Please Chance Rising Senior for Smith

Colleges and Universities A-Z Smith College
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<p>I never thought I would be considering a women's college at this point but so many things about Smith seems so right for me and I am hoping someone can chance me. I am coming from a very well respected all girls private school and take an extremely rigorous courseload although my GPA has suffered accordingly. Lousy test taker and I know Smith is test optional so that speaks to me as well. I am interested and working towards a film/cinema studies major.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.31 (B+). Two languages, 4 years each incl. Spanish Honors, Honors Pre-Calc, AP English Lit this year. Full elective load too including Film for last three years. Taking AP Calc next year.</p>

<p>SAT: 1950 combined...dismal SAT ii"s and must retake.</p>

<p>Extras: 5 year Varsity swimming, Peer Leader, Section Editor School paper, Founder, Film Society Club. Year round city swim team, community service as swim coach for non-profit swim camp in summer, internship w/media finance firm, Swim camp, Barnard pre-college this year in film and psycology.</p>

<p>Any help would be highly appreciated. Visiting Smith in August and am really excited.</p>

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<p>Kalodie1, I think you have a reasonable chance of being admitted, but I’m certainly not an expert at this. It wouldn’t hurt to retake whatever tests you think you could improve on. Will AP Calc be your only AP course next year? If you can take another, I’d recommend it. My D took AP Calc this last year (she’s starting in the fall) and it was tough, but she did very well. I think your ECs look fine to me. When you visit in August, will you be interviewing? I’d strongly recommend you have one; in my experience, I think interviews are especially important in applying to women’s colleges as they want that personal experience to know who you are. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you for your advice. THere are not a ton of AP choices for next year but I am continuing with Honors Spanish which will be my fifth year. All girls who have applied from my school in the past have been admitted, some with lower stats than mine. I am hoping coming from an all girls school will help. I did set up an interview during my visit and will retake all tests in the fall although I am not so optimistic at this point. I guess it will really come down to my transcript and the focus of my major which may be a plus at a school like Smith…at least that is what I am hoping…film/media studies.</p>

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<p>An article that appeared in the most recent edition of “NewsSmith” (Smith magazine mailed to me as the parent of a Smithie) spoke to their admissions process. </p>

<p>The Dean of Enrollment, Audrey Smith, says, “We take a holistic and individual approach in reviewing applications for admission. We look at every applicant in the context of the opportunities she’s had available to her and what she has made of them. We are looking for women of talent, intelligence and promise, and we’re confident of our ability to find them.” </p>

<p>I wish I could give you a more specific answer on your chances given your stats. Other Smithie parents are undoubtedly more qualified to judge. </p>

<p>I can tell you about my daughter, but I don’t know if she is typical. She earned all A’s in HS in all Honors and AP classes, 34/35 ACT, high 700’s SAT IIs, NHS, Cum Laude, Quill & Scroll Honor Society, NM, AP National Scholar, Varsity athlete, All-Academic athlete, Varsity Scholastic Bowl, 1st place genetics in state Science Olympiad, 2nd degree Black Belt/instructor tae kwon do, organized an annual fund raiser for leukemia research, worked in a college professor’s psychobiology lab during two summers, editor of and published in school literary magazine, first chair French horn in top ensemble, sang in private choir/toured internationally, self-published novel. </p>

<p>As you can see, she was insanely busy and highly accomplished. I don’t know if her profile is required by or representative of Smith.</p>

<p>Enjoy your visit to Northampton this summer. Be sure to stop in at Herrell’s for an ice cream cone :slight_smile: The very best of luck to you!!</p>

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<p>When I applied to Smith, I thought that I had a slim chance of being accepted due to poor test scores. But through many discussions with my guidance counselor I realized that I had to showcase all my abilities. I’ve been in involved with sports all four years, I am a first chair cellist, student senator, MVP Track athlete, part of my goverance group, I interned in the pathology, cardiology, and radiation departments at a local hospital, I am part of the National Honors Society, National Latin Honor Society, Junior Classical League, Delta Sigma Theta Academy etc. </p>

<p>Because I was so involved with things that interested me, my test scores did not really bother me too much. Luckily, I am going to Smith this fall. If you think that your test scores need improvement then work hard on bringning up your scores. Make sure you are very involved in extra curricular activities and just try to show them who you are through your application when the time comes. </p>

<p>oh yea, make sure that you def. get an on campus interview or even a alumnae interview. When you go for your visit at Smith, check out the bathrooms in the art gallery very cool, and the shopping is amamzing. Good Luck.</p>

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<p>THanks again. I am really focused on film and to that end I founded my school’s first Film Society which I am pretty excited about. I am also taking a film course at Barnard this Summer and have taken production/film studies course in school for three years. I am hoping to showcase my interest in that field despite lousy scores. I have studies and prepped for these tests for months and simply can not ace them but will have a solid B+ GPA from an extremely rigorous school. I also am a competitive swimmer and feel really confident about good recommendations from coaches and teachers. I guess I will never know if I do not try, right?</p>

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<p>Kalodie: I had an A/A- avg but my first round of SAT scores was horrendous. I studied and brought them up by A LOT. Just keep studying hard and show how passionate you are in what you do. Interview is a must in my opinion! I also pm’ed you.</p>

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<p>THanks everyone…I am cautiously hopeful.</p>

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<p>Kalodie1 SAT scores are optional at Smith :slight_smile: but my D who is going in the fall has a side interest in Film and when looking at the course listings said that the department at Smith is very small. If film is a major interest you might want to consider that.</p>

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<p>Smith showed up on the NACAC list of schools with openings as still available, so this year’s admissions season did not go to well. The few applicants (5) that I spoke to said that Smith’s FA package/total COA was the worst of all their choices; they all said no. From these two factors, I would discount any admission stats available on public sources as outdated. In the current economic and competitive environment, Smith is going to have to change their tune to fill seats. </p>

<p>Really do focus on the holistic aspect of the application process, and retake tests. You’ll be fine.</p>

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<p>The NACAC list openings were for transfers not reg admissions and that was prior to when Smith notifuies - transfers are notified later than regular admits and FYI the financial aid package for a number of kids we know was comparable to other LAC’s maybe not as good as bigger U’s</p>

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<p>I am pretty convinced that optional means hardly a chance if you do not submit…mine are not horrific and my writing is pretty high and with a focus on film studies I am thinking that may help. I will not be seeking any kind of aid so maybe that will help as well. I think it is important in a film program to have a strong LA base in addition to a school with great alum resources. Some film schools are solely focused on the topic and I think that may not give me the most options post graduation. Does that make sense?</p>

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<p>TS, facts have never been your forte. Actually, Smith had one of most impressive and largest applicant pools in history…same for MHC and other elite LACs. As overwhelmedma stated, Smith was briefly listed on the NACAC website b/c as of the May, 1 query, transfer applications were still being accepted. The deadline was May, 15</p>

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<p>I thought it sounded too good to be true.</p>

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<p>Why does toadstool have such a problem with Smith. From everything I read and heard, it is a wonderful place for many students.</p>

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<p>I was wondering the exact same thing, Queen’s Mom. Why does Toadstool have such a negative view towards Smith? My daughter is a student and we are all so pleased with Smith.</p>

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<p>His rancor isn’t limited to Smith. Toad also has an issue with MHC, Prep schools (I assume his daughter’s) and lesbians in general. I have no idea why he has nothing to say about gay males. Maybe there’s a closet too close to home he isn’t telling us about.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/732328-transportation-permission-poll-3.html#post1062797600toadstool[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/732328-transportation-permission-poll-3.html#post1062797600toadstool&lt;/a&gt; -</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/732328-transportation-permission-poll-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/732328-transportation-permission-poll-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Toad is also distraught with the less fortunate students attending Northfield Mount Hermon Prep.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/730437-anyone-here-got-accepted-got-full-near-full-fa-if-so-what-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/730437-anyone-here-got-accepted-got-full-near-full-fa-if-so-what-school.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Kalodie, you’re a perfectly plausible candidate for Smith, especially if your hs is as competitive as you indicate. I don’t think you’re necessarily a slam dunk but my own gut feeling, after years of watching this, is “probable.” I’m glad you’re excited about Smith. A small bit of personal experience: I became jazzed about Smith during the first “prospect party” D attended as an hs junior. (Good thing, because Smith really got her attention at the same party.) All through the search and admissions process, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, the “oh, it’s not quite as good as we thought” reaction. D did an overnight in 11th grade and another in 12th grade at decision time. Attended several more events with current Smithies here at home. And you know what? The shoe never dropped. </p>

<p>Four years of attending Smith, I still kept waiting for the bloom to fade a level. There has been very little unhappiness: a bit too much PC, a financial burden that makes me say “OUCH!” but for which I can’t say they were unfair in comparison to others, and this current retrocranially inverted idea of eliminating the chaplains…heck, for a lot of schools I could come up with as many negative features in three days.</p>

<p>CD, a party game: sometimes a holistic approach to understanding something works but sometimes breaking down in detail provides a glimmer of understanding. Your screen name, Crew + Dad, makes perfect sense. You can break other screen names down similarly for even more illumination. A wink is as good as a nod, eh?</p>

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<p>Thank you for your thoughts and advise TheDad. I can say with all confidence that my high school is very well known and, dare I say it, prestigious with a very rigorous reputation. I am sure the financial burden stings my parents too as tuition goes up and up every year but I know they feel that it is worth it. Little problems here and there? Yes but would have never considered leaving as many do for boarding in 9th grade. Very strong sense of community and empowerment. All that being said your description of Smith sounds like such a good fit even though my GPA may be below the average. If the holistic approach is true I hope they consider the school I am coming from and like I said before, there have been girls with stats way lower than mine who were accepted regular decision. A girl can dream can’t she? As far as the negatives go that have been posted here and else where I really believe that fit is so important. There are people who have left my school who are bitter and ended up hating it for whatever reason…it is all about personal experience I think. Thanks again…going up in a few weeks to tour and interview.</p>

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<p>…say no more!!!</p>

<p>;)</p>