Smith College Top Questions

Academics are challenging but very rewarding! I think I feel more challenged here than I ever did before, but that's the whole point! I love it!

Classes are small which I love plus every professor I met has really taken an interest in me, they respond to e mails, they give their telephone numbers and I feel comfortable speaking in class. I know the classes are challenging but I love them so much that I don't feel overwhelmed.

Do professors know your name? Yes, all my professors know my name. They know everyone in their class, no matter how large it gets. Tell us about your favorite class. Least favorite? My least favorite class: Intro to Psychology. It was my least favorite because it was the largest class I ever had, about 70 individuals, and was just extremely basic so we never learnt anything in depth. My favorite class: well there have been a lot of them: Psychology of Behavior, Readings in Islamic Liberalism and Fundamentalism, Infectious Diseases and World Health, 19th century European History, Perspectives on War, and the Art of Effective Speaking. These classes were my favorites just because they were with amazing professors who had an ability to just place information in your brain that will never leave just out of pure interest and pure genius teaching ability, and they all taught me information that will help me for the rest of my life. How often do students study? It really depends on student to student, and major to major. I study just about every day. On average I do 2-5 hours a day of work probably, plus extra curricular, and life. Is class participation common? Class participation occurs in every class I have, even lectures. Seminars and colloquiums, which are generally upper level classes, or first year only classes are essentially only class participation with a professor just facilitating the discussion. Do smith students have intellectual conversations outside of class? Yes deffinately, I’ve had some of my most intellectual conversations at Smith in the bathroom… meaning to only brush my teeth, but coming out of the bathroom 2 hours later. Are students competitive? Sometimes, but in a very healthy way. I have never in 4 years seen any negative competitive attitudes at Smith. Everyone is extremely supportive of each other and helps each other out when it comes to academics. What’s the most unique class you’ve taken? Women’s Medical Issues, The Art of Effective Speaking, Perspectives on War, Readings in Islamic Liberalism and Fundamentalism, Killing for Politics, Self Defense, World War II in East Asia Tell us about your major/department? I am a History Major. I love my major and department because being a history major – especially in contemporary history, I have learnt about why the world is and exists the way it is today. When I read the news in the newspaper I can normally think to myself, sure that makes sense if you look at the history of what’s been going on in this area of the world for the last so many years. The professors in the history department (like in all others) are also amazing, extremely accessible, and just willing and want to help you in any way that they can. Do you spend time with professors outside of class? Yes. Professors have taken me home for dinner and tea, I’ve met their families, some of my professors even take me and some of my friends out for lunch. I also hang out with some of my professors during their office hours. I’ll go in to ask a professor a question for class, and come out 2 hours later talking about something completely different. How do you feel about Smith’s academic requirements? Smith has no core curriculum which is extremely important to me. I like that I have been able to take whatever I want from my first day at Smith. With no core- I always am able to take classes I’m actually interested in, which means I want to do the work and am interested in it, so I perform better, and just enjoy the overall process of learning better. It also means that there is no one annoying in my class that has been forced to take a class. So class discussions and participation are generally much better too because everyone in the class wants to be there. Is the education at Smith geared toward getting a job, or learning for its own sake? It’s really geared towards learning for its own sake. That being said I’ve learned a lot, and because Smith has helped me think in different ways – it has definitely helped me find and get a job.

yes some know my name....fav class: physics 117....students study TOO often....class participation depends on the teacher....Smith students try to out do one another on how much work they have and how stressed they are boohoo....students are way too competitive but what do you expect...unique class was Philosophy on Biochemistry-never again never again....The engineering major is the only major that earns you a BS sweet! outside of class I go to office hours sometimes so I see professors then P. Voss has help sessions as well....I like how there are no requirements besides a writing intensive.....the education at Smith is geared towards learning and I think getting a job not sure yet.

The education at Smith is geared toward learning for its own sake. While some departments are competitive, others are quite cooperative. Students work and study hard and for many hours most days. I think our hard work is facilitated by small classes where professors know your name and are open to talking to you. Class participation is more than common, it is the general rule. While some introductory classes are too large for discussion, the smaller classes are very participation based. These conversations do spill out into the campus center, the houses and the coffee shops in town. I love that Smith doesn't have distribution requirements. I took classes in 18 departments with the freedom to take any class at any time. I wasn't bound by strict rules of what classes had to be completed outside my major. It was an environment that encouraged my curiosity and encouraged independent learning.

Every professor I have knows my name. I have been to office hours every week for math class. All teachers want their students to KNOW the material, not only understanding it, but being able to apply. Every class goes very deep into discussion, and most students learn the material to master it: Not just for the test. A lot of students are competitive, but everyone puts in an enormous amount of work and effort towards their studies.

All of my professors, past and present, know my name. My favorite class was Shakespeare and Film. I took it the first semester of my first year. The professor was Gillian Kendall, and both the subject matter and the professor made it an amazing class! I haven't had any classes I dislike. Class participation is very common. I've had many intellectual conversations with fellow Smithies outside of the classroom. Students are very competitive. Gender and Sexuality in Greco-Roman Culture is a pretty unique class. I've taken advantage of my professors' office hours, and it has always been helpful. I think Smith's academic requirements are challenging, yet attainable. A Smith education is geared toward empowering each student to think for herself and to learn for the joy of learning.

Smith professors are wonderful! In fact, this was the element that brought me to Smith. While visiting colleges I was told by different students from different schools, the dorms are nice, there is a great campus life, the classes are interesting, there are lots of clubs... However, when I came to visit Smith, I asked each student what their favorite part of Smith College was for them. In response, each student told me about their favorite professor! Over the years, I too have come to know many of these professors and am able to share a sense of comraderie with my fellow Smithies in our love for our professors. I love the small class sizes at Smith, they allow for the students and professors to have a close relationship. Each student is able to participate in the class and professors have the time to listen and engage with their students. I have had many wonderful classes at Smith. One of my favorites was Introduction to the Bible I, with Joel Kaminskey. He teaches this class in a very engaging way, and offers his own thoughts and interpretations on very complex issues. I especially loved the very random stories he would tell in class and then how he would be able to connect them back to the text we were working with. Another favorite class was every class I had with Louis Wilson. He was a very interesting professor who brought many different media sources and guest speakers into his lectures. They allowed for new approaches to be brought to the discussions of the class. I also loved how he called on people unexpectedly throughout the class, which challenged me to be prepared to analitically think on my feet and know the content of the readings and discussion well. While education at Smith prepares you for a career, it is more about learning for its own sake. The school encourages us to take classes in different fields of study and to explore the interconnected nature of different disciplines. The beauty of a liberal arts education is that you can be studying American History, African Studies, Biblical Literature, and the International Political Economy and somehow be able to relate what you are learning to in each class to another. Smith challenges us to be critical thinkers and to expand our knowledge beyond one particular discipline to see how it relates to the world at large.

I like the professors more than the students

Even in classes of over 100 people, professors try to make the effort to know your name. Class size varies a lot from around 5 students in some capped, specialized classes to over 100 for some lectures classes in popular departments. Students study a lot and class participation is always allowed and in most classes expected. I would say that students aren't competitive with each other. We don't have to fit for grades or anything. Also, it is very common for students to visit office hours or visit professors to ask questions. Lots of science students also do research with professors. and there is the best part of Smith.... NO CORE OR DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS. Since most majors only require 10 or 12 classes (BioChem and Engineering have more) you have tons of flexibility in courses. Learning for most people is for learning own sake.