Matt Smith on Academics

HS PRS

Mile – 4:45

3200 - 10:18

Steeplechase – 10:17

5k (Cross County) – 17:25

College PRS

Mile - 4:33

3k - 8:57

Steeplechase 9:28.46

5k (Track) – 15:40

8k (Cross Country) 27:10

Year - Senior

Major- Environmental Science Minor - Political Science

High School – Sayville High School

Hometown- Sayville, New York

What other Colleges were you looking at? University of New Hampshire, SUNY Oneonta

Why did you decide on Allegheny?

I didn’t learn about Allegheny until late in the application process, well after I had applied to my other schools. I applied with very little expectation of ever enrolling in the college. I slowly learned more about the school and the more information I got about the more I liked it. Everything seemed to fit together perfectly. It had a nationally recognized environmental science program, a well respected track and cross country program that I could contribute to after a couple years of hard work. When I came to visit the campus I knew almost immediately that it was my ideal school, I felt comfortable right away.

How did you go about choosing your major?

I was always intrested in the environment. I remember back in elementary when we had to do a small project on what we wanted to be when we grew up I had not idea what my specific occupation would be but knew I wanted to protect natural places. What I settled on for that project was to be a conservationist but more importantly it helped set the course to major in environmental science. Today I see myself in a similar boat as I was in elementary school; still not knowing what my exact occupation will be but with the skills and talents developed at Allegheny I know I am in position to find a career that I will find both rewarding and enjoyable, whether it is at an environmental non-profit, with the government, at a private corporation or something completely else.

How has being on a successful track and/or cross country team helped you with school?

As cliché as it may be, being on a successful team like we have here at Allegheny forced me to really decide what is important and make those things a priority. Knowing that there are only so many hours in the day and you have to fit class, running, studying along with getting a decent amount of sleep, you have to cut out many of the things that other college students feel are necesities in life. In retrospect the choices I made to be fully committed to running and school made the entire college experience more fulfilling.

What unique opportunities have you had through attending Allegheny (internships, research, etc...)?

The greatest opprotunity I have discovered by attending Allegheny is the relationship current students have with alumni. When I was working on my senior comprehensive project I was able to complete a case study about an environmental interest group because a recent alumni has kept contact with the college and was willing to share his experiences with me. This insight allowed my project more than just something that was researched out of books and articles, but something that was more substanial.