It's not a bad idea to listen to the seniors, they have three years of experience at Smith that you don't have yet.
Get used to the idea that Smithies recycle EVERYTHING and join the movement, we try to live sustainably.
Know that Walmart and Coca-Cola are both sore spots with a lot of Smithies, try Target and herbal teas.
Done can be better than good when you're sleep deprived.
Believe in second drafts (and third, and fourth, and fifth).
Set a limit on the number of times you'll check your email (AND facebook, or better yet just don't do facebook).
Be nice to the dishwashers, kitchen staff, and ESPECIALLY your housekeepers. Become their friends, they're wonderful.
Take advantage of professors' office hours.
Learn to like rice cakes; often that's all that's left out for snack food at night.
Don't secretly hate your roommate, ask for a room change.
Don't just hang out with your roommate -- make friends with people from other floors, houses, and classes.
Know where Herrell's is.
Visit the botanic garden and/or the pond.
Professors have pet peeves; remember them.
Fresh Samanthas are great if you're drained of energy.
The bursar's office will exchange $10 bills for a roll of quarters. (Yay laundry!)
Always show up ten minutes early for the first day of class.
After that, you can judge for yourself the amount of time you'll need.
Join all the clubs you want to straight off the bat. Once you get
the hang of balancing school/clubs/life then you can choose which ones
you want to stay with.
You can get half of your textbooks at the library and keep
them checked out just for when you'll be needing them. You don't really
need the others.
You can renew books at the library three times
so really you could keep a book or textbook for several months. As said
above, don't waste your money.
Classes will ask you to buy a book just to read and then discuss for one class day, don't buy it. Check it out at the library.
Don't assume that someone's gender and sex are the same thing.
If you don't understand the definition or how a word at Smith
is used (like gender, sustainability, queer, etc.) ask an upper
classmen, they'd probably love to fill you in.
If you miss your cat(s), go to Beyond Words Bookshop on Main Street.
Get to know at least one of your professors. They can tell you a lot of things that you can't learn from your friends.
Make
friends with the residential services people, starting with your
housekeeper, because then you can always find the extra vacuum or a
plant sitter over break.
Remember your roommate is only a roommate, not a soulmate, and
DEFINITELY not a girlfriend, at least not while you are rooming
together.
Don't be afraid to speak to Smith administrators. Smile at them.
You're told during orientation that all first years have to
work in the dinning halls. That is not true at all. Apply for any
campus job that you want if you're on work study.
Just because you're a first year doesn't mean anyone gets to push you around. Stand up for yourself and don't take any crap.
Talk to other students about professors. Know what kind of professor you'll be dealing with before you get to the classroom.
Use RateMyProfessor.com or the Smith service Aspects to find out about how other students like your professors.
You get $25 free on your OneCard every year to spend at the Campus Center Cafe. Rawk.
The post office staff will like you more if you check your mail regularly.
Smile at the post office staff and be patient, they only get mad if you act frustrated and they'll remember you in the future.
Get involved with activities inside and out of your house.
Bagels are your friends.
Be prepared to be full of emotion all the time -- there's a lot of estrogen here.
Be open to anything and anyone, unless it's dangerous for your health.
Don't pack everything you own -- you probably won't need a lot of it.
You don't really need quarters, you can use your one card for laundry and it costs a bit less.
Compromise is a wonderful thing.
Art supplies make life more fun, even if it's just crayons and a coloring book.
Love your house, if at all possible.
Don't lose your keys. Just don't do it. But if you do, check the post office or Public Safety for them.
The good food is in the kosher kitchen on Friday nights at 7.
If you have a roommate, make sure that between the two of you you have one of everything, but not two.
You'll need duct tape, tacks, and a tool set.
Milk crates are useful.
Put contraband in your locked closet during the room inspection.
But don't put your recycling bin in your locked closet during breaks.
Between everyone in your house, someone probably has the movie
or CD or item of clothing or whatever it is that you want to borrow.
Ask around.
There is always homework to do, so don't use it as an excuse not to go out.
Don't bring too many pairs of underwear, because you will
probably only do laundry when you run out, and after a month or so you
won't want to go near the dirty laundry and you won't have any clean
clothes left, either!
Look up at the sky at night when you're in the center of campus.
Buy an eggcrate mattress thing. Comfy!
Bring stuff that will make your room feel homey. Tapestries,
christmas lights, prayer flags, etc. If your room is inviting, people
will hang out in it with you. Always aspire to be the one with the
"good room."
Don't get in the habit of missing tea.
Sleep in on Sundays, and go to brunch in your jammies with all your friends.
Get in good with your HR and HCA.
When drinking, always remember: You can't fall off the floor. So stay low.
Mexican night at dinner = pardonable uncontrollable eating and face-stuffing.
Cereal and bagels do indeed constitute a full meal.
Don't assume ANYTHING about people -- you will almost always be wrong.
It gets really freaking cold in the winter. Layers are more important that a marsh
You will be amazed at how many people you can fit in one twin bed.
Boston's farther away than you think, but in the end it doesn't matter.
Go to shows at the Iron Horse.
Caffeine is your FRIEND.
Make sure you bring a fan.
Move to a different house at least once. You'll make lots of
new friends and keep the ones from your old house that matter the most.
Take lab or theater classes that involve lots of group work
or field trips. They're time consuming but you'll meet people from all
over campus and from the five colleges.
Go to the greenhouse in the winter and hang out in the palm room. It will keep you healthy and happy.
Take advantage of the PVTA, it's free if you have your OneCard!
Go to parties off-campus every once in a while.
Experience the first snowstorm of the year with someone who has never seen snow before.
Walk around campus when it's snowing and watch all the Smithies make AMAZING giant snow creations.
Take a long walk in the fields behind Hampshire College in early October when the trees are at their brightest.
Bring several umbrellas -- someone will end up borrowing yours.
Don't freak out if you're in the bathtub or shower during a fire drill -- just throw a towel around you and run!
Take time to relax in Capen Garden -- it's the most beautiful garden on campus!
Go to sports events -- it's a great way to make new friends!
It's okay to be homesick.
Meet other people in your potential major. They'll tell you
which classes to take, and help you get TA jobs and even internships!
Download AOL Instant Messenger and be prepared to leave it on all year.
Don't miss the 2:00AM PVTA bus (don't get stuck somewhere!).
Run for a position in some club or org.
DON'T rent one of the school fridges! They're tiny, ancient,
noisy, and expensive! Splurge a little and get a decent waist-high
one. It's a sound investment, and you can always sell it after senior
year.
Call your parents! They'll love you for it and you'd be
surprised how much closer you can get to your parents when you aren't
under the same roof anymore.
Make a point to hang out downtown and talk to local interesting folk. You can invite them to tea.
Don't take an 8AM class if you live in the Quad, or anywhere at all, unless you are really good at getting up.
Go to the theatre shows! They're great and cheap!
Take the scary leap and actually talk to a member of the upper class! They can give you great advice!
Work reunion. You meet tons of great alums and get to be on
campus for commencement. Not to mention good money before starting the
summer (approx. $1000 for two weeks of hard work)
If you don't like your pre-major advisor, don't worry about
hurting their feelings. Switch to someone you can stand to talk to and
who actually helps you.
Don't be afraid of your class dean.
ALWAYS wear flip-flops in the shower!
Get off of campus and see the things that Northampton and Western Mass has to offer.
Make sure to get to the Book Mill in Montague in the fall, it's beautiful and has great food and cheap used books.
Bring a cooking pot (and hide it well). And bring lots of Ramen noodles.
Don't date a senior if you're hoping for an equal relationship. They'll think they're doing you a favor.
There is a swingset down the street at the campus school, use it!
Don't bring a TV. You'll be amazed at how much more you live life, and how much you don't miss the shows.
If you're going to watch TV, watch it in the house common room so you can actually meet people.
Check out a canoe and go paddling in the river with a friend, or
swimming, or just talking with the hippie flutist who plays by the
stream.
Make sure you make it to the swimming hole and jump off the rope swing at least once.
ENJOY SMITH, there's no where else like it in the world. For real.
$$$ for College