Jo Lynn Reda

Dear Prospective St. Mary's Families,

My son, Amir, began the process of looking for a college early in his sophomore year of high school.  In the beginning he was completely overwhelmed by the number of universities and colleges, particularly the amount of mail he received from so many of the institutions.  When some friends suggested St. Mary's College of Maryland he scoffed at the idea of going to a school so close to home and one that appeared to be remotely located.  Then he visited the campus in his junior year to attend their spring soccer camp.  He loved the beauty of the campus and met several SMCM students who were thrilled to be there so he began a serious research of the school and declared in the fall that the only school he wanted to apply to was St. Mary's.  The clinch for him (after the beauty of the campus and the positive attitude of the students) was that it was an honors college.  He knew he was going to get a good education and he could still play ball (soccer).  My husband and I were thrilled!

Since 2007 Amir has had a "love affair" with St. Mary's College.  The first two months of his freshman year were predictable - he was a nervous wreck!  But it took no time at all for him to settle in and it has been the perfect fit. From our telephone and other conversations there are several reasons that St. Mary's is such a great school:  the honors school designation, its rigorous academic program, the steady interaction between faculty and the students, the many organizations and activities one can become involved in, and the overwhelming school spirit of not only the current students but of alumni who attended the school even as far back as 30 and more years ago. 

St. Mary's is an amazing school that has played an incredible role in helping to shape the man that Amir has become. We recommend it to every one we know and meet who has a college bound child.  I have not met one person who attended St. Mary's who has not sung its praises.  That says a lot in itself.  Amir is in that group now and I truly believe that the hardest part about his four years will be leaving.

Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have about St. Mary's or the college search process-I would be more than happy to sing praises about SMCM.  

Jo Lynn Reda
jreda@DANYA.com

<-- Back to More Parent Letters