<p>Engineering is demanding, no matter what. You shouldn't decide whether to study a discipline based on the amount of work you'll have to do. Do it because you love it and want to excel at it.</p>
<p>Given that Swat is known for its heavy workload (kinda like the "fun comes to die" of UChicago), I think you'll have to make your decision based on what kind of campus you want. Both are small LACs, but the difference between Philadelphia suburbs and New England is significant. Likewise, the all-women's college v. co-ed issue is an important one.</p>
<p>I should probably clarify a little. The reason I'm afraid of sleeping in the engineering building (besides the fact that it's semi-temporary and probably cold on a New England night) is because I'm not sure I'm into engineering. I don't want to spend all my time doing work I don't want to do and don't enjoy. I can't wait to do college-level work in general though. </p>
<p>TheDad's point is well-taken, I'm sure Smith would work with me to do anything, a major point in its column.</p>
<p>My problem with choosing based on the campus is that I really have no preference. I can see myself being really happy in either place, and I am neither intimidated by guys nor devoted to them. This is going to be an interesting couple of days.</p>
<p>Dawn Scaparotti is amazing! She spent like two hours with me trying to figure out how to make Smith work for me]]</p>
<p>Im very pleased you had a great experience with Dawn .Heres something to think about: Imagine the same experience for 4 yrs with almost all your advisers and professors, not to mention other mentoring students.</p>
<p>You can all clap now. I'm going to Smith. The more I thought about it, I realized that choosing Smith didn't have to be choosing engineering, and that a feeling of being forced was the only thing wrong with Smith. So, where should I live?</p>
<p>The quad of course. You can join my and Bjm8s daughter and her friend. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, though, there are numerous great options. Where have you visited so far?</p>
<p>btw- Dawn is a Smith alumna and considering she now knows you would be an immense help with housing etc. Don't hesitate to call. I know she was hoping you would make the decision you did even if you decide on another major.</p>
<p>[You can all clap now]]</p>
<p>No clapping. Champagne toast. This is the <em>Smith</em> board. :)</p>
<p>rsquared906...I raise my glass to you, and welcome you to our humble family ;) Congratulations on a great choice. As far as housing is concerned, RLT is correct, the quad has so much to offer; particularly if you're looking for a social life. ;)</p>
<p>Well, my pref would be Elm St. where all the cool kids live. It kind of depends on you, though. Do you want to be so close to your classroom buildings you can literally wake up ten minutes before class and still get there before the prof? Then live on Green St or in a Center Campus house (like Hubbard, Chapin, Washburn, etc). If you want to feel more like you're getting away when you go home (and you don't mind a little extra noise and party time or the ten-fifteen minute walk to class), do the quad. If you want a mix of both worlds, live in one of the Elm street houses. Far enough away to be secluded, but close enough that you don't have to hike. Also Elm street houses are the biggest mix of architectural styles, attitudes, and people.</p>
<p>Welcome to CC Smithieandproud, great post about housing. I read in another thread that you work on the Sophian, as well. I really enjoy reading that when available.</p>
<p>THank you BJM8, I heard about this board from one of my housemates, and I thought I'd check it out. Can't let the parents have all the fun, after all.</p>
<p>I'd also suggest trying to get into a house with a dining hall. There's nothing quite like coming down to breakfast in your pajamas or not having to go outside your house for dinner when it's 6 degrees outside. A lot of people set up to study in the dining halls at night and I frequently go down to grab some rice cakes and fruit. It's just pretty handy to have a dining hall in the house.</p>
<p>Great point laureldj...very valid point. This was definitely an important issue for my D when she selected the quad as her first choice. Having a dining hall is very nice, and as you said, especially during the warm, sunny New England winters. ;)</p>
<p>SmithieandProud, you make Elm Street sound very inviting, though knowing my sleep habits now, perhaps being a stone's throw away from my classes might be preferable. I'm not much of a party person, so I don't think the quad's for me, although I hear King-Scales is pretty sweet (and suite?) living. Besides, I stayed in Wilder for Open Campus and it was a long trek at 2 am, and even longer at 8:30 the next morning. </p>
<p>Is it true that there are some males living in Cutter/Ziskind as grad students. What are those 2 like? (They're my dad's faves due to the architecture, so I said I'd ask about them for him.) </p>
<p>Also, Lower Elm is closer to downtown, right?</p>
<p>[[Is it true that there are some males living in Cutter/Ziskind as grad students. What are those 2 like? (They're my dad's faves due to the architecture, so I said I'd ask about them for him.) ]] </p>
<p>If I make Elm sound inviting, its cause i live there and I love it. Yes, there are a couple of male grad students that live in Cutter/Z (most of the AMS grad students seem to live here), or at least there were last semester. YOU SHOULD LIVE IN CUTTER/Z, cause that's where I live :-) and all the cool kids on campus :-). Of course, it's not the most lovely house on campus (our house sweatshirts say "Embrace the Cube"), but the people are great and we have dining, which is a plus. Once you move in and get used to the boxiness, its one of the most wonderful houses ever, very chill with very little drama, and a lot of the rising sophomores (almost all) are staying for another year despite the less than pleasing decor. But there are lots of more beautiful houses on elm street that are also good, and yes, lower elm is closer to downtown (Albright and Baldwin are just up the street from the adorable and useful Serio's Market/Pharmacy), which is a plus.</p>
<p>hey now sara306, cutter/z = AMAZING and all you haters know it. The quad is awesome, if you're the quad kind of person. I'm not, and it doesn't sound like rsquared is either, so you know, clearly it's all about the Elm</p>