Wonderful Smith essay.

Colleges & Universities Smith College
1

<p>This should be required reading–great essay and it very succinctly presents the true essence of Smith.</p>

<p>“Here I was thinking so hard I could almost hear the gears turning. I would write a sentence, fix the sentence before it, write another sentence, delete them both. But I was also getting more and more excited, more engaged. I couldn’t wait to see what would come next. I was thinking – for what was maybe the first time since I’d been at Smith. It (almost) didn’t matter that the paper was taking so long to write. It (almost) didn’t matter what grade I got. There was satisfaction in the wrestling, in the learning."</p>

<p>“I realized that the moment of discovery – that strange alchemy where effort transforms into knowledge, where work becomes serious play – occurs across disciplines. I knew now what it felt like when I was really learning – and, more important, I knew that the feeling was the same no matter what kind of work I was doing. And this, for me, is what my liberal arts education has ultimately been about. I know what learning is like, even when the tools are different. I know with any work, unfamiliar or habitual, what it is I’m working toward, what it will feel like when I’m getting it.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.smith.edu/newssmith/spring2005/commentary.php[/url]”>http://www.smith.edu/newssmith/spring2005/commentary.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2

<p>Good essay.</p>

3

<p>This essay, when looking deeply into it, describes the wonderful integrated curriculum(s) that exist at Smith. This is what great teachers and great schools do well. LAC’s do this extremely well. There is seamless integration of content areas, thus profs not only knowing their own curriculum, but having an obvious training in infusing others into their own. Speaks volumes!</p>

4

<p>LOL-You made my night, as I’m stuck home. Your PhD in education is showing. ;)</p>

5

<p>The author has obviously reached the pinnacle of higher level learning. This is why I support the lack of a core curriculum at Smith. The women who attend Smith are articulate, life-long learners who know how to write well. I think that these talents that they possess have brought them to the realization that a great LAC such as Smith, will enable them to grow even further. Let’s face it, there’s no question that those applying are being closely monitored by the adcomms as far as their essays are concerned. LAC’s worth their salt will always want good writers, and prolific readers first. Once a student has those skills, the rest falls into place.</p>