Transferring Twice? Please Help!! (Smith, Bard)

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey there folks, </p>

<p>I'm a first semester sophomore at Smith College. Last year, I went to Bennington College, but I transferred for a variety of reasons, social and academic. My choice for transferring was between Smith and Bard. I chose Smith, thinking that it was academically superior or more credible (though I'm not actually sure if this is generally accepted? Any thoughts?). </p>

<p>Well, now I'm here, and while the academics at Smith are top-notch, and they have strong programs in what I'm interested in, the all-women's environment is <em>awful</em> (for me personally). I have friends at Hampshire College, and am lucky enough to be in touch with the radical activist community there (activism is EXTREMELY important to me, alongside academics).</p>

<p>In a way I have the best of both worlds: the stellar academics at Smith, along with great study abroad options, and the kindred spirits/community at Hampshire. But I feel incredibly alone most of the time, because I have no real sense of community at Smith, where I spend most of my weekdays. I realize that perhaps straddling these two schools is realistically the best choice for me, especially because of the 5 college consortium, enabling me to take classes at Hampshire, for instance. But I can't help but regret not choosing Bard. I imagine that there, in a tightly-knit, co-ed community, I would be able to enjoy the fairly good academics as well as the social element. </p>

<p>My parents are dead set against this. They say that transferring twice will make it difficult if not impossible for me to get into a top graduate school, and that Bard is academically inferior to Smith. Further, to appeal to my interest in activism, they pointed out that they think Bard would fall far short of Hampshire in terms of veritable radicals, and thus Bard would be a weak compromise. </p>

<p>If anyone can please give me frank, honest advice on what is realistically the best choice, bearing in mind that my top priorities are: Academics, Student Activism, and Co-ed Community. </p>

<p>Should I suck it up and make the best of my current situation, or go through the transfer process again and try to go to Bard? </p>

<p>Also, I have to decide (or convince my parents) within the next several days for spring transfer, so please respond soon!</p>

2

<p>We toured Hampshire College last year, and there was a senior there who spoke to the group at the info session. She had transferred from Smith to Hampshire, and it worked out extremely well for her and she was very happy there. Would that be an option for you? You could talk to Hampshire College, explain your situation, and ask them what they think about getting into a grad school after transferring 2 times - it seems it wouldn’t make that much of a difference - and then you’d be able to tell your parents what they said. (Or call some grad schools that you think you would be interested in and ask them directly.)</p>

<p>Also, I have a question for you. My d looked at Bennington and Hampshire last spring and is currently applying to both schools. I’m wondering what you didn’t like about Bennington? Activism is also important to her. Thanks!</p>

3

<p>If you’re interested in studying abroad, you should be sure that you’ll be able to do so as a jr transfer to Bard. Many colleges require at least 2 years in residence and would only permit summer study abroad for jr transfers.</p>

4

<p>Thank you for your responses. I am not going to be transferring for the Spring semester, and I’m still debating transferring in Fall 2011 as a junior, or possibly taking next spring off and transferring in Fall as a 2nd sem sophomore. </p>

<p>Cocoa: About your daughter, well, Hampshire and Bennington may seem similar in terms of the institutions’ progressive educational philosophies, but don’t be fooled. The people that go to the schools are very different. While there is definitely substantial overlap, Bennington is MUCH smaller (600 vs over 1,000 people) and much more homogeneous. It really depends on what your d is interested in. If she is interested in artsy, hip, wealthy kids who like to party and occasionally don an “intellectual” hat (ala NYC hipsters) then Bennington sounds about right. NOT that this is everyone- there are certainly plenty of exceptions. If your daughter is interested in radical political/social activism along the lines of anarchism/anti-authoritarianism, direct action, insurrection, solidarity networks, global justice, etc, then Hampshire is probably one of the few schools in the country which actually has this type of robust activist community. Bennington tends to be a bit more snobby, and I really didnt experience any activism whatsoever in my time there. Sure everybody identifies as liberal, and there are a lot of “out there” types, but there is not an activist community to speak of. If you want a hip artsy scene, Bennington’s it. I think Hampshire has some of this too, but I vastly prefer Hampshire because of the genuine activism and engagement/awareness of its students, and also, to me, the general feel of Hampshire is not nearly as pretentious. Having said that, many folks I know at B’ton love it, have found great friends, and feel completely a part of the community there. So, it really depends what your daughter is interested in and how she defines and understands “activism.” </p>

<p>Also, at this point Bard is off the table due to its financial aid or lack thereof, and the fact it doesnt guarantee the same fin.aid from year to year.</p>

<p>Hampshire, however, is an option which I’m considering. My main concern is that it might reflect poorly if I transfer from a more “prestigious” school like Smith to a school like Hampshire, if I do end up wanting to go to a competitive grad school.</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much for the explanation of the differences. </p>

<p>“but I vastly prefer Hampshire because of the genuine activism and engagement/awareness of its students, and also, to me, the general feel of Hampshire is not nearly as pretentious.”</p>

<p>From what you’ve said, I think my d would enjoy Hampshire more than Bennington. </p>

<p>Good luck to you with your decision!</p>

6

<p>You are suffering from a grass is greener situation. There is no guarantee that at Bard, you would find a cohesive, accepting, activist community. It is a pretty small student body, and you might not find people to click with there. You are actually in a great position, as you pointed out. The academics are great at Smith, they are strong in your major and you can take classes at Hampshire. The college community is much bigger in the N’hampton, Amherst area. </p>

<p>Maybe you should stay put and focus on getting a CAR. Then you could spend more time at Hampshire, maybe even live off campus with some politically compatible friends.</p>

7

<p>i had a friend who transferred from suny binghamton to smith and it had been her dream school for a while and for her first semester, she was miserable. fast-forward to her second semester and she found a concrete group of friends and now she’s sad that we’re juniors and she only has 3 semesters left there. give it some time before you decide to leave. also, if you study abroad, that would make your time at smith even shorter, so it might be worth staying and spending a year abroad or something</p>

8

<p>So ironic to think of parents paying over $50,000 per year for their kids to meet up with anti-authority anarchists planning insurrections. You would probably have to lean towards schools with uber wealthy populations, most poor/middle class kids just want an education and a job.</p>