All Girls Schools

<p>bumpity bump bump</p>

<p>I could talk about my college for years. I chose Mount Holyoke by chance, really. It was where I felt at home. Women’s colleges aren’t for everyone, so I wouldn’t <em>just</em> look at them unless you are sure that is how you want your college career to be. I find it easy to have a coed social scene at MHC because of the 5C.</p>

<p>I went to Smith for my first year of college and absoluely loved everything about it. However, I ended up transfering to be closer to my boyfriend (who I eventually married). To make a long story short, it is my one regret in life that I didn’t stay there. The college is wonderful and the town of Northampton is your classic college town. I would definitely recommend that you visit Smith. </p>

<p>Also, I ended up transfering to another women’s college in PA called Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. This is a quality school with top-rate programs. I graduate with a BS in genetic engineering technology in 1986 and Cedar Crest was one of the first colleges in the country to offer that major. Since then, they have added several innovative majors that are not found at schools of comparable size. Both my older sister and I graduated from CCC and we really loved our time there. Cedar Crest is always highly rated by US News and Wolrd Report.</p>

<p>As for not having guys on campus, well, I don’t really think you’ll miss them. At both Smith and Cedar Crest, as well as other women’s colleges, there are enough co-ed colleges close by to provide plenty of contact with the male gender. Why so many young women think it’s necessary to have guys around 24/7 to have a fulfilling college experience is beyond me.</p>

<p>Our daughter is a first year at Smith. She loves the school. It seems to have a very good balance between a challenging curriculum and a supportive environment. I attended Cornell Univ and while I had a very good experience there, I am struck by how much more supportive Smith is. For example, after our daughter had a very small solo in one of the concerts, her math professor e-mailed her, congratulating her on her solo. As the year is ending, all the various departments are hosting lunches with students in each department. I don’t recall ever having a meal with any professor at Cornell. At the end of each year every house has a senior night in which Smith gives the graduating seniors $ to buy take-out. The first years wait on the seniors, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students put on humorous skits about the various graduating seniors.</p>

<p>i just love all these traditions i keep hearing about…
it really makes me fall in love with these colleges</p>

<p>My daughter had a wonderful experience at Barnard. I know there isn’t a college in the country she would prefer.</p>

<p>Disclosure: NYC played a significant part in her education. </p>

<p>Barnard is very academically intense (as are all the women’s colleges I believe.)</p>

<p>She has just completed a senior thesis on the Montana Vigilantes exploring lynching and vigilante “justice”. She just learned so much.</p>

<p>And yes, she did date. With Columbia guys and others, too.</p>

<p>Rocket, do drop by the Smith forum (under “Top Liberal Arts Colleges” and ask any Smith-specific questions.) My D graduated last May and had a spectacular experience and the ripples from that experience keep coming. </p>

<p>When D was in high school, the biases of both TheMom and myself were towards large research universities and while I saw Smith/Wellesley/Barnard on D’s initial universe of 70 or so “possible colleges” (compiled the summer between 8th & 9th grades), I snorted to myself over the possibility that she would attend one. It was almost morbidly fascinating for me to see how they hung on the list as others were pared away for one reason or another and eventually I found myself in the position of the skeptic who came to the church to scoff and stayed to pray.</p>

<p>My thumbnail for Smith students is “bright and quirky.” And if they’re not assertive when they go in, they often are when they come out. (I’m still bemused that my introvert D became president of one of the student activities organizations…one of the smaller ones, but still…)</p>

<p>You have to work harder, sometimes much harder, to have relationships with men but as one Smithie said, “This way they’re around when I want them, out of my hair when I don’t.” The intellectual environment at Smith is incredible…discussion is not limited to the classroom but resembles nothing so much as multiple floating craps games.</p>

<p>The D of some good friends went to Mills. Not impressed and she transferred to UC Riverside. The writing program had a majority of non-traditional (older) students and the campus emptied out on weekends and people didn’t seem committed to studying, ideas, etc. Scripps has a great reputation…it was just waaay too close to home.</p>

<p>Many years ago, I attended one of the lesser known all women’s colleges, but it was located in Boston, probably the greatest college town in America. I had the most fabulous experience there and made and kept the most fantastic friendships. Some of my classmates as well as other women from surrounding classes are extraordinarily accomplished people, leaders in all areas of this country. If you keep an open mind, you may find that one of these schools is exactly what you are looking for. The motto was, “Not a girls school without men, a women’s college without boys.” ;)</p>

<p>^^i love the motto!!!
i just can’t say thank you enough, especially to TheDad
i will be sure to show your experiences to MY dad</p>

<p>I went to Douglass College, part of Rutgers here in NJ, in the early '70s. It was great for me. I was social and all in HS, but I went through it getting those negative marks, “does not participate in class discussion”, because I was intimidated by the guys. At Douglass I was never intimidated. We had RC guys in our classes once in a while and they were generally blown away by the women. I do not think I would have gone on to law school and had the career I have had without the solid foundation Douglass gave me. The college as I knew it is gone. I would definitely go for Smith if I had the choice today.</p>

<p>i hate to do this
but bump</p>

<p>please feel free to keep bumping - my 2010 D has many of these schools on her list and this thread has been helpful to both of us. (I’m the dad)</p>

<p>I graduated from Smith in 2006 and had a great experience: the freedom to explore a lot of different academic areas (never expected to take Latin, acting, kayaking, or a bunch of religion classes!); some wonderful friends; and a lot more social awareness, confidence, and poise. Women’s colleges definitely aren’t for everyone (I tried to convince my sister to look at them but she said “I want warm weather and boys!”) but Smith definitely helped me along the path of becoming who I want to be.</p>

<p>scualum…imma keep bumping it
every time i do, i get more great responses</p>

<p>hi where did you stay when you visit Smith, my D is joining in the fall and i wonder what you recommend. I good place with a reasonable price - also what house does your D recommend. Our D got a STRIDE schol and definitely wants to excel but also wants to focu on her music and other ECs. I need ALL the advise from all Smithies mom’s!!
e.g. what computer did you buy, from the campus store or otherwise,
did you buy dorm things from northampton itself or ship them all the way
what are your tips for me, and from your D to our D? THANKS!</p>

<p>Musicbuff,
When I was at Smith with my D, I stayed at the Hampton Inn across the river in S. Hadley. Before student orientation, we flew in to Bradley, rented a car, and camped out at the hotel for two days before D could move in. The Hampton is clean, quiet, and they have internet and provide a free breakfast. It’s about a 5 minute drive from the campus. D packed only her clothes and personal items from home (including computer). Before we left for college, she made a list, and then when we got to Northampton, we spent a day at the local Target and the dreaded Walmart picking out her bedding, room stuff (mini-refrigerator, fan, clock, power and internet cords, lamps, etc.) and school supplies. This was just so much easier than shipping it all from home; the local stores were stocked well because of many students in the area. Also, it was a bit easier to get stuff once we had actually seen the room. For example, D’s room had great windows, but no additional lighting besides some ancient fluorescent desk lights. We knew that she would absolutely need more light. </p>

<p>We chose not to buy a new computer because D’s worked perfectly well. She had only to remove her virus protection system, and use Smith’s to get on their system. She did end up buying an inexpensive printer from one of the local stores–Office Depot?–don’t remember. D did say that she envied the Mac’s that the college program offered. Her friends who bought them from the college program were quite happy.</p>

<p>Your daughter will have the opportunity to join a Facebook group with her class and members of her house. I know my daughter found it very helpful to correspond with her future housemates and even her roomie before she got to school. The college will also send you housing information ahead of time with a room number. You will be able to look up the room location online.</p>

<p>For sheer convenience to Smith, you can’t beat the Autumn Inn.</p>

<p>Whups…I’m not a Smithie mom…never mind.</p>

<p>Both of my D’s applied to and were accepted at several women’s colleges. They both ended up chosing not to attend any of them for a variety of different reasons. However all 3 of us agree that women’s colleges provide an excellent education and empower young women to believe in themselves and feel that they can achieve anything. I think that philosophy sets them apart from coed schools. The alum connection is also very strong at all of them. Smith and Mt Holyoke are both generous with money. I would suggest to you to apply to ALL the ones you like. You may be very surprised with the money they offer. We certainly were.</p>

<p>Our D graduated from Smith last spring and is now working on her PhD at Princeton. She got a large merit scholarship at Smith and good financial aid. She got a great education, opportunities to do original research and spent her junior year in Italy studying in Italian.
It was an excellent school for her. </p>

<p>She does not play softball and rarely wears flannel.</p>

<p>i enjoy the need to dispell the softball and flannel myth.
it makes me giggle</p>