<p>Smith has been bombarding me with mailings lately, most notably an application to the Women of Distinction Program (free fall visit for minorities). I had crossed Smith off my list, because I'm socially introverted and want to date seriously in college--it is, however, a good academic fit. </p>
<p>So, is Smith worth missing yet another day of school (on top of about 6 other days I plan to miss in the fall) to visit? I know what answer I'm likely to get here, but please back it up with reasoning other than "women's colleges will improve your leadership skills"--I am perfectly confident with being an outspoken leader in a professional setting, though not a casual social setting.</p>
<p>(Side question: How does Smith do with middle-class financial aid, e.g. AGI 80k?)</p>
<p>Because of its status as a women’s college, Smith is a relative “admissions bargain.” A similar school that was co-ed would be much more competitive to get into.</p>
<p>I don’t push the “leadership” chip very hard, though I think it’s true. The academics and the related opportunities (abroad, internships, the CDO, etc. ad nauseam) are what makes me excited about Smith.</p>
<p>To calibrate your opinion, other co-ed schools that I’m very high on: U/Chicago, Swarthmore, Yale, Reed, Carleton.</p>
<p>Hi Keilexandra,
I am about to start at Smith this fall. I had similar concerns about dating in college; like you, I am fairly introverted. However, after visiting Smith, I felt that the community and the opportunities were so great that I could figure out the dating piece later! Right now I am looking into activities that will get me off campus & allow me to interact with members of the opposite sex. I am strongly considering joining the debate team–they have tournaments almost every weekend, and besides the social opportunities, I think that the practice with public speaking and thinking on my feet could be very helpful.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Cygne, I’m also starting in the fall. I remember when I was in your position, receiving letters constantly from Smith, I was so fed up with them, I just applied (even though I had sworn to myself that I would not go for another four years in an all female environment), yet it was the best decision I ever made.</p>
<p>Obviously the best way to find out whether Smith feels right is to visit and Women of Distinction is a great opportunity to do so. Mind you free food and transportation! Plus you get to meet some really cool people who are in the same boat as you. I went to WoD last year and that’s what sealed the deal for me to go to Smith.</p>
<p>If you’re serious about dating then you could hop on the bus and go to Amherst, Hampshire, or UMASS and I would definitely also suggest what Cygne said, looking into activities that get you off campus and meeting different people.</p>
<p>Phew! Did not realize that I said so much! Oh btw CDO means Career Development Office. Hey if you any questions you can PM me!</p>
<p>In the fall, I would love to hear from both of you about how your experiences at Smith have been. I’m aware of the Five-College Consortium, but realistically, I don’t know how often I’d go to off-campus parties. And I wouldn’t want to date a guy who partied a lot.</p>
<p>Upon further reflection, another dimension to consider first is the whole notion of an LAC vs. a university. All my biases had been in favor of universities when D started her search and now I’m in the position of the skeptic who came to church to scoff and stayed to pray.</p>
<p>I now believe that for many students in many majors, an LAC does a bang up job of getting an education as opposed to just a degree. The fact that I could rattle off a some nuggets about so many of D’s profs is just one indicator of how close the academic relationships are if one takes advantage of them. </p>
<p>If you accept the premises of an LAC, then ask “Why Smith?”, then some qualitative and environmental factors come into play. I like how there are very few slackers at Smith yet the competition for most students is within themselves, not in a cut-throat way against each other. What strikes me as extremely rare is the degree to which conversations from within the classroom continue to ricochet around lunch, dinner, and late night snacks/drinks.
And frankly I like the Smith rep for quirkiness. “Bright and quirky” is my thumbnail for the typical Smithie. Though sometimes I think Smithies conform in their non-conformity if you know what I mean. (Current or recent students, what sayest thou?)</p>
<p>I’m definitely an LAC type of girl, an instinct backed up by a full year of research. Smith seems to be a good fit for me–though if I’m going to pick a Seven Sister, Bryn Mawr knows my school and is reputed to offer better middle-class FA(?), if only I didn’t have to bus to Haverford–except for the gender part. I just don’t know if that’s a worthwhile sacrifice for me.</p>
<p>Interesting tidbit that just occurred to me: lookbeyond, a CCer and '08 TASPer, was accepted to Yale EA and thereafter applied to Smith RD (and was accepted, of course, though did not attend).</p>
<p>Well, it might be a good idea to come and visit then. If Smith seems like a good fit on paper, but you’re still unsure, then what’s missing here is that piece that can only be told for certain by a visit. You may fall in love with Smith and connect with it instantly, and know that even with the loss of daily male attention (it isn’t that there aren’t men at Smith, but it honestly takes a lot more work on your part to connect with dates) is completely worth it. </p>
<p>Consider also, as you seek to become more comfortable in social situations, attending a women’s college can help you with your confidence in those areas. Feeling secure, having a strong network of people to back you up, and having the space to explore and grow personally can make you more confident around the opposite sex, even if you don’t go to school with them.</p>
<p>My D will be starting in the fall and I can attest to the middle class financial aid portion of your question, Keilexandra. Smith provided, <em>by far</em>, the best financial aid package of any of the schools my daughter was accepted to. The financial aid package was huge factor in choosing Smith, given the unexpected parsimony of our state U.</p>
<p>Keil: You don’t have to bus to Haverford. When we looked at Bryn Mawr we were shown a backway that was only 1 and a half mile walk. My campus was so big, that I walked that amount routinely.</p>
<p>That part of PA doesn’t have brutal weather, so I think you could make the walk for large parts of the year.</p>
<p>This is nothing against Smith, just a point of info.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I think I’m going to finish my WoD application and send it out ASAP (excuse to see my GC yet again, hooray), before I change my mind again. And then we’ll see what happens from there.</p>
<p>Definitely go. It’s important for you to form some kind of idea of what Smith is, and what an all-women’s college is like.</p>
<p>I had to drag my daughter to see Smith. She kept muttering under her breath that she didn’t want an all-women’s college, and she certainly didn’t want to go to school in Massachusetts. Within fifteen minutes of being on campus, her eyes told the whole story: she loved it. The more she talked to students, the more she felt as though she belonged. She has never regretted her decision. But if she hadn’t been forced to visit Smith, she wouldn’t have known this, just as those who visited Smith and hated it wouldn’t otherwise have known the difference between “on paper” and reality.</p>
<p>As for middle-class aid, Smith isn’t the best; however, they do offer a limited number of tremendous merit scholarships and opportunities that, should you get one, might sway you to attend over other universities. Many students turn down Ivies when offered these awards. The only way to determine how Smith will meet your need is to apply and wait. The same will be true of Bryn Mawr and every other college you apply to. If you really need that aid, apply to colleges where you are in the top 10% of their application pool.</p>
<p>Re financial aid - I’d say we are in the upper side of middle income - my D did not get a STRIDE etc but we did get about 40% of cost and 90% as grants not loans.
Re woman’s college - My D is starting in the fall and still not 100% sure about this - and more anxious about it the closer it gets -although everything else about Smith won her over enough to get her to go so she’s hoping she will be happy with the all women’s thing when she gets there.</p>
<p>As far as the aid goes, I’m not sure what a “standard” aid package looks like, but with my STRIDE grant and stipend, Smith’s package was the second best I was offered, coming in just slightly behind Amherst. After visiting the two in the spring, the decision was clear: even if Smith hadn’t given me as much money, I was much more impressed with their student body and sense of community. To me, Amherst students seemed much more focused on sports and partying and much more…ahem…aware of their privileged position. Obviously this doesn’t hold true for all students, it’s just my impression.</p>
<p>As the mother of Barnard grad I highly recommend women’s colleges. She had an outstanding experience, served as a research assistant to her department chair, and is off to a Master’s degree at King’s in London.</p>
<p>Being at women’s college definitely contributed her her self-assurance.</p>
<p>A good friend of the family didn’t get accepted to her first choice LAC, but did get accepted at Smith. She absolutely didn’t want to go all-girls, but her parents pushed her. “Honey you can transfer out if you don’t like it” She just finished her freshman year and loved it.</p>
<p>…Here comes the indecision: now I’m not so sure any more. Just mentioned WoD to my parents and my dad said flatly (knowing nothing about Smith except that it’s a women’s college), “Don’t waste your time visiting a school you’re not going to attend.” He also thinks Oberlin is a safety for me. And both my parents are against the idea of a women’s college, although if I pushed it hard, they would accede (this last conversation ended with “Fine, do whatever you like”). However, I don’t know how hard I would push, considering that I’m very unsure myself.</p>
<p>So sorry, but your dad has it backwards: you often don’t know what schools you would or would not attend until you’ve visited. Case history: Columbia was D’s #1 on paper. After visiting, she didn’t even apply.</p>
<p>Why are your parents against womens colleges? (This is where I come in at prospect parties, talking to parents about <em>their</em> concerns.)</p>
<p>My mom thinks that introvert + women’s college = doomed to be single. She’s never put it in quite those terms, but that’s the gist of it. My dad just says that the single-sex environment is “unnatural” (he also thinks coed bathrooms are “unnatural,” so this isn’t based on any political ideology I can discern).</p>