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Smith College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Smith College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Smith College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Smith College reviews, or contribute your own Smith College review if you're a current student there.

  • 13 out of 13 people found this review useful.

    Veronica from Plymouth, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    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.
    Bang for the buck

    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.
    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.

    Great for these types of students

    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.

  • 7 out of 7 people found this review useful.

    Stephanie from Northampton, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    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.
    Am enjoying being 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.
    Bang for the buck

    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.
    Tips for prospective students

    -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!

    Great for these types of students

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

  • 5 out of 5 people found this review useful.

    Sara from Canton, OH

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    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).
    Am enjoying being here

    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.
    Bang for the buck

    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?
    Tips for prospective students

    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.
    Great for these types of students

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

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Jane

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    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!
    Am enjoying being here

    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!
    Bang for the buck

    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!
    Tips for prospective students

    -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!
    Great for these types of students

    -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

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Jessica from Bridgeport, CT

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Did learn a lot

    Smith's professors are amazing-- as intellectuals as well as individuals. I transferred to Smith, and at my previous college, I had never received the same one-on-one attention and dedication from professors as I had while I was at Smith.
    Did enjoy being here

    The housing system is amazing! The friends that I have made through my house mean more to me than anything. I have been out of school for almost 2 years now, and still keep in close contact with my housemates. You build connections here that really last.
    Bang for the buck

    Don't ever be afraid to go to the Dean, or Financial Aid, and ask for an appeal of your aid package. I have done it a few times, and each time the staff were accomodating and helpful. There are also funds set up for each student, regardless of economic need (the Smith emergency fund, for example). These resources are largely untapped.
    Tips for prospective students

    Visit the campus. Walk the same paths as some of our very prestigious alumni! Do your research online as well as in-person. It means something to go to/have gone to Smith. Women plan their family vacations around reunions, and the alumni network is amazing! If you can, come to an Ivy Day Parade in May-- if that doesn't sum up Smith spirit, I don't know what does!
    Great for these types of students

    queer or queer-friendly social activists.

  • Jennifer from Northampton, MA

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    An educationally demanding college which continually challenges students to excel. Plenty of student resources for those feeling overwhelmed (commonly experienced among students). Many opportunities for collaborations, internships, and study abroad programs.
    Tips for prospective students

    Do not try to be a super student, but concentrate on your studies to excel in your chosen field.
    Great for these types of students

    Self-motivated, determined to succeed academically. Definitely NOT the place for slacker students or those expecting an easy ride.
    Greek Life

    Non-existent.

  • Emily from Newport, NH

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments

  • Madeline from Alexandria, VA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Boring yet easy
    Tips for prospective students

    It's not your typical college at all. If your interested in concentrating on your studies for four years, I highly suggest Smith. If you are looking for a social life that balances out your academic life, Smith isn't for you.
    Academic Rigor

    The work (for a first-year) isn't particularly difficult but the professors will expect a lot from the work you do.
    Dorm Life

    Your house community is the only social life you will have on campus so pick a good one!
    Food and Dining

    It's a bit annoying that the dining hours for dinner is 5:30-7 and you can't get food after that time. However, the meals are fantastic.
    What to do for fun

    Most students go into town and shop or eat out because the city of Northampton is quite vibrant.
    Bang for the buck

    Smith's Career Development Office is absolutely amazing, they will help you immensely when it comes to internships, full-time jobs, etc. You will have an upper hand to most other post-grad students after your education at Smith because almost every Smith alumni wants a Smith graduate as their employee. But, you really do have to pay for the prestige.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    Julia Child Day is a day where the kitchen staff honors alumni Julia Child in making her recipes for dinner. Mountain Day is one day in the fall where all classes are cancelled. The night before classes everybody dresses up (or doesn't dress) for the annual commencement speeches.
    Great for these types of students

    Students who are wealthy enough to pay for the prestige of Smith College and consider themselves to be outcasts in society come together at Smith College.
    Clubs and Activities

    Not a ton of fun clubs. Most of the clubs at Smith College have to do with ethnicity.
    Greek Life

    None, but you are allowed to rush for UMASS sororities.
    Campus Safety

    Smith's campus police are incredibly passionate about their work and do an excellent job. You will never feel unsafe.

  • Leda from Haddonfield, NJ

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Smith courses are challenging and open your mind to new ideas and theories. Since coming to Smith I have learned a new language, Italian, and become practically fluent. I have taken courses in Education that have taught me so much about how children learn, what methods are most effective and the importance of the classroom environment. Professors are very supportive of students and are always open for discussions or if you need extra assistance.
    Am enjoying being here

    I really enjoy Smith academically and find it is the perfect fit for me. Socially I wish that there was a little more happening on the weekends. Most of Smith parties consist of dancing in the dark. There are movie nights and other activities but I wish there was more variety.
    Bang for the buck

    Smith has a lot of benefits that students learn about upon arrival. There is funding available for unpaid internships, travel during breaks between semesters and many jobs on campus. Smith's career center has a lot of alumni connections and works hard to invite many recruiters and companies to campus for interviews. The resources (library, gym, dormitories, classrooms) are very beautiful and the atmosphere is very collegiate.
    Tips for prospective students

    Come and visit Smith, you will see the beautiful campus and get a feel for how students interact on campus. You can sit in on a class and see how professors value students opinions and encourage class discussions. You can also stay overnight and get to experience the cozy Smith housing system.
    Great for these types of students

    Hard working, independent women. Many students at Smith are very opinionated and involved in their studies and extra curriculars. Smith has so many clubs and activities that everyone can be involved in something they enjoy (a cappella groups, theater, debate, Democrat and Republican groups, sports teams and clubs, religious groups)