Smith College Snapshot

Written by Dara Kagan

Dara Kagan

Hometown

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Major

Government, with a minor in the Study of Women and Gender

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One thing is for sure: Smith is not for everyone. Talk to any student, and you’ll probably find that they have an ambivalent relationship with the school. Some cannot handle the single-sex environment, while others find it to be their favorite part of Smith. Some are miserable with the social scene, feeling limited in their options, while others are perfectly content. It’s a college of extremes. One person’s favorite part can be another’s most-hated aspect of the school. However, when it comes down to it, the education that you get while at Smith is top-notch. The small classes and wide range of academic opportunities ensure that students are engaged and challenged. Moreover, Smith is committed to providing opportunities that most students don’t get until graduate school, such as independent research with professors in their first year or writing graduate-level  theses.

It’s not a huge party school, and it’s not a stereotypical college experience, but, for most Smith students, that’s exactly the way they like it. Campus can make students feel claustrophobic at times, but there is a tremendous sense of community. The comfort and security of the campus ensures that students have four years to discover themselves and really come into their own. Time and again, alums have told students that they are still very close to their friends from Smith. The campus community fosters tight bonds that last far beyond graduation.