<p>Separating this out from the other thread for the sake of clarity. I found the schedule from last year's Open Campus at Smith(I don't throw out much stuff!).</p>
<p>Registration actually starts at 10 am on Thursday to clarify that. It takes place at the Indoor Tennis and Track facility(ITT). If you're coming by car the parking is a little tight. They usually have shuttles to take you there if you park at one of the more remote spots.</p>
<p>During the day there are campus tours, visiting of classrooms, parent panels, tours of specific buildings (Theatre Dept for example). There are also presentations on Junior Year Abroad, Financial Aid and Athletics.</p>
<p>At the end of the day there is a reception at which faculty members are present and willng to answer your questions about their departments.</p>
<p>At about 5:45 you meet the person you will staying with overnight. Parents have the opportunity for a small reception 6-7 or may leave for the night.</p>
<p>Prospies get to eat in one of the dining halls and spend the night at one of the houses. I recommend your bringing a book or some homework as your host may be busy herself. Don't be offended that's how it goes at Smith.</p>
<p>Friday is spent doing whatever you couldn't do on Thursday with more class visits, tours and panels. It comes to a close with a reception from 2:45-3:15 pm</p>
<p>All in all it's a fun couple days for the prospies as well as the parents, some of whom choose to make a visit to the bookstore for shirts, hoodies, stickers, etc. :D</p>
<p>There are a million things to do propsie weekend, so even if your host is busy, find one that isn’t and go one of the concerts/events. They give you such a better feeling of campus life than sitting around. Don’t be afraid to go by yourself either! There are tons of people looking for friends</p>
<p>Sit in on a class, but don’t feel like you have to do everything on the schedule. I thought a tour of the campus was silly, and instead decided to explore on my own, get lost, and meet some new people. Do what YOU need to do to best understand the school. If you want to see more houses, just ask! Smithies would LOVE to give you a tour.</p>
<p>Go into Northampton. Get a sense of what the town is like because it will affect your four years here.</p>
<p>And, this is going to be an unpopular thing to say, but I would advocate either a) parents not coming or b) if they do come, being separate from their kids. I came to prospie weekend by myself and I think that was the only way to get a true sense of Smith. I met other students and got honest answers to my questions. And got to make the weekend about me, my needs, and my choice of college. I understand parents want input, but honestly, the kid needs to be able to focus on the school from their perspective.</p>
<p>With all due respect louise the parents who go along don’t necessarily have to hover by their daughter’s side at all times. I didn’t. There are separate programs for the parents, d went to classes herself, stayed overnight herself(along with hosts) and spent the second day mostly on her own. So there is plenty of opportunity for the prospie to get a feel for things on her own. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Of course, hence my option b) in my first post. I just meant that kids need space on the weekend, and I’ve seen plenty of hovering parents. That was my major point, sorry if it came off incorrectly.</p>
<p>Rocket and Boss have it right -but I’d go further. Parents, please make it easy for your D to get you NOT to hover. It may not be easy for them to ask.
On Prospie weekend, I was quite proud when my D wanted to dump Dad and explore Smith on her own. Yes, I was sorry she did not need me, yes, I was not particularly pleased that she did not want me along, but I was proud that she knew she needed to be on her own to better make her decision.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I got to talk to a prof, visit the (lonely) Republican club, and even got to speak with the folks at the Transgender table. Good insights for me to realize Smith is a wonderful place -if a bit hard on those Republicans!</p>
<p>I left her, and went off on a speaking engagement. We actually stayed for the student research presentations on Saturday. Then we went off to my alma mater (Williams), which was also recruiting her, but she’d already bought the sweatshirt. (And I was very glad about that indeed.)</p>
<p>@brie99 don’t forget Smith is the alma mater of Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, among other Republican women. Granted that was years ago but there are some Smith GOP’ers. ;)</p>
<p>You are certainly correct, Boss, that there are very solid GOP Smith alumnae. Yet I don’t blame Smith that those very smart women were weighed down by their husbands </p>
<p>Regardless, for those contemplating attending Smith, according to the students with whom I have spoken, today it remains more of a challenge for those who espouse Republican beliefs on campus. And from my D’s reports, on campus political debate remains quite spirited yet is most often reasonably respectful. </p>
<p>I mean, its not like Smith has descended to the craziness of our dysfunctional Congress where men (regardless of party) are the quite vocal majority! Hmmmm. A total lack of civility and a clear majority of men…must be a co-incidence… or maybe just the lack of afternoon teas…</p>
<p>I think it is safe to say, attend Smith, and your values will be questioned, your beliefs will be challenged, and you’ll learn of a much wider range of debate than you’ve had in past. And then, please, go clean up our government!</p>
(And I was very glad about that indeed.)</p>