Smith College Top Questions

My professors know my name. They are passionate about what they teach and are eager to get students excited about it to. They are often more than willing to help you and really want you to succeed. The worst professor I've had has not been a professor at all but a fellow. The education that you get at Smith is what you put in to it. If you are passionate about your major, you will get a lot from it, but if you are only doing it to get a job in something that you might not be interested in, then you might not like it. I have taken Econ classes, English classes, and fulfilled every Latin Honors requirement except for a foreign language -- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Smith is an extremely challenging school. It is hard to get an A and most of the students' time is spent doing homework. Late nights and all nighters are very common. However, professors tend to be understanding and grant extensions of assignments, either for an entire class or for individual students. Something unique about Smith academics are the self-scheduled finals exams, which show the faith the administration has in the students and the amounts of maturity and responsibility that are expected from us.

Most professors know my name. I really don't have a favorite class. Students study as much as they can professors expect so much from us. Some people participate on a daily basis and sometimes I wish they would talk just a little less

Most of the classes I have taken are great. The classes usually range from 12-18 students except for some of the larger survey classes. The professors always make an effort to get to know the students, and most are very friendly and go out of their way to make themselves available for office hours or email questions.

The class size is generally small. My professors know us personally. However, this is because I am an engineering major, and the class sizes are generally small. Class participation is a must, and everyone is competitive. My major has one of the most requirements. Not only do we have to complete the core courses, but we must also complete the Latin Honors requirements, OR complete a minor outside of natural science. My educational experience is geared to finding a job outside of college in order to pay off my Smith loans and have money to live life at the same time. I feel sorry for those majoring in the humanities...

Yes, my professors know my name. I also stay in touch with my professors on a regular basis. I love Smith academically, although it can get pretty insane at times. My favorite classes thus far have been (North African Politics with Greg White Seminar, Dance classes, Political Theory of the 19th Cent. Arts and Human Rights in Latin America (Amherst), etc studying: Most students spend their time doing just that, studying. competitiveness: HIGH Intellectual conversations: My personal experience is that most students at Smith have a hard time balancing their social and their academic lives. So, most often than not, you will find students discussing their lack of sleep/stress over a good intellectual conversation. Unique Class: Voices for Actors ( I LOVE IT!!!!!!) Government dept: I really love my major and the professors. There is a reason why Government is one of the most popular majors at Smith. I have spent time with my professors outside of class and I continue to do so. Academic requirements: I think they are just fine Ac

Academics at Smith are pretty impressive. Professors genuinely care about you and your work and make an effort to get to know you personally. My favorite class that I've taken at Smith so far is Economic Botany: Plant and Human Affairs. It is an incredible class and I look forward to it every week. We learn about plants that humans use in everyday life all around the world, and also the historical uses of these plants in all cultures and how the plants have spread around the world. Rubber, oils, food, drugs, alcohol, wood, essential oils, fibers are just some of the topics we have covered. Right now we are doing a perfume project where we make our own perfume using the department's supply of essential oils, and create our own ad campaign to go along with it as well as thinking of innovative ways to promote our product. For each of the lectures Rob always brings samples of the food or product and shows us books from his own collection or the library. It is a topic that Rob genuinely loves and his excitment for teaching the class is infectious. I am so sad that this calss will be over in three weeks.

Academics are amazing at Smith. Professors get to know you throughout your four years and are always there to talk about life and problems. It is a very relaxed environment if you want it to be. There are those students that choose to be very highly stressed about grades, but I find that if you are able to relax and try to understand what you are being taught, the A's will fall into your lap. I spend a lot of time in labs, since I am a science major, but feel that all of this experience has helped me decide what I would want as a possible career.

I love most of my professors, particularly in my major departments. I think Smith's language deparments are great.

When I tell people from the area that I go to Smith, they are always really impressed. People around Northampton know it's a really good school academically, and Smith can give you so many opportunities. Classes are most of the time really interesting; of course, that depends on the department and the professor. One of my favorite classes this year was my Child and Adolescent Growth and Development education class; the professor was awesome. We would have snack every class, and she had amazing stories that really supported what you learned in the class. Another plus about academics at Smith is that there isn't a core requirement; you just have to take 64 credits outside your major and a writing intensive class. So if you never want to take another math class again (like me) you don't have to. It's really nice, especially when you hear of other kids having crazy requirements at other schools.