<p>Security is almost never an issue in the houses, it’s one of the more enjoyable perks of having a housing system that encourages tight bonds. In my four years at Smith, I almost never locked the door to my room, even when I was sleeping or at class because I felt perfectly secure and had complete faith in my housemates. Never once was that trust abused (well, someone did borrow my toothpaste once from my cubby in the bathroom, but they gave it back).</p>
<p>Most houses are equipped with a key card swiper at the front door for your OneCard, but all students are also given a hard copy key to the front door of the house, a key to their closet, and a key to their room.</p>
<p>Thanx! I just wanted to know because I’m forgetful when tired. I’ve stayed at a place and locked myself out b/c i forgot my code… Just wondering ahead of time so I can ensure I don’t lock myself out again.</p>
<p>My D is also has a tendency to loose things which makes me nervous about putting a lot of cash on the One Card - can someone let me know how that works if she looses it? DO most people use it to by books etc at the book store or just use a debit card?</p>
<p>If you lose your OneCard, you go to the OneCard office and they give you temporary OneCard (they charge you a $5 deposit for this, you get your money back when you bring back the temp) and transfer all of your stored money, key priveleges, and so on to the temp card. They put a hold on the lost card so if someone finds it they won’t be able to use it to get into a house or to buy something (I think they can also track what the last purchase was and make sure that you were the one that made it). You get to keep the temp card for a week, maybe two weeks (can’t remember exactly) and then if you can’t find your original card by then you have to get a new card, which costs $15. They can print the new cards instantly in the OneCard office. </p>
<p>I lost my OneCard A LOT when I was a student. Usually I would find it a couple days later underneath my bed, and until I found it I would use my hard copy keys to get into the house and just sneak into dinner without swiping my card. Or if I was really hard up I’d go and get a temp. For about $4 in the campus bookstore they sell lanyards with plastic card holders that can also hold your keys, so that might be a good investment if she loses things easily. </p>
<p>It seems like most people use just a regular debit or credit card to buy books and things. It’s not neccessary to have a OneCard loaded down with cash (I usually just put enough on to do the weeks laundry, if that). Using a credit card, if your D has one, is also handy for book buying cause then you can just reimburse her for exactly what she spends.</p>
<p>If she does lose her OneCard in a public place, chances are, it’ll be picked up and kept safely until she comes back to it, or it’ll be returned to her (a friend of mine lost hers for quite a while, and one day, it just showed up in her mailbox).</p>
<p>I second the credit/debit card vs. OneCard. Laundry is cheaper with the one card, but money for books pretty much ties you to the campus bookshop. Since your D is a first-year, she probably wouldn’t be able to do much comparison shopping ahead of time, but there are some good, used bookstores downtown. If she has things like Plato and Homer, she could just walk downtown to get those at a lower cost.</p>
<p>Hmmmm…quick question. The “Welcome to Smith” booklet suggests that students bring rolls of quarters for laundry. It would be welcome news to know that a one card swipe can be used. Smithiegr, can you clarify? Thanks!</p>
<p>OneCards can be used for laundry, and they’re slightly cheaper too!</p>
<p>It’s $1.50 each for wash and dry with quarters, and $1.35 each with your OneCard.</p>
<p>Funnily enough we were just at Smith picking up a computer and we saw the lanyards which I told her would be a requirement for her (although it didn’t have to say Smith) I think I will stick with that plan. How do students put money on there own One Cards? It would be nice if she could do it herself just for laundry. I think we will stick with a debit card for everything else.
I think the all women’s issue will resolve or not as time passes. having gone to a small LAC (many years ago) dating was not actually all that great either since there was such a small population and everyone knew everyone elses business</p>
<p>Send a check to the OneCard Office, go there in person, or put cash on the card at a machine - there was one in the Campus Center, one in Wright Hall by CFLAC, and one in the library two years ago. There may be others.</p>
<p>I can’t beleive the book says to bring quarters. Definitely just put money on your OneCard, it’s cheaper per load. You can use quarters in the laundry machine, but most people only do that when they run out of OneCard money and don’t want to walk to center campus to reload. </p>
<p>Usually I just got some cash out of the Campus Center ATM (or if I was feeling really poor I’d walk downtown to the Bank of America so I could save myself the ATM fee in the Campus Center) and then there’s a OneCard machine right next to the ATM for adding money. Then I’d use whatever I had on my card for laundry, printing, and occasionally buying snacks in the campus center cafe (your OneCard comes pre-loaded with $25 to spend in the Cafe, but you go through that pretty quick). And all of that just came out of whatever I earned at my campus job, rather than from my parents.</p>
<p>I had a bank account at Easthampton Savings Bank just so I could use the ATM in the campus center with no fees. My work-study paychecks were direct deposited, and I linked it to an ING account so I could transfer money to savings every once in awhile. The few times I had a live check to deposit, I just paid the cost of a stamp and mailed the check and a deposit slip to the bank (the Easthampton Savings Bank branches aren’t that convenient to campus - there are a few accessible by bus) but I just saved my self the time. </p>
<p>Bank of America still has no presence in the part of PA I’m from, so I didn’t already have an account there that I could access in Noho. I chose Easthampton Savings just for the convenience of the ATM.</p>
<p>I chose Bank of America because there was a branch downtown, so if I needed to cash a check or wanted to take out money downtown to go to Herrell’s or one of the many cash only restaurants in Noho it was convenient. I had a fair number of jobs in town that paid me by check or if my parents sent me money it was all by check, so having a live branch was important. </p>
<p>Plus, I wanted a national bank so I could easily access my money when I went home to Seattle. </p>
<p>Paying the fee at the CC ATM was a pain, and bank of America is hardly the most pleasant bank to deal with, but considering my other needs, Bank of America made the most sense. </p>
<p>There are tons of banks in downtown Noho though, so you have a wide choice if you’re going to set up a local account.</p>
<p>Is there a Wells Fargo?</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a wells fargo actually (unless one sprung up over the summer). There’s several regional and local banks, and then there’s a Bank of America. There might be a Wells Fargo in Amherst, you should try checking the Wells website and see.</p>
<p>D had her account at BankNorth, for which there was an advantage but I’ve forgotten what it was. More convenient than Easthampton, which had the advantage of running the ATM’s on campus.</p>
<p>My D is now in residence at Smith–everything went well, as you all said it would. For Firsties, the adventure begins!</p>
<p>We have the car packed and are ready to go in the am - Prairie what part of campus is your daughter in? Congrats!!</p>
<p>Thanks! She’s on Green Street, in Lawrence.</p>