<p>Hi! I am an international student and applying to US colleges. I have choose about 10 uni and 10 LACs, now I am just trying to narrow down my choices. Basically no one here knows anything about Smith and don't really value LACs. I just have a few questions about Smith. Since I'm about 90% sure I will go to grad school, how do grad schools(especially Business School) look at Smith? My intended major is psychology and computer science , how strong are those departments at Smith? The real reason that caught my attention was the dorm(house) at Smith. When I was in middle school I lived in a terrible dorm and it really affected me. How clean are the houses(especially bathrooms)? Also, how is the atmosphere, do people gossip a lot ( all women ), is there racism? One thing that I care and couldn't really find info is that, how is the campus safety? I know it is extremely safe on campus, how is the town Northampton? Comparing to universities like NYU and BU, is Smith better academically?</p>
<p>Really need advice from Smith students!!
Thanks!</p>
<p>Justchamp, you ask so many questions, it’s hard to know where to start. </p>
<p>Smith is considered an excellent preparation for graduate school. I saw somewhere recently that I think 64% or 68% of Smith graduates attend graduate school within five years of graduation; I saw the info in a video but I can’t find it right now, so here’s this:
[Smith</a> College: Success After Smith](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/success/]Smith”>Career Outcomes | Smith College)</p>
<p>Psychology is one of the most popular majors at Smith and it has an outstanding faculty.</p>
<p>To answer your questions about living in houses, it’s a great experience and each house has its own traditions. The bathrooms are fine.</p>
<p>Smith is a very supportive community. Don’t worry about gossip. I’m sure it happens but Smith overall is not competitive among students, it’s supportive. The whole Smith campus focuses on racism and social justice every year with Otelia Cromwell Day which happens to be today:</p>
<p>Compared to BU or NYU which are huge universities, Smith is a liberal arts college and as far as I’m concerned is a much better preparation for grad school than a large university. At large universities, you need to know exactly what you want to do and know how to advocate successfully for your academic needs despite generally huge classes and difficulty having close relationships with your professors.</p>
<p>There! I’ve answered your questions. Good luck!</p>
<p>Smith does very well in grad school admissions. (D is now in PhD program at Berkelely.) Northampton is very safe. Academically would take it over both NYU and BU without a second’s hesitation.</p>
<p>Thank you TheDad!!!
The fact that Smith is a LAC and I didn’t think of applying until just a few months ago
I now really just hope to get a higher SAT (i know Smith is test optional but my ECs aren’t strong)
And that I would definitely Smith before NYU and BU :)</p>
<p>We have strong Pysch department . CSC department is small, about 10 people every year. But it is very rich, every year there is huge funding for CS, so it’s reeeeally easy to get huge scholarship for CS majors. Every year there is CS major going to Apple. Considering the size of department, this is already amazing.</p>
<p>One of my daughter’s best friends is a biochemistry major (they’re both seniors this year). She’s also taken a ton of neuroscience courses but I’m not sure if she’s been able to make it into a second major for her. She fell in love with cellular biology last year in a class that I think she’s TAing this semester. She would tell you that she LOVES what she’s doing, she loves the professors and she loves the opportunities she’s had to explore the sciences. Last summer she did paid research at Smith and worked really hard. She is applying to top PhD programs for next fall.</p>
<p>Here are some recent press releases about how well Smith is recognized as a leader in scientific research among colleges, so if you’re interested in science, Smith is a great place to be:</p>
<p>I believe there’s a misunderstanding. Smith doesn’t offer huge, or for that matter, any scholarships to first year applicants based on a students’ intended major. Financial aid is based on need as determined by the college, although there are a limited number of merit awards. [Smith</a> College: Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php)</p>
<p>There is the Clare Boothe Luce Scholars Program for CS majors, but only sophomores are eligible and only one is awarded. </p>