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Smith College is the worst place in the world. You could not pay me to go there.

By Ml41588 (Ml41588) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 03:09 pm: Edit

is it a school for mostly gay women, or has that changed?

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 09:50 pm: Edit

I've investigated this quite a lot and have gotten input from a number of current and former parents. There is a substantial gay component but it is not a majority. If you are not tolerant, you will not fit in there. Otoh, if you are more traditional in your social outlooks, you aren't going to be scorned for it.

Note: there is a substantial gay component at all the all-women colleges. Smith, Wellesley, etc., have a number of academic advantages for women, too. We went to a college preview party hosted by a local Smith alumna and the 15 or so current students who came to speak and be interviewed were the best advertising I've seen for any school yet.

My daughter was so impressed that Smith is right up there with the Ivies in her current esteem.

By Ljames0209 (Ljames0209) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 06:26 am: Edit

As a senior in high school, I have already applied and been accepted to Smith. I have decided to go there, and I was just wondering if anyone had any comments (positive/negative) about it. [I read the above posts, and I have no problem with a substantial queer contingent.]

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 01:43 pm: Edit

I'll let you know when we get back from our trip. We're spending a day and a half there, the most of any school.

Smith makes it feel as if they're recruiting you as much as you're wanting them to admit you.

Every single contact my daughter or I has had with them has been not only positive but more than necessary.

Just received two e-mails today about setting up an interview during our visit and working around our schedule of taking class, interview with instructor, etc.

By Ljames0209 (Ljames0209) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Thank you THEDAD. I hope your trip is wonderful. I have been in continual contact with Smith as well, trying to make financial arrangements for next year. They have been very helpful and supportive.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 01:05 pm: Edit

Ljames, I'm just hoping that the reality isn't a disapointment to us. *Everything* and *everyone* has been terrific.

It's stupid to try to see the future with all the variables but if I had to be stupid, I'd guess that my daughter may very well come down to weighing Smith vs. Barnard vs. one of Yale/Columbia/Georgetown.

We're seeing seven schools on this trip so the deck could be shuffled.

By Ljames0209 (Ljames0209) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 12:36 am: Edit

TheDad -
I too, am hoping that the Smith reality lives up to my somewhat lofty expectations. I am having some financial issues at the moment, trying to figure out how an 18 year old with no credit and non-supportive parents will be able to afford a Smith education. So far, Smith has been very helpful, providing lots of advice. I feel like this whole college process has been one *adventure* after another, to put it mildly.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 11:02 am: Edit

Ljames, it's tough. As a matter of fact, I was in exactly the same situation. I don't have a feel for how the financial rules of the game have changed between then and now (it's hell not being omniscient). You may have to work more than you'd like. For years, there was one particular department store that I couldn't stand to go into as a result of my work experience during college. Though some of the stuff makes good stories now.

By Ladyvamp (Ladyvamp) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 11:17 am: Edit

Hiya guys,

I really want to go to Smith, However, I live in the UK. Of course it's a problem, plus I it's private so they charge more. I have to take the SAT I test which I don't know much about. Although I heard the questions are multiple choice. What score do you think I will need to get accepted? Also do you think it's better to take the ACT instead of SAT I?(They said I don't to do the SAT II).

Thanks,

Aisha

ps: is anyone thinking about going to Bryn Mawr?

By Dr2loo (Dr2loo) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 10:39 am: Edit

If it's any help, I turned down an Ivy to go to Smith. I wouldn't change that decision for the world. Sure, lesbians go to Smith. Sure, straight women go to Smith. Half the allure of college is expanding one's horizons, questioning, tlaking to someone that is quite different from you - race, religion etc. I think Smith is great.

By Dr2loo (Dr2loo) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 10:41 am: Edit

Also, Bryn Mawr is a bit more conservative than Smith. I've been to both schools for a time. Both schools offer a great education. Smith is less secluded than Bryn Mawr. Northampton, filled with coffee houses, clubs, bars etc. is just a walk away while Bren Mawr, the town, has little to nothing to offer students. In fact, the town is a wealthy land that really is not so happy that the colleges in the area exist at all = tension = yuck!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:28 pm: Edit

Thanks, Dr2loo, for the good word on Smith.

It's D's #2 choice after Yale and, having visited both, I'm not sure that it isn't a better fit for her. Won't sweat it until the acceptances come.

Okay, I'm pro-Smith...but what do you like the *least* about the place. I already know lots of the good things. (I did a trip report in the College Visits thread in the Parents Forum...it's the long College Visits thread, about 90+ posts, not the short one with 10.)

By Usna_Reject (Usna_Reject) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 11:14 pm: Edit

I was considering Smith and Salem colleges. Right now I wouldn't mind being there but I decided not to apply. Not only can I not afford it but I'm unsure of going to an all girl school. I am sure all the applicants have to think it through too. I got interested in Smith because Sylvia Plath went there.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 04:26 pm: Edit

There are two things that make Smith okay in my D's eyes with the all-girl school: socially, it's part of a five-college consortium that includes three co-ed schools for cross-registration, social events, etc., and academically, she's tired of guys who are annoyed with girls who participate a lot in class, etc., and with girls who dumb themselves down in class so they won't scare off the guys.

By Dewitt (Dewitt) on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 11:15 am: Edit

I applied to Smith RD, and I have become addicted to smith.dailyjolt.com, their student webpage. I read it everyday!! The forum gives you an idea of what students are talking about and dealing with. there is one at brown too (brown.dailyjolt.com). they are entertaining.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 02:41 pm: Edit

Hey...thanks!

By Unhappiness (Unhappiness) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 06:48 pm: Edit

if you are not open minded or tolerant, you will not feel comfortable but you will not feel at ease in the real world either as acceptance of people no matter what is required. besides, the gay scene at smith is not as ''in your face'' as some critics would like it to be!

By Usna_Reject (Usna_Reject) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 11:17 pm: Edit

I'm sure it is an excellent school. I was shocked when I saw the brochure. The list of majors and areas of study were like 10 pages long! If I was in that school I would wish to be gay. Smith would be heaven!

By Luxaeterna4 (Luxaeterna4) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 08:44 pm: Edit

my dad went there. college of social work 1981. there are men there... somewhere.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 12:27 am: Edit

A good friend of ours just got his Ph.D. in Social Work there...the Social Work students are there mainly at odd times of the year and don't spend a lot of time on campus...the program is mainly for working professionals in the field.

By Firebird31 (Firebird31) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 07:48 am: Edit

Any opinions about the SGA vote last night concerning the wording of the constitutuion? They voted down an admendment that would switch the wording from "the student" back to "she" ( it was switched last year). This was switched to include all "trans gender" students. It sounds like the school is very divided by this. My daughter wants to go here but I am concerned by the hostility between the students.I have been following the posts on the Daily Jolt website. What really bothered me is that some students put duct tape with messages on others without their permission. We are going there on April 15th to see the college and Mount Holyoke.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 02:38 pm: Edit

I haven't read the latest but the dispute bothers me: at what point is a women's college not a women's college? I think the dispute is a matter of definition masquerading as toleration. Iow, PC run amok.

But it wouldn't factor into a consideration for my D choosing Smith or not, I don't think.

By Mini (Mini) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 05:15 pm: Edit

My daughter (who has transgendered friends) cackled at my description of the debate, and then responded in her typically quiet manner (alluding to her visit to Williams - my alma mater), "Well, at least they weren't all drunk while discussing it."

Sounded like wisdom to me.

By Gabrielle (Gabrielle) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 01:43 am: Edit

The transgender issue is very confusing in the context of a women's college. The way is see it is even if the individual does not indentify as being feminine anymore, his experience growing up was as a female because that was how he was categorized by the world. Smith can be a place for students who grew up outwardly and inwardly identified as females. I am a female heterosexual who will potentially attend smith in the Fall and I think that embracing transgendered individuals on the campus will put Smith on at the forefront of gender theory exploration. How exhilirating!