<p>Trying a second stab at "Why Smith," though I don't feel nearly so focused and "on" as when I wrote the original.</p>
<p>===</p>
<p>It all starts with attitude. The propaganda says "Four years where it's all about you." Whether it's the caliber of the advising, the willingness of professors to accommodate pre-college meetings during visits, the small class sizes, the student-friendly housing system, the breadth of dining options, the dazzling menu of junior year abroad (or other "away" programs), there's an underlying pervasive sense of "what we can we do to make this work or work better for you?" Even <em>my</em> interactions with Financial Aid, which I dreaded like an IRS audit, have been upbeat and positive...even if I didn't always get what I wanted.</p>
<p>Then there's the peer group. As my D remarked early during her first year, "Not everyone is going to be my best friend." But collectively Smith students are a bright, engaged, articulate group. At the end of a recent prospect party, a group of current students were still hanging around nearly an hour after the party was "over" and everyone else had left, talking about prompts used on a test, what research tools that had used for X project or Y paper, etc. As my D commented during a phone conversation, "At Smith, if you're not working on something with intellectual content you feel lazy."</p>
<p>Finally...at least for this moment...there's the undergrad teaching. My D has had two teachers that she'd rate as "Good." All the others were better. [Note: she has been assiduous about checking out prof reputations advanced and has strongly sought some, strongly avoided others...I think there's a need here, as with anywhere, to do one's homework.] She's found her profs to be accessible and, for the most part, engaging in the classroom.</p>
<p>Between that and Jolt, your D should have a good start. Asking people she knows first hand <cough!> is a good idea too. My D was pretty good about cross-checking opinions.</cough!></p>
<p>Well, I checked the site and I'm going to throw a caution flag: many profs/classes had very few datapoints and I think students are more likely to use it to complain, more likely to not bother seeking it out if they really liked a prof. There's at least one prof that I've heard several students rave about but who got absolutely trashed in the ratings here. </p>
<p>Definitely cross check. I think the thing about Jolt is that you may elicit a back-and-forth discussion among people that's illuminating.</p>
<p>Yes, I was surprised that one of the profs on whom I checked on Aspects (one I have come to know personally through my D) apparently had only one or two sources of feedback on each course (both excellent or very good, however).</p>
<p>I know that in her early years my D relied heavily on the other majors in her field for her prof selections. One advantage of the house system is that you have majors from all years and all fields living together. For one particular major requirement, the word was clear: "Take this one at Amherst."</p>
<p>Here we go! My D received an email last night saying that her decision would be online on Wednesday after 6 pm. She must go to the Smith website and then to bannerweb with a password. Needless to say, things are a little tense around here!!!!</p>
<p>True, Jyber, about checking with housemates, but for that critical first semester, you really have scramble and dig for info because you don't know who your housemates <em>are</em>.</p>
<p>No, no, no...Wednesday at 6:oo not today. (although my D has checked today numerous time...just in case!) Making it all worse is the fact she is out of school this week as she is exempt from all mid-year exams, so she has lots of time to sit and think. This is driving her nuts! And, I'm enjoying every minute of it! <em>LOL</em></p>
<p>Oh My God! What am I gonna do if I don't get in? I love that place! It's a perfect fit! If I don't get in I'm gonna cry all night long. All my friends are getting in to good schools! I will never get into college! I have to get in! I'm gonna end up at our state college! I did the best I could! They have to take me, don't they?</p>