<p>The fact that more than one person who wears a cape at smith is absurd, but amazing. </p>
<p>Out of curiosity, which dorms are prime real estate? (I mean the really nice houses that are coveted by the entire campus.)</p>
<p>Oh yes, there are Smithies that wear capes for sure. And there are way more than one of them. And they dont all live on Green Street. Also, while Cutter/Z are ugly, they are also awesome. </p>
<p>Itās a little pointless to rely very much on house stereotypes. Even as stereotypes go, the houses vary widely from year to year. Particularly in how insular they are, or arenāt. The only thing that stays the same is the rough size and location of a house. So the best way to think about it is: do I want to live in a large house with a wide variety of people, or a smaller house with less variety but more intimacy (not in the sexual way)? Do I want to be close to classes, or would I like a little more separation in my life? Is it really important to me to have a single, if not first year, then when Iām a sophomore? Which houses have the most singles? Do I want to be close to town? Do I need to be close to the gym/theater/music building? Those are going to be more productive questions. Outside of that, house community is usually what you make of it.</p>
<p>As is often the case, S&P nails it.</p>
<p>N.B., my D lived on Green Street and never wore a cape. <cue ācaponā="" joke="">
The studious, the jockish, and the performing artsish all tend to find Green St.
appealing for one reason or another.</cue></p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So the remaining Smithies who are academic slackers, athletics adverse or untalented reside in the other houses? ;)</p>
<p>Right. No one lives anywhere else! Seriously, Green Street is next to the performing arts buildings and the gyms.</p>
<p>Hello! Iām a current firstie and I live in Lawrence on Green Street. It is true, itās pretty quiet around here but Iāve never lived in any of the other houses in any other part of campus, but Green Street is definitely a calm area. One thing I like is that youāre kind of close to everything: the gyms and the fields (although I have found little use for them myself, being not very athletic!), the theatre, the library, a lot of the academic buildings, the campus center isnāt too far off either, and across the street is Pizza Amore, so quick and easy pizza is about five minutes away always. The Green Street houses themselves are all pretty small, which I like because I feel like the house community is very tight, though Iām sure that can vary, and of course there are hermits everywhere that you see for the first time in February and question whether or not youāre sure they live there. On Green Street, there are dining halls in Tyler on one end of the street and in Hubbard on the other end, so foodās always close. Morris and Lawrence have the same layout and include little kitchens with microwaves and fridges and whatever you need to cook with. I love it on Green Street.</p>
<p>smithiein221b-- Hey Smithie, this is bn12gg the Dad of a Smith accept - early
write, Stride. Iād love to know more about your first year and perspective you
have on other first years ā specifically the housing beyond Green St (but also
houses on Green St, food (do any of you cook your own), have you spent time
in town (NH), have you spent any time in Amherst (U Mass, Amherst College),
how has it been using the bus system, how has the academic advising worked
out, AND in general are you pleased with Smith???</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>David</p>
<p>Ah, so much to say! Iāll start off by saying that I and most of the friends Iāve made absolutely love Smith. I definitely made the right decision coming here. I guess Iāll start off with the bus-Amherst-etc. questions because theyāre easiest. I myself have never been to any of the other colleges, but my friends are always trying to get me to come to parties at Amherst or UMass, Iām just not much of a party person. The bus system is really great, though, all you have to have is your OneCard and you get on for free. Aside from taking you to the other colleges, you can go to the Hampshire Mall, which includes a Barnes & Noble, WalMart, I think a Target, Marshalls, Panera Bread, pretty much anything youād ever want, and Iāve been into the city of Amherst to see a movie. </p>
<p>Northampton itself is a lovely little city. You can walk right down from green street or elm street and youāre right there where everything is. Thereās a Peter Pan bus station, which you can take to get to Boston or wherever (not free, of course!) Thereās a Starbucks, a Dunkin Donuts, and a CVS where I do most of my minor grocery shopping. Though if you can get a ride by car I believe thereās a Stop & Shop nearby if you need anything more than what CVS can get you. In addition there are tons of fun little shops, and an Urban Outfitters. Thereās also a small movie theatre thatās usually playing one or two different movies a week, but theyāre current and often more indie films that you canāt always find elsewhere. We often have ice cream runs to Herrelās and on your birthday they give you an ice cream for free. Really thereās plenty to do right in Northampton. I usually go into town on the weekend, on an average of every two weeks or so; Iām not certain that thatās typical but I might guess that it is. </p>
<p>As for the housing outside of Green St, Iām not sure Iām the most knowledgeable. Iāve been to the quad once for a party, and it definitely felt like a different atmosphere, though Iām not sure that being there at party time is entirely indicative of the usual feeling to the area. The houses there are much bigger, I know, and therefore you probably wonāt know everyone that lives there. Hopefully people who have lived in other houses will come on here and will be able to better describe the different areas; I know that I felt, when choosing which area of campus Iād like to live in, that I didnāt really know much about the choices and would have found a more detailed description helpful.</p>
<p>You asked about food; and people do occasionally cook food for themselves. Most often this cooking would involve microwaving an easy mac or boiling up some ramen, but there is from time to time someone in the kitchen cooking with, like, vegetables and other such plant-based foods. I donāt think that all houses have kitchenettes, especially houses that have dining halls, but I feel like many do and youāre always welcome to use it. At least in my house, there are cooking-materials like utensils and pots/pans, baking sheets and muffin tins and what have you, as well as often some supplies like flower and sugar that are open to everybody, but often if you bring in your own stuff and you label it, people are good about leaving it alone.</p>
<p>My first year was pretty great. When I arrived, there were upperclassmen waiting to help me unpack my momās carāit was all in my new room within 5 minutes, I think. Most of the upperclassmen were either Heads of New Students (HONS) or Student Academic Advisors (SAA, a position which I will hold next year at Lawrence), or the President/VP/Head Resident, but some upperclassmen just wanted to be there early to welcome us firsties, and they made us all feel very comfortable even when we were nervous and homesick. There were around 16 or so first years in my house and we all got to know each other pretty well in the first week, although there was a lot of sticking to your roomie happening at first. My roommate situation worked out very well; we never had any problems with each other and living together has been so easy, weāll be roomies next year. Besides us, though, there is only one roomie pair of our year who is staying together, but as I understand it, the class year before us had a pretty solid roomie-retention rate, so it really varies, I think.</p>
<p>The SAAs explained to us how registration works. Basically it boils down to: itās not as scary as it seems and will get less scary after the first time around, and be prepared with back-ups if one or more of your classes are full. I met with my adviser having made up a few possible schedules. Just going into that meeting without any preparation is no good: your adviser has to see several people, and of course he/she is not going to try to rush you out the door, but you want to use the time you have well. My adviser is a member of the English and American Studies departments, which fits my major-intentions/preferences very well, though I know that he had at least one or two advisees who were interested in science. But advisers, no matter their departments, are very knowledgeable of the course catalog, and mine, seeing that I had selected mostly humanities classes, suggested for me a Biology class which I ended up taking and enjoying.</p>
<p>Itās also important to note that for the first week or so, you can add or drop a class if, when you go to the first class or two, you realize it just isnāt going to be your thing, or if you canāt decide between two classes and you want to see which one youād prefer.</p>
<p>I have to leave in a minute, so Iāll stop there, but it seems that I could talk for ages about my first year, so if there are any other particular things I can talk aboutāthe classes Iāve taken, the professors Iāve had, whateverāIām gonna be back online tonight and probably more this weekend as Iāve heard that new smithies will be getting their letters today. But firstādinner and The Hunger Games await me!</p>
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<p>Thank you so much. I read your entire response to my daughter and wife. The
insights were most helpful, as you can imagine D is like a deer in the headlightsā
soaking up any info (like yours) she can get re Smith. You were in her position
at this time last year.</p>
<p>Daughter and wife are scheduled to attend the Open Campus event on the 19,20
of next month. They briefly visited Smith in November (as well as Mount Holyoke)
and were impressed with the entire academic setting (5 colleges).</p>
<p>You are obviously bright and fitting into the Smith culture. What is your major?
Where did you go to high school? How did you decide to attend Smith?</p>
<p>We are from Florida where may wife and I are professors at a State University.</p>
<p>We really appreciate your elaborate response to the questions.</p>
<p>.02 David</p>
<p>Itās my pleasure, really. Iāve been uncertain for a while about my major, but lately Iāve been considering American Studies. A friend of mine recently was talking to me about having no idea what to do with her life and I told her I felt the same way. So, we went through all of the majors and crossed out the ones we knew we didnāt favorāI feel like that can sometimes be easier than figuring out what you do want. And I didnāt cross off American Studies because I didnāt really know what it was, so I did some research and it seems like it might be right for me. Iām not a science kind of person, and I donāt have a very specific idea of what Iāll be doing as a career; the American Studies major is very flexible, and it would allow me to take a variety of classes. Four of the classes you take for that major must be united in a particular theme; for example, it could be American Literature, American History, Diversity in America, Popular Culture/Mass Media. Iām also interesting in English Literature, Theatre, Psychology, mostly Humanities/Social Sciences.</p>
<p>I am from Connecticut and I went to a small private/Catholic school. There was a Smith booth at the college fair, but a friend of mine really looked more at them than I did. For a while I was very much interested in going to Wellesley, but I expanded my horizons and at the urging of my friend and my father, I looked more at Smith. What really won me over was the visit I did in November of my senior year. I guess at the three colleges that were my favorites I just sort of got āthe feelingā when I was walking through campus. I applied to Columbia, Barnard, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, Vassar, and Smith (of course), but when I visited the latter three, I really felt I could just see myself walking up those steps to take a class, sit on that bench and have lunch with my friends; itās just that feeling that no one can really quantify or define, but itās important to feel like you belong at the place youāll be living at for the next four years. </p>
<p>Aside from the feeling, Smith offered the freedom of a liberal arts education (there arenāt any core classes you need to take; really just a writing intensive class your first year, and even that can be a class in just about anything, so you can just dive into whatever you find interesting). My mother restricted me from applying anywhere much more than 2 hours away (which isnāt really a problem when you live in New England), so Smith fit that bill. Iām not really sure why I applied to so many Womenās Colleges, but I suppose that I felt that since Womenās Colleges were originally created to be the equivalent of the Ivies, I knew I would get a really good education at any of them.</p>
<p>In the end, I was rejected from Columbia and Vassar (sad), wait-listed at Wellesley and Barnard (eeh), and accepted to Mount Holyoke and Smith (victory!). Of those two, Smith gave me slightly more financial aid, which was definitely a big factor for me. So, I decided not to take a chance on wait lists because I couldnāt ask for more than Smith. I did an overnight in April and my decision was confirmed as being the right one.</p>
<p>Something that I and my friend have been talking about lately is the importance of choosing the right college. Some people tell you your choice is the most important thing youāll have to do, and some people tell you it kind of doesnāt matter. We decided that it is important, but not in the way that most people think. The thing is, Iām sure I would have gotten a great education at Mount Holyoke (or Wellesley, or the five colleges, etc). Iām sure I would have met amazing people and I would have taken fascinating classes. Maybe there would have been one odd class that I took on a whim and discovered a hidden passion and what I should really do with my life. Had I gone to another college, completely different things might have happened to me. But there was no way for me to know what was waiting for me at each particular college. So whatās really important in choosing a college is to make sure that you will be comfortable in the environment. A lot of colleges offer great liberal arts educations, and at each of them you will find people and professors and classes that you love. Iād say to anybody having trouble at this time, know that you are making a big decision, and that the choice you make will affect your next four years, but thereās no way of knowing how. Wherever you go, great things await. So I hope your daughter, if sheās still undecided, can figure out whatās right for her. And I may be biased, but I hope she comes to Smith. Because Smith is awesome.</p>
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<p>Nice posts, Smithiein221B!</p>
<p>smithiein221b-- Thanks again for the detailed, insightful response. This sort of
thing will help my daughter. Maybe some of the powers that be from this site ought
to copy it for other prospects.</p>
<p>My daughter appliied to five schools - the University of Florida, Smith, Mount
Holyoke, Wellesley and Bryn Mawr. She was accepted at these schools with
merit money from all but Wellesley and UF (there she has a prepaid). She never
wanted to attend a big research first university, State or private. UF was our
safety school so it is now off the table-- kaching ($$) so now Iām looking down both
barrels of private tuition. Daughter is in the process of choosing among the three.
Iāve studied the Smith, MO, and Bryn Mawr web sites, academic departments, advising,
etc etc extensively. Iāve found many You Tube productions useful as well. Daughter
is interested in Biology (I know all freshman are so interested) which is at least a
start. </p>
<p>We are at a point where we simply have to choose one and it is about feeling and fit
more than the academics. I canāt decide for her (this has been pointed out to me- ha!)
so she and the mother will fly in for Open Campus.</p>
<p>Again-- many thanks. David</p>
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<p>Bn, I think youāre pretty on target about fit and feel once you cross the āacademics are goodā threshhold. For my D, there was an almost audible āclickā on every Smith experience: two prospect parties meeting Smithies and other prospective students, two visits, and an admitted students gathering. She liked the people she met a lot.</p>
<p>Of the three on the table, I think Bryn Mawr has the most intense academics. They donāt call themselves āMawrtersā for nothing. And apparently it has the most Hogwarts-like dining hall of any college. For me, the tagline for Smithies is ābright and quirky.ā As in, not being confined to boxes or stereotypes, free to express and pursue individual passions. My D thought that the Smith experience was very well rounded between academics and non. </p>
<p>However your D decides, good luck to her.</p>
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<p>My daughterās final two choices also came down to Bryn Mawr and Smith. My daughter felt that sheād be happy at either, although she felt the āclickā at Smith that TD describes above. Iām not sure, however, that Bryn Mawr has the most intense academics; my daughter found that the BMC classes she attended were not as demanding as the Smith ones she attended, but, of course, thatās highly dependent not only on the individual course but the specific day. As a bio major, your daughter will have intense academics no matter which of the above she chooses.</p>
<p>At the time, I wished that my D would choose Bryn Mawr because it was closer to home, but I donāt regret paying almost full tuition at Smith. She received a top-notch education, both academically and personally.</p>
<p>My daughter is finishing her second year in a PhD in neuroscience program. Smith prepared her well for most things, not so much for others. Students from big universities tend to have more intense lab experiences and more highly specialized courses behind them, but what my D lacked in experience, she made up with her skills in analysis, writing, methodology, and, of course, work ethic. Thatās not to say that the other incoming students didnāt have those qualities or that she was not prepared academically, but that certain skills she acquired from her time at Smith more than made up for certain deficits inherent in a small liberal arts college education. Iām sure that the same would be true for any science graduate from the schools your daughter is favoring.</p>
<p>Although my daughter entered Smith intending to be a humanities major, she found the sciences there to be exhilarating and challenging. Several people, upon learning that she had changed her major to neuroscience, asked me if she planned to transfer to a large university, now that she was out of the humanities. Absolutely not. That never entered her thoughts or ours. </p>
<p>We, too, gave up a full tuition university for Smith. Despite the financial pinch, we didnāt regret it.</p>
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<p>Parents-- ^^^ Thanks so much for the input. Daughter and wife will attend the Open Campus event on the 19/20th. We are down to Smith vs Mount Holyoke (tilt toward
Smith this week). The nice people at Mount Holyoke put a nice chunk of change on the table(beyond STRIDE) and that certainly got Daughterās and wifeās attention. Ha, Iām sort of out of it, just responsible for funding and check writing this experience. Frankly, Iām sort of wishing to join you fine folks as the Dad of a Smithie-- D will get a fab education, joing a fine Network upon graduation and my wife and me get to be part of your parent network on CC. The Daughter will have to tell the mother who will tell me where to send $$'s. You folks get it as youāve been in my shoes.</p>
<p>.02 David</p>
<p>ps- The D is a real good kid who will fit nicely into Smith.</p>
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<p>Iām 90% sure that your daughter will know exactly where she wants to be after attending the two open campuses. MHC and Smith have overlap in applications, but not so much when it comes to campus environment. My daughter applied to both, got accepted at both, but tossed the MHC acceptance aside once she knew she had gotten into Smith. In contrast, a close family friend went to MHC ā and didnāt even apply to Smith because she wanted a quieter,more rural setting.</p>
<p>Parents-- Proud Dad and Mom here. Daughter was just announced as Valedictorian ā high school senior class 800. Ha, the Mom is dancing in the street! She really isā¦</p>
<p>David</p>
<p>ps-- I need to get back to certain of my hobbies.</p>
<p>bn12gg, congratulations to your daughter! That is truly awesome (and I rarely use the word)!!! You have every right to be proud. My husband and I felt the same way when our daughter was announced as Val as well, but it certainly wasnāt a class of 800! Thatās HUGE!</p>
<p>My daughterās choices were Smith, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Bryn Mawr and Honors-UMass Amherst (which she really didnāt consider because she wanted a LAC). For a while it was a complicated equation but bit by bit she sorted it through. Bryn Mawr was the very first college which had wooed her, but she realized sheād outgrown it and wanted a bigger school, so once she was accepted, she quickly dropped that prospect. Initially she really wanted to attend Wellesley, but the fin aid wasnāt as generous and her Open House overnight experience was disappointing so that balloon was a bit deflated. She received more merit aid from Mount Holyoke (21st Century Scholars) than Smithās STRIDE. Over a number of visits plus the April overnight, she had sat in on a total of four humanities classes at Mount Holyoke and was surprisingly disappointed. Also, at the time, the structure of the 21st Century Scholars was still being developed so it was difficult to assess the value of the MH offer other than monetarily. On the other hand, she knew that the Smith STRIDE was an extremely successful, well-established program, but being a small-town girl, she initially had a hard time picturing living in Northampton. Her friendly Smith Open House overnight experience was a wonderful surprise on all kinds of levels and that really helped cinch the deal.</p>
<p>Again, congratulations to your daughter! Itās OK if your buttons are popping off! ;)</p>
<p>Carolyn-- Thanks so much. And, I believe you are correct re STRIDE-- a well established worthwhile research program. Funny you brought it up as my wife did the same thing yesterday in discussing Dās options. I believe it is one very significant difference maker in the D choosing Smith. I hope it works out as well for her (with prof) as it has for many others. </p>
<p>800 seniors, yes, Dās high school is a little larger in total than Smith College. She is an IB
student, a program with an extremely rigid curriculum so Smithās Open Curriculum is a huge draw and should help with the final Smith decision. </p>
<p>We appreciate your thoughts.</p>
<p>.02 David</p>
<p>One other thing to mention re: grocery stores (I know this is a concern for some, especially with daughters with gluten intolerance or other dietary restrictions): in addition to the Stop N Shop (itās a decent walk from campus, maybe 25 min, so consider that when buying items), there is a health food grocery store in the basement of Thorneās Market right on Main St. Itās a little pricey, but an easy option if you need special or gluten free items in a hurry. You can also get packaged foodstuffs (Annieās Instant Mac for example) at Deals N Steals, a discount store on Pleasant Street. They mainly sell clothes and boots (good for inexpensive winter items) but they also have discounted, shelf stable food. The best in my opinion though is to take the bus to Hampshire Mall (on the free bus line from campus, about 20 min) and there is a big Whole Foods, Target, and a Trader Joeās there. Because its on the bus line, itās easy to stock up and then you can ride back to campus.</p>