<p>My real reason for posting this thread was that I hate seeing a date for the last post. I enjoy seeing "Today, 2:35" for instance. </p>
<p>With that said, is there any advantage to applying ED to smith? I really love the school and I would love to know the decision before Christmas (hello senioritis). I know the main disadvantage is financial aid but that isn't a problem. I wouldn't be getting any if applied RD anyway. So is there any reason why I should apply ED in particular?</p>
<p>The main advantage is having it over with, so you can get back to the rest of your life! (I think that's a big deal these days.)</p>
<p>A few years ago, if you were ED you got to choose the specific house you were placed into, which was a draw for some people. They have since gotten rid of that choice. One thing against ED- you can't attend Open Campus if they already know you are coming. Hehe.</p>
<p>ED has a slightly higher acceptance rate than RD, but that is largely because the candidates for ED are sort of self selecting (i.e. everyone who applies is probably an excellent candidate for Smith), so it's not really high enough to make a huge difference. </p>
<p>Mainly, it's good to be settled and done with. If you get accepted, you can relax and start picking out curtains and bed sheets while your friends lose sleep over the fate of their applications.</p>
<p>My daughter applied ED, class of 2009 and she was very happy with her decision. It was good to know that you've gotten into the college of your choice just before Christmas break of your senior year.</p>
<p>Prior to submitting her application, I asked her several times to be sure that Smith was her first choice. She was absolutely sure it was and 2-years later she is still very happy with her choice.</p>
<p>The only buyers remorse she experienced was in the Spring of '05 when the rest of her friends were receiving notifications on their RD applications. She wi****lly thought about which schools she might have gotten into had she applied RD ... but that was a fleeting thought which quickly came and went.</p>
<p>As long as you are absolutely sure that Smith is your first choice school, ED is a great way to go.</p>
<p>Agree with above posters about being certain that you want to attend Smith, particularly since it is a women's college which will have a different ethos than a co-educational high school. My daughter also is in the class of '09 and applied ED. She visited Smith four times (college trips to NE during summers before junior and senior year, spring break junior year she stayed in a bed and breakfast in Amherst and visited all 5 colleges, and a weekend visit during fall senior year) before she applied ED. It may sound like overkill but she was very sure about Smith when she applied. So far she has had a great experience that has met or exceeded her expectations.</p>
<p>I forgot to add that my daughter also made a number of visits to Smith before deciding to apply ED. Like the previous posting, it may seem like overkill, but she visited during spring break in her junior year, spent a month in Smith's Summer Science and Engineering Program, followed up by a visit during an Open House towards the end of the summer with a final visit in the fall of her senior year with an overnight visit.</p>
<p>This was her way to get as much information as she could before making the commitment.</p>
<p>My daughter also applied ED. She overnighted at three different schools before she decided that Smith was her first choice. She also visited Smith three times. It's important to read the course catalog, talk to the students and sit in on the classes.<br>
If the fit is right, you'll know. Don't apply early just to get a competitive edge: you have to love the school.</p>
<p>Hm..i visited during my spring break and I fell in love with the school. I attended classes and they were so much fun. Everyone in the class was so nice and the prof seemed amazing. She spent 30 minutes explaining what they did in previous classes and what they were doing for the rest of the semester. If every class is like that i'll be in heaven there. I've also done everything else momofsmithie said such as talking to students (why i'm on this site to begin with!) and reading the course catalog. In fact, there are so many courses I want to take I can't stand reading it because I know I will want to spend more than 4 years there if I can. Other than that i'm planning on doing an overnight in the fall and visiting again for open house. I'll probably wind up doing overnights at a few other universities too, just to compare the schools. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I got even more responses than I had hoped for. If anyone has any extra input I'd love to hear it. =) thanks again</p>
<p>Sounds like you are ready to apply ED. I was kind of the same way, and I applied ED1 in the fall of 2004 (oh so long ago) and was accepted, and it was a great decision for me. </p>
<p>I know how you feel about the course catalog, it's too bad Smith doesn't allow people to become "Super seniors" (after four years of undergrad, it's out the door with or without a diploma, but I guess you could come back for one the master's degrees). It's overwhelming at first glance, but don't worry, pretty soon you will be a hardened Smithie and grumble about how there aren't enough courses in your department ;-)</p>
<p>Besides visiting Smith, you also may want to also go to the summer freshman sendoff party in your area. It is a good way to meet students a year ahead of you as well as current students and alumnae. My daughter (and I) were very impressed by not only the calibre of incoming students and their personal qualities, but also by the devotion to the college exhibited by alumnae and current students.</p>
<p>We're in an area that has one of those "summer send-off" parties, part of the whole annual cycle of events that promote bonding among students, alums, parents, and prospective students (two events for the latter, one in January, one in April.)</p>
<p>Don't know where you are in NJ, but the alumnae in NYC suburbs are quite active. You can also check the Alumnae Assoic. home page to find out who the rep is in you area and ask her about events for admitted students and prospects.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I would suggest calling the Smith admissions office for information re: summer sendoff party in your area.</p>
<p>Applying ED is not for the faint of heart. Be quite certain about your choice of school before that day. Visit often, and talk to as many paople as possible. That being said, my D applied ED II a year ago and just finished her first year. She couldn't be happier, and loves Smith!</p>