<p>If anyone is going to be at the Admitted Students party in LA on Sunday, I'm likely to be there in my capacity as a "guinea pig Dad" for other parents to talk to. I may run half an hour late if business with a client interferes but otherwise I should be there.</p>
<p>Met a great bunch of admittees today and chatted with several parents. Also on hand were several impressive recent alumni who graduated between 2001 and 2004...what a poised, articulate bunch.</p>
<p>Missed the Dad the hostess wanted me to talk to...the daughter is between Smith and Dartmouth and the Dad is openly hostile to a women's college.</p>
<p>Converted another Dad that the added cost for Smith over UC Berkeley was worth it.</p>
<p>Another girl was weighing Smith vs. Oberlin, Carleton, Middlebury, and Vassar.</p>
<p>Talked to some of the alums for a while after things wound down...came home on a real Smith "high."</p>
<p>The hostess said that this year there were several girls deciding between either Smith/Cornell or Smith/Colgate...both easy choices as far as I'm concerned. Amherst/Swarthmore...now that could be a difficult choice.</p>
<p>I hope they all make the right decision - for themselves. (If they all choose Smith, there'll be a housing crunch! ;))</p>
<p>Well, Mini, from talking to each of these girls, my feeling was that they'd be great additions to the campus, the kind of young women that I'd want my D to have for peers. </p>
<p>But seriously, Smith may have to admit fewer as yield creeps up.</p>
<p>Sad. :( :( :( :( :(</p>
<p>There is a reception for admitted students here in Seattle, but it is being held during the time that I will be in Noho for Discovery Week-end. :-|</p>
<p>Thedad: I hope you won't view this question as being negative, because it isn't intended that way. I'm beginning to wonder though, are you on the Smith payroll or are you just a very enthusiastic parent?</p>
<p>LOL, Laurel. </p>
<p>A very enthusiastic parent. Through D's search/selection process, I became a convert to LAC's from research universities, co-ed to women's colleges. The downside of having an open mind, I guess. The experience she's had there has done nothing to dissuade my enthusiasm.</p>