<p>I'm considering Simmons, but I'm not sure how I would feel about going to school with all women. The campus seems nice and the program is definitely what I'm looking for-but how does the campus feel once's you're there? </p>
<p>I went to an all girls school, Douglas College, Rutgers Univ, NJ- graduated in 82. I have been thinking a lot about this ,because my two D’s are freshman now. I am glad they picked co-ed schools. When I visit them, they talk about all the young men that are in their circle of friends, and I missed that. That said, there are some very impressive all women schools, that are great for leadership. I’m sure many happy all womens college grads will respond.</p>
<p>A lot depends on what kind of person and student you are, what you expect from your college experience, how interested you are in connecting to the larger city around your campus, etc. What do you think you’d be like at Simmons? </p>
<p>I really like the city setting and the smaller size. I should’ve clarified-I’d be a transfer student. I’m currently at UMass, and it’s definitely not the kind of school I was expecting to go to. Simmons seems really community oriented, and I really like that as well</p>
<p>Since you’re at UMass, you could try taking a class at Smith or Mt Holyoke, or even just hang out on their campuses for a while. Even if you’re not interesting in transferring to those particular colleges, you’ll get some feel of what it’s like at a women’s college.</p>
<p>Hi! I go to Simmons College, and I absolutely hate it. I am a freshmen and looking to transfer (with about half my class) after this semester is over.</p>
<p>^ Feel free to ask me any questions you like and I will try to the best of my ability to answer them honestly.</p>
<p>Meg, I’m very sorry that you’re unhappy Will you please elaborate.</p>
<p>Edit: Why did you initially choose Simmons?</p>
<p>Yes please Megster, please elaborate. I’ve seen your posts all over the site today bashing Simmons. Can you give us concrete reasons? I’m not being harsh, its my daughter’s safety and I’d really like the pros and cons from a student perspective.</p>
<p>Hi @CrewDad and @NEPatsGirl,
First off I’d like to say this is just my opinion and other people may think way differently of it. Also, @NEPatsGirl, I’d like to assure you that this school is very safe for being right in the city, as long as your daughter takes the proper precautions. First off, I originally chose Simmons because I liked how it had an actual campus in my favorite city, and has a great Nursing Program (my major). Most of my classes are great, so I guess that’s the most important thing, but Simmons does require a great deal of general education requirements (modes) that cannot be fulfilled by an AP score! </p>
<p>Some of the things I don’t like is the extreme amount of feminism, coming from a co-ed high school, I definitely expected there to be some ‘strong women’ stuff, but it’s a bit out of control here (in my opinion). During the first hall meeting, first day of classes, during club meetings and in orientation, you have to identify your pronouns because even though it is a women’s centered school, not everyone uses the feminine pronouns, which I accept, but don’t see the need for it so often. In the dorms, there is also only one bathroom because they don’t want to discriminate for people who identify as females, but can make an awkward situation for male guests. I feel as though this school you cannot have an opinion. Another thing that personally is a huge factor for me is food, the food is horrid, hardly edible and I am not a picky eater. Sports and school spirit is a huge role to me, both which are virtually nonexistent which is pretty disappointing to me. I also have a hard time fitting in with most of the girls here. I also find the dorms to be a not in the best shape, both run down with tiny rooms. There is also a lack of a social life here, the only way you can go to a party is if you know someone or are on the list; otherwise it means craft night for you. I go home most weekends, which can also be attributed a bit towards homesickness, but not entirely. I feel like I am not having the ideal college experience. The things I do like, again, is the prime location along with safety is great. The classes and campus are great too. </p>
<p>Another thing I want to warn you, is nursing majors dominate the school, my nursing class is about one-third of my incoming class. Also, there are twice as many grad students as undergrads.</p>
<p>AGAIN, THIS IS JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION, BUT I JUST THOUGH I SHOULD PUT IT OUT THERE! </p>
<p>Let me know if you have anymore questions.</p>
<p>Thank you Megster for your candid opinion. Daughter would be a bio major and we thought the area would be good for internships and possible research possibilities. Sports and school spirit are a non-issue for us but food is important lol! Thanks again.</p>
<p>@NEPatsGirl, I’m glad I could help, let me know if you or your daughter has anymore questions!</p>
<p>Oh no Megster. Nursing is demanding major with little room for improvisation. That said, is it possible for you tkae advantage on any of the offering at other Fenway colleges? Maybe a class, eat in the dining halls once a week, a club? Can you do a study way semester? Study Abraod? have talked to your advisor? My D really didn’t like her first semmester at her women’s college. (the preffered pronoun thing drove her nutzzz too. Too bad she 's not CC you could swap stories.) Try to make the best of your time in Boston. In my Ds case, things improved and now she loves her school, but not for the reasons she orignally chose. Despite your troubles, keep focused on your grades. Think GPA GPA GPA. Best of luck. </p>
<p>Megster17 - Would love to hear more. My DD16 is considering Simmons for a BSW. She was hoping there was access to sports, balanced feminism, focus on undergrads as well as the grad students, and strong communities in the dorms. Plus, decent food. It sounds like you’re not finding any of that as a nursing student. (She’s concerned about the foreign language requirements, however. Not a fan.) </p>
<p>@dessie411- When D was looking last year, she knew she wanted a small liberal arts school that was not in the city center. Women’s colleges were not on the initial list. But we believe the evidence we have read that show women performing better in classes without the testosterone-induced competition. And she wanted an environment that was rigorous, yet nurturing, one where she could be herself, dress up or dress down hang out with friends or go to neighboring schools for parties (with boys). She wanted to own the decision of how and when to introduce ‘men’ into her college life. She declined other well-known co-ed schools for these and other reasons. Every school has their own campus feel, and when you are at a women’s college, that feel is one where strong, decisive people ( who are probably female) run a program designed to fit women. Each women’s college has their own take on this and you should visit the ones that interest you if you can. I hope you do.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why preferred pronoun discussions bother people; it’s simply to assure that you’re using the pronouns that everyone wants to be used and you only have to do it once at the beginning of the semester per class/organization. It’s easy to think of this as unnecessary or bothersome if people do not frequently use the wrong pronouns to describe you…but it’s probably far more irritating for people to consistently refer to you as a “he” when you are a “she”, etc. But that’s not unique to feminism or women’s colleges; in fact, the first place I encountered this was a co-ed study abroad program away from my women’s college for a semester. And I much more frequently encounter it off-campus in community organizations and events than on-campus.</p>
<p>I didn’t go to Simmons; I went to a different women’s college. I really loved it. In many ways, women’s colleges are just like any other college - lots of 18-22-year-olds in the same place; parties; late night study sessions; social campus events; etc. The major difference is, of course, all of your classmates and dorm-mates are women. I think one of the things I learned was the incredible diversity of women - there’s no one way to be a woman. A lot of young women shy away from considering women’s colleges because of stereotypes or assumptions about women (that we’re all, or mostly, “catty” and obsessed with fashion and clothes or whatnot), but going to a women’s college made me understand how untrue most of those stereotypes are, and that women are all very different.</p>
<p>The other thing that’s really great about my women’s college is the sisterhood. I think women’s colleges vary on how much they emphasize this, but my college has all kinds of traditions through each year and the college is really big on the students knowing the history of our traditions and of our campus and school. For example, I can tell you the namesake of each of the buildings on our campus, who he or she was and what he or she did for the college. Every Spelman woman can tell you the names of our founders and the year of our founding, and a least a little brief history of what they intended to do when they started college. Our graduation is held at the same time as alumnae reunion, and it is so wonderful when the alumnae sisters come back and we all share traditions going back decades! I always felt very connected to my classmates, like we were more than just people who went to the same school together, but part of a wonderful tradition together.</p>
<p>And when I meet other women who went to my college out and about - it’s like meeting a long-lost sister. I saw a Spelman alumna at a conference a couple months back and we jumped up and down and embraced each other; everyone around us was very amused.</p>