"The Library"

Introduction
I chose Smith because it was the best school I got into, and I thought it was charming. At first, it was a lot to get used to - the single sex education, the he-women and she-men... a very confusing experience - but in the end, I'm glad that I am here, it's a great place once you learn the ins and outs. Students who like a thriving city atmosphere - don't do it, it's very slow here; however, that is how I categorized myself when I first got here, and I adapted pretty well - although sometimes I do get homesick for NYC.

Campus Life and Social Life
On weekends, there really isn't much to do outside of the Smith campus/5 college area unless it includes a bad "high-school" like dance, UMASS frat row... and always lots of drinking (a "quad" girl's perspective). Smith often has interesting things on the weekends like free movies, parties or other events... but most leave much to be desired and leave little room for interaction w/ non-Smithies - hence we usually go elsewhere. However, the catch is that you really must have a car to go anywhere outside the 5 college area. Those who do drive to any other school in the general area, like
Yale, Dartmouth, Wesleyan, etc. You can take the bus system (pvta) to the surrounding colleges... but they aren't all that exciting. Boston is 2 hrs away, and NYC about 3-4 hrs away... so a weekend trip to either is definitely feasible - with a CAR. Without a car, aka first year students, are mostly screwed unless they park on the streets of noho (bad idea) or bum rides from upperclassmen. Advertisement
Academics
This school is surprisingly challenging, profs assign a SHITLOAD of homework, but all in all... it is doable. Profs are great on the whole: really helpful, intelligent, and caring.

PS--My favorite prof is Fletcher Blanchard... any first year should DEF take his first year seminar, People and the American City (FYS 136)... IT'S AMAZING, interesting, lighthearted, fun... an easy transitional class with an awesomely intelligent and funny prof named Fletch.

Student Body
Typical student is intelligent; sensitive to the world around her; politicially active - either directly in government, or through service/NP orgs; and, comically, tends to be somewhat of a slacker. There is a certain stereotype of Smithies - Velma from "Scooby Doo"... aka really smart, a bit quirky, oddly dressed like a librarian, and a bit on the "dykey" side - however, if one probes closer, they will find that this is often not the case... although to the outsider, it may seem this way.

In Closing...
Smith is great. COME HERE NOW. LOL.