<p>TD has it right–I was talking about the intrastudent dynamic, not the difficulty of classes. </p>
<p>I thought the classes were reasonably challenging. Some were harder than others (I wound up free-dropping a Spanish lit class and felt baffled for a lot of Philosophy of Religion). Some were more time-consuming but not really more difficult (Latin taught me to study in a way nothing else did, and it really paid off in law school). Professors were always willing to work with students having difficulty, or conversely, who wanted to challenge themselves beyond what was offered in the course itself. I definitely learned a lot and there weren’t any semesters when I was bored! I took classes at 4 of the 5 colleges and found the average Smith class to be easier than the two classes I took at Amherst and harder than the three classes I took at Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire, though the difficulty varied more across disciplines than across colleges. I went to a public high school that prepared me really well for college, and most of the classes I took were in subjects where I felt particularly comfortable. I imagine that if I’d attempted a chemistry major, for example, I would’ve felt VERY differently.</p>
<p>Put me down as another who bloomed at Smith. I left with some wonderful friends, a clearer vision of how I wanted my life (including but not limited to career) to be, and more confidence. I remember when my dad and I went to the STRIDE breakfast when I was a prospective student. Afterward, he remarked on how smoothly the students were able to discuss their research with a room full of strangers and expressed the hope that one day I’d be able to do the same. I did, a few years later, and also ended up facing a crowded auditorium of unhappy folks when I served on a committee that made some rather unpopular choices. Now, part of my job is doing trainings and presentations, and I actually like it! Personally, I will always be an introvert and prefer dinner parties to keg parties. But Smith was a place where I learned that was ok, and began to cultivate the relationships and social skills to have the kind of friendships that work best for me.</p>