<p>Our D just received A STRIDE from Smith, and I am trying to figure the whole thing out. I realize that she will be involved in research for the first two years at Smith and gets compensated for such. I would like to hear from others who have received STRIDE's and maybe learn about your research projects and what you got out of them? What would you have done differently, if anything? Is it always wise to do your research in your academic area of interest, or should she look "out of the box" and examine other areas of potential interest?</p>
<p>I was a stride student for my first two years at Smith (I'm a senior now). Financially, the way it works is that Smith pays you a regular work-study salary (about $7.25/hr) for 8 hours of work per week during your first 2 years, for your work with a prof. This happens even if you would not otherwise be work-study eligible based on family income, it restricts you from having another regular on-campus job--though you can still work occasional "spot jobs," and is not strictly monitored--ie if you work 6 hours one week and 9 hours the next, your paycheck will not vary. Additionally, STRIDE students are given a $2500 scholarship for each of their 4 years at Smith (except if they're also named Zollman Scholars, in which case the $2500 is changed to a half-tuition scholarship). </p>
<p>Phew. Anyway, I worked with a sociology prof, even though that's not my major and I never thought it would be. Her project, on government forms of social control, linked well to my interests in political science. My job was first to identify a 3rd case study for a book-length research project she was working on, and then to find the resources she'd need to complete it, and make a bibliograpy (this was a huge job that gave me a great familiarity with things like microfiche readers and the interlibrary loan system that have come in really handy on my own research projects). I got to present the research I did (because at first, I chose the topic and was the only one who'd read the materials, until she started going through them) at an sociology conference, and got the benefit of having what amounted to an extra adviser in addition to my major and minor ones. My STRIDE prof was a Smith alum, too, so she was extra-helpful. We got along very well and I always enjoyed meeting with her--we talked about the project and lots of other things, too. </p>
<p>I don't think it really matters which subject you do your STRIDE in--for me, it was nice to have a break and do something slightly different, and if you're in a field like some sciences where grad schools like you to have research experience, you could always get that in your last 2 years. So picking something you like with a prof who sounds friendly (really, they're all friendly--just some might have personalities that mesh better with your D's) is probably the best bet. </p>
<p>This was a long answer, I know, but I just got to Smith yesterday after Jterm and am so excited to be back--if you have other questions about the school, feel free to post again. I had a tough time choosing Smith over other colleges I was accepted to, but I know now that this was a great decision for me.</p>
<p>{This was a long answer, I know, but I just got to Smith yesterday after Jterm and am so excited to be back--if you have other questions about the school, feel free to post again. I had a tough time choosing Smith over other colleges I was accepted to, but I know now that this was a great decision for me.}</p>
<p>Stacy...this is a typical response from a Smithie, and it's great to hear as a new dad of a Smithie! We found after speaking to many Smith students, that their responses were similar; happy they choose Smith over other highly regarded colleges.</p>
<p>{I don't think it really matters which subject you do your STRIDE in--for me, it was nice to have a break and do something slightly different, and if you're in a field like some sciences where grad schools like you to have research experience, you could always get that in your last 2 years. So picking something you like with a prof who sounds friendly (really, they're all friendly--just some might have personalities that mesh better with your D's) is probably the best bet. }</p>
<p>She has talked about the possibility of doing research outside of her intended major (bio), but I'll bet when she sees the list of opportunities she chooses one in the sciences. We'll wait and see. Althou it is nice to know that those opportunities don't stop after 2nd year, and continue through to the last. This really was one of the primary reasons our D choose Smith, and getting a STRIDE was icing on the cake!</p>
<p>Since my D got accepted this past week, her best friend is thinking of applying as well. She is a very bright girl attending a local private school, who has intentions of applying to Yale, Colby and Bates. Her brother currently attends Yale, but she is really leaning towards Smith to major in biology as well, after learning of the STRIDE opportunities afforded my D. Needless to say, our D is thrilled to hear that her best friend is interested. What can you tell me about your house? Other houses? Elm St. etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>I live in a co-op (with mini's daughter!) where you have to be a sophomore or above, so my current experience is very different from what your D's will be. But I will say that it's my 5th semester in this house and it's been a wonderful, life-changing experience living here. If I didn't live in the co-op, though, I think I would have chosen Haven or Baldwin, since that's where most of my non-house friends are. </p>
<p>Although I'm quite introverted (before I get to know people), I asked to live in the Quad my first year, because it's where I stayed during Open Weekend, it felt a little seperate from the academic buildings and I liked that, and a girl from my high school was living there. Those were pretty silly reasons in retrospect, but I liked living there and made some good friends. It wasn't overly noisy (certainly not compared to my sister's co-ed dorm at her college) but people were social and that helped me open up and make a good adjustment to college. </p>
<p>No matter what stereotypes you'll hear about the various houses, just keep in mind that all houses have a pretty diverse mix of students, and there's a ton of turnover each year as people move or graduate or go abroad, so things change a lot. Also, remember that the campus is small so being "close to class" or to town doesn't matter as much as you might think. And the most important thing to know is that often, the best house for you is the one you're assigned to, because it's what you know best and where you make your first friends. </p>
<p>If you're coming from far away you may want to ask for a house that stays open during breaks--some of them close, and then you'd have to find a friend in an open house whose room you can stay in.</p>
<p>{And the most important thing to know is that often, the best house for you is the one you're assigned to, because it's what you know best and where you make your first friends.}</p>
<p>There you go! Truth spoken. Good to also hear about all the stories about certain houses vs. other houses in terms of partying, studying, etc. Although I do not doubt that houses on Elm or Green Streets are quieter than quad houses. Just makes sense, I guess. Learning through this site that Smithis much less of a party school, as say Amherst is, makes me glad as well.</p>