Smith College - Campus HousingCollege Prowler4.62

Campus Housing:

A

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

Undergrads Living on Campus

90 %

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Yes

Number of Dormitories

39

College Prowler Take

Campus housing is more like sorority houses than dormitories. Each house is self-governing and can be quite insular. Though the houses are not as different as people make them seem, it is important to find one that fits your personality—houses can range from high-drama to laid-back in atmosphere and activities. While the housing system cultivates a great sense of community, it can be hard to make friends outside of your house. Also, if a student is stuck in a house that she doesn’t feel fits her personality, it can be an isolating experience. However, the overwhelming majority of students say the housing system is one of their favorite parts of Smith. Complete with pianos, fireplaces, and often their own dining rooms and kitchens, the houses are intimate communities.

Even the loudest house does not rival the noise levels that are found in some other colleges. Since each house is a contained community, students are generally more respectful toward one another. Unlike in a dorm, students are forced to socialize. While a forced community can be stifling at times, many students find comfort in the automatic support system and community that the houses create.

 

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

I’m partial to Lower Elm, but...

I’m partial to Lower Elm, but different parts of campus are better for different things. If you’re an athlete or a science major, you might choose Green Street because it’s near everything. If you like to party, go to the Quad. I do not recommend the Quad if you want quiet all the time. Lower Elm and Upper Elm are very similar, and they have a nice balance between partying and studying.

Campus Housing
Report

Anonymous says:

It’s unique. Each area of campus...

It’s unique. Each area of campus has its character, history, and flavor. Some are big houses, and others are smaller and intimate.

Campus Housing
Report

fking@smith.edu says:

Smith College 2010

Physical Sciences

First-Years Have It Tough BUT There Is Hope

A

The person that pairs first-years roommates must be on crack. Be prepared for a tough first-year or spare yourself and get a medical note stating you need a single. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Almost all Sophomores and Upperclassman get singles. Try to get a suite with a friend. They are newly renovated and furnished.

Campus Housing: February 08, 2010
Report

professorawesome says:

Smith College 2013

Undecided

A Sweet Deal.

A

in addition to just being plain BEAUTIFUL, the houses at smith foster great, tight-knit communities, especially for first-years looking for a starter group of friends. one of the best things about smith is that the houses are not segregated by under/upperclassmen or major, so you have the opportunity to interact with students of different interests and experience. there are so-called "house rivalries" (especially in the quad, but uh...does anyone really care?), however, no one house is universally regarded as the "best place to be" on campus. another perk of smith housing? singles are a-plenty, so if you loathe sharing a space, chances are you can finagle one.

Campus Housing: January 16, 2010
Report

smithsicle says:

Smith College 2012

Other

Smith Houses Are Pretty Much the Best

A

Smith housing provides instant support and friendship during orientation and you never lose that. I have friends outside of my house, but I spend most of my time with my housemates, whether that's eating in the dining halls, watching movies in the living room or hosting a party. The rooms themselves are really fantastic, too-- my roommate and I have the smallest double in the house and it's still big by college standards. You even feel a connection to people who lived in your house years ago. My friend's grandmother lived in my house and we're going to lunch soon to talk about it! Most people live in the same house all four years, and now that I'm here I understand why.

Campus Housing: January 14, 2010
Report

Interested in
Smith College?

Facts

What You Get

  • Bed
  • Cable TV and phone jacks
  • Closet or wardrobe
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet connection
  • Free campus and local phone calls

Room Types

  • Doubles
  • Singles
  • Triples

Bed Types

  • Standard twin

Also Available

  • About five percent of students choose to live in on-campus, non-traditional housing. This includes Dawes (a French language house), Tenney and Hopkins (co-ops in which students are responsible for their own meals), and the Freidman apartments, which are on-campus apartment complexes that house four students each.

Available for Rent

Fridge rental (delivered to your room)

Cleaning Service

Each house has a housekeeper who comes everyday and cleans the bathrooms, hallways, and common living areas.

Dormitories

Center Campus – Cutter House
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 81
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles
One of the two more modern houses, courtyard, fireplace, reading room, TV.

Center Campus – Friedman Apartments
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 52
Bathrooms: One per apartment
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: 4-person apartments, one 6-person apartment
Fully furnished, kitchen, townhouse-style.

Center Campus – Haven/Wesley House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 71
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Close to the library and Campus Center, some rooms have private porches.

Center Campus – Hopkins House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 18
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Co-op kitchen, front porch, view of Mount Holyoke mountain range.

Center Campus – Park House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 66 (house and annex)
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Microwave, scenic location, soda machines.

Center Campus – Park House Annex
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 66 (house and annex)
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Microwave, soda machine, scenic location

Center Campus – Sessions Annex
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 52 (house and annex)
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Living room, small parlor, sun room, piano.

Center Campus – Sessions House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 52 (house and annex)
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Living room, TV room, fireplace, secret staircase.

Center Campus – Tenney House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 14
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles
Vegetarian co-op, kitchen, yearly faculty dinner

Center Campus – Ziskind House
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 81
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
One of the two more modern houses, house library, central location, TV room, fireplace

East Quad – Cushing House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 79
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Living room, fireplace, two study rooms

East Quad – Emerson House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 87
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Yearly “Medeival Banquet,” study rooms

East Quad – Jordan House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 84
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Large living room, house library

East Quad – King House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 78
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, one double, one triple
Living room, fireplace, hosts bands on semi-formal weekends, study room, courtyard

East Quad – Scales House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 74
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles
Courtyard, living room, fireplace, piano

Green Street – Chapin House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 70
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Geographic center of campus, overlooks gardens of Lyman Plant House

Green Street – Hubbard House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 53
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Close to academic buildings, piano, study lounge, only house with no TV, yearly anniversary alumnae reunions.

Green Street – Lawrence House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 67
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Annual Nov. 11th celebration for alumnae namesake “Tippy Lawrence”

Green Street – Morris House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 68
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Piano, TV, fireplace, large front porch with old-fashioned swing

Green Street – Tyler House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 69
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
House library, living room, holiday traditions, close to both academic buildings and athletic facilities.

Green Street – Washburn House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 43
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Smaller house, grand piano, TV room, pool room, house library, computer lab

Lower Elm – 150 Elm House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 12
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: Non-traditional students
Room Types: Singles
Ada Comstock Scholars

Lower Elm – Albright House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 73
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, two triples
High ceilings in rooms, large windows, large closets, pool table, rec room, personal gym

Lower Elm – Baldwin House
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 77
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
High ceilings, living room, foyer, porch, piano, fireplace

Lower Elm – Chase House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 57
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: Seniors
Room Types: Singles
Three living rooms, weekly film nights, houses the student loan library

Lower Elm – Duckett House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 37
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singlesand doubles
Central location, large closets, living room, study, frequent parties

Lower Elm – Gillett House
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors, non-traditional students
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Large living room, houses Ada Comstock scholars

Upper Elm – Capen House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 73
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Winter banquet, living room, study nook, ballroom

Upper Elm – Dawes House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 18
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, one double
French language and culture house

Upper Elm – Lamont House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 83
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Central location, living room, fireplace, large study area

Upper Elm – Northrop House
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Living room, fireplace, study area, across the street from PVTA bus stop.

Upper Elm – Parsons House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 46
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Intramural teams, term cocktail parties with Parsons Annex.

Upper Elm – Parsons House Annex
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 18
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Two living rooms, intramural teams, term cocktail parties with Parsons House.

Upper Elm – Talbot House
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
House games and traditions, stuffed moose house mascot, large living room.

West Quad – Comstock House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 81
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Covered front entrance, bell tower, hardwood floors, house ghost

West Quad – Gardiner House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 83
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Two common areas, living room, large study

West Quad – Morrow House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 84
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Grand piano, poetry room with volumes collection

West Quad – Wilder House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 82
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles, doubles, one triple
Covered front entrance, bell tower, yearly social event

West Quad – Wilson House
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 102
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Residents: First-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors
Room Types: Singles and doubles
Hardwood floors, large closets, large living room, covered entrance

Did You Know?

Smith’s unique housing system warrants a preface. Rather than living in dorms, there are 36 residential houses on campus. Some of these are converted houses and mansions that were originally built hundreds of years ago by Northampton residents and have since been purchased and renovated by the college. Others are newer and were built exclusively by the college, but were built specifically as houses, not as dormitories. Some of the houses are as small as 12 residents, while the largest house holds approximately 100 residents. Each house has its own personality and history.

There are four areas of campus: Green Street, Central Campus, Elm Street, and the Quad. Green Street houses are the closest to the academic buildings and have a reputation for being the quietest. The Central Campus and Elm Street houses are also close to the academic buildings, but they have a more energetic reputation. The Quad houses are the largest on campus, at an average of about 80 residents per house. There are major prejudices and stereotypes about each house and each area of campus. Green Street is thought of as boring, uptight, and overly intellectual by everyone that doesn’t live there. Elm Street and Central Campus are moderate houses. They have parties that are generally small and exclusive. Most people that don’t live on the Quad think of it as superficial, heterosexual, and too loud. Every stereotype has some grain of truth to it, but there are no set rules.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Kelly Dagan
Hometown: Pavilion, NY
Major: English

Fun Fact: Kelly once went biking down an active volcano at sunrise (and survived). She will never, ever, do this again.

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.