monseygirl –
The classes are different from what you’re used to (as are all seminary classes) it’s a different style from high school. I enjoyed the classes and also the prep becuse I like looking into the meforshim and figuring them out. They aren’t intense but if you are the type that drives yourself nuts before a test – you can stress yourself out. Most girls study a little bit before each test at least and it’s nothing to BJJ pressure-wise. There are many classes in Iyun/Meforshim as well as once a week Hashkafah class. I don’t know which school you are in but if you’re coming from BYM you should find them easy without being too easy. Don’t worry about being more Yeshivish than your family. I am as well and it took going to Hadar to realize how many values and Hashkafos I had learned from home – it really taught me to appreciate my parents even though they may not look like the “typical” Hadar parents or so I thought. Mrs. Orenstein will look at you for you, and not care about how yeshivish your parents are.
Most of the girls my year came with pretty strong /hashkafos, they were Tzniusdik without being nebby, and knew they wanted their husbands to be learning. When I visit Hadar these days – it looks like pretty much the same crowd.
If you have any more questions I’d be glad to answer.
I tried to answer everything you mentioned but I’m not sure I got everything because unlike the Chacham I didn’t do “al rishon rishon v’al achron achron”… I hope it’s clear 🙂