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Comparable Schools'
Campus Housing Grades:
Quick StatsUndergrads Living on Campus
90 %
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus
Yes
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. 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. |
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. |
Anonymous says: |
I have lived in Wilder since first...
I have lived in Wilder since first semester. It’s far away from campus, though. It’s good to be away from the school buildings on the weekend, but it’s a tough walk if it’s cold or raining. The good thing about the different areas of campus is that there’s something for everyone. People in the Quad tend to be a bit louder and better partiers, although that doesn’t mean we’re not studious. Since we’re away from the academic buildings on campus, it’s easier for us to separate the school day and the social life. However, living closer to campus (Green Street or Elm Street) you can get to class and town faster; however, these houses tend to be smaller, not renovated, and a bit quieter. |
Anonymous says: |
I transferred in spring semester...
I transferred in spring semester of my first year, so I was in Hubbard on Green Street. After returning from medical leave, I requested first floor elevator access. I wanted to live on Green Street or Central Campus because I didn’t want to walk on the ice. But unless you badger the administration, they aren’t very accommodating. I found out the day before I left for school that they just gave me a room on the Quad. I felt like they didn’t listen to me because I didn’t yell and scream. I filled out the form just to stay in Wilder because I don’t want to go through the process again. My first year, I was put in a double with someone I didn’t know and even though I requested to be moved, they didn’t move me, probably because I wasn’t very aggressive. That’s something that a lot of people don’t know: you have to be really aggressive to get what you want out of the housing system. |
Anonymous says: |
There are houses closer to campus....
There are houses closer to campus. They tend to attract more artistic types, but also quiet and borderline antisocial types. |
FactsWhat You Get
- Bed
- Cable TV and phone jacks
- Closet or wardrobe
- Desk and chair
- Dresser
- Ethernet connection
- Free campus and local phone calls
Available for Rent
Fridge rental (delivered to your room)
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.
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.
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