<p>D was accepted to Wellesley, Mt. Holyoke and Smith. We just came back from overnights at Smith and Wellesley to help decide and she will be attending the MHC admitted student overnight next week. So far she loved Smith! However, while at Wellesley the students couldn't say enough about the intensity of the faculty commitment to their needs and the quality of the advising. In fact, she sat in on a neurocience capstone seminar for seniors (only 8 in class) where an assignments included preparing research manuscripts for submission for publication, writing a grant and developing grad school applications. Very necessary skills and future focused for science students. Was wondering if anyone could provide feedback on the Smith advising and involvement of the faculty - especially in the sciences/neuroscience.</p>
<p>I’m afraid I can’t say much about advising in the sciences, but in the humanities I’ve found my professors to be incredibly encouraging and supportive! This year, my Shakespeare professor helped me revise and develop my final paper from her class further and encouraged me to submit it to a conference (where my proposal was accepted and I will be presenting the paper). This professor is also working with me on developing a special studies for next year where I will write a paper and work on getting it published. My friends in the sciences have never seemed to have trouble getting in on research that their professors are doing, and Smith has lots of funding and support for research in the sciences!</p>
<p>congratulations on the paper. That is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to hear. I do wonder about the sciences too</p>
<p>There is a wide range of advising and support for science students at Smith, starting with first-year students. At orientation there is a session (on a lawn if the weather is nice) where faculty members from each department gather and answer questions from first-year and transfer students (and their parents). My daughter talked to several science department heads and professors at that session and got answers to a number of questions she had about class placement. Students get an initial advisor for their first year, then are assigned an advisor in their major when they declare it (usually sophomore year). If they have questions that their initial advisor can’t answer, it’s easy to talk to or email faculty or the dept head in the appropriate field. (The above applies to all students, not just science students.)</p>
<p>Smith has a research conference for its students each April. This allows everyone to see the variety of research at the college as well as for students to get experience preparing for and presenting at a conference. The conference is aimed at all majors, but includes a poster session specifically for science research. This year there are 118 science posters being presented by students or groups of students ranging from first-years to seniors. Search “Celebrating Collaborations” on the Smith web site for more info and a schedule. It’s interesting to note that while a lot of the research was done in research and thesis projects, a number of the posters are reporting on research done in classes. Many of these students go on to present at external conferences.</p>
<p>Smith has a lot of support for applying to graduate and professional school via its Lazarus Center for Career Development. Students planning to go to graduate school start working on their applications with a Lazarus center advisor in the spring of their junior year and continue interacting with the advisor over the summer. The school also provides much support for applying for fellowships. For example, as a result of this support, its students have received more Fulbright fellowships than any other college over the past seven years.</p>
<p>Thanks photodad - that was exactly the kind of feedback that I was hoping for. Do you know if a major can be declared as an entering freshman?</p>
<p>I’m a current Smithie (gov major) and my favorite thing about Smith is the amazing relationship you have with professors. I can’t really speak to the sciences but every professor I’ve had has been amazing!!</p>
<p>I think you have to wait until sophomore year to declare a major as the school likes students to consider different areas during their first year. However, if you’re thinking of majoring in something with a lot of requirements and/or prerequisites (like biochemistry or engineering), it’s a good idea to take several of those classes during the first year.</p>
<p>rapamom-- My daughter is a first year at Smith. She choose Smith over Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke and the University of Florida. She is a Biology major following a pre health track. Her advisor is a full professor in the Biology Department and the director for one of that Department’s areas of concentration. Also, she works on research in his lab as a STRIDE student. I’m a professor myself, and could not imagine closer quality contact for a freshman in the advisement and research arena than what Smith has provided. </p>
<p>Just my .02</p>
<p>David</p>
<p>David, that sounds wonderful. I’m glad you mentioned STRIDE. Given my d is not a STRIDE recipient, I was concerned that this might leave her in the dust - a two tier system, STRIDE and then everyone else. I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this.</p>
<p>There are definitely plenty of research opportunities for students even outside the STRIDE program. Each semester, there are research positions advertised on the Smith JobX site (where students can apply for on and off campus jobs), and there’s SURF, which I’m not too familiar with, but is essentially paid summer research in the sciences on campus with a professor. I was asked by one of my education professors my sophomore year to do some research with him, so it definitely happens more informally as well. Additionally, you can do a Special Studies with a professor (which is a self-designed independent research course with a professor) for credit.</p>
<p>rapamom— From what I hear from my daughter and what I gather participating on the Smith Family Facebook site, no one gets lost short on advisement at Smith. </p>
<p>Just my biased, generality opinions, but I found Mount Holyoke too isolated – I guess if I were there I’d always want easier access to Northampton. For us, Bryn Mawr is pretty small and Philadelphia I can take or leave-- tough town. eh, big urban. Wellesley I like a bunch. It’s a top tier academic environment with quality faculty. Wellesley’s problem for me is it is 12 miles outside Boston in a fancy little town that simply is not Northampton. My D, plus my wife and me really enjoy Northampton – what’s not to like! Further, Fall and Spring semester, my D’s Smith faculty/instructors have pedigree that are 2nd to none. As an academic snob (ha!) I like that. You get what you pay for at Smith.</p>
<p>Good luck with your D’s decision.</p>
<p>.02</p>
<p>David</p>
<p>David - we love Northampton too! My husband, 15 year old and I would all like to come visit her there. It is definately one of the things that she liked about Smith - not being isolated, but being part of a funky town. We are education snobs as well, so I appreciate your take on the faculty pedigree. It was one reason Wellesley was tempting. If the financial aid is right, then it looks like SMith is it!</p>
<p>rapamom-- I do not know where you are located but we are Floridians. Much my surprise coming and going to Smith/Northampton turned out to be quite easy. Jet Blue has two, sometimes three direct flights per day in and out of Harford/Bradley airport. We grab a rental car at the airport and hop on the Interstate north – 30 minutes we are at the daughter’s residence. We’ve stayed a couple times at the Autumn Inn which is basically at the campus. We enjoyed an Amherst bed/breakfast the last time we visited and plan to do more BB’s. Check out the Smith residences – they were a big selling point for my D. </p>
<p>Again, good luck with the decision.</p>
<p>.02</p>
<p>David</p>
<p>My own d is an English major as well. Her advisor is the Chair of the Department. Most of her teachers have been full or at least associate professors. The quality of the advisement has been very good. He is helping her with her junior year abroad application and other aspects of her academic career.</p>
<p>BTW I believe you <em>can</em> declare your major during your first year. However, most people wait until Sophomore year for the reason noted below. </p>
<p>(From the Smith catalog:“students declare their majors no later than the registration period during the second semester of their sophomore year but may declare them earlier.”)</p>
<p>I was also accepted this year. My father did some research and told me that Smith receives the most research funds from the NIH out of all the liberal arts colleges. I think this demonstrates there is a lot of funding and support involved with the sciences at Smith.</p>
<p>Particularly in sciences there is more than enough research to go around. In the math department, we have NSF money and other departments get NIH money. I know tons of people working in labs and professors are very willing to have summer students.</p>
<p>Also, note that there is a big emphasis at Smith on moving students to Fulbrights if they so choose. This is big not only within STRIDE scholars but also across all students who have the aptitude and interest. While I am not SO sold on Fulbrights equaling a great life, it is a strong part of the advising process and one the School supports greatly. And the numbers prove it as Smith takes top honors. So to the OP’s question of strength of advising, my D would give emphatic thumbs up regardless if she is Fulbright focused. Navigating to a JYA in Paris is one of the results… Now if we can just get a scholarship for parents to visit…</p>
<p>This has been so helpful. I am even more excited about Smith now than I was before.</p>