Smith College

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Smith College Information Guide

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School Type, Mission & History

Private liberal arts school
Historically women’s college
One of the Seven Sister schools
Founded in 1871
Ranked #13 best national liberal arts college by the US News & World Report
Ranked #3 Best women’s college in America by Niche.com
Strives to educate women “for lives of distinction and purpose” (Smith.edu)

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Size & Demographics

Around 2100-2500 undergraduate students
Approximately 100 per year students participating in graduate or special programs
9:1 student faculty ratio
70% of classes have less than 20 students
Only 4% of classes have over 50 students
Undergraduate student diversity

50% White
14% International
13% Hispanic
10% Asian
6% Black
5% Two or more races
2% Unknown

Gender distribution:

No male undergraduate students
Admits both female & male graduate students

Economic diversity

63% of class of 2025 receiving need-based grant aid from Smith

Currently has students from 48 states
Currently has students from 78 countries
4 year graduation rate: 85%
6 year graduation rate: 90%

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Admission Information:

Importance of each application aspect (according to Smith’s 2021-2022 Common Data Set):

Rigor of secondary school record: very important
Class rank: important
Academic GPA: very important
Standardized test scores: considered
Essay: very important
Recommendations: very important
Interview: Important
Talent/ability: Important
Extracurriculars: Important
Character/personal qualities: very important
First generation: considered
Alumni relations: considered
State residency: not considered
Geographical residence: not considered
Religious affiliation/commitment: not considered
Racial/ethnic status: considered
Volunteer work: considered
Work experience: considered
Level of interest: not considered

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Recommended high school coursework:

4 years of English
3 years of a single foreign language or 2 years each of separate languages
3 years of mathematics
3 years of lab sciences
2 years of history

Reccoments potential applicants to pursue their academic interests in depth, going beyond requirements
Offers Early Decision I

The 2022-23 school year’s deadline was November 15th

Offers Early Decision II

The 2022-23 school year’s deadline was January 1st

Regular Admission deadline 2022-2023 school year

January 15th

Accepts Common App and Coalition App

Both types receive equal consideration, no preference for one over the other

Components of application:

Common App or Coalition App
Secondary school report including official transcript
Counselor recommendation
Two teacher evaluations
Midyear report
Optional interview
Test optional
Certain types of art supplements can be submitted, such as portfolios

Currently, “People who identify as women—cis, trans and nonbinary women—are eligible to apply to Smith” (Smith.edu).
30% acceptance rate according to US News & World Report
Average SAT

1240-1570 according to niche.com
1470 according to prepscholar.com
Allows superscoring

Average ACT: 28-31 according to niche.com / 32 according to prepscholar.com

Average GPA: 3.84 according to prepscholar.com

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Approximate traditional undergraduate tuition (annually)

Tuition: $61,260
Room & Board: $21,310
Student Activities Fee: $308
Estimated Health Insurance: $2,884
Total per year: $85,726
Should also take into account books, supplies, travel expenses, personal expenses, etc

Financial Aid

Need-based aid available
“The college will meet the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines.” (Smith.edu)
Eliminated loans from financial aid packages
Offers institutional grants

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Location & Campus

Northampon, MA, around 30,000 residents

Somewhat close to Boston

A little over an hour by car

Near Mount Holyoke and Amherst, among other colleges

Not walking distance but relatively easy car ride

Beautiful campus

Has own botanic gardens
Has a pond

Numerous residential halls (see residential life section)

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Residential Life

Residence system centered around 41 houses
Required to live on campus all 4 years

Can petition to live off campus
Doesn’t include study abroad, students studying abroad live wherever they are studying

First years & transfers mostly live in doubles and occasionally singles
Students who are returning to Smith often live in suites, singles, and doubles
Live in staff positions

Head residents or house coordinators
House community advisers
Elected student leaders (ex. house president)

House councils sponsor activities
Houses provide sense of community and enables students to meet new people
According to niche.com, 95% of students say that the dorm’s overall quality is great
Residence life policies & expectations explained in detail in the student handbook

Neighborhoods

Garden Neighborhood

Comstock House
Haven/Wesley
Gardiner House
Morrow House
Sessions Complex
Wilder House
Wilson House

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Ivy Neighborhood

Albright House
Baldwin House
Chapin House
Duckett House
Hubbard House
Lawrence House
Morris House
Tyler House
Washburn House

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Mountain Neighborhood

Capen House
Cutter House
Gillett House
Lamont House
Northrop House
Talbot House
Ziskind House

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Paradise Neighborhood

Cushing House
Emerson House
Friedman Apartments
Jordan House
King House
Park House
Parsons House
Scales House
Cushing House

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Special-Interest Housing

Chase House
Hopkins House
Park Annex
Parsons Annex
Tenney House

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Ada Comstock Scholar Housing

54 Green Street
150 Elm Street
Conway House

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Graduate Student Housing

44 Green Street
Henshaw A

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Dining

Strives to accommodate dietary needs, support local businesses, and serve outstanding food
Kitchens/dining halls offer grab & go, traditional buffets, and preorder options
Has a variety of options for food (in the 2021-2022 school year, it had 9 residential kitchens and 2 retail cafes)
Walking distance from off-campus restaurants and food options in Northampton

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Health and Wellness

Schacht Center offers both physician and mental healthcare
The Pelham Medical Services offers routine check ups, clearance exams, reproductive health exams, contraceptives, health related education, and problem oriented care for injuries and illness
Free, confidential counseling services provided
Counseling services strive to acknowledge the effects of racism, sexism, classism, and other systemic factors on mental health

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Student Life

Diversity and inclusion

Office of equity and inclusion promotes for justice
Inclusion council works to promote equity and social justice
List of items taken towards racial justice: https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/offices/equity-inclusion/toward-racial-justice
Student organizations such as the Autism Awareness Association and the Asian Students Association provide a safe space for students with shared identities and promote actions towards inclusion and justice

Numerous clubs and organizations

A few examples (there are many more, which can be found on the Smith website):
Active Minds
Club Francais
Crapapella
Don't Blink Media
Duct Tape Productions
Italian Culture Club
Model United Nations
Powerlifting Club
Queer International Alliance
Smith Ceramics Club

Athletics

NCAA Division III
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
Mascot: Pioneer
Sports listed on https://smithpioneers.com:
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Rowing
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Also offers additional recreational/club sports

Traditions

Class colors (each class has own color)
Friday Afternoon Tea
Mountain Day
Otelia Cromwell Day
Ivy Day and Illumination Night

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Academics

Intellectually rigorous and innovative
Liberal arts education
Graduation Requirements:

At least 128 credits of academic work
GPA above 2.0
Completion of major
Completion of writing intensive course during first year of enrollment, must receive at least a C-
At least 4 semester and 64 academic credits completed in residence at Smith College
Certain limits regarding which courses count for graduation credit (ex. Only up to 24 music credits)