Smith College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Students are almost unanimous when it comes to academics at Smith—they’re great! The school’s academic reputation is the reason many get interested in Smith in the first place. There is no such thing as an “easy” class at Smith—the challenging and invigorating academic environment is what this College is best known for. Smith has a tradition of hiring distinguished, intelligent professors who are dedicated to their fields. Students at Smith work extremely hard since academics are of Ivy League caliber and all-nighters are common, but the all-female environment often provides a supportive atmosphere that can ease the pain of a massive syllabus. Most students admit that they have compromised, settling for a less-attractive social scene in order to take advantage of Smith’s academic resources and opportunities.

The College’s professors are consistently regarded as one of the school’s best attributes. Many go out of their way to make the material exciting and relevant. Professors are accessible to all students, even those not in their classes. They will meet with students after class or respond to e-mails—sometimes with an almost frightening speed. However, not all students foster close relationships with their professors, mostly because the relationships are largely based on the amount of effort put in by the student. Some students complain that, like the student body, the professors are too outspokenly political, causing discomfort to students who don’t agree with the views they express. In reality, while many express their views freely, very few professors are closed to hearing dissenting opinions. Professors are dedicated to the academic material and make sure that students get the full picture—they rarely use class for merely preaching their personal opinions.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

I love my classes. I’ve had... I love my classes. I’ve had classes where every time I leave, the world seems different because I’ve been so enraptured by what I’ve learned. For instance, an East Asian literature class with the topic ‘Gendered Fate’ really focused on a lot of women’s studies and feminist theory that I’ve always believed in, but it helped me to articulate and vocalize my thoughts. By the end of the semester, I was able to process the literature on my own terms, which is the essence of education. 12345 Academics Report

elfmaiden says: Smith College 2015 Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Sometimes it feels like Smith... Sometimes it feels like Smith focuses a lot on the sciences and not so much on the humanities. True, we're the only women's college that has an engineering department, and that's great, but the administration shouldn't neglect the needs of the humanities departments to finance the HUGE new engineering building on Green Street, for example. 12345 Academics: December 02, 2008 Report

Anonymous says:

Academics are intense. You really... Academics are intense. You really have to figure out time-management and prioritize. Sometimes, that means not having a social life and coming home at 3 a.m. every night for two weeks. Professors sometimes think we’re geniuses and give us way more than we can actually handle. In the end, though, it’s worth it because it makes you know your stuff really well. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are great,... The teachers are great, enthusiastic, and helpful—though some are not. Some classes are amazing, but some put me to sleep. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

My American government class is... My American government class is really cool. In a lot of my government classes, the professors make the information relevant to current politics. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Through the five-college consortium (made up of Smith, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Amherst College), students can take classes at any of the five member colleges.

Former president Ruth J. Simmons was the first African American woman to head an Ivy League or Seven Sisters college.

Smith’s founder, Sophia Smith, was encouraged to leave her fortune to Amherst College. Instead, she stipulated in her will that the money be used “for the establishment and maintenance of an institution for the higher education of women.” Smith opened in 1875 with 14 students and six professors.

The night before finals begin, students go outside late at night to participate in Primal Scream—a chance to yell and relieve stress. Many then head over to the Campus Center where music and food (like chocolate-covered coffee beans) are offered as motivation for the night’s study.

In 1999, with the founding of the Picker Engineering Program, Smith became the first women’s college to offer a program in engineering. In spring 2004, Smith graduated the first class of all-female engineers.

Smith is the largest women’s college in the United States.

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