Smith College

Date: Jun 20 2006
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
As said by many other posters, Smith is definitely not for everyone. I, personally, love it. Almost everyone is extremely friendly and very intelligent - I've had deep intellectual conversations with people waiting in line at the Campus Center Cafe or the post office, on a wide range of subjects. Smith students, as a whole, are really interesting people.

But it's also a very unique social environment. Everybody calls it the "Smith bubble." The campus is about 30-35% queer(ish), which is enormous compared to the average population, and very outspoken. Depending upon your social group, you may find yourself realizing that you don't have any/have very few friends that identify as heterosexual. Which is… definitely unique. Meeting guys, however, is not necessarily difficult, but it does require effort. There are free busses to UMass, Amherst, and Hampshire if you're really hurting for a home-grown testosterone fix. However, due to 5-College exchange, there are plenty of guys in most classes, and I have to say that, from what I hear from my friends at co-ed schools, I'm not missing out on co-ed dorm experiences. The dorms at Smith are absolutely palatial compared to those at other schools - and you're guarenteed a single by your junior year, and some people get them as sophomores or even as first-years.

Northampton is not NYC. There are a couple of bars in town and a nightclub, which is about it for nightlife. However, it is a very quirky little town with lots of interesting boutiques and delicious restaraunts, and is easily the most vibrant and interesting town that Western Mass has to offer. It's beautiful, too, and very, very safe. I routinely go out alone at night on walks, and feel safer than I do in my hometown. And, needless to say, very gay-friendly.

Smith is a very unique experience. Come here, and you'll have a fabulous educational experience with big name-power to boot (anybody who knows anything about colleges will be impressed by Smith, trust me), and meet a lot of amazing, interesting people, have small classes and outstanding professors who honestly do care about you. It is not for everyone, though. Academics are tough, and the campus can be liberal to intolerant at times, the social life is… not nearly as vibrant as what you'd get at a big-state school. Visit, visit, visit, and really sit down and decide what's important to you.

If Smith is right for you, it'll kick off four of the most amazing years of your life.