<p>Hi, I'm not a parent but this thread seems to give more detailed and accurate answers. I looked on the Simmons College thread, but it doesn't seem to be active.</p>
<p>Anyways, I was just wondering if someone could give me a little more information about Simmons? Specifically their financial/merit aid and its reputation around Boston and the country? And the atmosphere if one of your children attends? Do you know what their best academic programs are, and how their pre-med is?</p>
<p>I've heard good and bad. Mostly good about the academics and city (since it is Boston obviously...), but I've heard a lot of indifference as far as anything else goes (financial aid, social life, dorms, etc).</p>
<p>I think it'd be pretty much a safety, but right now merit aid is kind of important so I'm wondering whether their financial need aid is pretty decent throughout the 4 years that you are there?</p>
<p>I know two girls who go/went there. Both were good students and got excellent merit aid. One left after the first semester and is now at another good school. Although the academics are OK, I hear it lacks the typical college community feel. I'm sure you know it's all women and it attracts a ton of older women who are doing a career change or women who never got the chance to go to college when they were younger. These women have families and are commuters. I don't think it should be a top choice for a girl right out of high school.</p>
<p>I worked at Simmon for five years and found both the students and the alumnae to be very enthusiastic about their experience. The undergraduate college is all-women; however, most of the grad schools admit men. Faculty members are accessible, alumnae enjoy networking with current students and younger alums, and there is a wonderful cameraderie. Being a small college, students can get the individual attention they need. Physically, its location is excellent (close to to two subways lines and several bus lines as well as shopping, Fenway Park, and two major art museums) and it's part of the Colleges of the Fenway, so there are opportunities to get together with others schools such as Wheelock, Emmanuel, and Wentworth Institute of Technology that are nearby. There are two campuses - the academic campus and the residence campus - separated by Emmanuel College. A lot has been done to upgrade the facilities.</p>
<p>As for financial aid, I'm pretty sure that the aid is good b/c one of S's friends who's there wouldn't be able to attend without substantial aid.</p>
<p>I would agree with 1ofeach. There are a lot of older students, returning after raising families, or changing careers. Although the location is excellent, and there are other nearby colleges, even those have a good number of commuting students (Emmanuel, Wheelock) and some older, career changers (particularly true at Wheelock). </p>
<p>For a "typical" campus experience, I don't think Simmons would be it.</p>