Merit aid at Smith (and a few general questions)

ticklemepink
Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:52:07 +0000

It’s sort of realistic to do a self-designed major. I asked my prof how realistic would it be to create a Jewish Studies major as I wanted to take tons of J.S. courses and he said, well… it’s tough but you could have a shot if you take Hebrew for a long time… I know someone who tried to propose that major and was denied. However, I do know a graduated senior who got a very original, cool minor (Techincal Theater) and yes, linguistics are no problem. There are two professors in the psych department who are trying to start up that major program.

Yes, Smith has amazing intellectual atmosphere- my friend complains how Smithies never seem to talk about anything else except for classes and homework! I was lucky to have made my friends the way I did- who thought like me, just want to talk about what we did in class or what they were doing in class… and for us to ask each other questions to reinforce our knowledge. There is a facebook group there that says someting about how Academia Ruined My Life… something about how Smithies can’t stop talking about anything intellectual!

My favorite parts of Smith:

1. The athletics- the gym, the stables, my physical fitness life was literally perfect.

2. The profs

3. My room second semester- very cozy and wooden floors!!!

4. Very strong language departments

My least favorite (reasons why I transferred out)

1. Money isn’t going to right places IMHO- too much emphasis on sciences and arts, not liberal arts where I’m focusing. Smith was losing money.
1A) The liberal arts departments being too small for me due to lack of finances to hire a much needed prof in a much needed area (ex: a prof in history dept. for Southeast Asian history), basically, just not meeting my academic needs even though I was getting top education.

2. I didn’t really click with the people I met throughout my first year, somehow I felt like I was one of the few who actually has a grip on reality.

3. PC on campus, just far too much of it that the SGA had to make that an issue for the fall. Also too much hostilty towards conservatives, sometimes to the point of actually driving them out.

4. NoHo being too inaccessible to home- 10 hours by train, 13 hours by bus, 5 hours by car (but I don’t have a car.), $300 for a flight ticket.