Thoughts/Questions from an Excited Prospie

selenaatsmith
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:49:55 +0000

WHY DID YOU PICK SMITH?
open curriculum, the excellence of my major department & the fact that i could get recommendations on a professor’s teaching ability (as a transfer student from a large school, this is something i have never taken for granted). i can say that the decision was purely academic, although there have undoubtedly been some social benefits as well. =]

WHY SHOULD WE PICK SMITH?
i don’t mean to give the wishy-washy reason but you should select smith if you think it is the right school for you. does it “feel” right? if you can afford it, always visit. a visit isn’t all-encompassing but it gives a taste of what you’re in for. saying that is open or liberal or preppy or laid back or academic or intense or crazy really doesn’t mean anything until you experience it for yourself. when everyone first told me that smith was “intense,” i had NO idea what they were talking about…until i got there. =]

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE/LEAST FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SMITH?
favorites: overwhelming majority of my professors & classes, gorgeous campus, julia child day =], big sib/lil sib, houses, the friends i’ve made who will be in my life fifty years from now, free lectures (and occasional free food that goes along with them), and intellectual curiosity
not so awesome: weather, location, red tape and various members of the smith community

WHAT WAS THE MOST USEFUL THING YOU LEARNED AT SMITH?
ditto with stacy. learn as much as you can. also, don’t let the stress get to you, or at least, try your best not to let it get to you. and, most definitely, GET OFF CAMPUS once in a while if you get cabin fever; it takes some effort but it will make a huge difference.

WHAT DID YOU MAJOR IN?
i would rather not say, although you can message me. i will say that i am not a math/science person. =]

WHAT DID YOU DO OUTSIDE OF CLASS?
homework, reading (unfortunately no fun reading until post-grad!), work-study, babysitting, dunkin donuts runs at 2 a.m., movie-watching, community service, and having the, err, occasional tequila sunrise with my favorite ladies…

DO YOU HAVE ANY USEFUL TIPS FOR PROSPIES?
(1) do what you want to do. if what makes you happy is studying, researching, writing papers, then by all means do that! if you want to party and have a good time out, then indulge! perhaps you like a balance. work during the weekdays, party on the weekends! you get the point. i have friends here who admittedly went against their nature and tried to do things that wasn’t necessarily for them. though short in the long run, four years is still too long of a time to waste doing things you don’t want to do.
(2) friends will not come to you. you need to go to them. that is very important and applies to ALL college students, not just smithies. though most are welcoming, smith, like any college campus, is not necessarily an environment where your friends will come to you (unless, perhaps, you have the charisma of a female james bond). join a club or a capella or a community service program, whatever will fulfill your social needs!

selena