<p>Smith doesn't have a creative writing major (I believe Barnard does) so you may want to consider that. On the other hand, Smith's Poetry Center is a great resource. A lot of well-known authors graduated from Smith, and lots more live in Western Mass. And the personal attention you can get is just amazing. Here's one example: I took a class with a well-known author, who is married to another famous writer. They had dinner at my house one night, our whole class was invited to a party at their place at the end of the semester, my writing improved significantly, and the course was a highlight of my college career. Two years later, I went to a reading by my professor's wife, and she remembered me--my full name, and the topic of my final paper. Such personal attention and strong connections are hardly unusual among Smith professors. </p>
<p>But frankly, all the schools you mentioned are wonderful--I know students and alumnae from all four and I think our schools are more similar than different. A big part of your decision will likely be whether you want to attend school in a big city (Barnard), a suburb with some access to a city (Wellesley) a small-but-active town (Smith) or a rural area (Mt. Holyoke).</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr also has a lot to offer, particually with its proximity to Haverford and then cross-registration with Swarthmore and Penn.</p>
<p>All these schools are wonderful. I really don't think a woman would go wrong with any of them. Thank goodness the Harry Potter sorting at places women at the appropriate college. D was accepted at Barnard, Mt. Holyoke and Smith. (Did apply to Wellesley or Bryn Mawr.) She vacilated quite a bit between Smith and Mt. Holyoke. She really liked them both. Then NYC and Columbia Clinched the deal for Barnard, which does have very strong departments in writing and social sciences (as well as sciences, actually.)</p>
<p>But really, I don't think any of these schools would be a misstep. They're all excellent.</p>
<p>This is purely about the social scene, I don't know anything about the academics at either school, though I am sure they are both very good schools academically. My best friend goes to Hampshire and his impression, and what he has heard, is that the women at Mount Holyoke are always on the look out for men. They literally accost them on the 5 college bus, inviting them to parties and trying to get themselves invited to parties (this he knows to be true, it has happened to him and to several of his friends) handing out their names and numbers. They are almost afraid to go to the MHC campus, the girls are so aggressive. Smith is known to be more heavily lesbian. I also have a friend there, who is not a lesbian, and she says it is quit noticeable, but doesn't bother her at all. The whole transgender issue is really interesting. Women's schools are starting to ask them to leave, I know that Wellesley and Bryn Mawr are, which is causing a lot of discussion on those campuses. If they really want to be taken seriously as men, they can't really go to a women's school can they?</p>
<p>I have to say that I agree that the drug jokes about Hampshire are really tired. Sara309 have you ever been to a class at Hampshire? Sure, there might be some kids who show up stoned, just as at many other colleges kids will drink before class, or are still drunk from the night before, but really......most? That is just not the case at all. I have spent a lot of time there, and have even sat in on classes. The level of discussion and interest is incredible. I think you would be very surprised at how quiet Hampshire is during the week, when everyone is working hard. The school is full of really bright and passionate people. Yes, there is more pot smoking there than drinking, and that is why it has that reputation. There is no beer pong, or naked drinking parties, or that kind of baloney, that goes on at most other schools. I have friends at many colleges large and small, and have heard many stories; no one is taken away in an ambulance with alcohol poisoning at Hampshire the way they are, in relatively large numbers every year, at many schools that people would be very surprised by (including several of the women's schools mentioned above).</p>
<p>Anyway, back to the original topic, I think it is important to visit both campuses and spend the night if it is possible. Good fit is really such an intangible thing. You will be spending 4 years on whatever campus you choose, and you should feel comfortable and happy there.</p>
<p>Haha, I can attest to the above being true. I have been approached on the bus by Mount Holyoke girls, truthfully--it's not all bad! I don't really know anyone from Smith, but there sure are a lot of lesbians in Northampton.</p>
<p>haha, smithie right here- and yes, faaaar too shy to possibly approach a stranger. so even though i'd love to meet boys- i definitely don't. i'd love to begrudge those moho's for their boy baiting antics, but hey, at least they have the cahoonies to do it. i just resign myself to being boring and alone while i'm at school.</p>
<p>Barnard does have an excellent writing/English department. In addition, its location in NYC is no small blessing if you're looking to become a published writer. If you've ever checked out any of the YA books at Barnes and Nobles, you'll find many of those authors graduated from Barnard. I believe Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake), Marisha Pessl (Special Topics in Calamity Physics), and Ann Brashares (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants) all graduated from there.</p>
<p>Well here I am, a Wellesley student, singing accolades about Barnard. Wellesley is known for its excellent English department and faculty, but I haven' t had the opportunity to check it out yet. I'll have more to tell later.</p>
<p>Smith has invited some wonderful writers to be visiting professors: Amy Bloom taught creative writing last spring, and Hilton Als (from the New Yorker) is currently teaching.</p>
<p>Lots of great writers are Smith alumni, including</p>
<p>Sylvia Plath - poet
Margret Edson Pulitzer Prize
Molly Ivins columnist and author
Margaret Mitchell Gone with the Wind
Madeline LEngle - A Wrinkle in Time and others
Gloria Steinem magazine founding editor
Betty Friedan
Ruth Ozeki
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Julia Child Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Meg Greenfield Pulitzer Prize</p>
<p>Jane Yolen (SSFFS invited her to speak this past year, and it was very interesting)
Meg Wolitzer (actually didn't graduate from Smith, but she's still been featured in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly and wrote a book, The Wife, about a Smithie)
Susan Allen Toth (though I think it's out of print, she wrote Ivy Days, an interesting look at Smith in the late fifties -- Toth lived in Lawrence as it made its transition from scholarship house to regular housing, as Smith had too many scholarship students to keep them segregated)
Adrian LeBlanc (wrote Random Family, has won a few awards and was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2006)</p>
<p>Oh, and we can't forget Ann M. Martin, who wrote a Newbery Honor book but is probably most famous for The Baby-Sitters Club (all are credited to her, but at some point there were ghostwriters involved in writing them)</p>
<p>I think I've read nearly all the posts in this thread, and while some differences between Mount Holyoke and Smith are certainly addressed, I'm not sure ANY response has actually delineated any pronounced differences between the student bodies, which is apparently what the thread was originally about. It's also the question I'm most curious about, but I have been glad to note that the few posters affiliated with MHC seem to be some of the most respectful and least negative... :-D</p>
<p>Standardprints, there really isn't a big difference between the two student bodies that can be articulated, but if you visit both schools, you'll notice a difference in the "feel" of the campus.</p>
<p>I have visited both schools and I agree that it's hard to succinctly sum up differences between the two. I was just pointing out something I found slightly ironic.</p>
<p>"The whole transgender issue is really interesting. Women's schools are starting to ask them to leave, I know that Wellesley and Bryn Mawr are, which is causing a lot of discussion on those campuses. If they really want to be taken seriously as men, they can't really go to a women's school can they?"</p>
<p>How do you "know" this?</p>
<p>I haven't seen or heard anything of the sort regarding any of the transmen I knew while at Wellesley. There have been articles about transmen at Wellesley, but nothing about them getting "asked to leave". Two DID leave in 2008 ... after getting handed a diploma with their graduating class. </p>
<p>The third student I know was discussing fall plans at some point last semester over food. I no longer have access to the directory to tell whether he's still on campus, but his leaving Wellesley would be news to me. I would describe this individual as well-liked within his circle of friends.</p>
<p>Additionally, there's been some change to the bathroom phrasing this year that was supposed to be gender neutral but makes no sense (what was wrong with Wellelsey/non-Wellesley?).</p>
<p>Okay, this forum seems to not really be about the subject any longer, but...</p>
<p>As someone who dreamed for years of going to Smith but ended up deciding to go with MHC instead (accepted to both with full aid/no loans), my choice was largely due to the student body. MHC felt a lot warmer to me and less stressful. In the classes I sat in on and in my conversations with Smith students on several (like 5) visits, it always felt like a competitive pressure-cooker. At MHC, we're a lot more laid-back and it feels really supportive. I think it's kinda reflected in where the alumnae of each end up -- Smith sends a lot of women into law, politics, and business, while MHC alumnae are more likely to go into education, psychology, non-profits, etc. They're both fine ways to be; it just depends on what fits the individual student better. For me, I knew I could be equally successful by going to either, but my time at one might be a little more relaxed and enjoyable.</p>
<p>That's not to say we have it "easy" at MHC, which is a totally incorrect misconception. Since almost all of our courses are seminar-style, there's a TON of pressure on us to stay on top of our academics. Our classes and workload are definitely no joke. Smith and MHC are very similar in terms of the demands placed on students. We just take a different approach to it all.</p>