<p>Hi Everyone.</p>
<p>This seems like a pretty basic question (probably one that I should already know the answer to) but, what are the general requirements, outside of your major. I know you are required to take a certain amount of foreign language but other then that, I've never been entirely sure if there were requirements/what they were. So yea, let me know!</p>
<p>Since Smith has an open curriculum, there actually are no requirements outside of your major to graduate except a writing intensive course. Most first-years take theirs through a first-year seminar. FYS’ come in all shapes and sizes, from courses focusing on history, all the way to courses focusing on math and science, you’ll be able to see the final list in the spring. </p>
<p>So you actually aren’t required to take a foreign language :)</p>
<p>^ I don’t think most first years take them in FYS’, but they take them somehow. There’s a wide variety of writing intensive courses and there are some in pretty much every department/discipline. You do have to take the WI course your first year, but you can pick the semester. </p>
<p>sdangelo, I don’t know where you heard about the foreign language requirement? There are only two requirements at Smith: one is to take the WI course your first year, and two is to take half of your courses outside of your major department. </p>
<p>However, if you want to try to graduate with Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or just cum laude added to your diploma, the honors are given out to the students based on their GPA, but not including grades from first-year or study abroad grades), you have to take at least one class in each of the “seven areas of knowledge”: Literature, Social Science, Historical Studies, Natural Science, Foreign Language, the Arts, and Math/analytical science. Anyone who takes a course in those seven areas is eligible for latin honors, but only the top 25% of each class actually earns the honor (and the level of honor you earn depends on where your GPA falls in the field). </p>
<p>Hope that clears things up.</p>
<p>S&P, a footnote on Latin Honors: I believe study abroad grades <em>are</em> counted in the GPA if they are from one of the four Smith-run programs, but are <em>not</em> counted in the GPA for the dozens of other abroad programs run by other institutions in which Smithies participate. Hence D has three different Smith GPA’s: overall (including abroad), overall Smith (including first year), and Latin Honors (overall Smith but not including first year).</p>
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<p>This is how I understand it.</p>
<p>thanks so much! that’s totally helpful!</p>
<p>i could’ve sworn that during an information session I was told there was a foreign language requirement but, i likely mixed up that fact with one of the countless other information sessions i attended throughout the application process. thanks for clearing that up!</p>
<p>i am even more excited to choose my classes/first year seminar for next year!!!</p>
<p>can’t fall just come already?!</p>
<p>That’s correct, if you’re on one of the 4 Smith programs your study abroad grades are counted.</p>
<p>Which is why, from what I’ve heard, I think it’s a little tougher on Latin Honors if you participate in a Smith-run program. The cost of a distraction or lapse due to being abroad is higher if your GPA takes a ding on a Smith-run program…your plate is even more full of stuff to do when you’re abroad then when you’re at Smith. I’m not saying this a huge thing…the maximum spread on D’s three GPA’s is .03, but .03 can make a difference if you’re near a borderline. And I definitely would not make that a consideration about which abroad program to go on…pick the one that’s the best fit for you and don’t look back.</p>
<p>sdangelo - there is a language requirement for study abroad in a non english speaking country - maybe that was the source of the confusion?</p>
<p>overwhelmedma, that must be what i had been thinking of! we’ve all been thrown so much information about requirements, applications, essays, financial aid, housing, yadayadayada that i honestly have a hard time keeping up. thanks for clearly everything up :)</p>
<p>purely for curiosities sake, i was wondering if someone could give me a couple examples of these first year seminars? are they just classes in all different departments exclusively for freshman? what types of classes would these be? anyone interested in sharing their experiences in first year seminars?</p>
<p>^^there are examples from Fall O9 on this!</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College: Course Catalog](<a href=“http://catalog.smith.edu/]Smith”>http://catalog.smith.edu/)
just click on the older stuff and check them out!</p>
<p>FYS’ are basically unique because they’re all first-years, they’re small and intensive, and the prof knows you’re all new to college so they’ll hold your hand a little bit. They’ll take more time explaining the paper prompts, they’ll probably require you go to the Jacobson Center and have someone read your paper, they’ll basically just cut you some more slack. Whereas in a regular class, where there’s a broad mix of years, they’ll be moving a lot faster and they won’t always have time to stop and hold your hand unless you come to office hours and tell them that you’re struggling (a good, good idea if you really are). </p>
<p>Plus, FYS’ are fun! You won’t have another opportunity to be in a seminar until you’re a junior or a senior most likely, and even if an FYS isn’t as much work as a REAL seminar, it gives you a bit of taste. Definitely look at last year’s offerings, but keep in mind not all of them are taught every year. </p>
<p>Also remember that if you don’t take an FYS it’s not the END OF THE WORLD. I didn’t take one, and I turned out fine. I think.</p>
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D took one Gov class second semester where she was one of three first-years in the class. The speed of the pitching, so to speak, was very very fast.</p>
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Ohhhh…<em>that</em> explains it.</p>