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.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
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.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
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.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
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.
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.