Diana
Most people meet their closest friends first semester in their house, and then I've found the doors are mostly closed after that.
If you are awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, you are probably up having a breakdown in the hallway because you fucked up and now you have to do an all-nighter 10 page paper and you didn't do the reading and it's too late to ask for an extension. I think it happens at least twice a semester in my house and everyone knows someone who has gone through it.
Activities that don't involve drinking/getting high and are actually a lot of fun: taking a canoe/row boat out on the pond in nice weather, sledding/ice skating in winter, student org shows a different movie every week, malls, coffee houses, billiards, bowling downtown, laser tag/roller skating at the mall, apple picking in the fall.
Diana
Most people meet their closest friends first semester in their house, and then I've found the doors are mostly closed after that.
If you are awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, you are probably up having a breakdown in the hallway because you fucked up and now you have to do an all-nighter 10 page paper and you didn't do the reading and it's too late to ask for an extension. I think it happens at least twice a semester in my house and everyone knows someone who has gone through it.
Activities that don't involve drinking/getting high and are actually a lot of fun: taking a canoe/row boat out on the pond in nice weather, sledding/ice skating in winter, student org shows a different movie every week, malls, coffee houses, billiards, bowling downtown, laser tag/roller skating at the mall, apple picking in the fall.
Susie
I met my friends in my classes and in my houses. We tend to spend a lot, A LOT of time studying. We'll often take big trips out to a cafe to study together or we'll sit in each other's rooms to work. Honestly, Smithies hardly EVER party and if we do, it's not an all-out, drunk fest either (since we have militant HRs). We have too much homework. However, there are houses that party more than others. Never fear, there are other campuses to go to if that's your bag. The cool thing is that Smith teaches you that you don't need to drink to have fun. Sounds like something you'd hear on Mr. Roger's neighborhood, but true.
abby
The largest group on campus is probably ASA or KASS. Since Asians students make a the majority of the minority populations, which Koreans specifically in the majority, they are well known and visible all over campus. The Smith Democrats are also an extremely popular group.
The school is not known for its partying atmosphere. There are smaller rooms parties with lots of drinking and some drugs, but they are sporadic and small. There are large Smith parties however, but they are dance parties, sometimes with a bar. Recently, Smith has made attempts to expand the Smith social life by establishing a pub for students in the Campus Center.
Having a social life at Smith means that you should have a car. It makes it easier to get out and meet other people and go places. The bus is not always ideal or reliable.
Emily
My favorite aspect of Smith is our housing system. We do not live in residential buildings or dormitories, we live in houses. I live in Lamont house. In Lamont, we leave our doors open and wander the halls to visit our friends. It is also commonplace that students live in the same house all four years. The only semester I wasn't in Lamont was when I was studying in DC for my junior year fall. Smith is also full of traditions. We have a very active archive that has so many materials for students to browse, and from which to do research. Some of our favorite traditions include Opening Convocation, Mountain Day, Otelia Cromwell Day, House Teas, Rally Day, Intramurals, Ivy Day, Illumination and Commencement. Smith also has amazing programing. Every night of the week there is something going on. There are fantastic lectures, concerts, plays, art shows, student organization parties or events.