<p>I was recently accepted to Smith College as a fall transfer, and was fully committed to attending. However, Wesleyan University just offered me a spot off of the waitlist. Their financial aid packages are pretty much the same, with Wesleyan being slightly less expensive than Smith. I've visited both schools, and got a better impression from Smith than I did from Wesleyan (nicer campus, friendlier admissions staff). However, classes were not in session when I visited either school, so I'm worried that I might not have gotten an accurate view of what either school is actually like. I'm coming from a community college, so going to either school would be a huge change for me. I have to make a choice by Sunday, and I just want to be sure that I'm making the right decision. Any advice?</p>
<p>I believe that Smith is the better choice. From a campus standpoint, Smith wins. Wesleyan isn’t by any means a bad looking school, but the environment is quite dismal. Middletown is really quite far from any area of interest or high population. Northampton is in my opinion a much nicer, and brighter town. There are a lot more attractions, restaurants, and neighboring cities to spend a day in on weekends. In the campus field, I think Smith wins. Also, the life on campus was very friendly when my mom attended Smith. There was an abundance of clubs, social groups, and activities where you could meet new people. I guess you could say the same about Wesleyan since most students stay on campus, and it is a small school, but I haven’t met any really kind, or “real” people the times I was there on visits or swim meets. The school may not be as expensive as Smith, but the students are just as stingy and hard to get to know. I’m sure that there quite a few nice people, but that’s how I remember the people I met. Overall, I think that Smith is a better choice. It’s a little bit more well known and prestigious, as it was one of the seven sisters colleges. Academics are a little bit more competitive at Wesleyan if that is what you’re looking for, however. I received all this information from a graduate of Smith college so I hope this helps your decision. Good luck!</p>
<p>Northampton and Middletown are very similar in size and in terms of attractions. Step outside the business district of either place and you are essentially in the boonies. If anything, I’d place my bets on Middletown, if you have a taste for ethnic food within walking distance of campus. </p>
<p>Go with your gut. Either could be a good choice, but if you felt comfortable at Smith when you visited, then go for it.</p>
<p>Congratulations you must have worked very hard to get accepted to these schools and are sure to have a wonderful couple of years whichever you select. Realize that you will likely never see or interact with the admissions staff again, so discount that. I know a student who recently visited Wes at Wes Fest and her biggest impression was how both friendly and impressive the students were to meet. Both the current students and the accepted students. She is a very shy person and we made to feel at home and felt everyone was so nice she didn’t feel shy. She attended many events–talks and performances, a dorm party and a house party. She was so amazed and impressed by the students. Personally I would pick Wes. They have some outstanding programs but you don’t say what area you are studying. I know a bit less about Smith but everything I’ve heard has only given me a good impression and it would be nice to be in the consortium. Can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>They’re both great schools, so you can’t really go wrong. I’d agree with the above advice to go with your gut feeling if you don’t have an otherwise compelling reason. What kind of environment are you looking for? For example, Smith is definitely less of a partying school.</p>
<p>My daughter attends Smith and really loves it there. She’s fairly quiet and introverted but has made a lot of friends (and is continually making new ones). The housing and dining system is very nice. The small size of the houses and dining halls makes for a more intimate living experience and makes it easy to meet people.</p>
<p>I’ll have to disagree with one of the above comments about the towns. Northampton is much nicer and more energetic than Middletown, and has a wider array of restaurants near campus. In addition, Amherst is a short, free bus ride away from Smith and offers additional restaurants and attractions.</p>
<p>One obvious difference that I’m sure you are no doubt aware is that Smith is an all girls school where Wesleyan is more coed and inclusive. Can you visit both again by any chance and arrange some meetings with professors? Wesleyan is very strong in most subjects, particularly in the sciences. It also happens to be one of the most politically left colleges and is known for its open curriculum. Smith, on the other hand, is a very strong school academically and I’ve heard some people that developed into great people from there, but also left leaning.</p>
<p>You really can’t go wrong. Wesleyan is only slightly better known academically, but you should choose based off interest. I too, visited Wesleyan, found that it wasn’t a fit for me (despite how amazing it looked on paper) and ended up not applying. I still have the uptmost respect for the school though. Similarly, one of my best friends is going to Smith and she is absolutely ecstatic to do so.</p>
<p>Thanks so much to everyone for their help! I wasn’t expecting so many replies, and I really appreciate all of the different perspectives and support. I got so wrapped up in comparing schools that I completely forgot to post my academic interests. I got my AA in Liberal Arts, but I’m still not entirely sure what I’d like to major in. I’m leaning towards English, but I also have a strong interest in Women’s and Gender Studies, Art History or Film Studies. </p>
<p>I’m aware that Wesleyan has an excellent film program and I love the idea of sharing a campus with John Waters’s archives, but I’m also very drawn to the unique environment and support offered by a women’s college. I’m interested in computer science as well (not necessarily as a major, just as a very valuable skill to have), and I feel that Smith would offer an extraordinarily supportive environment for pursuing such a male-dominated field of study. I’m interested in studying abroad, and Smith’s department seems wonderful. I haven’t been able to find as much information on the programs at Wes.</p>
<p>Northampton is definitely more lively than Middletown, and that’s a plus. I’ll have a friend at another school in the 5 College area, which will make things easier socially. I’m a pretty introverted person, but I do like to party, which is something that’s making me consider Wesleyan more, in addition to it’s closer proximity to the city (I’m from New York). Is the party scene available at Smith to those who want it? </p>
<p>I’m quite left-leaning politically, and both schools seem to be equal on that front. Both have open curriculums as well.However, Wesleyan’s ranked slightly higher than Smith. I’m not one to get caught up with rankings, but my peers have consistently stated that Wesleyan has a better academic reputation. Do you all think that Smith’s strong alumnae network would be more advantageous than Wesleyan’s slightly higher position in the rankings?</p>
<p>At this point, I still feel as if I’m leaning toward Smith, but I don’t want to write off Wes entirely. Thanks again you guys!</p>
<p>I find that scrolling through the student-run blogs (where they exist) sometimes reveals the pulse of the social scene. Wesleyan’s is pretty lively:
<a href=“http://wesleying.org/”>http://wesleying.org/</a>
Smith’s seems to have ceased publishing:
<a href=“http://smithd.org/”>http://smithd.org/</a></p>
<p>The difference in rankings and academic reputation between the two schools is pretty minimal, so I’d suggest looking at other factors.</p>
<p>The level of partying varies across the Smith campus, with the most in the Quad and the least on Green St, so there is a party scene available. You also have access to three other schools known for various kinds of partying (Hampshire, Amherst, and UMass) via a free bus (no driving involved), so you actually have a pretty wide range of options.</p>
<p>Smith has a great study-abroad program. Unlike Wesleyan, it has its own programs in four different countries. Besides making application and logistics easier, this means the programs will be better integrated with your program of study and you will have a higher chance of knowing other students there. You’re also free to apply to non-Smith programs.</p>
<p>Some other factors that may be of interest to you based on your academic interests: Smith has one of the best college art museums, has a large women’s history archive, and computer science is housed in the newest engineering and science building. My daughter took the intro to computer science course as a non-major and really liked it. There’s a minor available in computer science if you’re interested in doing more than the intro class but don’t want to major in it.</p>
<p>Actually, Wesleyan co-sponsors three study-abroad programs of its own (with Vassar and Wellesley); one in Paris:
<a href=“http://en.vwpp.org/”>http://en.vwpp.org/</a>
One in Bologna:
<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/bologna/index.html”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/bologna/index.html</a>
And one in Madrid:
<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/madrid/index.html”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/madrid/index.html</a></p>
<p>In addition, there are dozens more “approved” programs in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, Australia and New Zealand and The Americas:
<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/programs/index.html”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/programs/index.html</a></p>
<p>We visited and DS was accepted to Wes. We didnt like Middletown and thought it rather rundown, after being hot on Wes my DS cooled. Stayed in Northampton whilst visiting Amherst and loved the town, much much nicer than Middletown. DS was accepted to Amherst and thus the decision was relatively easy for him. The 5 college consrt seems really good, esp for Smith/Holyoke students to get to classes/parties at Amherst. We were really impressed with Northampton and Amherst, I know little about Smith, but we were really surprised at Wes we all pro going in and then visited, great academics but the campus lacked something.</p>
<p>@Englishman
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<p>And, fifty years after the publication of “The Feminine Mystique”, it’s still the women’s “privilege” to attend parties at Amherst. La plus ca change, indeed!</p>
<p>You seem to be unaware that Amherst is coed and that there will be women at Amherst parties regardless. Smith and Mt Holyoke students don’t consider it a privilege to attend these parties. They’re just another option in a wide and varied social scene. </p>
<p>@photodad
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<p>Compared to Wesleyan? As “run-down” as Middletown may look to outsiders, the walk of shame there doesn’t involve taking a bus the next morning.</p>
<p>Pretty sure that is not a reason to pick Wes over Smith…</p>
<p>^^That’s a matter of opinion.</p>
<p>I don’t understand where you got the impression that Wesleyan is more “academically reputed” than Smith. Smith has a history as a women’s school and as a center of progressivism, so it’s really well known in the northeast, as much or even more than Wesleyan (and to graduate schools, both are equally strong). But that’s no reason to pick Smith over Wesleyan. In any case, both schools have their own strengths. If I were you, I’d look into the kind of opportunities available at Smith and Wesleyan outside of class. At Grinnell, for instance, it’s really easy to raise funds to get a project done or something (my friend, for instance, went for a trip to Costa Rica–at Grinnell’s expense. Not study abroad. Just something in the winter). Smith is similarly wealthy. I wonder how that could potentially translate into opportunities? (The only thing that comes to mind is that when my cousin graduated from Smith last year, the financial aid officer came to her and said, “your loans have been waived!”)</p>
<p>How many years do you have left to graduate, OP? Are you sure you can study abroad (many schools have a 2-years in college rule for graduating)?</p>
<p>All that said, I highly recommend you think about ‘fit’. The consortium sounds like a useful remedy for the women’s college thing but having to go to another school on a bus is really not all that fun (also, Smithies tend to dislike Amherst and Mount Holyoke lol). </p>
<p>I’ve decided to attend Smith, and sent my deposit in yesterday. Ultimately, fit is the most important thing and when I visited Smith, I truly felt as if I could see myself living there. I didn’t get that vibe from Wes. I’ll be an hour farther away from NY, but there’s also a well established and supportive transfer community at Smith, and I think that will make the transition a lot easier. This is really the only time in my educational career that I’ll be able to attend a women’s college, and that’s an opportunity for empowerment and growth that I can’t let pass me by. If that means I’ll have to do a walk of shame on a PVTA bus, then I’ll deal.</p>
<p>To answer International95’s question, I’ll be transferring in as a second semester sophomore. I know that studying abroad can be difficult as a transfer student, but I was told that even if I can’t do junior year abroad, I’ll be able to participate in summer programs. It does seem easier to get funding for outside projects at Smith (unpaid summer internships, for example), and the fact that your cousin had her loans waived is amazing. I’m aware that some Smithies aren’t crazy about people at Amherst and Mount Holyoke, but I already know people at both schools and I’m not one to follow the herd, so I don’t think it’s going to be a huge deal for me. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the advice, everyone! You’ve been a great help and I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>And, thank you, @ulciscor. This will be a useful thread for future Smith-Wesleyan cross-admits. 
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