Smith College Top Questions

Social life at Smith definitely varies among the three areas of campus. And for the most part the stereotypes fit (that the Quad parties, that Elm Street kind of parties and that Green Street is a bunch of quiet nerds). But they are stereotypes and they don't match up perfectly. Just this year, my house (one of the smallest on campus and traditionally regarded as geeky) had its first open house party. It was a lot of hard work but we were trying hard to become a more active part in campus community and I think we were successful. Just because someone lives in a certain part of campus doesn't mean that they can't have fun.

I'm iinvolved in the Smith Swim Team and it is the most amazing bunch of girls ever. We are the only team on campus that can boast a lot of team spirit. As a sport, swimming can be a team sport or a individual sport, but the way that we "BANANAS" work is as a team. We suffer through practices together 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day and we create a bond with each other than is unlike any that I've experienced even in high school sports. I also feel a lot has to do with the fact that we are all at Smith not because we want to excel at sports, but for academics. But we do happen to all love swimming and so we join the swim team. There is no pressure to perform at a level that exceeds what you can do, but there is enough motivation for you to go that extra mile to reach a goal that is a stretch for you. Athletics aren't supported enough at Smith, but I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. It maybe the fact that we don't have a team mascot that brings us all together, but I know that we are currently in the process of figuring out that problem.

I stay up too late, usually doing work after coming home from activities or rehearsals at 11pm. The social life here is great!!! There are always lectures to go to of guest artists, etc. There are plenty of five college events that one can attend, as well as your basic house parties. Sororities DO NO exist here. Drinking is not mandatory, though the majority of the campus does it. One can attend any party without drinking and still have fun. Our radio station provides us with great party DJs. There is usually always a recital, concert, or theater production going on, too.

in terms of athetic events, performances, and other such things, smith students are generally very supporting of each other. if it's the first rugby game of the season... you can expect a lot of people to be there. parties. smith parties are generally not that great. a lot of people just drink with their friends (yes, even underage!). the drug scene is a little less open. pot is pretty popular. on the other hand, there are plenty of people who choose not to drink or do drugs, and engage in sober fun. i just don't really know them. but there is always plenty to do... like go out to a movie, go out to dinner... go to the smith parties... your homework will always be an option.

There are always pleanty of events to attend on any given weekend: dance parties, a cappella concerts, classical music performances, and entertainment in Northampton and the other colleges. The house communities also provide great social outlets, where most Smithies can be found watching movies together, doing crafts, or whatever.

Smith has a wide range of extracurricular activities. Some of the most popular sports here are rugby and crew. There are many cultural clubs and community service/activism clubs. Opportunities abound for students to be involved in music, theater, and dance. There are 6 a capella groups on campus (including one strictly for bad singers), although the Smithereens are pretty much the best. Most people meet their closets friends in their orgs/clubs or in their houses. House communities are often very tightly-knit. The dating scene at Smith is fairly active, mainly with Smith students dating each other. But it is still possible to have a boyfriend if you so desire, either from one of the 3 co-ed schools in the area, or something slightly more long-distance. There is a full spectrum of partying on this campus, ranging from not at all to almost every night. So no matter how often or hard you like to party, chances are you will be able to find several kindred spirits.

Haha Smith social life. Here's the deal: there are parties, which are great if you like other girls, or if you're really drunk. The guys at these parties are suuuper sketchy. What winds up happening is you drink in your friends' rooms on the weekend, and you drink a lot. After a few years you calm down. But there's Amherst and UMass, so if you try, you can go to good parties too. However, if you are looking to date, good luck. The social life in the houses is another story--it's great! Everyone knows each other, and our doors are all always open. We all eat dinner together, do work together, play intramurals together, etc. It's a very warm environment. We have a lot of house traditions, like potlucks, senior banquet, and tea on fridays. This is one of the best aspects of Smith.

I have no idea about the most popular groups but I would guess the Unity organizations. Many students leave their doors open. I met my closet friends through classes that we shared. If I am awake at 2am I am probably watching videos on youtube while trying to finish homework. there are a few traditions that I am aware of including rally day, primal scream, mountain day, quadstock and the Quad riots. Last weekend I went to a party and hung out with my friends. On Saturday nights if you are not drinking you can go see a movie, or go out to dinner with friends. Off campus you can see boys which happens but is not common enough at an all womens college.

I met my closest friends through pre-vet course, chorus, and living in Hopkins. Chorus was great fun while I participated, but unfortunately our fabulous director left to get her PhD.

I am involved in the Smith Improv Komedy Organization - SIKOS. We perform improv comedy regularly around Smith campus and off campus in different venues. Once and a while we will do a show with one of the other improv groups from the surrounding four colleges in the area. We get a good turn out for our shows every time. Smith students as a whole seem to be interested in events on campus and take advantage of the different things that come to campus whether it be a concert, speaker, or performance. I met all my closest friends in my house. In my house, Washburn, people generally leave their doors open when they are around and some even when they are not. Everyone is very trusting and there has never been any type of situation. As for dating, people meet other people from the five colleges through friends or parties or any other school event or town. Its defiantly not impossible to meet people from the other schools in the area. There are also a lot of girls who meet people around campus, in class or though friends again, or at a party. The dating scene is the same as any other school although perhaps a bit more challenging if you are straight due to the lack of boys on campus, but not impossible. On weekends there are usually open house parties at various houses around campus. These generally speaking are big dance parties and alcohol is only served at a few of them and only to those of age. Off campus, there are a few local concert halls that hold concerts regularly that bring in both obscure and well known bands. There are a few bars in town if you are of drinking age, and a dance club. You can also go to any of the other four colleges in the area and go to a party there or anything else that might be happening on campus that night.

People mostly turn out for what they or their friends are involved in. There is no particular org or sport that is a favorite with the school, I don't think. People will turn out to see Basketball maybe and the Asian orgs do really great things, shows, dinners, speakers. We do have a lot of great speakers though the turn out isn't overwhelming. Getting people involved in your particular project, conference, performance etc takes huge recruitment efforts and is usually your biggest hurdle in planning something. As for social life at Smith, there are different areas of Smith that all have their own personalities and most of the stereotypes aren't far off from the truth. The quad is more social, green street is dead quiet etc. From my experience living in the quad, doors are definitely left open, you can find action on any night of the week going on somewhere, and weekends are definitely party filled. There's a lot of alcohol, smoking etc, but I know that on other parts of campus and in different houses it is completely different. I think that Smith caters to all temperaments. If your straight, dating happens if you have a boyfriend already or you go out to other campuses and find one (which isn't as easy as it may sound). If you're gay, you're in luck because you probably just found the largest dating pool within a half mile radius you will ever be in for the rest of your life. My closest friends are from my house. If i'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday its because I'm finishing homework or I can't block out the sound of the music from my next door neighbors. (Certain random walls are unsettlingly thin and when you're in your room you can hear everything in the hall- though not the other way around.) There are too many traditions to count though they're declining in import and awe. Smith pretty much is just one big sorority and it definitely has its fair share of drama though luckily I have an excellent capacity for ignoring and avoiding it. A Saturday night of not drinking might consist of a movie in town, music at a coffee shop, a concert at one of the incredibly sweet music venues in town, going out to dinner, going to a Smith party sober- which I don't recommend, venturing out to one of the other colleges for some sort of party something, and if you're really adventurous getting on a greyhound bus for Boston or New York. Off campus mostly means town, which is small but quaint with lots of coffee shops and restaurants. Some people will go to the other campuses or Amherst just to get away from Smith.

I don't know what are the most popular, there are so many clubs and teams it seems like you can be on what ever you want to be. I'm on the swim team which is great and has wonderful team unity. I've been on teams before but never one that felt so supportive and like a family. I'm also involved with best buddies a small org but everyone wants to be there and works their butts off for it. In my house everyone leaves there doors open but in the Quad it's different. Athletic events are pretty popular but so are lectures and guest speakers. If your into girls no problem dating, other wise have fun at UMASS or Amherst. Really if you want to date, you'll find someone though some Smithies get creative with internet dating. I met my closest friends the first week and we've been friends since, at one of the orientation programs. People vary in how much they party green street not alot, quad every weekend, you have a choice and everyone respects it.

There's plenty to do off campus and there are school sponsored parties every weekend. Usually on weeknights there's an event or speaker or club meeting but most students study during the week and go out on weekends. The housing system makes it so easy to get to know people and to find a support system. Houses usually host parties, teas, community service projects, and trips and we get some great speakers and concerts on campus.

there are house parties nearly every weekend on the quad: 3 hours of dj, dancing, and free beer (21+ of course). naturally, there aren't a ton of guys around, but you get used to it, and if you want them around, they're only a bus ride away at umass, amherst, or hampshire. there are tons of smith traditions - celebration, quad riots, mountain day, etc. - that are really fun. the house communities are amazing.

Students in dorm, or at least in my dorm leave their room open. i think this really depends on the student's own preference. There is always something to do here at smith, it really just comes down to whether you take advantage of the planned things or not. the partying depends on the house you live in, some houses are more louder and tend to party more then other houses.

There is something for everyone on campus. And if there isn't something you're looking for, it's easy to create yourself. There are parties, there are social awareness demonstrations, there are dance performances, there are guest speakers, there's everything. And if you get tired of being on campus, four other school are just a short bus ride away.

the only quad parties that are worth it are morrow and gardiner. spring and winter weekends are a lot of fun senior banquet is ridiculous we still have afternoon tea on sundays and candlelight dinners on friday drinking occurs whenever you want it to occur

Social life is kinda nuts, but great. i mean if you are able to get off campus some it helps, just depends on what type of scene you like, but you can find it in the Valley I'd say.

Smith tries to have an active social life but it could be better. We have wonderful guest speakers and for the most part, there is always something to do either on campus or at the other four colleges. Since, it is a women's college, there isn't enough men on campus, which isn't entirely a bad thing.

I am heavily involved with choir. I always have been (even since before college.) I was in the first year choir my first year and last year I was in Glee Club and Chamber Choir. This year, just Glee Club. Accappella groups are very popular on campus, too. It usually works out that our closest friends live in our house because there is a very strong Smith community on campus. If I am not hanging out with friends on my free time, I play guitar, read or watch TV.