<p>I’ll be visiting Smith College Jan. 27-29 for an admissions interview. While I’m there, I aim to learn more about the Picker Engineering program in addition to studying and living at Smith. </p>
<p>If anyone could provide some insight to any of my following points, I’d thankful for it.</p>
<li><p>Are there any classes that you’d recommend I sit in on? Any specifically for a prospective engineering student?</p></li>
<li><p>I’m flying from Texas to Bradley Airport with my mother and plan to stay at Hotel Northampton. For getting to and around Smith I’m trying to decide whether it would be best to use to Valley Transporter or to rent a car. I realize with a shuttle service I’d have to walk to any destination after my arrival to NoHo. Is that even a feasible option given the weather? (I don’t really have a realistic idea of what 20F climate entails considering I’m still walking around in just a t-shirt and jeans.) Would limiting myself to within walking range of Smith significantly diminish the experience of my visit? My concerns with renting a car would be possibly having to drive in inclement weather with no experience and parking hassles.</p></li>
<li><p>I’d appreciate any additional advice on how to make the most of my visit and/or how to best get a feel for Smith. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I used to work at Smith and still live around the corner from campus. I can give you lots of info about making the most of your visit, dealing with the transportation issue, where to stay, eat, etc. Contact me via Private Message if you want to exchange e-mail addresses and perhaps phone numbers, since I can talk a lot faster than I can type. :)</p>
<p>With the right clothes, walking from Hotel Northampton to Smith will be easy (cold, but it's not a bad walk -- 10 minutes at the most). You don't need a car unless you plan to leave Northampton, and then only if you're off the bus route. (If you decide to stop and visit Amherst/Mount Holyoke/etc, you wouldn't need a car.) Parking in Northampton and on campus can sometimes be difficult. I'd take the shuttle, but I'm from PA and I'm used to cold winter weather.</p>
<p>I, unfortunately, don't have a lot of experience with the engineering program, but Judy Cardell (an engineering prof) taught the lab of one of my computer science classes and she was pretty cool. I think the week you're going is also the first week of classes, so keep that in mind. Some profs teach on the first day. Others don't and just go over the course syllabus.</p>
<p>Good luck! I really wanted my sister to be a Smith engineer, but she decided to go to school in the Midwest.</p>
<p>You don't need a car if you're staying at the Hotel Northampton, but if you're coming in January you will need a warm coat, preferably something wool or possibly down. You'll also need a hat, gloves, a pair of boots, and if you're going to wear t-shirts make sure you bring enough to layer. </p>
<p>Still, it won't be worth it to rent a car. Valley Transporter or Seemo Shuttle (I've had great experiences with them as well) can get you to and from the airport much more quickly and safely. Plus, parking will be difficult, and Hotel Northampton is right in town anyway. </p>
<p>For visiting classes, I reccommend looking up engineering classes on the course catalog before you come so you know what time and day they meet. I often have students who arrive just expecting to see classes only to find out that the ones they wanted to see have already met for that week, or that day. </p>
<p>As for making the most of your visit, be sure to get a student-led tour and to visit the art museum, which is the second best in the country. Go to Herrell's for ice cream, Faces for shopping, and Viva Fresh pasta for dinner (I recommend the sweet potatoe ravioli in maple walnut sauce). Maybe attend a concert or a sporting event on campus, or just spend some time having coffee in the Campus Center cafe. Northampton has a lot to offer and so does Smith. </p>
<p>I just looked up the class schedules, and I'd recommend you sit in on EGR 100. You'd be taking it in the fall instead of spring, but the class is roughly the same, and the current professor is the department chair (Linda E. Jones).</p>
<p>If you have an offer of assistance from Sally Rubenstone, I strongly suggest you take her up on it. I did and I have a friend for life (I hope), albeit one I won't see that often. Her advice was very helpful, very steadying back in the days when I was climbing the walls about the whole process in general and Smith in particular.</p>
<p>What others said about a car in NoHo: parking is a pain. We did rent a car but we parked it where we were staying (Autumn Inn) and then walked virtually everywhere. If you drive in NoHo, don't miss a display of the Northampton Synchronized Crosswalk Team...in fact, you probably <em>can't</em> miss it even if you want to.</p>
<p>If it wouldn't be too much of a hassle for you, blue bear, after you visit, could you please follow up on what you learned of the Picker Engineering Program?</p>
<p>I am also a prospective student and one of the main reasons I want to attend Smith is for their engineering program. Thankss (:</p>
<p>I think it's more like one of those intramural things you can join on the spur of the moment...an activity that Smithies and townies alike can participate in together.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for your help and advice! It seems indicative of how great the Smith community is that it could foster this passionate and helpful online community.</p>
<p>Sally_Rubenstone: Thanks for the offer. I'll PM my info to you. Can't wait to talk to you.</p>
<p>smithiegr: I unfortunately scheduled my interview to coincide with EGR100. I've been debating whether I should trouble the admissions office with a request to reschedule the interview to later in the day. However, since you recommended the class, I'll call and cross my fingers. For now though, I have arranged to sit in on Engineering & Global Development. </p>
<p>hlee8956: I'd be more than happy to share what I learn with you. If you have any specific questions you want me to hunt down answers to while I'm there let me know. Meanwhile, I don't know if you've explored this yet, but here's an interview with the program director: Smith</a> College: The Future of Smith. More than any other Smith publication, this interview really gave me a sense of what Smith Engineering is about. </p>
<p>And about the crosswalk team, I really would've looked for it too. If you came to my suburb you would probably see a group that appears to be a hybrid between a marching band and an Olympic racewalking team traversing the crosswalks and waterway. Throwing in the team of cyclists on the shoulder of the roads makes driving our streets on a weekend morning a colorful parade of neon jerseys.</p>
<p>Don't worry too much if scheduling doesn't work out. I know the professor who is teaching EGR & Global Development, and she's fabulous. She'll be able to answer your questions, etc., and she could introduce you to other faculty members.</p>