<p>Well there’s no dispute that in every period Smith has turned out amazing women. But the other sisters did too. The idea of you, mini, being “finished” is very funny.</p>
<p>It wasn’t funny when I was “undergoing” it (I have stories). But, luckily, I was a freshman in 1967, and by 1968, all of that stuff was gone!</p>
<p>I think radiosonde had a great post, which was also very true of my experience, and I think of many Smithies. </p>
<p>It’s unfortunate, but probably normal that many students miss the forest for the trees on this one. They get really focused on what they’re giving up, and don’t really focus on what they’re gaining. It’s not about getting out of a man’s world so much as getting into a woman’s world. A place that’s engineered and purpose built to empower, educate, and inspire young women is a great and uncommon thing. But it’s also probably something where you don’t quite understand what you’re missing until you experience the difference. </p>
<p>But then again, maybe it’s that they do understand it, but for them the tradeoff isn’t worth it. It certainly was for me, but you have to admit that the appeal may, alas, not be universal. </p>
<p>I did find this piece in the NYTimes very a propos of today’s discussion, by the way. I’ve never seen the HBO show Girls, but I think the science is interesting. <a href=“How HBO’s ‘Girls’ Mirrors the Spirit of Sisterhood in Nature - The New York Times”>How HBO’s ‘Girls’ Mirrors the Spirit of Sisterhood in Nature - The New York Times;
<p>I think that most everyone on this board (especially S&P, who, I might add, helped ease my fears about this very issue not too long ago) has covered the major issues that the OP is asking about, but I’ll chime in with one more perspective, one more person to maybe help convince her.</p>
<p>I, too, am used to having all/mostly male friends. Out of my 20 first cousins, only 2 are girls. My best friends have always been boys, and I, too, thought I just “didn’t get along with girls”</p>
<p>Boy was I wrong.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that girls in a coed environment are in anyway less than, or inferior to those in a single sex environment. But they ARE different. The friendships can become way more intense, way more quickly. You have the freedom to be more open, cuddle more, depend on each other entirely. In short, you can create a sisterhood. When you go out on the Smith and dress up, you’re mostly dressing up for yourself and your friends, and that’s some pretty powerful stuff. You can somehow be sillier, closer, and just different. Hell, when you wanna go streaking the night before finals, you know it’s going to be all your girl friends who will see you. Males are there entirely at the discretion of you and your friends, and you’d be surprised how much that changes the dynamics.</p>
<p>Does this answer your question about the presence of men? I think it kind of does. I know what it’s like to be scared that you’re going to lose your friend base, and that no girls can be the same kind of friends that boys can. And I guess you’re right. They can be so much better.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the input. It’s probably frustrating to answer the same questions each year but I guess that’s the way it is when you get a new crop of prospective students.</p>
<p>My daughter has talked with several more students and gotten a consistant message which I believe has satisfied her.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the time contributors spend supporting this forum.</p>