A word of caution to anyone choosing to transfer to Smith. My daughter transferred to Smith as a junior last fall and withdrew from the college at the beginning of the spring semester. I share her story in the hope that potential transfer students can avoid a similar situation and outcome. First of all, you will register for your classes at the same time as all of the first year students, and when you have far fewer semester than first years, this can be a problem. Second, and probably the biggest issue is that Smith is an eight semester school and if your course work from your prior college doesn’t line up with Smith’s, you have a big problem. They are not at all supportive of providing “an education as unique as you” as they say on their website, but instead worship at the alter of eight semesters. Their biggest concern is with an “on time” graduation, to the exclusion of other factors. Although your application materials will include what major you plan on pursuing, once you get there, they will tell you that you were accepted to the college, not to a major and if you cannot complete your chosen major that is not their problem.
As someone who took a semester off to ride horses, I am not confident that the case you are describing is actually what happens. My advisers and my class dean were nothing but supportive and helpful when I decided to take time off and once I returned to campus.
If anyone has any questions about transferring to Smith or about taking time away from school and returning to campus, please let me know. I will put in touch with an Admissions officer here on campus.
There’s no comparison between taking a semester off and transferring to Smith as a junior.
Should anyone need to talk to an admission officer, feel free to call at any time. They’re more than willing to speak with you.
Smith is not wedded to the “eight semesters” concept as you describe it. Every year there is a substantial January graduating class.
I wonder if the OP is referring to financial aid? Smith will only grant financial aid for eight semesters. Although, semesters don’t have to be consecutive. Many students take a semester or year off.
Taking a semester off is not the same as what the original post was about. You can take a semester off and finish in eight semesters and that IS a priority at Smith. My D is a Sophmore now and there is that pressure to conform to that timeline regardless of whether that works for your individual education. They have a juanuary graduation because sometimes students do take a semester off but still finish in eight and that means a January graduation