<p>Smith is a unique kind of “safety school” – it has a high acceptance rate, yet offers an education comparable to the other elite LACs. The reason it has a high acceptance rate has less to do with the academics and more with the applicant pool. First, the number of applicants are cut in half because of its single gender nature. And then more don’t apply because they want a co-ed school. Those who are left are generally serious students who care more about their education than about dating – although that doesn’t mean that Smithies don’t want social lives or dates. It’s just a matter of priorities. </p>
<p>I have tried to convince several high school junior/senior to look at Smith, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, and Wellesley because of the high return. They won’t do it because of either their preconceived notions of single-gender-as-convent schools or because they think they couldn’t possibly get admitted. You can’t know until you try.</p>