Smith College
Reviews

Campus Police Are Wonderful!!

The Campus Police Department here is absolutely wonderful. If you use common sense, you should be fine on campus. There are 79 blue call boxes on campus so you're always in reach of help. Campus Police's response time is under two minutes. The department here wants student to be on a first-name basis with students. They provide many services that aren't offered at many other colleges. They'll go to house tea parties if you ask them to, they offer self defense classes every semester, they'll engraves your laptops and other valuables, and you can set up a time to ride in their cop car and see what it's like to be a campus police officer. Our Campus Police force works for Hampshire and Mount Holyoke college as well. So there's support from two other campuses in the event that something more serious ever happens. The officers on campus have full arresting authority and are certified by the state. My only criticism with regards to feeling safe on campus is the lack of lights around campus. There are several paths that students take to get to various parts of campus that aren't particularly well-lit. Also, despite the fact that there are 79 call boxes on campus, I would feel more comfortable walking on the science quad if there were a few more call boxes in the area. All things considered however, I feel incredibly safe on campus.

Beautiful Girlz

There are no guys, only really smart, successful women.

Very Safe

I always feel safe on campus, even at night. Campus police are super friendly and helpful, and I've never heard of anyone having any issues. I wouldn't go into town by myself after dark, but safety is a non-issue at Smith as long as you have a little common sense.

Be an Adult

Sometimes you get in trouble sometimes you don't. Public safety is always available when there is an issue, from locking yourself out of your room to the belligerent drunk UMass boy who just wont go home. Basically the college wants you to be an adult and make your own decisions. You only really get in trouble if you get really out of control.

Smith Academics

Almost always small classes, almost always great professors, AWESOMELY open curriculum (having no Core Curriculum is so much more freeing than what my friends at other schools have to deal with!), more research opportunities than I know what to do with. Remarkably flexible education. Registration is clear and easy, and if you want it badly enough, you can almost always get into the class you want.

Smith Is a Blast

I am so lucky to get to go to Smith. Most students are really enthusiastic about what they're studying and there are so many talented people here. But I would say the best thing about Smith is the opportunities Smith offers you--Smith bends over backwards to help you succeed. We have a Career Development Office, which helps you with applying for jobs. The Jacobsen center is a great resource to help you improve your writing. Smith offers a Praxis grant for unpaid internships (around $2,000!). And the alumnae network is huge, and can really help you once you leave Smith.

Cozy Liberal Town

Northampton is a really cute place to go to college. It has a lot of good restaurants, bookstores, and quirky shops. Smith is really close to downtown.

Typical New England Weather

humid summer and cold snowy/rainy winter, but spring and fall are PERFECT. the weather is far better fall semester than spring semester. it could be a lot worse - the weather's even more severe in the midwest. but if you really can't handle snow or cold for long periods of time, like, if that's actually a dealbreaker for you, then you probably shouldn't come to school here.

Give It a Shot

My best advice is to stay on top of things, mind the deadlines, and don't be afraid to go in and talk to them if something is not going so well.

Bring Your Own Computer

There are computer labs spread throughout campus, but several of them are class-specific (i.e. only theater majors or people taking theater classes can use the theater computer lab) and the rest of them are bound to be full when you need a computer most. That being said, the school computers are very good, if a little on the slow side, but they work perfectly well for when you need them. In general, it's most convenient to have your own computer, especially since nearly the whole campus is wireless.

A Place Where Women Thrive

Smith, above all, is a college designed for women to succeed. Although most academic programs are great, Smith is particularly strong in the sciences, especially engineering. Ford Hall, the sciences building, was just opened last year, and it houses state-of-the-art labs. Students (especially in the sciences) also get opportunities to do research with professors, which is something many students can't do until graduate school. Other than that, there are many clubs, sports teams, performing groups, etc etc etc. Basically, if you have a interest, it is probably represented on campus. And, perhaps most importantly, the campus is simply beautiful, a lovely place to spend four years.

A Perfect Fit

It may sound cliche, but Smith really is the perfect fit for me and many of my friends. The fact that it is a women's college turns many potential students away, but we are proud of it. It's great to be surrounded by so many successful and motivated women who will go on to do great things in the future. Academically, it's stellar, no matter what major you pursue. The housing system is also great; you really feel like you're with a second family, not just a dorm. Northampton (and the Pioneer Valley) is also a great area for college students. The town is great, with all its restaurants and shops, and there are lots of other college students in the area, so it feels like a real college town. These are only a few reasons. Needless to say, I would choose Smith every time.

Best You Can Hope for

Smith (and the surrounding community of Northampton) is very safe. If there ever is a problem (which isn't all that often), Public Safety is always available by phone or on the emergency call boxes throughout the campus. But overall, Smith creates the sense of a very safe environment.

Campus Police Wicked Chill

The campus police are really nice and don't bother you at all. I've heard of some students getting busted for drugs/alcohol, but very few and don't know any personally. IF you're smart, you'll never have a problem with them.

Having Fun in the Smith Sciences

I've been really happy with the quality of science education at Smith. I'm a biology major and have also had the opportunity to do independent research in a professor's lab. This is particularly awesome because the science building is brand new and if you're doing research, you get to play with lots of expensive stuff at no extra cost.

If you want to succeed, however, be prepared to put in the work. The classes are not easy, but they are rewarding. Also, if you get to know your professors and the faculty, there are lots of opportunities (like independent research) to be had.

The only drawback is that Smith does not offer vertebrate anatomy, which has been a problem for me since I need the class for graduate school.

The major has also been restructured recently to allow more focus on certain areas of Biological sciences, so if you're pre-med for example, you don't have to study advanced biodiversity if you don't want to.

Home Away from Home.

Smith tries their hardest to ensure students are comfortable and have the best of everything. The dorms are amazing. The food is better than most campuses and it's real food. The other students are so open and welcoming. The academics are hard, but professors are more than willing to help with anything they can. Also, the tutoring resources are above and beyond what I hear from other schools. There is always something to do on campus, and there are tons of colleges close enough to visit their campuses often. Although there aren't always parties you learn to broaden your horizons and find fun in the strangest places. Besides when we party we do it oh so hard!

Why a Women's College?

A lot of people are turned off by the idea of attending a women's college. In point of fact, the all-female environment provides a fantastic, supportive community. I truly feel safe to be whoever I want to be at Smith.

Lovely, Yet Limited Dining at Smith

Most of the "houses" (we don't call them dorms at Smith) have their own dining halls, which I love. Not only does it feel more like home when you can eat with your house "family" every night for dinner, but you also get to know the dining staff really well, and they are very responsive to comments and suggestions. The food is great, and the atmosphere is very relaxed unlike the huge dining halls at larger schools where everything is very rushed and high-paced. The one thing I would change though is the very limited meal times. Because of the many small and separate kitchens, dinner is only served from 5:30-7 p.m., which can sometimes be hard to work into a busy schedule.

I Love Smith

There are no words for how wonderful Smith is. The housing is incredible, the food is excellent, and the professors are brilliant. I am so happy here that I almost don't want to graduate!

As Long as You're Into Girls, It's Great

It's really hard to meet guys at Smith (duh), but the girls here are smart, beautiful, classy, and kind.

Best Housing in the Country

Smith dorms are beautiful! My freshman double had hardwood floors and two window seats. The closet was walk-in with room for my dresser. A lot of first-years even get singles, like my friend—and her single was larger than my bedroom at home!

Easy, Safe

There are great restaurants but they close pretty early.

The Libraries Are SUPER Helpful

The library has so many unique spaces to study. The group tables are my favorite—the big computer screen allows for easy access to all group members.

Overall, Very Pleased

Generally, most of the facilities are top-notch. The libraries are definitely one of the school's strongest points. The gym has a variety of good machines, and all of the cardio machines have TVs, although the location is a little burdensome for anyone who doesn't live on Green Street. The Campus Center is generally a good place to chill, and the cafe generally has very good food. The campus is beautiful year-round (but especially in the fall and spring), and there's always something to do, if not too many things.

Campus Is Safe-A Few Random People from Town

I have never felt unsafe on Smith's campus. The campus is small. At night, it gets really dark and sometimes it is advised to not wander far from your house by yourself. People from town can go on campus, but there are blue emergency boxes everywhere you turn. If there is ever a time that you feel unsafe, you press the button and Public Safety is there within a minute.