VS.
Generally after a person graduates from high school, they go off to some sort of institution of higher learning. Since I'm an inherently lazy person, I only applied to 2 of the aforementioned institutes: the University of Oklahoma and Smith College. So who won? Well here's the:
LONG STORY
I applied to the two colleges, OU being the "sure shot" and Smith being "my first choice, not-so-long shot". OU accepted me right away, along with a $1,000 a year academic scholarship. Smith put me on the wait list. But I didn't give up, I kept harassing the admission office with phone calls and packages with samples of my work. The hard work paid off and 4 hours before graduation I got the news that I was accepted. A week later they gave me a $21,000 grant and a $1,500 work study...I chose Smith, it was farther from home.
SHORT STORY
Smith won
So where/what is Smith?
Smith College is the largest women's college in the nation. It was founded in 1875 and has a bunch of notable alumnae, including Julia Child, Sylvia Plath, two former first ladies, Gloria Steinem, etc. It's located about 2 hours west of Boston in Northampton (Noho), MA. I chose it because of their participation in the Five Colleges program. Their representatives are just super-friendly and everyone that I talked to seemed to really enjoy it.
It's beginning to irk me that everyone thinks it's just a big lesbian school. And if it were, it wouldn't matter because I'm not a lesbian, and I'll be there. In fact, the more lesbians the better...just means more mens for me ;-)
But Raven, where will you live?
The dorms at Smith aren't really dorms, their houses, like I mean real houses...just really big. I'll be living the in "Quad" area:
I'll be living in Laura Scales House, which is located where that semi-circle to the right of the main square looking thing. The semi-circle is actually two houses put together, Laura Scales is the house I guess on the bottom half...it's hard to explain.
Hmmm...anything else?
Smithies (as students and alumnae of Smith are afectionately called) have some pretty interesting...and sometimes downright strange traditions...but it's all part of the Smith charm
Special College Days and Traditions
All-Campus Scream:
Starting at 10:00pm the night before final exams, Smith women across the campus scream in unison to release stress and tension.
Celebration of Sisterhood:
An annual event held in November celebrating sexual diversity across campus. Each house plans some sort of presentation for a candlelit procession through campus.
Convocation:
A festive all-campus event held to signal the beginning of the school year. A similar but somewhat scaled-down event is held before the start of second semester.
Illumination Night:
During Senior Week, the night when the campus is lit with lanterns and different performance groups entertain the senior class, their families, and the citizens of Northampton.
Ivy Day:
An important tradition part of Senior Week, when the graduating class proceeds through a laurel chain along with the members of the reunion classes.
January Term or J-Term:
A month students can opt to spend on-campus or off. It can be spent as a vacation, or at an internship, or working, or taking a special class.
Junior Ushers:
The group of juniors who assist with Commencement activities and hold the chain on Ivy Day.
Mountain Day:
On a fall day with nice weather, the president declares a surprise holiday from classes by ringing the college bells. The dining rooms provide bag lunches and students are encouraged to take advantage of the natural surroundings.
Otelia Cromwell Day:
In honor of Otelia Cromwell, the first African-American to graduate from Smith, the campus features a special day full of multi-cultural programming.
Quad Riot:
When Smithies demand Mountain Day be the next day, students on the Quad "riot." General pandemonium all in fun.
Rally Day:
Instead of Presidents' Day, Smith offers Rally Day. Classes are canceled for a rally, the awarding of the Smith College Medal to distinguished alumnae, the awarding of teaching awards to distingnished professors, a show of skits from each class, and a party at Davis.
Senior Week:
The week between finals and commencement, filled with activities for the graduating class.
Sophomore PUSH:
The group of sophomores who assist with Commencement activities and sing to the seniors on Illumination Night, "pushing" them off the Neilsen steps into the real world.
Winter and Spring Weekends:
Each semester, these weekends are filled with parties and social events intended to relieve stress before the end of classes and exams.
Smith Nicknames
"Ada":
Ada Comstock Scholars, called Adas, comprise 10% of the student body at Smith. They are women of non-traditional age or other special circumstances who have gone back to get their degrees. ("I am an Ada majoring in Art History.")
"Chalking":
A popular form of self-expression on Smith's campus. Students chalk the sidewalks to announce lectures, club events, etc. The most widespread chalking event takes place on the eve of Coming Out Day, when women who have come out and allies to women who have come out chalk to celebrate the day. ("On our way to chalk in front of Seelye, we stopped and read the chalking about the concert.")
"Dinging":
When someone makes an announcement at a meal, they "ding" on their glass to request silence. ("Will someone ding so I can announce tonight's lecture?")
"5000":
The number one dials to access the Phonemail system. If I say I "5000-ed" someone, I mean that I left them a message by calling their phonemail directly as opposed to calling their actual extension. ("I 5000-ed Karen to remind her about the meeting.")
"J's":
A student who is graduating in January instead of May. ("I accelerated a semester so I'm now a '99J.")
"JYA":
Students who are spending their junior year away. ("My best friend is JYA in Florence.")
"STRIDE" scholars:
The top 2% of applicants to the college are offered these scholarships, which provide students with a stipend to work with professors on specific research projects. ("My friend is researching ladybugs for her STRIDE project.")
"Trads":
Traditional-age students. ("I am a trad.")
If you want to write me a letter, here's my address.
Raven Brooks
Smith College Box 6598
98 Green Street
Northampton, MA 01063-1000
Okay, okay, you can go home now!!!
