My D is getting close to making her financial decision between Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Scripps. She visited a week ago and sat in on a Political Science class and Sociology class at MHC, and she enjoyed both. But she really LOVED the French class she took at Smith the next day when she visited there. She wasn’t able to sit in on a French class at MHC. She is considering minoring in French. Does anyone in here have experience with the French department? Info on the Political Science and International Relations departments would be appreciated too. Thanks!
@smcirish as always, no answers because I have all the same questions that you do. Are you sure we have not raised the same child? I think your D may have slightly better stats but she is looking at the same majors at the same schools 
@pauler80020 You are right! Who knows, they could both end up at the same place and be friends?! Mount Holyoke is looking more and more likely. She loved it as much or more than the other schools, and the full tuition is just too good to pass up, especially since she sees law school/grad school in her future. It just felt like “home” to her, too. She does love Barnard after her YWLI experience there last summer, but with no merit (just 2 summers of paid research offered), the difference in cost is gigantic due to our high EFC. When are you going to MHC and Smith? I’ll be interested to hear what you think!
@smcirish we will be in the Pioneer Valley during the week of the 17th. It feels like a long wait for D, but we could not make it work sooner. We also see MHC as the best financial choice, but we spent so little time there that she really needs to make the trip. In the meanwhile, Smith has been working hard to lure her in.
@pauler80020 Definitely have her do an overnight if she can and observe as many classes as possible.
@smcirish If your daughter got the Trustee’s Scholarship, there’s also the impact of the networking opportunities awarded to Trustee Scholars. My best friend has one. They hold a bunch of events throughout the year for the students to meet with the Trustees themselves and form solid relationships. There are also exclusive speakers, and sometimes they get first dibs on registration for other events.
No experience with Poly Sci or French, but all the language departments are extremely rigorous, and IR is very strong and one of the most popular majors on campus. Your daughter might want to check out the “people” tab under the department websites and see if any of the professors are doing research she’s interested in; most would be happy to meet with her briefly to talk about what they’re doing.
@FireflyLights Thanks so much! She did get the Trustee’s Scholarship (we are SO grateful for that!). Great idea on the “people” tab under the department websites. We’ll check it out!