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<p>Oppsie. Whether MHC is easily accessible for Smith students is in reality a moot point.</p>
<p>While Smith students don’t usually go to MHC for courses (among my daughter’s friends, they most often go to Amherst and Hampshire for courses in 5-college majors (such as film studies or dance) or to UMass in the summer), there is some interaction between the two schools in extracurricular activities. For example sports clubs have periodic joint practices or scrimmages, and sometimes share buses to competitions.</p>
<p>It is more of a pain to travel between the two schools than you’d expect (the Connecticut River separates them; the bridges are inconveniently located north of Smith and south of MHC, so you have to travel part of the way in the wrong direction). Besides using a PVTA bus to get to MHC, Smith clubs will often reserve and drive one of the vans owned by the Smith student government.</p>
<p>@elli1234, government is one of the most popular majors at Smith. Smith runs several study-abroad programs for students interested in political science, including a semester in Washington, study-abroad in Geneva, and study-abroad in Paris with the ability to take courses at one of the premier political science universities (Sciences Po). There are also a variety of student leadership opportunities, in the student government or by holding office in one of the 40 houses.</p>
<p>Thank you staceyneil. That is exactly what I was referencing. Most MHC students who we spoke to were not terribly interested in taking many classes at Smith. U.Mass and Amherst, with Hampshire as a close thirsd seemed to be the more popular choices.</p>
<p>I am not arguing this repeatedly. Please know that I am not responding to any future arguments with CrewDad with reference to Smith.</p>
<p>This is becoming sophomoric. </p>
<p>You have to realize, LuxLake, that you are talking about LAC’s. They are ALL going to be strong in the liberal arts (thus the “L” in LAC). Some might have stronger science departments than others, but that doesn’t mean the other departments are weak.</p>
<p>Calling the sports at any of these LAC’s ‘competitive’ is pushing it . They have teams that are usually on the level of a good high school team. Most enjoy their sports, want to play, but picked the school for the academics. My daughter could have played at Smith, but chose not to because the school was not right for her. Her sport could have assisted her in admissions, she would have enjoyed the team, but that was the only advantage to her. She went to a game, I think field hockey, the weekend she was there and there were a couple dozen students watching- hardly a sports atmosphere. I think that is probably a typical attendance, maybe some of the other athletes, a few roommates, parents of the players. If the Smithies want ‘real’ sports or a sports atmosphere, I think they may head over to UMass, or maybe Amherst to watch a game.</p>
<p>I will say that there seemed to be many gay students at Smith. My daughter was asked several times by the other students what her preference for a ‘pronoun’ was. More than half of the athletes she met were gay (she was there to mingle with the team and other athletes). In the end she decided she didn’t want to attend, but for many of the reason your daughter might like it, LuxLake; for my daughter, there were TOO MANY liberal arts courses, too many opportunities for government internships, trips abroad, leadership stipends. I thought all those things were wonderful (poly sci major here), but my daughter just hates all that English and history and reading and discussing. She wanted math and science.</p>
<p>I am not sure what I fail to realize. “Gay” and "liberal: are not synonymous. There were Gay people at ALL of the campuses that we visited. </p>
<p>However, Smith has a reputation for being extremely Gay. Gay to the point that some straight and liberal women do not feel comfortable there. Others are fine with it. It is their choice, not mine.</p>
<p>If you wanted to know about the feel of Smith, you should have driven over and felt it for yourself as it is only 10 miles or so from MHC. No one is going to be able to answer that question for you since we’ll all feel different vibes. As I’ve said before, my daughter and I both felt it was very openly gay, and even though I think I’m socially liberal (and fiscally conservative), I didn’t enjoy the feel, but very much liked the school.</p>
<p>There are gays at ALL colleges in the world, even at the religious ones.</p>
<p>i knew enough. My daughter wasn’t interested. OK? </p>
<p>Yes, there are Gays everywhere. And we support Gay rights. However, we have heard enough about Smith, as has our daughter; to know that is was not for her. We are also not going to take a ride over to Liberty University or Gordon College to find out what we already know.</p>
<p>I fail to see where stating an opinion is “inaccurate and derogatory”. By reading this this thread one can glean an antidotal difference in attitude (if only of the parents) at Smith v. MHC. </p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>How so? There are approximately 10,500 parents of MHC and Smith students. The eight or so parents who contribute to this thread represent .07 percent of the current parents. Hardly a sufficient percentage to glean anything-- much less a meaningful difference in attitude. ;)</p>
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<p>You were just as certain about MHC before you visited. Just saying… and what is with the “capital G”? You might find that what you THINK you know about Smith isn’t the reality. Not that you need more schools at this point, so it is probably fine that you didn’t visit. But you are awfully opinionated for someone who has never set foot on the campus.</p>
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<p>@momneeds2no, I assume you’re quoting my post. For the record, I actually don’t have a daughter at Smith or MHC. We visited Smith, but my daughter decided not to apply.</p>
<p>And, I think statements of opinion can be inaccurate and derogatory, IMO 
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<p>Y’all understand the meanings of terms like “opinion” and “antidotal”? </p>
<p>“antidotal” or “anecdotal”???</p>
<p>All our anecdotes are antidotes, yo!</p>