<p>Calculus is one of those classes that varies wildly, depending on who is teaching it. My D dropped it the first time because she thought the professor wasn’t good enough. When she finally took it, she was much happier. But yes, around mid-October, you’ll be thankful that you have an easy class.</p>
<p>Phanatic, I’m so sorry about the roommate issue. I agree with previous posters, you should get it resolved pronto by talking to the Dean. Why the anxiety attacks with the French class? Is it the professor? The tests?</p>
<p>LiT, I can’t speak for Phanatic about her French class, but I do know that Smith’s French classes can be tough, especially for first years who have mixed high school preparation.</p>
<p>Definitely speak to housing about moving. It would be silly to transfer schools just because you are unhappy in housing.</p>
<p>I have one daughter at Smith (who loves it so far), and one at Earlham (in IN). She loves it too, but is feeling some homesickness. So that is perfectly normal. Even though she feels Earlham is a fit, it is far away, and we hear from her pretty often.</p>
<p>As for your classes, go speak to your professors and put a face to your name for them. I hate sitting alone during my office hours. I am always delighted when students drop by.</p>
<p>Mwfn, I happen to have a rather close connection with one of the French tutors (!!!) and I wanted to know if Phanatic’s problems could be resolved by a few sessions with her or someone she’d recommend. I have also heard that a lot of students struggle at the beginning, some because they lack the basics, others because the workload is very heavy, and others because apparently at least one of the profs gets a kick out of making the students feel they know nothing for the first couple of months.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>LOL. Nothing like an education to humble you.</p>
<p>My D started French at Smith in upper 200-level courses, so even though she was prepared from a testable language aspect, she was intimidated by how comfortable Smithies were speaking French. It was also the first time that she took French not to learn the language but to learn something else. She found the class overwhelming at first, but as she progressed into the semester, she finally found her footing.</p>
<p>If Phanatic is struggling, it would be fantastic if your daughter could help her. (Note to Phanatic, in case you didn’t know: LiT and her D are French.) I always love CC connections that move from the virtual to the real.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Hanging out with my parents here in Hadley, and it is so very good to be away from the campus for the weekend! </p>
<p>A note about my French anxiety attacks: I studied French from kindergarten up to my junior year of high school, then couldn’t any more due to scheduling conflicts. I was quite comfortable with the grammar and vocabulary aspects, but that break left me a bit rusty, but I took the placement exam and placed into a 200-level course. It’s not that the workload is too heavy or too difficult–in fact, the prof, at this point, is assigning review work–but she talks to us like we’re fluent in the language. I can say with some certainty that my real issue is my lack of confidence in my skills. I walked in feeling like I would be out of place, and I must have convinced myself of that. Understanding spoken French in a conversation with a native speaker has always been my weak point; writing and reading I have no problem with it. What would be the best way to increase my confidence in this area? </p>
<p>As for calculus, I am glad to have an “easy” class, though it assigns more work than two of my other classes combined! Though the way I learned calculus and the way Smith teaches calculus are entirely different, I think it will eventually turn out to be okay.</p>
<p>I’ve talked with my parents about my rooming situation and they think I should also go to the dean. If mediation tomorrow goes poorly, I believe I will. How would you recommend that I present my case so that that meeting could be as productive as possible? </p>
<p>Oh, by the way–speculation abounds that tomorrow, despite the fact that the Quad Riot hasn’t happened yet, will be Mountain Day. Hmm…</p>
<p>Mountain Day wouldn’t be Mountain Day without the speculation!</p>
<p>Phanatic, your experiences both with 200 level French and Calculus mirror my D’s own. With calculus, my D said that she found the daily homework “relaxing” compared to some of her more demanding classes; however, the sheer volume of it made it difficult when it came to crunch time in her other courses. </p>
<p>I’m glad that you’re spending time with your parents this weekend. It will go a long way toward bolstering your spirits when you get back to your routine.</p>
<p>As for mediation, I hate to sound pessimistic, but I don’t see this roommate situation as ever working for you. I think you should go to the Dean regardless. In the meantime, try to create some peace in your room through mediation. Remember not to accuse your roommate of lying or turning the house against you, but instead explain how her actions make you feel. You might want to carve out some official Skype time – say, Sundays from 8-9 pm – where you can Skype without interruption; make sure that your allotted time is not just a start time but rather a duration of time. She may think that five minutes is enough. If she has to study during your Skype time, she can go elsewhere. And remember to give some of what she wants as well. Consider mediation as a bargaining session where you give up as much as you get. And remember to be calm when you express your feelings about the situation. </p>
<p>Good luck! And keep checking in so we know how you’re doing.</p>
<p>Edited to add: I don’t know how the mediation process works, but if you at any time feel as though you are being ganged up on, say it – and explain why.</p>
<p>Phanatic, pm me if you’d like my D to help with conversation skills. Good luck with the mediation.</p>
<p>Phanatic, another two cents: please <em>do</em> get a different roommate situation. I know of someone locally who was very unhappy and nearly transferred but switched houses/roommates and was very glad she stayed.</p>
<p>I think a bad roommate situation is one of the worst things, the other being not getting enough sleep, that can really color a situation in overly somber tones.</p>
<p>If a roommate/house switch doesn’t improve your outlook, then by all means transfer with a clear conscience that you tried your best and it wasn’t a good fit.</p>
<p>If there are still language lunch tables (they were at chase-duckett when I was a student) you might want to try those–people with lots of different skill levels attend, and it’s informal. Also, can you get French TV/radio online? I like watching the news in Spanish because I know the context and can focus on the vocab/grammar rather than the characters.</p>
<p>Phanatic - I’m going to be an outlier here and just say that i don’t think you shoudl transfer. I do think you should try to switch houses as soon as possible however, and definitely switch rooms at minimum. But I think the issues your having sound more like a not-great house community fit, which can be pretty easily remedied, especially as you integrate more into other communities on campus that are not in your house. </p>
<p>I think deciding to transfer early, as many do, can provide a reason not to try to remedy the situtation at hand. You never really give the first place a full effort, because you don’t think it’s worth it if it’s only a temporary thing. I"m sure you’re trying very hard to make Smith work for you, but I don’t think your problems are so irreconcilable that a transfer is the best thing. You may end up regretting deciding too soon to move ahead. </p>
<p>Is Fabienne Bulot you French teacher? I had her for Low Intermediate French, and she definitely spoke to us not only in a way that assumed we knew the language, but she rarely understood our questions. As a native French speaker it was all perfectly simple and clear to her, she didn’t understand at all what our issue was. She was a good prof, but I had a much easier time when I had Mary Ellen Birkett second semester. Birkett’s not a native speaker (Though she is fluent) which means she’s been on our side of the desk and understands the disconnects between English and French and the places where English speakers are likely to get confused a little better. </p>
<p>So hang in there, try a language table, and believe me you will be the better for your immersion experience. Also, try to get as much experience listening to French as possible. You can often find French news casts with English subtitles online. Try to watch one for a few minutes every day.</p>
<p>Phanatic, I wish you well on your room change. However, I happen to know your roommate and she’s awesome. I hope you two can learn to coexist if it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, although I do agree that it was ill matched. Please don’t let that ruin your experience at Smith!</p>
<p>So Phanatic, how’s it going?</p>
<p>Mountain Day today! Couldn’t ask for more perfect weather. Excuse me while I eat so many apples in so many forms that I get absolutely sick of them :)</p>
<p>Ugh! I want a Mountain Day!!</p>
<p>Hell, <em>I</em> want a Mountain Day.</p>
<p>So glad rocket, t_c, and others are enjoying Smith! Phanatic, hope things are getting better for you.</p>
<p>I have a friend who just graduated from the school in May, and she has nothing but good things to say about it.</p>
<p>I had no idea Smith has a Mountain Day. I thought that was a just a Mount Holyoke thing?</p>
<p>^ Mount Holyoke I think started Mountain Day waaaaaay back when (I think maybe when they were still Mount Holyoke Female Seminary), and then Smith borrowed it when we came along. Definitely some of my best Smith memories are mountain day related: apple picking followed by pie baking, picnics and boating on the pond, cider doughnuts from Atkins Farms, and giving thanks to the study gods that you have one more day to work on your papers.</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke started Mountain Day in 1838, one year after the college was founded:</p>
<p>[Mount</a> Holyoke College :: News :: Today is Mountain Day!](<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/22/stories/5682397]Mount”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/22/stories/5682397)</p>
<p>Smith, no harm copying a good idea! When do I get my Mountain Day?</p>