Hi CC, I’m a rising senior from an upper middle-class family that is unlikely to get substantial financial aid (even from the best schools with large endowments). I recently got emails related to the Women of Distinction Program at Smith College (which is on my list, but is not very high since I am not at all interested in attending a women’s college, however both Smith and Scripps are in consortiums with other coed institutions so they are good options for me). If I apply and get into this program - I don’t know how competitive it is - I will get a free trip out to Smith this coming fall and will get to stay there, all expenses covered. I figure that this is a way for the school to lure in more applicants of color. I am half Japanese so I do qualify, and my mom is pushing me to apply to the program, but I’m feeling like I’m being forced into it. I have already visited the school and liked it enough; however, Smith is not high on my list and I am afraid that attending this would lock me into going to Smith, assuming that they offer the best financial aid.
My question is: is it worth at least applying to, and (if accepted) attending this program?
I would also like to know if people have been to similar recruitment programs and what their experiences were like. Is there merit in attending such programs?
Thank you.
Taking the trip, assuming you are offered one, does not lock you into anything. With that said…if you are not at least 75% sure your would be willing to accept and attend this school why would you waste your (and the schools) time investigating the program? It seems from your post that you are not really interested.
Hi! Sorry for the late reply but I have attended Harvey Mudd’s WISTEM program and I highly recommend it. I wasn’t very interested in Mudd (actually I was more interested in Pomona) until I attended the program. It gave me a real idea of whether or not I could feel at home there. Although I must note that Smith isn’t like Scripps. Scripps is practically intertwined with the other schools (they play on the same sports teams, there’s a student-run coffee shop on Scripps’ campus that students from other schools like to go to, all 5 of the schools are within one square mile of land), while Smith is a lot more independent of the other schools in the consortium. Smith definitely has appealing qualities even if you aren’t looking at women’s colleges. I recommend it if you can at least see yourself applying.
Also look up fly ins for other schools you’re interested in and see if they have a fly in! Also attending one definitely doesn’t lock you into anything, it doesn’t even guarantee admission!
Did anyone that applied for this hear back? Accepted or Rejected? My D hasn’t heard anything.
I haven’t heard anything yet either… This week though! I can’t remember what the website said, but people on CC in the past have said they were sent an email and then received a letter so hopefully any day now.
I was just notified of my acceptance through a phone call! I’d imagine most of the calls will go out tonight as the woman on the phone said an email will be sent out tomorrow. Best of luck to your D!
They called my D last night but she was in class and couldn’t answer the phone but she got the email this morning. She’s very excited.
Hi! Missed the call last night but I got the email this morning! I’m in. 
question, do I have the purchase the ticket then get reimbursed or will they just buy it for me and skip the middle man?
Read the email it tells you what to do for travel arrangements. My D made hers this afternoon.
I had classes all day so I didn’t get a chance to call… I guess I will tomorrow. Ugh, I’m probably going to take an Amtrak. I love riding trains but I hate the nearest Amtrak station to where I live… I might ask my parents if I can just take NJ transit to New York City and get on the Amtrak there just so we don’t have to deal with Newark. Where are you guys coming from? @drakefan I’m looking forward to meeting you! And your D @Dolemite
@Fangirl1999 You live in Newark? That’s awesome. I grew up in Paterson. I’m coming from Hartford (boarding school).
@drakefan nope I live like 30 minutes away (near Morristown) But that’s awesome! Hartford, CT? How close is that to Northampton?
@Fangirl1999 ahh ok. It’s about an hour by car.
Safe travels tomorrow for all the WoD attendees!
@drakefan Did you attend WOD and Discover Wellesley? I wanted to do both, but since the deadlines were so far apart, Wellesley told me to choose Smith or them. I’m really sad I couldn’t visit :-<
@jubilant56 hi! I’m really sorry to hear that. Yes, I did both programs. I went straight from Smith to Wellesley. (Smith bought my ticket to Wellesley). Wellesley wasn’t the the best about understanding that Smith’s fly-in was something that was important to me too so I totally understand. You should message/text me about your experience at Wellesley. I’m curious!
@drakefan Ah, I’m so stupid! If I had gotten in WOD, I could’ve asked Smith to book me a returning flight when Discover Wellesley had ended. No use crying over spilt milk though. I’ll PM you about WC ^^
To answer this thread’s question, WOD was TOTALLY worth it!! I had so much fun!!