<p>Lolabelle...welcome to Smith; on CC that is. I absolutely agree with you regarding Tufts. Before visiting Smith, my D and I visited Tufts as that was one of her top choices. We loved the location, the campus is beautiful, easy access to Boston, and the sciences are great. The only thing my D did not like was the distribution requirements put forth by the college. Although, I think that the "X College" alleviates some of those problems. There is definite diversity at Tufts, and to say that Tufts students don't care about their education is ludicrous. That is not the type of student who attends that fine institution.</p>
<p>If my D's criteria had been only slightly different, Tufts would have been high on her list. We know an impressive recent grad from Tufts who is one of the more formidable young women of my acquaintance...and that's saying something as I know a lot of 'em.</p>
<p>Smith and Tufts make an interesting pairing, one of the largest LAC's vs. one of the smallest U's. Somewhere in between, the Roman Empire fell.</p>
<p>I always think of Tufts and Smith as being very different schools, but I've met a lot of cross-applicants. What is the common denominator?</p>
<p>Hi parents and others! Thanks for being extremely helpful! I recently talked to my professor about my problem regarding changing schools, and she too thinks I should go for it. </p>
<p>Regarding my previous concerns, I guess I was just getting really scared about this whole process. I did visit tufts as a high school senior, and I loved it when I visit it. I guess I just got scared off by some negative comments. Regarding applying to tufts again, I read on the website that students who were rejected should wait at least a year before applying, does that mean I have to wait til next fall? or I can apply now for the next fall semaster?</p>
<p>firstyr123-I don't want to disappoint you regarding Tufts but if you were rejected once before it will be difficult for you to be accepted as a transfer unless your grades at Smith are very good to excellent which may be the case. If you were waitlisted or accepted previously, then transferring would be much easier unless you had serious academic problems at Smith. I would definitely apply to other peer schools-small universities with good academic reputations such as Brandeis and BC if you want to go to school in Boston. As one of the parents asked-your grades will play a big role in your options.</p>
<p>Firstyr: No, you can apply again -- it's been a year.</p>
<p>Students who have a 4.0 or close to it at Smith have a great shot at most schools, even at some of the Ivies. (I've heard of women at both Smith and Bryn Mawr transferring to Ivies after a year or two; I don't know whether they had been previously accepted at those schools, however.) </p>
<p>There's never any guarantee, of course. Unfortunately, the lower the Smith GPA, the lower the odds at top schools.</p>
<p>yeah, I am aware of the reapplying issue, so I am also considering brandeis, bu and bc. As for GPA, I am shooting for a 3.7, i am getting A's in both my chem and cal class, and probably an A- in japanese and at least a B in english. so that will bring me around a 3.7,,hopefully I'll bring up my english grades! That's why I got to work hard on my english final paper!!</p>
<p>Those are still good grades, firstyr.</p>
<p>"probably an A- in japanese"</p>
<p>You probably know my daughter. :-)</p>
<p>firstyr123 - Tufts is not for everyone. My niece who is now a junior elsewhere left after her first year. The classes were great and she loved her professors. Socially, she found it very difficult - she was from a small midwest town, class valedictorian - a very bright and motivated student. Her advisor told her if she changed her mind they'd love for her to transfer back - she never has.</p>
<p>My daughter, now a college freshman, also looked at Tufts. In one of the many books about colleges she pointed out the phrase that those who attend Tufts should bring their own boyfriend or girlfriend. She looked at Tufts very carefully and decided against it due to her research about the social scene.</p>
<p>firstyr123,
Your GPA is very good. I think you have a good shot at Tufts even if they turned you down previously. You may want to emphasize your persistent interest in the school as a reason for reapplying again. Good luck!</p>
<p>Well, looks like I'm needed here. </p>
<p>Look- like others said, go through with your life at Smith. The first semester is the most difficult one as my Russian professor there told me. You're stressed and anxious to get home. You're approaching your first round of finals. Those are triggers for being in this kind of emotional state and looking for ways out. (You're also easily influenced by other women's emotions too, ah the drama...) Let it go and go home. Relax and get yourself together. Then come back in January when you are ready and get a new attitude- make the MOST of it. Even if you think you did, push yourself a little more. I did and I ended up finding a new best friend and I met her only TWO weeks before the end of the year! I met her by going to Shabbat services over at Amherst instead of Smith. I was also elected house treasurer, Hillel treasurer, and VP for the Russian Club, and had a terrific work-study job lined up for the fall. I had declared my minor with a great advisor and great classes. I pretty much threw it all out to attend Colgate because I decided that my major was more important since I'd be spending 50% of my semesters taking those classes. I also wanted to be near home.</p>
<p>Your reasons for transferring sounds good but have you had a chance to take bio and chem classes yet? If you didn't, SIGN UP NOW. Then you'll be sure that you definitely want to take more of these classes and will need a stronger, bigger department. That's how I made sure that I'd be transferring out in order to be a history major. All it took was one class (my advisor's) to know that I truly LOVE history and was willing to take the chance to pack up and leave.</p>
<p>How's your house? If you feel a bit uncomfortable, get out and move into a new house. It's one thing I never did because I was too lazy to move out in the snow. I have heard that it's usually the turning point for many freshmen and sophomores on their road to happiness at Smith.</p>
<p>Is there a reason why you'd like to be near Boston, not near UNH? I'd definitely look into Simmons- though it's all-women's, it's a strong school with Northeastern and BU just down the street. There are lots of opportunities for lab work there I believe. Hold off your visit to them until your decision comes in- the bus ride to Boston is about $40 round trip so you'll be able to make it over easily. I would definitely get in touch with the students to get a better feel for their schools. I was in endless contact with Colgate students and I just knew that it'd be a great place for me.</p>
<p>It's a tough decision to leave Smith. Freshman year does seem like a long time but your grandparents aren't kidding- life goes by very fast. This has been the fastest semester I've gone through.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me- I'm pretty unbiased when it comes to the overall transfer process though I suspect that some parents will say otherwise. I have realized the good and bad of transferring out and Smith itself. The people I have helped in the past have been pretty satisfied with their decisions that they made for themselves.</p>