<p>The question for the OP gives me a little pause in regards to STRIDE. Odds for her look good, especially if RD. And I’ve got to say that STRIDE can be a super nice cherry on top of the cake. Besides the immediate $$$, it paid off for D directly and indirectly for years.</p>
<p>She might just as easily had the same outcomes without it. But I do think it was a factor in some of her internships and ultimately grad school. Big enough to matter? I dunno.</p>
<p>Well, I DO know. In my d’s case, she parlayed her STRIDE all the way into a five/six-year graduate fellowship. And, no, I can say with virtual utmost certainty that it is NOT likely she would have had the same outcomes without it. It set her apart from scores of other otherwise equally qualified applicants (and they pretty much told her so.)</p>
<p>Now, to be fair, they created her STRIDE position with her and her particular skillset in mind. But, then, things like that happen at Smith.</p>
<p>I agree with MomWaitingForNew (post #7) and SmithieandProud (post #15). Having a daughter who has benefited immensely from the STRIDE program, I’d encourage you to apply RD and see if you receive a STRIDE. You look like STRIDE material to me. Our finances may be similar to yours, so the financial benefit plus the immeasurable research opportunity STRIDE offers seems like a no-brainer to me. And I wouldn’t be surprised that your Harvard dad winds up being envious of your Smith experience; I know my husband has.</p>