Smith College Top Questions

Classes are generally small. In almost every class the professor will end up knowing every student's name. Most professors are also really interested in what students are doing so they make it a point to come to student performances and presentations. Intellectual conversations happen both in and out of class all over the place. The school is filled with very bright people! However this also means that it can get pretty competitive so you have to remember to give yourself a reality check once in awhile.

The classes are very small and professors know one's name and notice when they don't show up for class. As nice as it may seem to be more connected to one's professor, it also means that there is a lot of pressure coming from being under such a close watch. Academics are high stress at Smith, and studying often extends into the weekend. Students are very competitive and may judge the other base on academic standing. Also, inside information, revealed that Smith puts caps on their first-year writing classes in order to make their student to teacher ratio smaller. This means that their is great competition when trying to get into classes, which also means that one can not take random class as easily. Smith also is known for their graded homework which is a large part of one's grade and can often be as challenging as requiring one to work on it with other in the presence of a tutor or professor.

Class participation is better than at most schools, but I feel it could be better. Students study from very little to quite a lot, depending on course load and where you live on campus (nerdy Green Street v. Partying Quad). I have been invited to dinner at my advisor's house, as well as other events with my professors. There are no real academic requirements, which I love. As I mentioned before, Reenacting the past was my favorite class. It is exactly like it sounds... we reenact a turbulent period in history, we all have characters aligning with realistic positions and we all have goals we're supposed to pass, and the whole class is run like that-- little to no lecture, almost all interactions and research and speeches. The french major is good, it requires a lot of french history but is a light major overall, and the architecture major has good studios but the rest of the requirements are all art history (with architecture history thrown in) because I think a liberal arts degree in Architecture needs to cover much more than that.

Our professors are pretty dedicated--all my professors know my name and are willing to meet with students outside of class. Students run the gambit from procrastinating slackers who squeak by in their classes, and hard-working over-achievers going for all A's, but they're almost always intelligent. I love Smith's open curriculum; the only thing I have to think about when registering is what I need to take for my major and what I WANT to take, which is a beautiful thing. The most unique class I've taken is Reenacting the Past, a class where students take on historical roles with their own agendas and objectives and play through a turbulent period in history, like the French Revolution or the English Reformation. I'm TA-ing for it now, and it's the most entertaining class I've ever had. Where else do you get to stand on a table during class to accuse someone of heresy and treason?

Classes tend to be on the small to medium side, and professors make every effort to learn your name. People participate and are somewhat competitive, but not in a harsh way. You can hear conversations in dining halls and living rooms on everything from the Protestant Reformation to Darfur to what some girl wore to a party. Some professors get very involved in Smith life, and some are never around when you need them.

The professors that I have this semester are: Pat Skarda, Paul Butler, David Palmer, and Madeline Rhodes... so I guess you can say I know my professors pretty well. My favorite class this semester is Experimental Psychology. I love it. It's just basically an in depth look on how to do research in the Psychology field. I don't have a least favorite class. I really like all my classes. I picked them. Students study a lot and I'm not a studier. I try to get it right the first time around. Class participation here sucks in comparison to my school. I wish people would participate in class discussion more. Yes Smithies are known for having intellectual conversations outside of class. Very competitive but that’s just the Smithie way. Most unique class... I don't think I've taken one of those yet. I'm majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology and I really like the administration that are within those departments. I make sure to go to the office hours of all of my professors at least once. It's nice to know that your teacher actually knows who you are. I like their requirements but then again I'm very focused and know where I’m going in life so the fact that we have to take a class in every discipline sort of sucks. Smith education is geared towards learning for its own sake. Learning is very important here. If it helps to get you a job then that is good as well.

Smith isn't a party school. Yes professors know the names of their students. There's a low teacher to student ratio. Smith takes good care of its students, providing an excellent liberal arts education (although the art department is fucking impossible to get into) and surveys that give away ice cream.

Classes are usually small (15-25 people) and the professors usually make an effort to know people's names, even in big lectures. Most professors are very accessible and are willing to help you understand concepts, etc. Most professors try to have student involvement in class, not just lecturing at you. Students are generally not competitive and do a lot of collaborating on homework, etc. My major department, geology, is small so you really get to know the professors and the other geo majors.

Even in big classes (and by big I mean 40-70, and most aren't that big) the professors know every student's name. I'm on a first-name basis with all of my professors. Smith is a lot of work and you will have lots of assignments, essays, and tests; however, if you manage your time well enough there is plenty of room in your schedule for extracurriculars, hanging out downtown, and sleep. The open curriculum at Smith means that you don't ever have to take another math or English class if you want to, but students often choose to take classes in all of the different disciplines. Most departments have classes geared especially towards non-majors so that students can actually get a well-rounded liberal arts experience.

All of my professors know my name, and I'm in introductory classes. Smith academics cannot be beat. I have already learned so much in my first year, and what I have learned has been very interesting and beneficial to my future. Smith doesn't have any requirements other than taking one writing intensive course which is great.