Questions

<p>My friend recently suggested Smith to me, and I looked into it and found that I really like it a lot. One thing though, that worries me is whether you can meet boys. I know there is the five college consortium, but I heard those are mostly superficial boys looking for one night of fun or something, and that it is hard to have an actual relationship...?</p>

<p>Also, I'm 100% straight and I come from a family that is not very open minded (i'm just being honest, for example, they'll see a gay couple kissing and they'll go, 'disgusting!'). Anyways, that's my family, not me. BUT, I was just wondering if I would feel pressured, or uncomfortable being totally straight or if I would be able to fit in?</p>

<p>Finally, my parents haven't heard of Smith before I told them about it, so they are hesitant on me applying. In fact, they were hesitant on me applying to Barnard until I told them it was affiliated with Columbia. That calmed them down a little. My parents are VERY prestige and name driven. As you can see, we have a lot of differences haha. Any way I can convince them that it IS a great school? They know about Wellesley by name (mainly because of Clinton), but not about Smith.</p>

<p>Thanks so much everyone!! Sorry for all the questions.</p>

<p>Check out the last few pages of the Smith thread that's been going on forever regarding gay culture and pressure at Smith.</p>

<p>Boys will be boys. I'm not going to save "never" because I don't believe in that but you would be very hard pressed to find "real" relationships in college. Some women lucked out. Many, well, didn't or maybe they just chose not to seek out while trying to prepare themselves for the real world. People claim that Colgate's notorious for its hook-up scene but I think it's pretty much anywhere as many of my friends at other schools have remained mostly single throughout their time in college. So you can take classes or go to parties at UMass and Amherst (and maybe Hampshire if you're so inclined) and meet guys but it takes a while to cultivate friendships and relationships. Also you might find that you'll just be happier not having a relationship to stress you out while trying to build your own success and resume and a close circle of girlfriends.</p>

<p>The only pressure I really ever felt (aside from normal first year stuff) was the academics. You might feel a little pressured socially but if you just speak up, your Smith friends and housemates will back off and give you space. Just remember, these women are very passionate about their causes and lives so sometimes we all need to tone down a little. Smith can drive anyone nuts but realize that campus cultivates the kind of culture that promotes tolerance and free speech. And oh, gay people have good "gaydar" to figure out who's straight and who's not. They most likely wont' hit on you.</p>

<p>Smith IS a big name. As I was applying for things and people are usually impressed that I went to Smith, even just for a year. People "in the know" really respect Smith. Just take a look at the list of alums somewhere. Smith has contracts with big name engineering schools like Dartmouth and Michigan for its engineering graduates. Smith has produced the most Fulbright winners of all schools. Smith sends its science students off to top graduate schools for PhDs as well as med schools (okay, Harvard is still a long shot for anyone). It's what you make of the Smith degree that counts, including your network. Give your parents a brochure and they'll believe it.</p>

<p>Meeting guys really depends on your own level of committment. Guys come to Smith to take classes and go to parties and you can participate in clubs and organizations at the other five colleges as well as taking classes there, so there's plenty of options, but it's really a matter of how much time do you have to take advantage of that with all the other things in your Smith life and how important is that to you personally. I know girls at Smith that spend most weekends partying with guys either on or off campus and I know other girls who, while certainly not opposed to meeting men, don't make it a huge focus of their socializing. </p>

<p>One of the things that's nice about women's colleges like Smith is that you can easily compartamentalize your life. So you can have "dating time" and "school/friends time" be separate. I find that this helps me put more energy into each pursuit because I'm focusing wholly on one thing at a time. </p>

<p>Being straight at Smith is definitely NOT a problem (I'm straight!). Most Smithies are in fact straight. Gay or bisexual Smithies are in the minority, but Smith is a place where a lot of these women finally find the freedom to be themselves and to date. It might seem like gay smithies are the majority because on campus, most of the couples you see will be student-student couples and thus, female-female couples. People are very open about their relationships on campus so it's common to see women holding hands, kissing, what have you. </p>

<p>That doesn't mean that straight people are discriminated against or don't fit in however, quite the opposite. I've found the attitude is very much "be who you want to be and let others do the same." No one will try to "turn you gay" or any of the other alarmist nonsense people spew about Smith. If anything, hanging out with all these awesome women will confirm your straightness. </p>

<p>That being said, if the idea of being around gay people makes you uncomfortable (not judging here, just making a point), you probably won't be comfortable at Smith. You'll encounter a lot of different sexualities here, from gay to bi to asexual to transgender. It can be very educational, but also cause a little culture shock. You just kind of have to be open to other people's definitions of themselves and be secure in your definition of yourself.</p>

<p>wow, thanks so much for taking the time to reply,
i couldn't have asked for better responses, they are very helpful to me.</p>