I am not the one who said it, but I do think STEM schools tend to be more apolitical compared to other types of schools. I’m not sure I’d credit it to a problem focus. Possibly more on the average student there having less interest in general in politics/social sciences/current events.
Thanks, @intparent – the issue wasn’t whether they were apolitical. The issue from my POV is that it’s asserted that STEM schools are “actually designing working solutions to problems” – and the implication is that other schools, schools that “argue” are not solving problems. That “arguing” is a waste of time. Or to use the terminology of the person who posted, those schools that “argue” are not " actually designing working solutions to problems." – It’s a ridiculous statement, false on its face, that any school that has a spirited argument is not also actually solving problems. That would eliminate all law schools, for example. Those are institutions that foster the art of arguing in order to solve – design if you will – actual solutions for real world problems.
SMH
Time to get back to OP’s questions . . .
Sounds like some of the advice here is coming from people who’s daughter’s didn’t actually attend Smith, so take that for what it is worth. My daughter is currently attending Smith. She is liberal, cis, straight, and from a very conservative part of the country. There is no political brain washing going on there - frankly, my D stays pretty darn busy with homework and sports and doesn’t have time to participate in much else. Some of her friends are more liberal than her and some are more conservative and some have parents that are actual republicans. I think that if you are conservative and are bothered by open displays of inclusion and diversity, Smith could be hard for you…but I just don’t think that it’s going to warp anyone. Re: the engineering program, there seem to be a lot of girls getting great jobs out of college from that program. I would reach out to the school and ask specific questions if you are concerned - but the Smith network opens doors to great internships (paid via praxis) where you would get the practical application. Is it different than attending an Engineering program/school at a big University? Yes. But you must have your reason for looking at a small LAC like Smith.
OP, I would echo @soobbe ‘s comment above (#22). My D is there now, into the deep end of the engineering/physics/math pool. Your parents’ ‘brainwashing’ concerns are unfounded. Early on into the research process, I read the same articles that you read, and had similar concerns. However, after looking closely at the school and what it had to offer, I realized that the newspaper article writers had it very wrong. Recommend doing what Smith women do–be fact-based and form your own opinion.
The way you put it, I assume you’re still in your college search process and haven’t applied anywhere yet.
That being the case, why don’t you try to compromise: Make a deal with your parents to visit all of the schools you get into and apply to Smith along with some other schools they feel safer with. After admission decisions come out, you’ll have the chance to experience all of the opportunities along with your parents, and you all will be able to cut the speculation and figure out firsthand what works for you and them.
I would not worry about brainwashing. Will you get exposure to some very interesting ideas voiced by passionate people? Yes. However, I think that my second year Smithie’s critical thinking skills have shot through the roof. Primarily because of this exposure. I certainly wouldn’t pay for mindless brainwashing and she appreciates the irony of a marxist/socialist professor profiting off of a private university payroll.
Also, while at Smith she met her first boyfriend (a UMass student). Boys do exist in Northampton and the surrounding area.
There is no part of me that regrets writing that check twice a year. I wish it was smaller but that’s a different issue.
Also, there’s an intervarsity fellowships of Christian athletes (for evangelical Christians, not just athletes) and a Baptist group. There is a Republican club, too.
Not every student is political or even liberal leaning. Ignore posters who opted not to go there or who have daughters who opted not to go there, there’s a whole chunk of Smith population that isn’t overtly political. Some of these replies smack of ignorance of what student life is actually like. Yes, you will need to be open minded and respectful of other cultures and diversity, but you don’t have to be politically active to enjoy your experience.
Yeah, I’m amazed by all the vague imprecations on this post. You’re an adult. How can you be brain-washed to be a liberal?
At my DD’s tour, the guide said “You have the rest of your life to live in a Co-Ed world. Why not take this special time to be in a female environment?” Won us over…
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Oof. I moved from the beautiful, liberal, west coast to some of the most conservative parts of the South, and I wouldn’t consider it an armpit at all. Both have their pros and cons.
I am a very moderate person, so this forced political atmosphere does worry me. I will have to visit Smith for myself.
And yes, people can be ‘brainwashed.’ Even as adults. One is often influenced by the people they are surrounded by, subconsciously or no.
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I’m a student at Smith right now, and tbh you can take yourself out of politics if you wants to. Obviously, you’ll be hearing a lot of liberal thoughts (and you really can’t publicly disagree), but I sometimes do disagree in my head and have found other friends who agree with me. (I used to consider myself liberal, but after coming to Smith I think I’m probably more moderate)
Well let’s look at other LACs that offer Engineering in the northeast, in case you did decide to replace Smith on your list with another LAC, or to give yourself another option:
- Swarthmore (also left mostly, but not as in-your-face, probably, as Smith)
- Lafayette
- Bucknell
A slew of universities in the northeast, obviously, offer Eng as well.
Trinity College in CT and Union College in NY also offer engineering.
The MHC-UMass dual degree in engineering program is worth a close look.
My D is a first-year at Smith. She went there with some very strong liberal opinions. At first I think she felt very much reinforced, but over the course of the year I have heard her several times questioning the orthodoxy of those same beliefs, or looking at them with a lot more nuance than she did in the past. On at least two occasions this happened when she went to a talk by one of the many amazing guest speakers who visits campus, who did not answer a question the way that she and her friends expected. It is clearly a left-leaning population – as is all of Northampton, frankly – but it falls far short of brainwashing, because it’s an intellectual community where questioning is encouraged and everything is open to discussion.
@Bullseye1952: This is a fascinating thread.
Who will be paying your college expenses ?
I am impressed by your conviction that Smith is the school for you.
Be true to yourself, but fair to your parents. Make a deal. If you apply to Smith, you will also apply to other colleges & universities which meet your requirements. If accepted, then you will visit all with an open mind.
Let’s hope you’re not already a “crazy” liberal. And in that case, it is quite unlikely that Smith will convert you. There are a small percentage of activist liberals who will attempt to dictate any narrative they do not agree with. For an open and critical thinker, this can present some interesting internal conflicts, i.e. you want to support a particular agenda, but don’t want to go about it through Antifa methodology; such as shutting down invited guest speakers.
DD is a current freshman and has found herself presented with this exact situation. Unfortunately, in today’s college environment it can be risky to present an alternative viewpoint to the accepted ideology. We are seeing this throughout the country and Smith is no exception.
I’m currently a Smithie and from my experience, a lot of Smith STUDENTS are liberal, especially when it comes to LGBT rights and feminism, which is to be expected. However, being socially liberal/being around socially liberal people does not necessarily “turn you into a socialist” (socialism is more of an economic concept anyway).
There is also a difference between what you learn in a class and the politics of the people in the class. I am a government major and no teacher has ever tried to sway my political beliefs one way or the other, so I doubt there is any “brainwashing” going on in the educational component of Smith. You may feel more pressure from the students around you (or not, if you’re already liberal), but honestly, even as a gov major, I don’t talk about politics that much outside of class unless I explicitly bring it up. As long as you are able to think critically, you are in charge of your beliefs. Hearing a bunch of liberal arguments won’t turn you into a liberal unless you are actually convinced by the argument.
Also: most small liberal arts colleges on the east coast are pretty liberal anyway, I don’t understand why people are trying to convince you to pick another school (especially in areas you don’t want to go) if you really want to go to Smith. Definitely, keep your options open, but it’s okay to want to go to Smith. I’m from California and I don’t like it there. Nothing against the people ( I was born and raised there), it’s just not the right place for me.
If you have any questions about Smith please feel free to message me!