Smith College

Colleges and Universities A-Z Smith College
101

<p>[What they just paid their most recent alcohol consultant alone is many times the cost of the LGBT center.] </p>

<p>How much has Dartmouth, Colgate, Bowdoin, Yale, Bates, et al spent on alcoholic counseling? I’m not trying to be cute, (although my wife tells me that I am, but I know she just says that to get me to do things) I’m actually curious.
Drinking has been going on for generations. Gawd, the fraternity (drinking) scene at Hamilton, Colgate, Dartmouth, Amherst, and Middlebury, et al was far worse in the 70’s than the problems today. And they are just the colleges I played at. I’m sure it was the same across the country. Another thought, the drinking age was 18 in the 70’s, and until 85 in Vermont, consequently almost the entire college population could drink legally. And drinking was much more accepted (pre MADD) days and colleges tolerated alcohol consumption much more than today. </p>

<p>At most colleges I’m familiar with the students are assessed a “damage fee” if anything is done to college property. No college funds are used to support drinking. Quite the opposite, as many upset parents can attest when they receive the bill for dorm damages. </p>

<p>I guess I’m not getting the emphasis on one college, Williams, and the poop covered walls. That would be considered art (read Mapplethorp) in some circles. </p>

<p>Fwiw-- After seeing piles of beer cans and liquor bottles in many dorms on a Sunday morning at some of the top LACs , along with the smell and sight of hungover students, the aforementioned helped dissuade my daughter from matriculating at more than a couple of colleges and forced her to give Smith second look.
Mini, my daughter was accepted at Smith and many LACs as yours (her SATs and stats are much higher than the norm at Smith)--- and like your daughter, even though I knew she wouldn’t <em>fit</em> at a rural LAC or Ivy (drinking, frat scene) and she belonged at Smith, she had to come to that conclusion one her own. And I couldn’t be happier she did.
Smith is like sushi. Both are acquired tastes and neither should be offhandedly assumed to be the right choice without a great deal of forethought.
However, if I were 18 again I would have a sex change operation and attend Smith before I would eat Sushi, but that’s for another thread. </p>

<p>[The Ivies etc. have only been coed for 30 yrs."]
[For my alma mater it's over 35.] </p>

<p>I realize thaaaat. Picky, picky. I’m from the Northeast. I was there. I should have said 30 PLUS. years.--- 2 points for you. </p>

<p>[check the list of female Congresspeople]</p>

<p>Women from most LACs and the Ivies are a hell of a lot smarter than to go into politics so they can talk out of both sides of their mouth. What’s your point?</p>

<p>Down boy.. ...kidding-lol </p>

<p>[check the 20% from women's colleges,. and then take a look at how old they are. Virtually all of them "could" have graduated from a coed Ivy of LAC; ]
[What I was saying is more than that. As a percentage of WOMEN on the AWS campuses, the percentage of female winners is a small fraction of what you find at the Seven Sister schools. (Swarthmore being the highest by some distance, but still low.) It certainly isn't a result of the "quality" of the students. It has to be because of something the colleges are doing once they get there] </p>

<p>Couldn’t agree more. If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t be paying 40+k a year for my daughter’s education. She /had/ other choices, not to mention some very nice merit awards….. Btw--where did you get the idea to start with I had any derogatory sentiments regarding the quality of a Smith education?
Mimi, our kids are coming home in few days. Time to be happy and make lists of jobs--no free ride here-- you expect the kido to do when she’s home not a time to argue. Cheers.</p>

102

<p>RLT,
One of things that bothered me most when we visited Amherst was the beer bottles left in the halls of dorms. My D mentioned that to me numerous times, and it really turned us off. Wellesley was not much better, as the campus was strewn with beer bottles on the day we visited. Maybe it was bad timing...at least I hope so. Smith on the other hand was immaculate on the three visits that we made...and we did go into at least three houses, even on a weekend. I'm not naive enough to think that there is no drinking at Smith, just that I didn't see anything close to what the other LAC's showed. </p>

<p>"However, if I were 18 again I would have a sex change operation and attend Smith before I would eat Sushi, but that’s for another thread." <em>LOL</em> that was great! I too, agree, that Smith is a great fit my D as well, and I'm hoping she gets in.</p>

103

<p>Chibifry,</p>

<p>Did you ever think your simple question would get so many posts? I guess Smithies and their families aren't afraid to share thoughts; good and bad.</p>

104

<p>very true. Its funny that as soon as someone mentions something about smith, EVERYONE has something to say. I had NO luck when I posted on others colleges.</p>

105

<p>SC, Smith really is a wonderful place! It's not surprising that many people have alot to say about the college they love. This kind of concern and dedication is rare, and makes me happy to know that my D might attend such a place. Some of the posts have been downright hilarious, and others very thought provoking.</p>

106

<p>Funny, but a lot of parents of Smithies have become fanatical about the school. Yeah yeah yeah, takes one to know one and all that. But I think my own impression is just a reflection of my D's experience there. When I consider that her two biggest complaints are political correctness and lack of sleep and compare....</p>

107

<p>[One of things that bothered me most when we visited Amherst was the beer bottles left in the halls of dorms.]</p>

<p>LOL-- those nice beautiful houses you probably visited that are now dorms used to be frat houses. You have no idea---lol
Next time you’re in town, go visit the Lord Jeff next to Amherst College for a glass of wine. Beautiful old inn. </p>

<p>I'm not naive enough to think that there is no drinking at Smith, just that I didn't see anything close]</p>

<p>Your observations are correct. Smith has substantially less drinking than almost other other college except BYU.
The refreshing aspect of the Smith students is when the do drink; they have the class and good taste to have a nice glass of Beaujolais or Merlot. No beer out of the bottle for Smith babes. I use the phrase “Smith babes” around Smithie friends for giggles. Do likewise at your own risk.</p>

<p>[and I'm hoping she gets in.}</p>

<p>She will.</p>

<p>Btw- are you anywhere near Watch Hill? It’s one my playgrounds. Well, a friend’s playground. It’s his boat. I mooch.</p>

108

<p>RLT, what I think is a funny story: we were of the school of thought that started introducing D to wine with dinner starting at about 12 years old with not much more than a cordial glass full. With malice aforethought, I introduced D to reasonalby decent wine with the notion that any frat boy that tried to ply her with typical frat house wine was going to get ambushed. </p>

<p>So we're out at a restaurant on vacation and D has just taken as sip of my chardonnay. She sez, "Fairly dry, a bit oakey, and a little bit of-- " just as the waiter was approaching...absolutely cracked him up.</p>

<p>Going to Smith, the frat boys have turned out to be a non-problem...no plan survives contact with reality. Though D says, "Watch out for the Amherst rugby team." Apparently they think Smithies must be desperate for male companionship and act accordingly.</p>

109

<p>["Watch out for the Amherst rugby team."] </p>

<p>A friend of mine from England (now in high tech) used to play semi-pro rugby. Rugby and pig are synonymous. I’m convinced you have to pass an <em>oink test</em> before you're allowed on a team.</p>

110

<p>Funny, but a lot of parents of Smithies have become fanatical about the school]</p>

<p>I’ll give some of you Amherst guys that are lurking --I know you’re there-- some advice.
If you want to progress past a latte and a cordial conversation with a Smithie, you too need to become “fanatical” about the school. Learning how to spell and pronounce Beaujolais and Dom Perignon would be a bonus. :)</p>

111

<p>RLT, I disagree. We have a bottle of DP waiting for a suitable occasion but D has never had any. Ordinary Domaine Chandon (Napa) is fine and someone who groks between Brut and Demi-Sec is ahead of the gain. TheMom and I received token gifts for some volunteer work last weekend...she got flowers, I got a nice bottle of Veuve Clicquot...I think I made out like a bandit.</p>

<p>But tongue in cheek wine snobbery aside, I think the Amherst guys would do well to treat any Smithie they're interested in as an equal from the beginning...you may not get a second chance. And just because a straight woman is at Smith doesn't necessarily mean she's desperate for your companionship...or anything else.</p>

112

<p>RLT, I'm about a 45 minute ride from Watch Hill...beautiful area. I'm in Lincoln, about 10 minutes north of Providence. </p>

<p>Interesting reading about the Amherst Rugby Team...I've heard that as well. Perhaps drinking good wine in the family has something to do with admissions to Smith; hmmm, interesting little research project. I've been collecting wines for about two years now, and have a variety of 2000 barolos and 99 and 97 brunellos. Got some 03 french futures coming in as well. I wonder if those Amherst boys would buy a bottle of those at dinner?</p>

113

<p>I don't have the budget to collect, at least I rarely have more than 20-30 bottles in the wine rack at any one time. I drink mostly California (duh! I can't believe what you folks back East have to pay for it!) though I've found a couple of Chassagne-Montrachets that I like very very very much. </p>

<p>I bought a little more than an assorted case about 5-7 years back when a favorite restaurant went out of business and sold off their stock. One of the bottles that went for $125 then should be about peak right now...hmm, maybe over the holidays. I must sometimes overcome the tendency to hoard the best, waiting for "the right occasion."</p>

114

<p>[Interesting reading about the Amherst Rugby Team...I've heard that as well]</p>

<p>In all fairness to Amherst men, rugby players or not, they're no better or worse than the men at any college. Maybe even a little better now that they’re their frat houses have been confiscated.
There are /some/ decent Amherst men. </p>

<p>It’s the Williams boys you have to worry about---mini and friends excluded. They’re secluded in the sticks for so long that when they finally get to visit a real town with more than 5 acceptable/dateable women welllll……this is a family board….I’ll refrain.</p>

<p>TD--I’m the last person you’ll find being a wine snob.;)For all practical purposes, I don’t drink.
My wife does imbibe on occasion, knows her wine ( Smith education) and loves Calif vino.</p>

<p>When my brother-in-law has business in Calif he always returns with a case + of your wine. He also loves Calif wine and he <em>is</em> a snob. Cornell alums can be like that from time to time. Never figured it out why though. It’s not like he went to HPY or anything </p>

<p>Boy, this thread really has been hijacked. Sorry Chibifry. If you start another one, I promise to stay away.</p>

115

<p>I'd say "Cornell...relatively easy to get into, relatively hard to get good grades at" but then we'd be straying <em>far</em> off topic.</p>

116

<p>but then we'd be straying <em>far</em> off topic.]</p>

<p>We’ve already stolen the thread. --lol </p>

<p>[relatively easy to get into, relatively hard to get good grades at"]</p>

<p>Very true. Although being admitted into the EE program is very difficult. He goes nuts when kids complain about averaging 3.5 The EE students at Cornell had an average gpa of 2.8 when he was there.</p>

117

<p>o.k.boys...back to Smith and Chibifry. Chibifry, did you learn lots about Smith, or do you still have some outstanding questions? (not like I could answer them) <em>LOL</em></p>

118

<p>BJM8, I have the feeling that a year from now you will be embedded in the ranks of Smith Parents (Dad Division), eager to answer a full range of questions about Smith and the admissions process.</p>

<p>I hope your D looks up my D if she goes to Admitted Students weekend or whatever it's called. It doesn't look like my D will be on campus at all next year. And I'm a bit mournful that I don't see us (TheMom and me) getting to NoHo again before D's Senior Year...I hope at least once before graduation.</p>

<p>Btw, RLT, I'm not wild about Fitzwilly's. I like Spoleto and Creekside(?) Grill. There's a surprisingly passable Thai place that's good for lunch and Osaka, again surprisingly good against expectations, for Japanese food. For Mexican food it's a desert...D always craves it when she gets home. Or, as one of her housemates says, "Western Massachusetts...Land of the Bland."</p>

<p>BJM8...lunch at Sylvesters is worth the wait.</p>

119

<p>[RLT, I'm not wild about Fitzwilly's.]</p>

<p>It’s not the greatest restaurant. I don’t go there for the food. A mediocre meal is a fair price to pay for old memories. Don’t ask.</p>

<p>[Thai place that's good for lunch ]</p>

<p>Great place. I had dinner there in October. We are talking about the Thai place a few doors down from the funkie secondhand store (the name escapes me) by the bridge?
Speaking of the secondhand, retro store, the same guy who opened it is /still/ working there 30 years later. I was visiting with him and he made an interesting comment. When I asked if he was still having fun, he said “ It’s tough working in a town where no one ever gets older ” You have think about it for second but he has a point. He’s still riding the same pos bike too.</p>

<p>Massachusetts...Land of the Bland."}</p>

<p>Have her take a trip to the Boston’s southend. GREAT Italian food. </p>

<p>Btw-- at one point in my sorted life I lived on the beach in Ventura, among other places. We’d go to UCSB all the time to find grad school coeds. I bet admissions never warned you your poor unsuspecting daughter would be going to college with a student with a parent such as me. :) Hmm, I believe I just realized why I never get invited to recruitment parties.</p>

120

<p>Yeah, the Thai place by the bridge on the road to Amherst.</p>

<p>RLT, this is interesting: it's beginning to appear that you and I coexisted within a fairly narrow range of time and space. I know the road from Ventura to UCSB very well. Living on Pierpont Beach...surf bum?</p>