Percentage of Smithies fulfilling distribution requirements

[CrewDad]

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Do advisors really “push” students to fulfull distrib reqs,

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<p>According to Ms. Doherty they do. I’ve heard the same sentiment from numerous others.</p>

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Latin Honors, it’s not for everyone
Alison Doherty</p>

<p>Sometimes it seems that since my first day at Smith the most salient message I’ve received from the college is to make sure I complete Latin Honors requirements. The funny thing is that throughout the visiting and application process, I never heard mention of this ominous set of course distributions - which, while not required, are suggested, and suggested in a way that might make you worry about ending up in cement shoes at the bottom of Paradise Pond. In fact, the perceived lack of requirements was one of my primary draws to Smith. </p>

<p>The fact that I’ve been bombarded with propaganda pushing me to take subjects in all distributions, when an open curriculum was the exact reason I applied, makes me feel rather hurt, angry and confused with the college’s faculty and administration. I have nothing against a well-rounded education. However, I do not think it is possible for Smith to have it both ways. Either require certain distributions - which does not mean having to take intro level courses - or stop pushing these distributions down our throats.</p>

<p>Although I cannot know for certain the motives behind the strong suggestion to complete Latin Honors, I assume a large portion of it has to do with percentages and statistics, which ignore the student as an individual with a distinct educational track for her four years at Smith. The more people who complete the requirements, the higher the grade point average cutoff is for those who actually receive honors. Also, as an added bonus, Smith can say even that though students do not have core requirements, we are so fabulous that a certain high percentage of us complete classes in every distribution simply because we love to learn. </p>

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<p>[Latin</a> Honors, it’s not for everyone - Opinions](<a href=“http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2009/10/29/Opinions/Latin.Honors.Its.Not.For.Everyone-3816256.shtml]Latin”>http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2009/10/29/Opinions/Latin.Honors.Its.Not.For.Everyone-3816256.shtml)</p>