Smith College Top Questions

My experience at Smith College can be summed up in one word, and that word is confidence. At Smith, I learned the confidence to be myself, the confidence to do what it takes to succeed, the confidence to take chances, and most importantly, I gained confidence in being a woman. For me, attending an all-woman's college was extrodinarily valuable. If I had attended a co-ed college, I doubt I would have graduated with the same level of confidence. Smith was an accepting school that pushed female students to grow, learn and change. Smith professors are supportive and engaging. Simply being surrounded by intelligent, intellectual, creative women is incredibly inspiring. Smith also provides students with non-traditional opportunities to grow - like a semester-long for-credit internship at the Smithsonians, an opportunity I was excited to partake in. Since graduating, I have used the confidence that I gained at Smith to succeed in the "real world." In less than two years, I am at the director level, and have individuals who report directly to me. I owe my success to the professors, the administration, and most of all my fellow classmates. All inspired me beyond words.

Breathe. Life is what happens while you're making plans. I have found, in my experience of applying to and attending college, that expectations are rarely met, but that what you end up with can often be surprising and wonderful. High school is the time to learn how to work, to realize your passions and to focus on your special gifts. College is the time to rediscover who you thought you were, to reimagine how you see the world and to refocus your passions so that they not only blossom and grow and change, but so that they can be shared with your academic, professional and global community. As you make the transition from High School to College, know that you will face challenges, but that you are fully equipped and prepared to take them on, and that they may not be what you expect, but that the outcome of your hard work and your willingness to keep an open mind and heart will reward you more than you ever thought possible.

As a junior in College, I now know things that would have been helpful to know while still in high school. If I could deliver important and insightful information to myself as a high school student, I would recite words of empowerment and personal growth. I would advise to always stand strong in my personal values and seek to continue to grow. To maintain a steadfast faith and that trials and tribulation will in fact come in my direct path. I would inform myself that the world and people I may trust will change and I must continue to seek and strive for an ultimate goal of making myself happy with my choices, my outcomes, the wisdom that I gain from them and my internal self. I would say that grades are not everything and that it?s important not to lose myself in achieving greatness, and greatness shows when my character radiates. I would say that success is not measured by the marks given by someone assessing me despite our society?s perception to impose this fabrication, but the amount of fulfillment, happiness and accomplishment that I find in my efforts, my goals, my loved ones and my life.

"Hey, ignore the guy sitting next to you. Who cares if he was the star of last night's basketball game. In 15 years, he will be working for the donut shop that you stop at in the mornings on your way to college. Pay attention and actually 'learn' how to write a thesis sentense. Learn how to use the library resources now and not wait until your senior year at college. Don't pay attention to what the other girls are saying in the halls about your clothes - they will come back in style and you will wish you hadn't thrown them out. Be proactive with your goals, you can do it.... and you don't need some boyfriend telling you that you can't, especially since he will drop out of college and you will continue on to graduate school! Study smarter, not harder! Give them the sizzle, not only the steak! And for crying out loud: learn to eat new foods - pizza will only go so far!"

The thought that haunted my head as a high school senior was not the typical will I get in. I knew that I would get in somewhere because there are so many different colleges one could attend. My biggest fear was that I was not sure I could do it. I did not know if I could take on this new level of education. I was unsure if I could move to another place, live with a new person, go to harder classes and somehow pay for it all. If I could sit my high school self down and tell her one thing, I would look into her eyes and tell her to be not afraid. Life can throw a person some serious twisted paths to walk along, but there is always a path. There is always a way forward and one will succeed if one is determined. My high school self, if I could talk to you, be whoever you want to be and smile every single day. You can do it.

You're telling yourself that you don't want to go to a girl's school. You're annoyed because it's the only prestigious college that accepted you. You're already plotting transferring after freshman year. First off, you're going to a women's college, not a girl's school. Second, you need to rethink why you're going to college. You want to go to a coed school so you can meet boys, and think if you don't meet them now, it'll never happen. So here?s a dope slap from the future for you. You are not going to college to get married. You?re going to get an education that will be the foundation for the rest of your life. You didn?t work so hard to get into college just to meet the one. You worked hard so that you could get into a college where you could be academically challenged and study what interests you. You?ll find that at Smith. So wake up and get ready for the time of your life. Also, there are three coed schools a free bus ride away. You?ll be okay.

It can be really easy to lose track of the reason why you are in college, why you're studying so hard for a test on a subject that you won't need for your career, when instead you could be partying or watching a movie with friends. And now that you are an adult, it truly is your decision, your parents will never know if you stay up all night, and you have every right to do so. But you have to remember that you are going to college (and paying all four limbs for it) for solely your benefit. You need to decide what you want to get out of college, and keep your eyes trained on that goal. You have to study, write and read more than you ever have before, in order to become aware of the world around you, and in order to begin to think and learn critically. While you're in college, you might as well get your money and time's worth.

If I could advise my high school self about college decisions, I would tell myself not to be too hasty or pressured when making my decision. I am glad I ended where I did, but I know that many of my decisions were based on the prestige a school's name had attached to it, rather than the actual worth of the school, or even my own interest in the school. Not knowing what you want to major in or even where you want to go to school is completely normal. However, choosing a school based on what you believe others want you to do or become is all too normal as well, and you must try to push aside those thoughts when making your final decision. After all, spending four years or more at a school you can't stand is a waste of your time, your money, and your life. Choose a school you love or like, not the one your parents or teachers or society love or like, and everything will work out in the end.

Shirrell, seeing how your life has turned out at age 40, it would be wise to stop chasing after Greg and focus on your school work. The two of you thought that you would get married and have kids, but that's not how it turns out. You have kids with a "dead-beat" dad, your kids are great but you raise them alone. Both you and your children deserve better. So stay focused, graduate and go off to a prestigious black college to experience living on campus. College life is definitely about school and doing well but you meet so many new people that later in life you can network with. The parties are so much fun, although I went to a community college, I loved the University parties I attended. I know you don't want to go to college right away but you are young and sometimes we need that push from an adult who is wiser and experienced in life. Trust me, things will work out better this way and you will not have to juggle going to school full time and working while raising kids. Now go break up with Greg!

I would tell myself to definately consider attending school as soon after graduation as possible. Being a 29 year old student, i found it to be much easier being a student as a younger man in all aspects of the learning process. My memory retention was much more effective and i have forgotten many of the skills needed for effective studying. I have had to apply much more time and effort as an older student in order to achieve the same results as a younger student. I know it seems as if it may add too much time to an already drug out process, but in the scope of life i have wasted much more time waiting to attend college. I have wasted time doing something that i have other than enjoyed only to find myself returning back to a learning situation to do what i could have done some 11 years ago and engaging in a profession that holds my interest and potential happiness. And for what, money? Hardly worth it. So I beg you to stop, think and take the little extra time needed to achieve what you will now and not later.