<p>So I am now deciding between which college to go to and I have narrowed it down to by 2 top choices - Smith and Loyola Marymount University in LA. The schools could not be any more opposite. They both offer the small class sizes I'm looking for. They both have strong psych departments which is what I want to major in. Also keep in mind, I am planning on doing pre-med.</p>
<p>Smith: I love Smith for the academics, the prestige and the name of the school & the doors that will open, as well as the fact that it's a women's colleges which I feel will be a very supporting and nourishing environment for me. However, I'm also worried about the weather because I have lived in California my whole life (SF) and it's also very far away from home. I'm also worried about the social scene at Smith, and I'm not concerned about parties as much as I am fitting in. I feel I'm much more mainstream and am more SF city girl.</p>
<p>Loyola Marymount University in LA/LMU: It has been my dream my whole life to live in LA. I absolutely loved LMU when I visited, it's the most beautiful campus (10 min from the beach) and I just feel like I would be so happy there.</p>
<p>My parents reeeally want me to go to Smith because they say there is no comparison academically/prestigiously between the 2 schools and that Smith will help me more later on, especially with all the alumni connections.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on what I just said? Words of wisdom for a struggling 18 year old not sure where to go to college? Convince me why I should go to either one!</p>
<p>If it’s been dream your dream to live in SF your whole life, you loved LMU and you feel you would be happy there, then you should definitely go to LMU.</p>
<p>If you are a motivated student, you will do well where ever you go to school (and studies support this view!).</p>
<p>Thank you, Fendrock If anyone is reading this has any opinion whatsoever, wether a current student, an alumni, a parent, or anyone happening to read this – I really want AS MANY OPINIONS as possible, please!!! I seriously appreciate the input so so much.</p>
<p>I dont’ think any of us can or should convince you to go to Smith, that’s a choice you have to make for yourself. But to address some of your concerns: </p>
<p>You’d be surprised how quickly you adjust to the weather. It’s just a matter of putting on a jacket, really. The Pioneer Valley is not like places in Northern New England, or even Boston. You don’t spend months of the year locked in snow and the valley keeps the area insulated from the colder, wetter weather on the coast. There are a TON of Californians at Smith and they seem to be surviving You should see if there are events in your area for admitted students from California (likely the local club will host something in mid April), so you can get their experience. </p>
<p>One thing I would say, I think it’s great, if you can, to try living away from home. I went across the country from the West Coast to Smith and it was the best decision I ever made. Not only did it give me a chance to experience a whole new place and new people, but it made me more independent, and it really opened my horizons a lot. You can always go home again, but you might not get another chance to live in New England. It’s a truly spectacular part of the country. </p>
<p>Also, you have to remember that Smith has a lot of “mainstream” young women, as well as women who are more into counter-culture (this isn’t great terminology, but let’s run with it). You might want to check out the Pearls and Cashmere tumblr ([Pearls</a> and Cashmere](<a href=“http://pearlsandcashmere.■■■■■■■■■■/]Pearls”>http://pearlsandcashmere.■■■■■■■■■■/)) if you want to get a sense of the breadth and depth of the Smith community. P&C was created in response to a letter written by a Smith alum to the student newspaper, which caused a lot of controversy and spurred the student body and alums to speak out about who they really were, and where they came from, and why they went to Smith. It really shows the wide breadth of students, as they really are, not as the stereotypes say they are.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m from the Bay Area too! I’m a current first year. I do think you’ll adjust to the weather much more quickly than you think. (I thought I was going to have a horrible time because I’d only even seen snow once or twice, but I was fine. Although this winter has been extremely mild.) Also, I think it’s very hard to not find a niche at Smith that will fit you–there are a ton of “mainstream” people, there are a ton of “counter-culture”, and a ton of overlap between the two. (Insert “it’s a spectrum” joke here.)</p>
<p>However, LMU is a FANTASTIC school and just from reading your post, it sounds like it’s where you really want to be. As much as I love Smith, it’s definitely not for everyone, and you shouldn’t need to be talked into loving a school if you have one that you already love so much. A girl from my Girl Scout troop goes to LMU and she loves it (if her enthusiastic facebook posts are any indication.) It’s four years of your life, and I really think you should go where you’ll be happiest.</p>
<p>As you state, you are 18 y/o. I’d encourage you to attend the Open Campus event
on the 19,20th of this month at Smith. Facts and feel should be obvious!</p>
<p>If you haven’t seen Smith, I strongly encourage you to discover for yourself if Smith is the school for you. Come to the Open Campus event; it will be worth your peace of mind knowing that you made your decision with all the information you could have at this point.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your responses! Any other opinions are greatly encouraged!</p>
<p>Also, to what extent is Smith considered a good school? Compared to for example, Scripps, Barnard, Wellesley. I know that Smith has a 20% higher acceptance rate than those three schools, so does that mean it’s less hard to get into and less prestigious? Also, how good is Smith for preparing for graduate schools?</p>
<p>Well for one thing Smith’s admission rate isn’t 20% “higher” than those schools listed. And acceptance rate doesn’t translate into being a “better” school. Smith is consistently rated higher than Barnard in most rankings(although those things are overrated too in my opinion). </p>
<p>For example, Wellesley’s admit rate is 34%, Smith about 45%. Scripps is 39%.</p>
<p>Barnard has the lowest admit rate among the “sisters,” but I attribute that more to the school’s somewhat “tangential” relationship with Columbia. Barnard was ranked 33rd among liberal arts colleges, to a 19th ranking for Smith. Scripps is ranked 26th. So if you give any credence to these rankings, your argument is flawed.</p>
<p>As far as the other question, check out some of the other threads which go into that kind of thing in depth.</p>
<p>Barnard shares many majors, professors and facilities with Columbia. USNWR doesn’t take into consideration any of those factors when tabulating the ranking. If they did, Barnard would rank higher than Wellesley ;)</p>
<p>Scripps is part of the Claremont Colleges, which include Pomona, Pitzer, Harvey Mudd, and Claremont McKenna. Scripps shares libraries and many facilities with the boarding colleges. Also, Scripps women can take up to 2/3 of their courses at a consortium college. Again, USNWR ignores the relationship with the other highly ranked colleges in ranking equation.</p>
<p>We live about 10 miles from LMU. Decent college but not on the same league as Smith, not anywhere near. Does have a film program but compared to USC, UCLA, Cal State LA, it’s an also ran. Good Religious Studies department, well regarded English department.</p>
<p>My daughter used to do imitations of Napoleon retreating from Moscow any time the temperature dropped below 70; she adapted to the weather at Smith just fine.</p>
<p>Finally, lots of Smithies come to live in LA after college, not just those who were born here.</p>
If anyone is reading this has any opinion whatsoever, wether a current student, an alumni, a parent, or anyone happening to read this – I really want AS MANY OPINIONS as possible, please!!! I seriously appreciate the input so so much.</p>