<p>TheDad,
I'm so hoping that you're right about my joining the ranks of Smith dads. We should know by the end of January, maybe sooner if we're lucky. NoHo does look like a great place to spend a day walking and shopping...and eating! Sylvester's was great for breakfast, I cannot imagine their lunches. We didn't wait for breakfast either..got there about 9:00 am and walked right in. Crowd got big around 9:30 or so. It was a Saturday, so lots of students were still sleeping in. D has interview at Tufts and Brown next week, as well. After she sent in all her apps, they started calling her for interviews. Hopefully, after the end of January she can withdraw her apps to other colleges, and we can imbed ourselves into the Smith tradition. Hopefully she is able to get a Stride, that would be right up her alley. She has a penchant for research in bio, that would jump start her in the right direction. As a matter of fact, it was the research opportunities that made her look seriously at Smith in the first place. I must admit, that we went to Smith on a whim...because we were in the Amherst area, and really weren't expecting much. Needless to say, we were blown away by the beauty of the campus first, and then the intelligence of the women we spoke to on campus. After spending about three hours there, speaking to admissions people and hearing all about the research opportunities in sciences, we were totally hooked. What a great place!</p>
<p>Reverting to serious thread: BJM8, if your D does not get STRIDE per se, I think she should still pursue the research opportunities she's interested in. Not all the STRIDE positions get filled with STRIDE students. Moreover, I strongly suspect that some profs have funding for research positions that don't fall under the STRIDE aegis for one reason or another. D had a non-STRIDE seven-week research position funded by the NSF at the beginning of the summer. It happened to be her STRIDE prof (in Computer Science...D is Government/Math, go figure) that hired her (and several others) but I think picture is valid more globally.</p>
<p>Bjm8, are you familiar with the Praxis internship-- a paid internship that Smith provides to every student?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.smith.edu/acad_specialpraxis.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.smith.edu/acad_specialpraxis.php</a></p>
<p>RLT...Yes we are. That was another reason to go with Smith. What do you guys know about Zollman's. I understand that it is something they use to lure stduents away from Ivys; so I gather, early decision students are out of the running?</p>
<p>[Living on Pierpont Beach...surf bum?]</p>
<p>LOL- No for three reasons. </p>
<p>1st: I hate swimming in saltwater, especially cold saltwater. </p>
<p>2nd ; Im far too type A to lounge around on a surfboard, bobbing up and down forever, waiting to ride a wave for 30 measly seconds. Im more the water-ski, snow ski type.</p>
<p>3rd: The surf bums were not the brightest on the beach. Even the girls, although cute, had never heard of Robert Frost, much less read any of his works. Tough to keep up a meaningful conversation.</p>
<p>I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time somewhere near or in LA. Trust me, THAT was a culture shock.</p>
<p>[I understand that it is something they use to lure students away from Ivys; so I gather, early decision students are out of the running?]</p>
<p>Boy, I hate to speak for Smith but, yes, both the Stride and Zollman are used as bait.
Thats where I made a HUGH error. When visiting with an admission I know, I casually mentioned Smith had become my daughters 1st choice. She is above the stat range but once they realized she would most likely matriculate (plus shes a legacy, which usually indicates an even greater chance of accepting) they had no reason to offer anything. Im not saying they would have, but I eliminated any chance, if there was one, because of my mouth. (no surprise there)</p>
<p>We werent asking for aid either. Im not sure if that wasnt another reason they figured they didnt need to bribe us with cash. I could be totally off base on this. Its just a thought.</p>
<p>TD has had this conversation with admissions. He'll be a great help, as usual :)</p>
<p>I'm afraid it's a case of "What they don't know won't hurt you." I'd be shocked if they offered an ED applicant a Zollman, but just moderately surprised if they rewarded an ED applicant with a STRIDE. As it was, even being offered a STRIDE, I carefully did not tell FinAid that Smith was D's #1 (and mine!) when I dickered over FinAid. They wanted her, she wanted them, but we're not rolling in money and an extra $3K a year (when the dust settled) made the pricetag a lot more palatable.</p>
<p>They also do some peculiar--to my mind--things when evaluating Schedule C's of tax returns.</p>
<p>I wouldn't give up complete hope of a STRIDE, BMJ8. Just would consider it a lower probability event.</p>
<p>RLT, even if you didn't get the aid, if your D's stats were above the typical stat range, I would expect other opportunities there to be ferreted out.</p>
<p>Fwiw, D has hit a minor jackpot and is scoring two paid internships...the Picker Program Semester in D.C. is paid, so she can do a Praxis, even to the same place, between junior and senior year.</p>
<p>TheDad...your daughter is from california? she must have liked smith alot to go that far away from home.</p>
<p>[RLT, even if you didn't get the aid, if your D's stats were above the typical stat range, I would expect other opportunities there to be ferreted out.]</p>
<p>Absolutely. I didnt mean come across as whining or that my daughter never had a chance to something in the research area. She has more than enough opportunities. Thats one of the advantages of Smith. If one thing doesnt work out, something is always available if the student is serious and takes the initiative.</p>
<p>[They also do some peculiar--to my mind--things when evaluating Schedule C's of tax returns.]</p>
<p>Like what? I'll actually be speaking to students and parents about Smith. Any info. is appreciated.</p>
<p>[RLT, even if you didn't get the aid, if your D's stats were above the typical stat range, I would expect other opportunities there to be ferreted out.]</p>
<p>Absolutely. I didnt mean come across as whining or that my daughter would never again have a chance to something in the research area. She has more than enough opportunities. Thats one of the advantages of Smith, if one thing doesnt work out, something is always available if the student is serious and takes the initiative. </p>
<p>[I carefully did not tell FinAid that Smith was D's #1 (and mine!) ]</p>
<p>You're a much smarter man than I.
If I need negotiating help for grad school, you're hired.</p>
<p>Kriestttttt... This thread alone has more posts than the total posts of 2/3 of the other lac college threads. If mini would come back Im sure we could bump that up to 4/5</p>
<p>SuperCow, yes, she liked Smith a lot. Fwiw, I had a rule: no college within 200 miles of home. Never came into play: when she was in 9th grade and college was beginning to "become real," she hit me with the most beautiful set-piece speech...I think she was expecting resistance to the notion of her going across country: "Dad, I really want to go to college in New England. I want to live in a different part of the country, with a different sense of history, different traditions. I don't want it to be like Medieval times when you were born, grew up, got married, had children, and died in the same small village." </p>
<p>Now I did have to peer around at our small village...Santa Monica has just under 100K people and L.A. County has something like 12 million...but I understood and agreed with her point. The only college she applied to east of NY state was Stanford.</p>
<p>But she likes Smith so much that you could now offer her Yale (EA first choice) or Harvard and she wouldn't take it.</p>
<p>RLT, anent the Schedule C's, they do things like backing out all expenses for in-home offices, some depreciation, and some other things into your income, thus raising your EFC. My home office deduction is a slam dunk and, while mortified due to the extreme clutter, I even sent photos when I appealed. No dice. Heavy sigh and you play the cards as they're dealt. </p>
<p>As for grad school, I'm crossing my fingers that certain events may come to pass in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar or as otherwise dated when D applies to Law/Grad school. But there are many many many many slips between that particular cup and anyone's lips. I can see potentials but the probability lines are too tangled to see clearly. He said, obfuscating like a mystic. Or, as they said in "Bored of the Rings": "Five eleven your height, one-eighty your weight. You cash in your chips on page 88."</p>
<p>[they do things like backing out all expenses for in-home offices,]</p>
<p>Smith appears to be as draconian as the IRS . I tried to deduct my boat as an office too. No go. Creative accounting isnt all its cracked up to be.</p>
<p>But, believe it or not, if your boat has a bathroom (porta potties count) and stove, you can consider the boat a second home and deduct the interest. I wonder which lobby got that little loophole into the tax code.</p>
<p>I realize all this was ot, but for the edification of the Smith students, they should understand what their poor parents are up against when trying to find the extra funds to pay for college.--lol</p>
<p>If...(when??) my D gets into Smith in late January, are there any parent weekends or information sessions for new students at that time, or are they all after RD in March?</p>
<p>I dont believe Smith holds a session for ED students. The weekend for accepted RD students is a last ditch effort to persuade them to attend Smith.</p>
<p>The info session for parents is at the start of orientation. It will be one of the few times youll get a free meal at the college. Enjoy it :)</p>
<p>Im reticent to get anyones hopes up, but if your daughter /isnt/ accepted to Smith, the college has lost its collective mind.</p>
<p>And Ill be very upset. The college needs students such as your daughter.</p>
<p>BJM8, I'm moderately certain that if you told them your D wanted to come for the Admitted Students weekend, they wouldn't mind. If nothing else, you could do it informally...pick up a schedule (they're easy enough to get, I think)...and figure out which events you want to go to. D and I did some together, split up for others, including my taking time out to play poker at FinAid. Depending on how crazy things are, D would probably be happy to informally host for an overnight...her roomie goes home on many weekends.</p>
<p>*cha/reticent/reluctant/
As RLT says, I don't think your D's admittance is an issue, though <insert bromide="" about="" chickens="" &="" hatching="" here="">. What I'm curious to see--though probably not as intensely curious as you--is to see whether they come up with a STRIDE for her. I know someone who knows the answer but this is a bad to try to get hold of her. If I don't think of it, remind me after the first of the year and I'll make inquiries.</insert></p>
<p>[I'm moderately certain that if you told them your D wanted to come for the Admitted Students weekend, they wouldn't mind.]</p>
<p>No, they absolutely wouldnt mind. I didnt mean to imply they would. Its that the weekend is designed for showing admitted students who havent visited the campus or spent any time at the college why Smith should be /their college of choice/ I assumed Bjm8 knew <em>everything</em> there was to know because he has TD J to answer questions and has visited the campus numerous times. But yeah, it would be a great experience and a time to meet future classmates. Also consider preorientation programs.</p>
<p>[[--is to see whether they come up with a STRIDE for her.]</p>
<p>Its not any of my business (not that that has ever stopped me) but Id be interested also. It will change the info I relay to future students if she does indeed receive a Stride--and I sincerely hope she does.</p>
<p>[with a STRIDE for her. I know someone who knows the answer]</p>
<p>You can learn who gets a Stride before the recipient? Im going to be much nicer to you. What else can you do?</p>
<p>OT--TD--Ever hang around the Channel Is. Marina/ Harbor? I lived there also</p>
<p>Back when I was an admitted student, some ED acceptees on the smithies08 livejournal tried to register for open campus and received polite emails from admissions saying that it was only for regular decision candidates. But it wouldn't be hard to get a schedule and visit unofficially.</p>
<p>It's not unknown for ED students to get STRIDE scholarships (someone posted on smithies10 to say she got one last week) but it's not as likely statistically.</p>
<p>[It's not unknown for ED students to get STRIDE scholarships]</p>
<p>Very interesting.</p>
<p>I wonder if some overqualified students arent offered a Stride as an incentive to persuade them to apply ED and guarantee matriculating to Smith.
Theres absolutely no other reason to offer a Stride to a student who has applied ED. They have already committed
Unless they're using Stride money to substitute for aid funds that would otherwise be taken from other areas Confusing.</p>
<p>Borgin, thank you so much for that datum regarding ED/STRIDE. </p>
<p>RLT, I have two channels into the policy making levels that could tell me what the policies are, not whether specific individuals are getting a STRIDE or not. But now is bad time of year to ask the best positioned of the two, she is juggling a lot and will be for the next couple of weeks. Part of access to information is knowing when not to push either your luck or the boundaries. </p>
<p>As for ED's getting STRIDEs, I'm only mildly surprised. I think these are students they [Smith College] want to tap into more than the average and for whom they have high expectations, at least collectively if not for every individual. I also have a sneaking suspicion that there are some benefits that aren't published accrue to STRIDEs but I can't prove it...need a larger data sample and don't know how to ask certain questions without being rude or presumptuous. Anyway, I think the high expectations may outweigh the purely "bait" function of the STRIDE. Ghu knows that D loved Smith anyway and would have gone there, STRIDE or no STRIDE, but it was certainly a nice layer of frosting atop the cake.</p>
<p>RLT, I hate to break it to you, but I think you and I would very much be "Odd Couple." I'm not a water person at all, save that I like to look at it and would love to have an ocean view home to watch the storms roll in in my older age. I did take a class in sailing when at UCSB. I checked out one of the boats one day and in single afternoon capsized three times and ran aground twice. My first (didn't) mate stood and saluted as we slid beneath the waves the final time, within just yards of the dock. She never quite forgave me for, when we bobbed to the surface after the first capsizing, the first words out of my mouth were "The wine!" I mean, what the heck: I could see that she was okay, I could see that the mast was still stepped, so the wine was the third order of priority. I wonder if that bottle is still on the floor of the bay.</p>
<p>Borgin again, is it my imagination or in keeping with Smith culture do STRIDE's not widely advertise that they're STRIDEs? I get the sense that it's talked about more by parents, as here, than by the students.
Of course, some of us are interested in anything that lowers the bill...I just got my Spring semester dunning today.</p>
<p>but I think you and I would very much be "Odd Couple." I'm not a water person at all, save that I like to look at it and would love to have an ocean view home to watch}</p>
<p>Not as odd as you may believe. My wife cant sail, water-ski and only swims with a life vest on and becomes alarmed we will capsize when the boat goes over 10 knots and rolls over some swells. Her dream house is one overlooking the ocean in Maine where she can listen to the surf. Bar Harbor is a nice location. Although we lived on the North Shore of Boston for a time and that wasnt bad, except for the snots. No one considers my wife and I an odd couple so maybe you and I have a future -LOL</p>
<p>{is it my imagination or in keeping with Smith culture do Strides not widely advertise that they're STRIDEs}</p>
<p>All the Strides my daughter knows arent bashful about letting others know theyre a Stride recipient. I would hazard a guess, your daughter has more class than to run around bragging about her accomplishments. UCSB eh? Great school. My cousins daughter is there now and received a scholarship to study at Oxford. I was impressed.</p>
<p>{I also have a sneaking suspicion that there are some benefits that aren't published accrue to Strides but I can't prove it...need a larger data sample and don't know how to ask certain questions without being rude or presumptuous.}</p>
<p>I will. Nicely. Or Ill ask a board member. What questions you would ask?
This is more out of intellectual curiosity than anything. And for future reference for other students I may attempt to try an convince to consider Smith.</p>