Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters.
Smith is also a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which allows its students to attend classes at four other Pioneer Valley institutions: Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This provides a unique exception to the women only at undergraduate level, as men attending any of the Five Colleges are allowed to attend classes at Smith and Mount Holyoke, and are admitted to 95% of all available classes with the main exception being team sports. Additionally, although Smith only considers female applicants for undergraduate admission, it will award diplomas to transgendered students who have become male since admission. Smith is also known for its socio-economic and sexual-orientation diversity and recent efforts to attract more students of color have been reflected in the increased diversity of incoming classes.
The college was chartered in 1871 by a bequest of Sophia Smith and opened its doors in 1875 with 14 students and six faculty. In 1915-16 the student enrollment was 1,724 and the faculty numbered 163. Today, with some 2,750 undergraduates on campus, Smith is the largest privately endowed college for women in the country. The campus was planned and planted in the 1890s as a botanical garden and arboretum, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The campus landscape now encompasses and includes more than 1,200 varieties of trees and shrubs.
Smith has been led by 10 presidents and 2 acting presidents. For the 1975 centennial, the college inaugurated its first woman president, Jill Ker Conway, who came to Smith from Australia by way of Harvard and the University of Toronto. Since President Conway's term, all Smith presidents have been women, with the exception of John M. Connolly's one-year term as acting president in the interim after President Simmons left to lead Brown University.
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Top States for Incoming Freshman
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| Percent of Students International: | 6% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 80% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference) Track (New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 30,754 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 30,520 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 234 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,660 | 19% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,001 | 11% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 20,022 | 61% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,824 | 62% | |
Any Aid: |
72% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 48% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 94% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 580, Math: 570 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 710, Math: 670 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 27% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 25, Verbal: 25, Math: 23 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 29, Verbal: 32, Math: 28 |
| Application Fee: | $ 60.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Recommended |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
College Advice
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I will be a freshman at Smith this fall. Wasn't my top choice. It was actually a bit of a compramise because my parents struggled with the idea of me going away. I live in NYC, wanted to go away for college to experience freedom, independence. I come from a strict household So, I chose a women's college because I know they'd feel more comfortable and besides they're paying my tuition, so I've got to please them somehow. Being that I come from a strict background, I won't say that I'm a saint but I've never had a relationship with a guy, dated, etc. I have very few guy friends. So the one time where i get to have that freedom to let myself go, I can't because I'm going to a women's college. It feels weird. I know, I know I'll still meet guys but it's just not the same. I'm YOUNG dammit, and I'll be surrounded by estrogen for a good 4 years. I still love my school but I think about this everyday, about guys and all those what if's? Life is so short I feel like I blew it. Can't transfer
15 months ago
Best Answer
I graduated from Smith, and I loved it. It's a beautiful campus, and it's a great way to build real relationships with women without the competition. And remember, you can take classes for free at Amherst, UMass, and Hampshire. You can take ALL your classes there if you really want to meet guys. Or you could concentrate on your studies for the next four years without distractions, and know the guys will come later.
You didn't blow it. Smith is a fantastic school. Enjoy it!
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Question:
Smith College???
How hard is it to get into Smith College? I really love English, and want to major in English, but I only have a b+average (I'm a freshman), but I am included in many activities,like tennis, Lit. Mag, Youth Ambassadors, Key Club, Volunteer work, and First Class. I know I probably won't be able to get into Smith (I want to apply early decision), but do you think I might, and what are some other liberal arts colleges that I might have a chance to be accpeted to?
17 months ago
Best Answer
Um, Smith is pretty easy to get into, it's about as hard as Dickinson or some other 40th ranked liberal arts school, so as long as you have an above average standardized test score, you should be great
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Question:
Does anyone here attend Smith College?
I really want to attend Smith for college, but I don't know if I'm smart enough. Last semester I only got a 4.0 GPA, and this semester I only got a 3.7. I do a lot of activities, like tennis, First Class, Youth Ambassadors, Literary Magazine, Violin, Viola and volunteer work, but I still don't know if that's enough.. Help!
17 months ago
Best Answer
Hey there, I'm an '07 from Smith (just graduated). I think you have nothing to worry about. I got into Smith with a 3.6 in high school and had many similar activities as you do. Write an amazing essay for your application, and there's a really really good chance you'll get in. If you're absolutely certain, apply early decision, you have an even better chance of getting in, because the college knows you really want to be there, and if you get in, you have to go. Good luck!
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17 months ago
Best Answer
It is extremely difficult to be accepted to Smith.
Smith College is one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation, and is considered "highly selective."
The average GPA of accepted applicants is 4.0.
The average SAT score of accepted applicants is quite high as well, above 700 in verbal and above 600 in math.
61% of Smith students were in the top 10% of their class in high school.
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and if it isn't what liberal college/universities are
i plan to go to school in the east coast
please if its no to much trouble i'd really appreciate
thanxxxxxxxx very much
18 months ago
Best Answer
I graduated from Smith College and had several friends there who were pre-med who went on to Ivy League medical schools. "Pre-med" is mostly a series of science and math courses required for admission to medical school and is separate from your major. You can be a biology major and pre-med or a History Major and pre-med for example. Medical schools do not look down on a liberal arts degree. Ivy League schools and Seven Sisters (including Smith) are liberal arts colleges. All send graduates off to medical school yearly.
Smith is a very prestigious college and trust me, a Smith degree is well regarded in academic and professional circles.
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Question:
What Would Get Me Into Smith College?
I'm applying to go to Smith College for Fall 2007. I have a 3.1 gpa, 27 ACT Composite, a really strong personal essay, 2 great teacher recommendations, I was in band all 4 years of high school, and I'm doing an interview as well.
Do I stand a chance of getting accepted?
21 months ago
Best Answer
You've got a shot. I attended Smith, but my sister didn't get accepted. We had 3.7ish and 3.3ish gpas. You might want to stress anything volunteer or community work you've done - I had taught summer camps for junior high school girls in science. That sort of thing, if you can find something like that. Anything to promote women. Also, if you're interested in engineering, they often will let students not as qualified as everyone else in, for some reason. They fail most of them out of engineering in a year and you just have to switch majors, but they tend to let everyone who 'might' want to be an engineer in, just so they can have a good pool to select from.
Good luck!
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Question:
Smith College?
I'm really interested in Smith College. Can anyone tell me a little bit about the school and the Northampton area. (beside the basics of it being an all girl school, etc.) Thanks!
22 months ago
Best Answer
I went to Vassar, but had friends at Smith, and I've visited there many times.
Smith has an utterly gorgeous campus. The professors are superb scholars who are also extremely dedicated to their students. The students are rather diverse, and mostly quite laid-back, but very focused on their studies. Many students create their own program of studies, and almost all students have passionate interests in one area or another. Campus life is vibrant, with lots of things to do (theatre, lectures, musical performances, various student-run events). Everyone knows everyone else. Northampton is a lovely and quaint town, with lots of student-focused shops and restaurants.
Of course, admission is highly selective.
Here's some advice: go to http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=75
and check out their discussion board for Smith. Lots of current students, parents of Smithies, and prospective students post there. It's very active, and you can surely get some better answers to your questions there.
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26 months ago
Best Answer
Since you probably won't get many answers here, I'll try to help you in your quest.
(I went to Vassar, but had friends at Smith, and I've visited there many times.)
Smith has an utterly gorgeous campus. The professors are superb scholars who are also extremely dedicated to their students. The students are mostly quite laid-back, but very focused on their studies. Many students create their own program of studies, and almost all students have passionate interests in one area or another. Campus life is vibrant, with lots of things to do (theatre, lectures, musical performances, various student-run events). Everyone knows everyone else. Northampton is a lovely and quaint town, with lots of student-focused shops and restaurants.
Of course, admission is highly selective.
Here's some advice: go to http://www.collegeconfidential.com and check out their discussion board for Smith. Lots of current students, parents of Smithies, and prospective students post there. It's very active, and you can surely get some better answers to your questions there.
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I have a strong acadmic record, with AP classes and about a 1390 on the SAT, (96 average freshman and sohpmore years, by Senior year I expect it'll drop to about 92 from all 4 years, due to AP classes not being weighted.) I'm looking for a smallish liberal arts school (around 2,000, as much as 5,000 or so), which would have strong academics (some prestige,) especially in English, yet would have plenty of down-to-earth, genuine people, as opposed to being composed of homogenous snooty "rich kids". Also, I would like it to be in the Mid-Atlantic or New England States (somewhere in the Northeast). I can't tell you how much I would appreciate some advice/answers. Anything from "safety" schools to "reach" schools would be great! Thanks so much!
27 months ago
Best Answer
You should consider the four liberal arts colleges in the Five College system in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts.
These are Amherst College, Smith College (women only), Mount Holyoke College (women only) and Hampshire College. They are all strong with down-to-earth students. They also come with the advantage that you can take classes at the other three plus the Univ. Massachusetts at Amherst without any special requests during your years there.
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I would like to transfer to Smith College, but it cost so much money. I just don't have it and I don't think a bank will even give me a loan for such a cost. It's like $44,000 a year (with room and board fees and tuition), so should I just give up and stay at my cheaper college? Have you heard of anything that could help? Do you like Smith College? What do you like about the college?
Also how can I set myself apart in the interview over the phone? How can you give a person a good view of you over the phone, it's hard to do. Should I try to be all happy or just myself?
29 months ago
Best Answer
I Just graduated from Smith and trust me it is sooooo worth it. I too transfered from a school in california and it was the best decision I ever made!
As far as the financial side of Smith, we have over 60% of students on financial aid which is a HUGE percentage compared to similar colleges. Smith is really dedicated to helping you out financially. The people at the Admissions office and the Financial Services office are really helpful and I'm sure would be willing to talk to you personally if you have any questions even before you apply.
Smith has such a unique housing system that really connects you to other students and to the staff that work in the houses (kitchens, cleaning crew, etc.). You have a tremendous sense of connection and community. The food is MUCH better than typical college food by far!
The pofs are wonderful as well. They really take the time to get to know you and are personally invested in the college. They're not just there for the money like in a lot of colleges.
I can't say enough good things about the college. I miss it already and it's only been a month. If you have any questions or want to know more, feel free to contact me at yahoo!
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I need to make a decision by May 1, and I am totally torn.
31 months ago
Best Answer
Ok, here's the scoop. The difference between Smith and Wellesley is precisely reflected in the difference between the cities of Northampton and Wellesley, MA.
If you've visited, you know exactly what I mean. Northampton is, well, "crunchier," and more eclectic, and Wellesley is, well, "smoother," and a bit more mainstream.
Both schools are fantastic, with great professors, gorgeous campuses, superb intellectual environments, and diverse social opportunities.
Here's my best advice: Check out the website below. Search each college's name, and read the discussion boards. That should help.
(I'm a Seven Sisters grad myself [Vassar], and know these colleges very well, from visits and from the experiences of many friends and colleagues. Personally, I'm slightly partial to Smith. Their campus is just so lovely.)
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