Summer Vacation 2022 (Part 3: The Great College Tour)

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.“

 ~Albert Einstein~

Our main purpose for vacationing in Boston was to do several college tours.  While not completely decided upon a major, my daughter does know that English Literature, Linguistics, or Theater (playwriting) is on her short list.  

The thing about Mary is that she is academically gifted and stretches herself to excel in many different curricular areas including the maths and sciences.  

That being said, we knew that a progressive, liberal-arts university would be the best match for her.

First up:  Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  An easy drive from Boston, my girl and I left the brothers at the AirBnB to tour on our own.  Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, public tours were on hold and we were unable to book a private tour before arriving from KC.  We went ahead and drove to the campus and explored on foot. 

Although beautiful, my daughter just didn't feel as if Wellesley was the vibe she was looking for...difficult to assess given we didn't meet with Admissions or have tour guides to see inside of buildings, but we had enough (lack of) interactions on campus to know that she wasn't interested in applying.  Next.  

UMASS-Amherst

This was our first public "official tour".  We had the brothers with us and it was so much fun!  First off, the drive from Boston to the mountains of west-central Massachusetts was just gorgeous.  For us from "the Plains", the forested drive was magical and breathtaking.

We were greeted and welcomed, given our information packet, and assigned a seat.  (Still, sort of a Covid-mess, but grateful we could tour!). Lots of good information and plenty of time to tour on our own, afterwards.  Voted the best Dining Hall food in the COUNTRY, we were definitely amazed by the food choices as we passed through a dining hall close to the campus bookstore.  Of course we had to stop for some UMASS-swag.  One of the best linguistics programs in the country...UMASS had our attention.  My girl was definitely interested in becoming a "Pioneer"!

...and then it happened.  We had a tour scheduled for the following day at SMITH College in Northampton, Mass., just a few miles south of Amherst.  

You know how everyone says, "when you know...you'll just know"???  Well, something magical happened when we stepped foot on to the campus of SMITH. 

We both fell in love with SMITH.  The care and interest the Admissions Reps and Student Tour Leaders showered on her...the small group interactions with other girls from across the country (we were the only Midwesterners!)...the beauty of the buildings...the housing...it was completely inspiring.  

But could she get in?  (I believed she could!)

While we still had many local (Kansas/Missouri) colleges and universities to tour, we knew for sure that a couple of out-of-state applications would be submitted. 

“A man's mind, stretched by new ideas, may never return to its original dimensions.”

~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.~