Reviews

The academics at Smith are amazing. There are no core classes and the professors are excellent. If there's something Smith doesn't have, you can easily enroll in a class at one of the other colleges of the Five College Consortium.

Smith is pricey, and sometimes with current budget cuts forcing maintenance to be pushed back and and facility hours to be shortened, you do feel a little shortchanged. But if you're taking full advantage of all the academic and extracurricular opportunities that you want, it's worth it.

This is my short summary of Smith -- the best way to get to know about Smith is to visit and talk to students!

Academics: Excellent, plenty of options. The open-curriculum is the best part with no core classes.
Academic Support: Excellent. There’s a resource for every class and subject, be it a tutor or a professor or both.
Career Development: Very good. Plenty of opportunities provided for even first-years to start thinking about life after college. Very strong alumnae network.
Aaaah, it’s an all girl’s school!: First off, it’s a women’s college. Second, don’t let that scare you. Smith’s academic reputation far outweighs the lack of the male gender, and there are plenty of guys to be found in the five college area.
Food: Good, lots of options. Dining staff is very helpful.
Housing: Smith boasts strong house communities and a strong history on Princeton Review’s Dorms Like Palaces list.
Extracurricular Activities: Many and varied at Smith, with tons of options at the other five colleges as well.
Diversity: Very much harped on by the school, but unfortunately there is a lot of separation among the students simply in the form of who people hang out with.
Social Scene: Fair. If you’re not interested in the parties on campus, you can go off campus.
Facilities: Fair. Libraries are great, campus center a good place to hang out, gym is nice, features a pool and a climbing wall, sometimes crowded. Art museum and plant house great places to visit on campus.
Internet: Fair. Slow but usually reliable.
Professors: Excellent. Second-rate teachers are the exception to the rule at Smith.
Location: Northampton is a fun town to be in and the other four colleges nearby are great.
Campus: Gorgeous. Enough said.
Sports: Not much school spirit, but a fair variety of club and varsity sports.

Motivated over-achievers, mostly. If you're spending as much as you would be to go to Smith, it's good to get the most out of it. Also, students who can't just major in one thing. I personally am majoring in a science and am also studying art and a foreign language.

Smith's academics are definitely high-quality. Your classes will most likely be on the smaller side (especially in the humanities--there will be some larger lecture courses in the sciences, but then there are smaller labs and discussions), most professors are easily accessible through office hours, and there's a wealth of support in the form of the Jacobsen Writing Center (which has people who will help you revise your papers), the Quantitative Learning Center (provides support in economics, stats, and other applied forms of math), peer tutoring, etc. Classes at Smith are hard work, but definitely worth it. There will definitely be professors you like and don't like, and classes you love and hate, but part of the process of being a student is figuring that out. If you are willing to put in the effort and sometimes take a little initiative and ask for help if you need it, you will do fine here.

In the sake of full disclosure, I just really love Smith (and, no, I don't work in the admissions office, so I'm being completely honest here). The campus has a great sense of community. Most people here are pretty friendly, open, and have a variety of interests. You live in a house instead of a dormitory, and the size and style of each house varies, but most houses have a distinct sense of community and special traditions. (For example, my house is on the smaller side with about 70 residents, and we like to do things such as bake in our kitchen, watch certain TV shows in the living room, go apple-picking on Mountain Day, etc.). There's also a lot of different dining options, so if you're a vegetarian, vegan, or just don't like monotony, there's bound to be something on campus you can eat. In terms of student organizations, there are quite a few. If there isn't one that matches your hobby, interest, or cause, you can write up a charter and form a new one. There's a really nice athletic center (all the exercise machines are specifically designed to be comfortable for women!) and also a variety of club and varsity sports, and occasional intramurals where houses form teams and compete against each other (like dodgeball, soccer, and basketball). And, if you get bored on campus, you can always walk downtown to Northampton (aka NoHo) and window-shop, or visit Forbes Library (which is not part of the school), or take the bus to another 5-College School. No school is perfect, but if you're willing to put yourself out there, try something new, meet some new people, and make the most out of what's available, it can be a really fun place to be.

Smith is expensive, not gonna lie. However, for what you pay (or earn in scholarships and aid), there's quite a bit available. The meal plan is basically an unlimited three meals a day, so you can eat as much as you want (not always a good thing...it's easy to overeat if you're not careful) in any dining hall. You can even go to multiple dining halls during one mealtime--and it's all covered by your room and board. Houses are pretty nice compared to the average college dorm. You can take up to five academic classes per semester (though most people don't take more than four classes at once), and there are a lot of one-credit exercise classes that you can do, which are also absolutely free because they're covered in your tuition. Besides access to four libraries on campus (plus the ability to use your card at any of the 5-College libraries) and the athletic center, you also can use your OneCard to take the bus to any other 5-College school completely free (this is covered by the SGA in your student activities fee). You can take classes at these other schools, join a club there, etc. There's also a 2,000 Praxis internship stipend available to every single student so that you can go get a cool internship sometime during your four years (usually around sophomore year) and be able to afford not getting paid. Basically, Smith has a ton of stuff available to you at little to no extra cost. It's just up to you to take advantage of it.

-Visit if you can. You'll learn a lot about the campus if you can just walk around by yourself, away from tour groups.
-Talk to current students. Most Smithies will tell you everything they like and don't like about the school--we're very opinionated.
-Smith has a fairly sizeable and visible LGBTQ population. Sometimes the school does not emphasize this in their admissions propaganda, but it's definitely true and something to be aware of. We take treating everyone with respect very seriously here.
-Smith also has a lot of liberals and moderates-- but that doesn't mean that conservatives aren't welcome. Some of us like having someone to argue with. ;)
-Some Smith students are men. We have transpeople on campus, and graduate students who are men.
-Just because you go to a women's school does NOT mean you won't ever see men. Guys from other schools take classes here, people from town are on campus, there are male teachers, etc.
-Some Smithies are non-traditional aged students called Ada Comstock Scholars. They're pretty cool, and bring a unique perspective to whatever they do. Some of them live on campus, and some life off-campus.
-Explore NoHo. It's pretty cool.
-If you go to Herrell's Ice Cream in NoHo on your birthday, and show them valid ID to prove it really is your birthday, you can get a free sundae. I highly recommend doing this.
-There are four housing areas on campus: the Quad, Elm Street, Center Campus, and Green Street. Each has it's own advantages and drawbacks, and certain stereotypes. However, stereotypes are not that accurate, and all of them are nice places to live. Also, housing will probably place you somewhere you'll like, 9 times out of 10.
-If you like Smith, apply! We're now test-optional in our admissions policy, so even if your test scores aren't great, if you're a motivated student, go for it!

Women/female-bodied, motivated, academically curious, interested in the sciences, interested in women's studies, opinionated, bold, passionate, driven, eclectic.

An academic challenge that pushes you to perfection. A social challenge that make or break you. A tradition of great women.

If you work hard and take time to get to know your professors you will find that they are willing to do just about anything to see you succeed.

Smith is hard. Sometimes it feels too hard, but when you finish a difficult assignment its almost like you've completed a workout. You feel confident and successful. The professors push you, but they are always willing to go an extra mile to help you out.

Smith uses the House System which means that students are placed in houses. Much of the social life revolves around the people in your house. If you are placed in a house with people who don't share your interests or values, then chances are you will feel very lonely. There is always the opportunity to change houses, but this can be intimidating because you are entering a different house with a group of students who have already created a strong bond.

Great. The food is just okay, but you have unlimited meals and can go to many different dining halls in one meal.

Study. Just kidding. Studying is a big part of campus life as many are here for the academic challenge, but the town on Northampton has a killer night life. I go to student plays, concerts in town, coffee bars and community events. There is also a free bus that can take you to any of the four surrounding colleges in the area.

As a financial aid student, I couldn't ask for better. If I was paying the full tuition I would be a bit disappointed with the quality of the food and the difficulty in finding support services like counseling or resident life staff.

On the night before classes start we have convocation, like any other school, but we usually come in costume. Many people strip down to their underwear and paint themselves. Instead of a stuffy convocation we have a pep rally.

We also have Mountain Day which is a random nice day in the fall when the president cancels classes and students picnic on the lawn, go kayaking, apple picking or mountain climbing.

Over achievers, people who are driven, people who love academics, competitive, and lesbians (we have an accepting community and a large LGBT community)

Personally when you live in a house full of girls, you are basically living in a sorority that you didn't chose to pledge to.

Great. I've never felt in danger. Not even once. I feel safe to walk around after dark when going from the library to my dorm.

Smith is what you make it. There are all sorts of opportunities to be artsy, athletic, musical, outdoorsy, and whatever else suits you, without losing the opportunity to focus on academics. With such a variety of people and programs, everyone can find their niche here.

What tipped the scale for me was something as simple as spending time around students and seeing how they interact. My one big tip is to visit. If it's not for you, you'll know.

Depends on department, but you'll definitely encounter some tough classes during your time here.

The house system provides such a great sense of community, which was a huge factor for me in finally choosing Smith. Right off the bat, you have a network and a support group. People usually go their separate ways once they join clubs and sports teams, but it's nice to have that starting out.

People give it a lot of flak, but it's really not all that bad. There are lots of options, but each option is at a different dining hall. There are perks to the decentralized style of dining, like intimacy of spaces and guaranteed proximity to food, but the hours aren't great and the quality is not always top-notch. Overall, though, they take pretty good care of us here.

There's always something going on on weekends, but it's a pretty small school. If what's on campus doesn't suit your tastes, the nearby five colleges (Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, Amherst, and UMass-Amherst) provide what entertainment Smith can't. They're accessible by a relatively easy bus ride. All of the student productions I've been to have been really well-done, and they're all free for Smith students, which is great. There are always things happening in Northampton (there are a couple popular music venues just down the road) and downtown Amherst.

Smith is expensive. But, with such a giant endowment, almost everyone receives some type of financial aid. Our work-study program is huge, and I think I only know two people who aren't on scholarship (although it's not really my go-to topic of conversation). The quality of education is excellent and the connections you get from going here are extensive. Smith isn't a huge school, but alumnae are always willing to lend a fellow Smith person a hand.

Mountain Day is my personal favorite. One day in the fall, the president calls off class and everyone has the day to spend enjoying the natural side of western Mass. The night before the first day of finals is the Primal Scream which helps students vent all their frustrations. Students and alums are referred to as Smithies, a tradition that I can't say I'm personally all that fond of, but it's nice to have a shortcut when I need it.

Smith's academic program is amazing -- a lot of hard work but extremely worth it. Since there are no distribution requirements (unless you want to go for latin honors, that is), students can take a variety of courses in a variety of academic disciplines without worrying about gen ed. There's so much academic freedom here, from that to the freedom we experience thanks to the honor code (self-scheduled exams).

I personally am not enjoying my overall experience. As someone who is politically conservative, not from the Northeast, a proud Christian, and who has a lot of guy friends, Smith is too much of a change for me, and not in a good way. Although I am very happy with the academics, I find that perhaps there is too much freedom and choice for an indecisive person like myself. I don't feel comfortable as a conservative on campus, or as a Christian in most circumstances. I have gotten used to the female environment but very often I find myself wanting to get away from all the estrogen. I'm from the Midwest and being in New England is neither as exciting or as pleasant as I had imagined it to be. The Northampton area is extremely hippie and bohemian, which some people really like, bust most days I just wish I could walk to Walmart or go home every once in a while. Please don't judge Smith on my personal experience however...but remember that Smith is a very unique experience that is not for everyone, even though the great majority of students I have met here are wonderful people in love with the school.

Smith is EXTREMELY expensive. For the most part, students feel like they are getting a bang for their buck. Room and Board covers our very nice dorms (Dorms Like Palaces) and The Board Plan, which includes three meals a day at the 15 or so dining halls on campus. There is also a lot of diversity in our meals, including food for vegans and those who prefer their meals to be gluten'free. Warning: if you really like meat, beware! Also, there are a great many resources on campus, from the CDO (Career Development Office) which will help you put together your resume to our Art, Performing Arts, Science, and general libraries. Not going to lie though...there will be times when I ask myself again, why are we all paying 50k?

1. A general college app tip...don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Even if you think Smith or some other school is for you, make sure you keep yourself open!
2. VISIT. I recommend Discovery Weekend...get to be someone's prospie and get to know the girl you shadow.
3. Take advantage of the 5 college area!
4. Smith cares about who you are overall -- not just your grades. Show them you're passionate about something because that will really make the difference.
5. You will hear that Smith is full of lesbians...truth: it's only HALF full of lesbians.

Smith is a haven for type A overachievers, but there's room for the more chill types too!

Smith has a beautiful campus and downtown, faculty that (for the most part) treat you with respect, and an incredibly diverse student body. It is very liberal (and not just in the liberal arts sense) and most students are comfortable voicing their discord with current issues and sometimes even Smith's administration. Overall, I absolutely love it! Smith's small, women's* college atmosphere make it an ideal place to spend my four years.

Smith doesn't care that much about SAT or even GPA. Just (as cliched as it sounds) be honest and genuine on your essay and really highlight extracurriculars.

MUCH harder than expected. Smith has a pretty high acceptance rate but that's mainly because students who apply are usually the tough cookies (and we don't get any guys or girls who crave the guys applying).

We have houses instead of dorms. They range from 10 (like a traditional house) to 100 (like a small dorm). I like in one of the bigger houses located on the quad (the part area-by Smith standards at least so it's actually pretty chill). The house community is great. There are a few weirdos but that's to be expected. Make sure to research your house before filling out the housing form. I live in King btw.

There are lots of small dining halls and pretty good selection (instead of the traditional one or two huge dining halls). They could use some more kale and fresh fruit but compared to other collages, Smith is pretty great. Make sure to check them all out, not just the convenient ones. Also, I'm vegan and have not had trouble finding food (even in the dining halls that aren't specifically veg).

Go to Jittery's (every Thursday in the CC), shows downtown, try parties at all five colleges, get ice-cream at Harrell's, participate in house events, it's really a lot of fun but you have to make an effort.

It really depends on how much financial aid you get. I got FANTASTIC aid so I have no complaints but I also have friends paying full tuition (which is A LOT-then again, they are v wealthy).

Too many. We have an abundance of crazy traditions.

Queer. Just saying. And generally pretty liberal. If you are transphobic or think feminism is gross or don't like Beyonce (not really but actually sort of) please don't even apply.

Fantastic selection especially for such a small school. And if it doesn't exist, you can make one!

Does not exist.

Women's* college so.

Smith College is a well-rounded, academic and exciting college, that allows Smithies to explore and cultivate their interests while opening doors to the work world. Smithies are driven, enthusiastic students, and the environment at Smith never fails to bring out the best in them. Smith women are known for their presence and influence in the world, something Smith College steadfastly supports.

If you don't know who you are, and you don't know who you want to be, and you cannot see how you can become anything in the clouded future, go to Smith. Soon you will know yourself, know your passion, and know your path. If you do know who you are, what you want to be and do, go to Smith. Soon you will know a completely new, deeper, more passionate, more successful you than you could ever have imagined.

Classes can range from very challenging to easy, depending on professors, your study habits and skill sets. It is not possible to coast by at Smith, work is always serious and intense. Nonetheless, help is available when you need it as Smith makes certain that students never want for guidance in academic arenas.

Smith College has a very strong House community that is supportive and helpful for incoming students and current students alike. Stresses community spirit and equality awareness.

30+ Dining halls, with lots of choices

Relaxing with friends and house community, Downtown Northampton or surrounding shopping district, on campus productions and hobbies, and of course, studying.

Smith will make you a Woman.
Or, if you prefer a more non-gendered approach, Smith will make you a strong, capable, independent, intelligent, successful and imaginative individual with an mind wide open to the world.

Convocation, Mountain Day, Primal Scream

Smith will take anyone.

Many Cubs and Activities, as well as the option to start your own if the current ones do not suffice.

None.

Very safe. Campus Police are everywhere.

The academics at Smith is amazing and above average. The professors are for the most part very helpful and if you don't understand something they are usually available during office hours or after lecture. Even though Smith has relatively small classroom sizes, it can still be intimidating to raise your hand. Don't be afraid to ask for help though because most professors are willing to listen and help. However, be aware that there are some professors that will look down upon you and talk to you degradingly. I truly recommend planning your classes and professors out ahead of time before you register for classes. One tip is to go on ratemyprofessors.com and look at the professors' reviews. This will save you a lot of time and a lot of these reviews are accurate. There are so many resources at Smith, for such a small school. There's the Jacobsen Writing Center if you want your essay corrected (and it's totally free), there's the Career Development Office if you are having a mid-college crisis, there's the Quantitative Learning Center and Burton Hall for student tutors that will go out of their ways to help you on your homework and studying for tests and quizzes, and there's more! You're definitely at a disadvantage if you don't make use of these valuable resources. Professors often hold study sessions or Q&A sessions to clear up any material that wasn't as clear during class. Students here truly engage in the class material and aren't afraid to ask questions. You will almost always walk out of a classroom learning something new and hopefully, you will be challenged here as well!

I really think college is what you make out of it. You can be depressed all the time because you're far from home and you don't have your old high school buddies. Or, you can look at the bright side and enjoy the amazing things that are happening at this school. Northampton is a small, quirky, interesting town. There isn't much to do, but you can always find a place to eat or a few cafes. There's also an urban outfitters and CVS nearby, but that's about it, unless you like hippy clothing or items. Faces is also a cool shop to visit when you are in Northampton. It's a good place to buy posters or other furniture items. One thing that I really enjoyed was Smith To Do every Friday. Every Friday, there is a craft room where you can make something. It's different each Friday. Once I made a scarf and another time I learned how to make origami. It's also a good time to socialize and just relax from a long week. The pond is also a good place to visit or the Botanic Garden. This is a place where you can relax, or you can go kayaking with your friends. Another thing is Friday Tea. This is awesome! We have tea, cookies, and other sweets along with cheese every Friday. It's a good time to relax and get to know your housemates. I didn't have the chance to go to a lot of parties at Smith, but I did go to some. They aren't amazing and if you're going just to see boys, it may not be the best idea since they are mostly shady, but it's fun if you're going to dance with your girls. They have a lot of fun themes as well that you can dress up for. Each houses have cute events as well such as First Year Prom, Senior Banquet, etc. Overall, I really enjoy being here. I thought that I would miss having boys around, and I slightly do, but it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would!

Since this is a private school, it is pretty pricey. However, Smith is known to give general financial aid and there are programs like STRIDE and AEMES that give out scholarships (used to replace work-study) to a certain number of scholars for two years. Most of my friends said that this was one of their biggest driving factors in coming to Smith. The food is sometimes questionable. No doubt, the food is better than a lot of the other campus dining foods. We also have many dining options like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher. The food is not always great and the dining hours are not flexible. Sometimes, I question whether the food is worth the money. However, if you look at everything else, it may be more understandable. Smith has houses, not dorms. The houses are for the most part gorgeous and the rooms are bigger than most dorm rooms. We usually get to pick the rooms through a lottery system so it is fair. There are three main divisions: Elm Street, Green Street, and the Quad. Each of these divisions have its ups and downs. I have to say though, many of my friends are jealous of the big room I have compared to the dorm rooms that they live in. Yes, the cost is high, but what you get in return is overall worth it. Don't forget to apply for financial aid though!

-Request for an interview with an alumni through the Smith.edu site. It was eye-opening and very worth my time.
-Come to Discovery Weekend! It is a great time to make friends and also figure out whether or not Smith is for you! I think Discovery Weekend won me over. My host was also amazing and so kind! The people at Smith are generally helpful and very nice.
-Don't get tricked by the food they offer you at Discovery Weekend. Most of the food is not as good as what they serve during Discovery Weekend.
-APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID!
-Request for a tour around the school
-Sit in one or two of the classes at Smith!
-Figure out which area you want to live in and where you want to stay away from
-Go to Club Fair/Rush where all the clubs come out and advertise for you to join their club. Try to join a smaller club so you can run for a position
-Don't forget to hit the gym once in a while because Freshman 15 comes fast!
-Do not ignore the great resources you have such as the Career Development Office! They even offer to skype with you to discuss your plans!
-If you're pre-med we have a pre-health lunchbag every Friday. Be sure to contact the pre-health advisor to be added on Moodle to this lunchbag group!

-Lesbians/Bisexual/ETC
-People who aren't obsessed over boys
-Passionate about voicing their opinions
-Diligent, hardworking students
-Students that aren't easily depressed if they're from the west coast or if they're international students
-Hipsters, 'Green' people
-ANYONE! Even though there's not as much diversity as the school says there is, it's still a very accepting environment to be in. Just be yourself and people will accept you

Smith has awesome opportunities especially if you are into the sciences. Like doing research with a professor, professor's being flexible about waitlist and also classes that just are not that large.
Also, the students are awesome too (they are all a bunch of geeks).

Come here if you want to work hard and be in an academic environment but also an accepting one.

The classes are as hard as you want them to be. There is always tutoring and office hours.

The dorms are sweet and the house meetings bring everyone together.

Not that great, it could be better.

Free canoeing, kayaking, and rock climbing plus a bunch of cool shops around town. Also parties at the quad or UMass

Financial Aid is awesome!

Convocation the beginning of classes is celebrated by getting naked

Geeky girls (or whatever gender you prefer) who want friends but also strive to learn!

There is something for everyone!

Smith is a big sorority!

There is campus police and lamp posts with police boxes.

The college campus is really beautiful with a lot of natural scenery. The students tend to be affluent young women with strenuous academic goals and there is a large LGBTQ presence on campus in addition to other social activism movements. The classes are rigorous regardless of your department but you can always find help if you ask for it.

It is important not to overwhelm yourself by taking too many classes or involving yourself in too many extracurricular activities. You will feel a lot of pressure to get involved in as many things as possible, but seriously, don't do it. Pick one or two things that you really are super passionate about and stick to them. Also, double majoring is a bad idea, no matter how many other people are doing it.

Smith is a very rigorous academic institution and you have to keep a good schedule to keep up. But there are many resources available to you such as professors' office hours and the tutoring centers. Your success boils down to your effort and hard work definitely pays off. You leave the class feeling like you really understand the material if you stick with it.

Dorm life varies from house to house. The rooms are awesome for the most part. Mostly singles, it's possible to get your own room as a first year, and there are kitchen facilities for student use in every house. I have lived in several different houses, and each community has its own personality and way of doing things. People tend to be very nice and polite and it is easy to make friends, especially with all of the programming that house leaders organize.

The food will be impressive at first and become boring within a month or two. It's good quality and the dining hall staff work really hard. But the menu gets pretty repetitive after awhile and the idea of seasoning usually seems to be something that nobody thought of. Lines get pretty long when there's something good on the menu but it's definitely worth the wait.

There are lots and lots of extracurricular organizations and events happening all around campus all the time. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Downtown Northampton is fun to visit and it's just down the road. There are lots of restaurants and little hippie shops as well as a concert hall. It's also great to take the PVTA and explore other campuses.

Smith is really really really expensive. It's hard to afford tuition without some kind of financial aid. But the academic quality makes it worthwhile as well as the opportunities that are available to you here such as the PRAXIS internship and Junior Year Abroad. The financial aid office will work with you if you make them.

Convocation is pretty non-traditional on Smith Campus. It tends to involve a lot of drinking, nudity, and rainbow flags. Other fun things include celebrations, a performance halfway through the semester to celebrate LGBTQ pride, primal scream, which is an event that takes place during finals week where everyone runs outside and screams for a few minutes to blow off some anxiety about tests, and winter weekend, which is a house party at the end of the year where everyone gets dressed up and acts fancy for a few hours.

Academics, nerds, geeks, whiz-kids, social activists, environmentalists, LGBTQ kids and non-gender-conforming individuals, athletes, medical students, engineering students, liberal arts students, artistic types, and many more.

There are clubs for everything on campus. Don't try to do too many of them. There are lots of activist groups with environmentalist or social justice goals, like the Divestment Campaign, and other groups for musical talents, like the Ukelele club, as well as sports, like the Quidditch Team, and special interests, like the Science Fiction and Fantasy Society.

None.

Smith has a very safe campus. There are emergency call boxes everywhere and campus police is always available. I have personally never felt afraid walking around campus alone at night.