My D is at Smith and plays in the Orchestra. They just had a concert Friday evening at which they played Nocturnes by Claude Debussy, The Pines of Rome, and Lo by Caroline Shaw. Caroline Shaw performed the violin solo of her own piece! This was the final part of a three part residency with her at Smith, clearly a wonderful opportunity for the students. Jonathan Hirsh, the conductor, is well liked by the students. The orchestra is quite strong. They bring in some outside players as needed (more for this concert than other ones). It sounds like a serious group that has fun together, too. Students can take private lessons with a Smith prof or from another local instructor, including some from the 5 Colleges. There are also chamber group opportunities. Students can also audition/play with any of the 5 College groups if they’d like. Transportation does take time, so I am unsure of how often that happens. But clearly Smith has a strong music department which should meet your daughter’s needs in and of itself.
My D also considered Bryn Mawr. She played for the conductor and liked her. Do realize, though, that all music takes place on Haverford’s campus for the joint Bryn Mawr-Haverford orchestra.
Smith has serious academics, but it is collaborative, not cut-throat. The housing system is great, the campus is very attractive, and Northampton is right there. Lots of opportunities and an accepting student body.
While it sounds like it might be a great choice for your daughter, you really need to visit before deciding. Is there any way you could get over there, even if it’s on the weekend?
@Springbird That’s super helpful!
As a Smith alum I have my own opinion 
but what I want to say is it is time to narrow it down to a couple choices. From what I am hearing post #37 sounds right. You may not even hear about the Filene scholarship until after May 1, unfortunately.
I can imagine that Smith and Bryn Mawr are similar in many ways but I can’t imagine that Smith/Bryn Mawr and St Olaf are. Suggestion:
– Choose between Smith/Bryn Mawr and St Olaf
– IF she chooses Smith/Bryn Mawr over St Olaf, take whichever was financially better, Smith or St Olaf.
Others may have good suggestions about how to proceed with the Filene scholarship but I would be nervous about losing that merit money / financial aid at such great schools.
PS - I should have started off by saying Congrats to your daughter – she has some wonderful options!
Someone posted a video of Smith’s Friday night concert. Not the greatest sound quality, but at least you can get a sense of what their orchestra is like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnpClCmjaEA
Like I said, this performance included more “ringers” than usual.
And during my several visits to Smith this year and also from what my D reports, I can assure you they are not stressed, angry and depressed. 
Me again (oops!) I wrote in my post #42
– IF she chooses Smith/Bryn Mawr over St Olaf, take whichever was financially better, Smith or St Olaf.
but I MEANT
– IF she chooses Smith/Bryn Mawr over St Olaf, take whichever was financially better, Smith or Bryn Mawr.
I guess I am fried after an hour on CC, time to get off!
I would suggest deposit at her “second choice” by May 1 and let Skidmore know that if they choose her for the special scholarship you will go there- sort of like a personal waitlist spot. Personally, I would call admissions and let them know that you will definitely go to Skidmore if chosen for the scholarship. Often, after May 1 admissions will simply choose people that they know will say yes from the waitlist. This is really the best you can do given the situation. Hopefully, you will hear from Skidmore before May 1st and all will be well in your world. Best of luck.
@naviance We will definitely talk to Skidmore this week. They are a really hot school lately so not likely to be begging her to enroll especially since she can’t pay full price. They were over-enrolled last year and got a record number of applications this year, by a lot. But, there’s no doubt she’d be an asset to them both musically and athletically.
St Olaf and Skidmore seem to be the best options from what I read. We really liked the Skidmore coach so I think the swimming at Skidmore is a positive. Also, we heard the orchestra perform accompanying the Swan Lake performance at Skidmore several years ago and that was great also. I can’t comment on St Olaf except the music is strong as you know…
From what I understand, Smith has an edge over Bryn Mawr in terms of music opportunities.
Given her diverse interests, I think you want her to have access to as many majors, and courses, as possible.
At the standalone schools – Geneseo, Skidmore, Wooster, St. Olaf, and Sarah Lawrence – peruse majors and courses to make as certain as possible that the bases are covered academically. If these schools don’t show enough academic range for her roaming interests, consider that the two schools that are in consortia, Smith and Bryn Mawr, have access to more classes.
At either Smith or BMC, students can take classes at the other schools in the consortium. And Bryn Mawr students can actually take a major at Haverford. So when you are evaluating BMC majors, you should add Haverford majors too. I’m not sure if Smith students can choose a major at other 5 College schools – worth looking into.
You live in a rural area - does your D drive? Can she drive up to Smith by herself? My D did some visits without me, either with a friend or solo, but she’s a confident driver and pretty independent.
PS: I imagine you’ve seen this but if not: https://www.smith.edu/academics/five-colleges
@OHMomof2 Unfortunately she doesn’t drive - I wish!
If she’s a serious violinist and she does not get the Filene, St Olaf is her best choice. It’s not as liberal and feminist as Smith, certainly, but the orchestras are among the best you’ll get at the undergrad level. (did she audition and get a music scholarship?)
Note that psychology majors are eligible doe the summer internship at Mayo clinic.
Sorry that you are having to wait so long for a decision from Skidmore, @Earthmama68. It sounds like your daughter has some wonderful choices! Congratulations!
From what I know of the schools, St Olaf is a bit different than the others, since it’s co~ed, and in the upper Midwest… I’ll be honest, that it’s the school my son will be attending in the fall. He has at least 3 friends who will be attending Carleton and he likes that the two schools are doing more things together. He likes the very welcoming and sort of “wholesome” atmosphere at St Olaf, but the quirky intellectualism of Carleton as well. he’s hoping to be able to take a class or two at Carleton, as they have an agreement, over the next four years.
Since your D1 is in Northfield, has D2 had a chance to spend much time on the St. Olaf campus? They do have the best choir and ensemble programs in this part of the country! Their students are definitely known for being liberal, but not in a super activist kind of way. They had a very high participation rate in the last election.
I think of the young women at Smith’s as being very intellectual, and while the students at St Olaf are very smart and hard-working, but tend to make a lot of time for other activities as well. It just depends on the atmosphere your daughter is looking for. St Olaf is very accepting, and my son is an atheist too, but I do not think of it as a hippie type school.
You and your daughter are in a enviable quandary, but also a very stressful one. Good luck with Skidmorr, and to your D, on making the decision! Feel free to PM me, if you have any questions about St Olaf!
@MYOS1634 Yes, she auditioned and was awarded the Cassler Scholarship for music and she got an academic scholarship as well which is a big plus for St. Olaf. That’s good information about the psych. internships at Mayo.
@morningside95 My D2 has only visited Northfield once and that was for her music audition. The St. Olaf orchestra is the biggest draw for her. I hope if she goes there she’ll make the top orchestra right away. That would be a huge plus for her. We really, really love Carleton. My D1 is SO happy there. We also like St. Olaf a lot though the “fit” doesn’t seem as good for D2.
It looks like we’ve come to a decision of sorts, Skidmore if the Filene comes in and St. Olaf if it doesn’t. Bryn Mawr, Smith, and Sarah Lawrence just aren’t offering the money we need, they’re all asking us for 7000-1,000 more than Carleton and with bigger loans which is just nuts.
Getting closer! Thanks to everyone for your input. I’m truly grateful.
Sorry, typo, $7000-10,000
@Earthmama68 - My sister lived in Albany, NY, for several years and Sarasota Springs is so pretty and Skidmore sounds like a great school for your D2. Fingers crossed the scholarship comes through - I assume it’s for all 4 years.
If not, and your D1 ends up at St Olaf, I’m sure she’ll find a niche among the 3,000 students. I have an S16, and met a CC mom who wanted to make sure there were enough artsy and “nerdy” (in a good way) students at St Olaf, for her D16 to relate to. I sent her a PM a few weeks ago, so see how her D was doing. She said she’s very happy there. Of course, the music programs are amazing. :)>-
@morningside95 Thanks for that info. If my D2 ends up committing to St. Olaf, it is good to hear that she’ll find her people there! If she goes to Olaf, she’s already planning to apply to be in the Great Conversations program. And of course if she joins the swim team, she’ll have that cohort as well. And it will be nice for her to be near her sister too. 
After Monday, I’ll definitely message you if we’re going to be at the same school. My husband is saying if D2 goes to Olaf, we’re moving to Minneapolis. 
@Earthmama68
I think it would be really nice for your 2 D’s to be in the same town. And likely would give you peace of mind as well.