<p>We just got back from doing the rounds at the Five College Consortium in Western Massachusetts and we're in love. - Both girls(twins - but they aren't looking to go to school together)) liked Hampshire and Holyoke, but they both balked at Smith. Somehow they felt an negative "vibe" - didn't see "interesting people", felt it was somewhat rigid and uptight. I've had a number of Smith grads my age tell me how much they loved it and that it wasn't like that, but I'm curious. I know both my girls could get a great education there, but I worry about the white, trust fund crowd(I went to a college where that was prevalent, and it was very uncomfortable for me. I'd love other points of view.</p>
<p>Holyoke was amazing - one of my twin girls just seemed to take a sigh of relief when we stepped on campus. Maybe it was the joy of Pangy Day and the sun, but she seemed just as happy at the info session,in the dorms, and in the classrooms as she did outside. She's smitten, and I can tell that it is the best fit of anywhere we've been. Holyoke folks - any tips on getting in other than the obvious? Should she be in constant contact(i know some schools prefer this)? She attends a public high school(school has a good rep), she takes all honors and some AP (the school workload is high and they encourage the students not to take too many APs), enjoys poetry, literature, and darkroom photography. Her unweighed GPA is about 3.7, she has participated in the school literary magazine and the Gay-Straight Alliance all her high school years, and is participating in the Leos Service Club this year and next. She has been inducted into National Honor Society, and has participated in the Art Honor Society for 2 years so far (and will next year as well). Does this make her an attractive candidate? She doesn't play a sport or an instrument, and she hasn't been an officer in anything. She's a hard worker, a quiet but strong individual, and loves to learn and think. Does she have a good chance of getting in? I'm terrified of a broken heart in her case as I could see clearly that this school has won her over.</p>
<p>Sorry for being a neurotic mom - I know that ultimately they are the ones who have to go through the admissions process and I have to sit on the sidelines and let it go, but advice is always helpful! </p>
<p>Your kids’ impression of Smith is surprising to me because I think of it as one of the least rigid and least uptight places I’ve been. If anything, some people find it too much so. I’m not sure I’ve met a student there who looked like she fit into the “white trust fund” crowd. Most of my daughter’s friends generally wear t-shirts and jeans, or something interesting and arty. The vibe I’ve seen has been studious/nerdy/arty, irreverent, and socially active. For example, there’s an a cappella group called “Crapapella” for students who want to sing in public but who can’t actually sing; they perform right along with the groups who can sing and get wild cheers. Students wear homemade costumes to the Opening Convocation the day before classes start. The varsity swim team calls themselves the Wild Bunch (and has a large picture of bananas mounted next to the pool) and the club fencing team calls themselves Hell’s Belles (but nonetheless has an annual homemade fudge sale for fundraising). Students organize and run a sci-fi/fantasy/anime/gaming convention (ConBust) every spring. There’s an active Quidditch team. The music library has four loaner ukuleles and there is an active ukulele club. And so on. </p>
<p>@twinsgirlsmom My daughter has the same reaction when she first visited MHC during her sophomore year! She was like, “this is the place!” Happily, that first impression has only been reinforced by the many other visits we’ve had there, and -even more happily- most recently at her Accepted Students overnight. 
It’s such a terrific, welcoming community of passionate and engaged young women: what could be better than that?</p>
<p>I will say that I’m a little surprised by the Smith takeaway. Hmm, well now that I think back some more, maybe not. I’m remembering OUR first Smith visit and my D was not terribly impressed. There were not many students around so it just felt ho-hum. However, she did a senior fall overnight and after that Smith was back in her top three. She definitely felt there was good diversity and engagement/passion, which were important to her. And the house system is nice.</p>
<p>It sure sounds to me like your D is a good MHC candidate! What are her SAT scores like? If it helps, I was really worried that my D wouldn’t get in, too. Her stats looked weak on paper: 3.46 GPA (but with explanation of extenuating circumstances that brought her GPA down), a bit over half her HS classes were honors or IB, 2100 SAT; 790, 720 SAT2s, not terribly amazing school-related ECs but a lot of cool stuff on her own time (including darkroom photography!) Excellent recs from teachers. She’s an extremely creative, intellectually curious learner and she overcame a difficult situation during high school which probably showed strength and perseverance… I really get the sense that sort of student is what they’re looking for. Passionate, engaged, thinking on her own… from your description it sounds like your D would fit right in And really, “fit” is so important and I’ll bet when your daughter interviews and writes her essays, her love of the school will be obvious. I wish you well, and hopefully my D will meet yours on campus in 2015!</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll say upfront that I’m a MHC alum, but from so long ago that I don’t have a lot advice for current applicants. I do believe that when a school and a kid are great fits for each other, it usually works out.</p>
<p>My D and I visited Smith a couple of years ago at a fall open house for HS students, and I was surprised by the vibe, which seemed less artsy and more pre-professional compared to the Smith I remembered from my college days. The speakers kept using expressions like “driven to success” to describe Smith students. Since that doesn’t really describe my D, she wasn’t drawn to the college. But visiting Smith and MHC that weekend did convince her that women’s colleges have a lot to offer, and she did ultimately end up at one.</p>
<p>THought I should follow up - we are anxiously (read as not sleeping mood swing crazy nutty kid anxious) awaiting the ED news from MHC, but I have to say that one of my girls wanted to visit Smith again, and the second visit was 180 degrees different. She left deciding it was her second choice! I honestly think we did better visiting individually. The first visit was during a day long parent child event, and they sold it SO hard to the parents, but I think it turned off the kids. The second visit we were there on a parents weekend - families were out, students were out and about, we visited the botanic garden and my girl had an interview and another tour. She’s now sold on MHS and Smith - now we just need to have her get in - her apps are in, the rest is out of our hands. :-)</p>