. Most people don’t realize you’re also required to have a dependent other than a spouse. The program is geared toward single mothers.</p>
<p>I am fairly close to 32 credits, and I have a 9 year old, so I meet the qualifications (or will after another semester or so at community college).</p>
<p>Adas are NOT required to have a dependent other than a spouse. It's one of the things that bumps under-24s to Ada status. I know at least one young Ada who is not a mother.</p>
<p>"Adas are NOT required to have a dependent other than a spouse. It's one of the things that bumps under-24s to Ada statues</p>
<p>Sorry. Please inform admission they're wrong and need to change their webpage. ;)
According to them you must be <em>age 24 or older</em> or a veteran and have a dependent. </p>
<p>"In order to apply as an Ada, a woman must:
be age 24 or older or
be a veteran or
have a dependent other than a spouse
have a minimum of 32 transferable college credits in liberal arts courses. (50 is average for an admitted student.) For information about transfer credit, you can download a copy of "Credit Information for Ada Comstock"</p>
<p>"I know at least one young Ada who is not a mother"</p>
<p>If we're talking about the same person, she is older than the typical student, but I'm not sure she is technically designated as an Ada. Could be wrong. ;)</p>
<p>"Though, I don't know how not having a child bumps women under- 24s to Ada status, unless you’re a veteran"</p>
<p>Adas have don't have to take a full load of classes, so it's a way for them to give younger women who can't meet the requirements because of children options.</p>
<p>"Adas have don't have to take a full load of classes, so it's a way for them to give younger women who can't meet the requirements because of children options"</p>
<p>I realize an Ada can take a limited number of courses. But how does that help a woman become an Ada that doesn’t have a dependent and is under 24? I don’t see anything in the requirements that allow a woman under 24 become an Ada without a dependent, unless she is a Vet.</p>
<p>My use of the word "it's" referred to the ability of a woman, under 24 years of age, to become an Ada Comstock Scholar due to her dependent. I'm sorry I wasn't very clear about that.</p>
<p>As pointed out, any woman can become an Ada Comstock Scholar provided that she is at least 24 years of age, regardless of any other circumstance.</p>
<p>Ah. Unclear. If women under 24 have a child, they'd probably have trouble meeting schedule requirements for being a Smithie, 'cause they're required to take certain numbers of credits. Allowing them to change their status to "ada" lets them have options for their education.</p>
<p>Hi Irishmomof2, I'm a current ADA student and if you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.</p>
<p>One thing I'd like to mention about the entrance requirements for the program is that it isn't necessarily better to have a lot of credits when you start here. Ada students are limited to earning 128 credits maximum -- after that you're done. Depending on what you want to do, having a lot of credits when you transfer can really limit your options. For instance, I am going abroad for all of next year and that wouldn't have been possible if I'd tranferred more credits. </p>
<p>Although the admissions site says you need to have 32 credits, that is more a guideline than an absolute requirement. I only had 24 credits that were eligible for transfer credit. One thing that I do think is important is that at least some of your credits are recent and that you did well with your most recent work.</p>
<p>laureldj - I have 28 credits after my most recent semester, with a 3.92 GPA (stupid A- in piano!). I would like to get all my math classes out of the way at the community college level, because I've always really struggled with math and I don't want to have a full load of classes while I'm taking them, so I can focus on just that class. Plus we're thinking about moving up to the Northampton area, and it will take time for us to get ready to sell our house and buy something else. </p>