<p>Well, this is going to sound like the dumbest question in the history of questions, but how is the interaction with boys? </p>
<p>When I applied to Smith, I knew it was going to be a different experience going to an all-girls school. I also applied to Barnard, which I've visited and adored. I feel as though Smith is more isolated from men than Barnard is, for the reason that Smith really has no co-ed counterpart.</p>
<p>My sister almost attended Smith a couple years back, and she wishes that she had chosen Smith. About the boy situation, she says that the Five College system allows for plenty of interaction with boys.</p>
<p>I love Smith and everything, but I'm feeling a bit hesitant. Being surrounded by your best girl friends all the time is fun and all, but sometimes you just need to get away from it.</p>
<p>OMg....not a dumb ques. i was going to ask the same question, glad I'm not feeling alone on that....thats my only serious problem with smith, girls can get well, tiresome. Thats one of the things I want to look into when i visit, btw where di your sister end up going?</p>
<p>yea, i'll second that question. the ultimate beliefs are either 1. the girls can get too catty or 2. if you're ok w/, but not ready for a complete immersion into a liberal setting...is smith not for you? i always considered myself liberal, but the backdrop was a highly conservative area...as amazing as smith is, i wouldn't want to go unless i was pretty sure that i'd fit in somehow...sounds shallow, but esp w/ a lac i think it's an important thing to consider</p>
<p>My sister actually ended up going to Carnegie Mellon, pretty much the polar opposite of Smith. She was surrounded by engineering guys all the time, and perhaps that's why she wishes she had been around more girls.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm worried that I'm going to get lost in the crowd at Smith. They're all amazingly outspoken, and I admire them for that, but I don't know that I would fit in.</p>
<p>On boys- From what I've heard the only real change will be no boys in the classroom. What you do outside of that is on your terms. Basically, if you want to date, you will & shouldn't have much trouble. </p>
<p>On the liberal setting - I was somewhat concerned with that as well, feeling that I'm a liberal but much more moderate than most of the girls at Smith. However, I'm sure there will be plenty of people who feel the same way & that I could relate with if I attend Smith, and I would be fine with having some super liberal friends. I think being surrounded by outspoken girls would help me to become more active & vocal, since I'm passive & quiet by nature - atleast I hope it would help & not be overwhelming...</p>
<p>I'm liberal compared to where I grew up (conservative central Pennsylvania), still liberal at Smith, but not as far left as some of my counterparts. Honestly, I'd say that a good percentage of Smithies are either fairly moderate or liberal but not far-left. I certainly don't feel isolated for not being liberal enough.</p>
<p>Finding guys at Smith, to date or just to hang out with, is harder than anyone in the admissions office will make it out to be. While it's true that men do take classes here, I've been here for 5 semesters and have had fewer than 10 guys in my courses. I have taken a lot of classes off-campus and that helps, and you can join lots of clubs, try out for plays, go to parties at other schools. But at minimum, these are a 20-minute bus ride away. I still love Smith, and know it's the right place for me. But if you're used to hanging out with lots of guys and it's really important to you to continue, Smith might be hard.</p>
<p>Stacy, Im very conservative politically and really stand firm in my views, are conservatives, well, disliked on campus or have a hard time @ Smith?</p>
<p>My D's experience is similar to Stacy's. Some guys in classes but not a lot and none that D has been "interested in", to my knowledge. The Five College thing isn't as easy to schedule as you might think but it's a case of "if it's important to you, then work at it."</p>
<p>My D is moderate, coming from a very liberal area, and her experiences are similar to Borgin's, she's done fine. One of her best friends is from South Carolina whose epic line was "I thought I was liberal until I came here." </p>
<p>If you're a Bush conservative, coming to Smith might be an education.</p>
<p>Trust me, you will get used to it quite fast. I went for a whole week during my pre-o and orientation without seeing a guy... then when I saw a guy in my house, I was too stunned to see a MAN to say "who the hell are you?" I still laugh over this because I didn't think it'd be possible for me to stare at the opposite sex like he's from outer space.</p>
<p>I am liberal but I am quite moderate in my views in comparison to other Smithies. Smith is, by far out of all seven sisters, the most radical. Because of liberalism and how sensitive Smithies can get over political topics, I haven't talked politics in ages. It is not to say that I don't care but it's more of not worth debating with them. I stayed largely out of the election issue- the only thing I really did was to vote. Politics can indeed be a very dangerous topic at Smith.</p>
<p>Which ties to Sara's question about conservatives being accepted. My ex-friend was very conservative and she did the most dangerous thing (I don't know if she was aware of these rules) by discussing religion and politics with other students in their first encounter. When Smithies found out that she was conservative, they refused to talk to her. She did have a hard time trying to stand out because she's actually liberal on social issues like gay marriages and abortion. At the end, people did respect her for who she is because she really stood up for herself in classroom and meals. Privately, she would get very upset in her room because it was hard for her. Often, Smithies would ask her why did she come to Smith and why she was still there despite all this harassment (okay, maybe that word is a bit strong). People told her to leave Smith! She stood firm but at the end she withdrew due to stress.</p>
<p>Now, Sara, that was an extreme case. There is very little political diversity but the Republicans have formed a strong bond. The other convseratives have surivived and are doing alright. Yes, there is PC on campus but the SGA is truly to get rid of it and to encourage Smithies to be more open to others. By coming to Smith, you are adding diversity. You just have to really stand up for yourself. But don't revolve your life around your issues as my friend did. Find other topics to talk about that can be enjoyed by both parties like biology or literature... or music. If you can get other Smithies to be your friends and stay clear of politics and current events that may reveal your conservative views, they will accept you for who you are and realize that you're a good person and will not care about your views as much. It may seem harsh but it works.</p>
<p>As for guys, definitely keep in touch with your guy friends! Since you always get a woman's perspective on EVERYTHING, it's really nice to be able to talk to a guy at the end of the day and get his perspective. I don't think I could've surivived Smith if it were not for my guy friends at Northeastern and Princeton. They give me ideas that I bring to the table with other Smithies.</p>
<p>Thanks ticklemepink! Some things to think about. I'm not a radically crazy conservative who spews out her views whenever she has the chance, but I do hold strong to what I believe in....and this boy situation is beginning to scare me...(feeling shallow at this very moment :/...)</p>
<p>Politically, my d. would likely be considered the left edge of the left edge, and she thinks Smith as being far, far too rich to be a truly politically radical place, and she doesn't expect it to be. That's not why she's there. She believes in the "preferential option for the poor" (which was good old Catholic Church liberation theology in the 60s and 70s, and declared anathema by the current Pope-guy.)</p>
<p>But she's also a Quaker, and values diversity and dialogue above ideology, and hasn't involved herself in anything remotely political on-campus since arriving (she keeps that for the Friends Meeting).</p>
<p>As for the guy thing, she'd already spent a year taking classes at Evergreen with the Y-chromosomed, so I think she made an informed decision, and likely saw more plusses than minuses. But others might think differently - hey, that's why there are choices!</p>