Smith vs. Sarah Lawrence...Please help!!

Colleges & Universities A-Z Smith College
1

<p>Hello! I am a high school senior from NJ who has narrowed down my college list to two schools that I'm pretty conflicted between: Smith and Sarah Lawrence. I am interested in literature, creative writing, and journalism, so having courses and opportunities available in these areas in college is important to me. I've outlined what I see as the pros and cons of each, but any other input would be really helpful. Thanks!</p>

<p>Smith-
Pro:
-Really strong, well-rounded academics
-Strong campus community/sense of sisterhood
-Better facilities
-I really liked Northampton
-Five-College Consortium
-More well-known (I know this is shallow, but still)
Con:
-I'm really unsure about the fact that it's a women's college
-Geographic isolation</p>

<p>Sarah Lawrence-
Pro:
-Really great writing program
-Close contact w/ professors
-Proximity to NYC (Internships, etc.)
-Coed (despite skewed gender ratio)
-Beautiful campus
-Closer to home
Con:
-No majors --> effects on future employment?
-Small Endowment</p>

2

<p>You should know that Smith doesn’t offer much in the way of creative writing. There are classes in the English department, but it’s usually just introductory and intermediate level poetry and fiction, and they’re not all offered every semester. If you wanted to major in English at Smith, you would definitely be doing much more literature analysis than creative writing. Just so you know.</p>

<p>In terms of not being sure how you’d feel about a women’s college, since you’re in the area I would strongly suggest you visit both, and see how that helps you figure out what’s most important to you in your college choice.</p>

3

<p>My daughter’s an English major and senior; she’s also a terrific writer, both non-fiction and fiction, although I think it’s been very difficult for her to find the time to write fiction during college. I’m sure she’s envisioning doing creative writing in her future. I’m going to raise a different kind of argument about literary analysis vs. creative writing. I’ll wager that because my daughter’s read practically whole literary libraries :slight_smile: and analyzed them, she has achieved a heightened sensitivity of the use of the English language with all its shades of meaning, sound, philosophical underpinnings, color and rhythm than she would have learned if she had gone straight into creative writing. She has studied the craft very, very carefully from all angles and has loved every minute of it.</p>

<p>She was accepted into Oxford for spring semester of her junior year and loved it. It was non-stop reading, weekly papers and one-on-one time with her tutors. Her very first tutor was a bit of a crusty old bird who was a bit skeptical of American students, but by halfway through the term, the tutor had come around and was impressed enough with one of my daughter’s analyses of an early twentieth century British poet that she invited her to return to study further and do a Master’s with her. It remains to be seen if she takes her up on the offer.</p>

<p>My daughter applied to both co-ed schools and women’s colleges and probably could have been happy and thrived at both, but I believe, after watching her these four years, that she has blossomed more deeply and engaged more fully at Smith than she would have at a co-ed college. I am extremely grateful to Smith for the opportunities it has provided her. Come spend some time at Smith.</p>

4

<p>Teenage cliche you always seem to drink from the half-empty side of the glass…oh well.</p>

<p>Over the past several years Smith has had a large number of visiting writers teaching both fiction and non-fiction classes, as well as poetry, at levels from beginner to advanced. Among them:</p>

<p>Stephen Amidon, fiction. He is a highly-acclaimed author and literary critic.</p>

<p>Russ Rymer, non-fiction. Noted author and photographer.</p>

<p>Ellen Dore Watson, poetry. Widely-published and award-winning poet</p>

<p>Elinor Lipman, fiction. Award-winning novelist, short-story writer and poet.</p>

<p>Anthony Giardina, fiction. Novelist, playwright, short-story writer.</p>

<p>Hilton Als, non-fiction. Frequent contributor to the New Yorker and other magazines.</p>

<p>David Maine, fiction. Writer of fantasy novels who will be teaching in the fall.</p>

<p>In the past such writers as Kurt Vonnegut have taught at Smith.</p>

<p>Additionally, the English Department’s own professors teach classes in writing and poetry.</p>

<p>Smith has produced numerous writers of both fiction and non-fiction, from Margaret Mitchell to Gloria Steinem to Madeline L’Engle to Courtney Sullivan and others too numerous to mention.</p>

5

<p>I’m not quite sure what you mean by “drinking from the half-empty side of the glass.” I have had numerous friends who came into Smith wanting to do an English major with a focus in creative writing, only to find that they can’t do that. I wanted to let the OP know that in advance.</p>

<p>However, if poetry is your forte, Smith does have a very good Poetry Concentration (kind of like a minor), which regularly brings poets to campus to read, offers very good classes, and has a lovely office filled with books that students can read.</p>

6

<p>1b1995, take a look at the new thread above (or below) about a new writer-in-residence program being launched, funded by Jane Harman, an alumna and former Congresswoman, whose inspiration came from her mother who loved to write.</p>

<p>[News</a> Office](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/NewsOffice13-31.html]News”>News Office)</p>

7

<p>I’m going to take the middle ground. We do offer creative writing. We bring in amazing people to teach it. That being said, the number of creative writing courses you can do within an English major does seem low and I’ve heard people comment on it. I’m not an expert though. </p>

<p>I would really think about where your priorities are (and neither are bad) You’ll get a top notch education at both, but perhaps a bit better in the way of writing at SL. However, I think Smith might give you the freedom to take lots of courses, and maybe surprise yourself by loving chemistry. It seems to be a common thing that happens here. But, if you are 100% set on writing and that is your focus, then perhaps SL is better.</p>

<p>If your priorities are a bit more social, Smith seems better from your Pro/Con list (minus the women’s college thing-which…honestly…is only a big deal when you apply. I hardly ever think about it now and at home 90% of my friends are guys. But if it’s a big deal to you, that’s ok). And social life is super important. If you aren’t happy, it doesn’t matter what your classes are like.</p>

<p>In short, I say figure out what’s most important and visit if you can</p>