Rita Solinksy

At this time in your search for a college, you find yourself at the state's Public Honors Liberal Arts College, Saint Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM).  Let us examine each of these adjectives that are used to describe SMCM.

First, as a "public" college, I see that the school draws its students from a diverse population.  My daughter, Claire, who is a sophomore currently, has classmates from all over the state, some coming from Baltimore and the Washington suburbs, while others arrive from the more rural, distant counties.  She has friends who are the first in their families to attend college and others who have had parents attend SMCM. Students enroll from many other states. We frequently have dropped off or picked up Claire's friends on our way past BWI airport. Other countries are also represented; Claire's roommate freshman year was from China.

As an "honors" institution, your son or daughter will be challenged at SMCM by the rigorous academics taught by excellent faculty. The students really have to work and study hard in order to do well. The teachers have been readily available for my    daughter when extra instruction is needed. The class size is small enough to allow personal attention to each student. In addition, your son or daughter will be challenged by the other students at SMCM who are a motivated, bright group of young adults.

The value of a "liberal arts" education cannot be underestimated. It serves as the foundation for a lifetime of learning and a springboard for many post-graduate opportunities. Many SMCM graduates continue their education at universities and   professional schools all over the country.

The process of selecting a college with your son and daughter is a daunting task.  When I first visited SMCM with my daughter before her junior year of high school, I immediately felt that the school was right for her. But I had to wait for her to come to that conclusion on her own schedule, which didn't happen until the Spring of her senior year. The lesson I learned was to be patient, say very little, and enjoy the time spent visiting college campuses with your child.

If I can offer any other assistance to you during the admission process or the transition to SMCM or any other school, please do not hesitate to contact me at rmsolinsky@comcast.net or at 410-494-1613.  Good luck in the upcoming year!

Sincerely,
Rita M. Solinsky

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