r/smithcollege • u/corbeauu • Jan 18 '25
1. Who will interview me?
Interviewers are alum volunteers who donate their time to Smith College. Interviewers are required to undergo a background check, be certified in Minor Safety Training, and complete training on good interviewing practices. Smith used to try to assign interviewers to applicants based on geographic closeness, but now you may get an alum from anywhere because of virtual interviews. Unless you happen to match with an interviewer who lives locally and is open to an in-person interview, all alum-conducted interviews are virtual.
2. When will I be contacted for an interview?
Some time after the application deadline has passed, Smith College starts to email interviewers with information about their applicant. We are instructed to email applicants as soon as getting assigned, although there is always variability on how soon interviewers can reach out to you. Since there are more applicants than interviewers, interview invites will be sent out on a rolling basis in chunks as other interviews are completed. Interviewers will send you information about their general availability and you'll both agree on a confirmed date and time.
3. How much time do I have to complete my interview?
The interview itself is only 30 minutes.
Interviewers are required to submit a report after completing the interview and there is a deadline for report submission, so in a sense there is also a deadline for you to complete your interview. For ED1, ED2, and spring transfers, you have 2-2.5 weeks to complete your interview after the application deadline. Fall transfers have 5 weeks. RD applicants have 6-7 weeks. (Please note that these are approximations.)
4. What are interviewers looking for?
Interviewers are looking for 1) if you are a good match/fit with Smith College, 2) your enthusiasm (about anything, like an extracurricular or social cause), and 3) (optional) if there are special circumstances we should consider in your application (e.g., caregiving duties, family emergencies).
5. What will I be asked on interviews?
Most likely pretty generic questions. They'll ask you about yourself (i.e., your personality, interests, passions), what you think about Smith and going to a women's college, and what you intend to study at Smith. They won't try to trick you or quiz you about your knowledge of Smith. Overall, they just want to assess for the qualities listed in question #3. Interviewers aren't required to follow a script or ask any required questions. You will also have the opportunity to ask the interviewer any questions you want at the end.
6. How much does the interview factor into admissions decisions?
Smith doesn't tell interviewers this information. Interviewers are not asked to give recommendations (i.e., accept or reject) in their reports, only to provide assessment of the qualities listed in question #3. The interview is ultimately optional and is one part of your application, which is holistically evaluated. At the end of the application process, your interviewer is informed if you are accepted.
7. Is there any way I can interview in-person on Smith campus?
Smith used to provide in-person interview opportunities to students participating in a precollege program since they were already on campus. It is unclear if Smith still offers this though.
8. Are ED1/ED2/transfer interviews different than RD interviews?
No, only that you have less time to complete an interview.
9. What information do interviewers get about applicants?
Your name, pronouns, email address, school name, and location. Interviewers are not provided essays, test scores, intended major, or any other information.
10. How do I request an interview?
Through your Smith College application portal. To the best my knowledge, you need to complete your application before you are able to request an interview. Also, to the best of my knowledge, you can request an interview after the deadline has passed too. But generally, it's good practice to request an interview as soon as the option is available in your Smith portal.
11. How are interviewers assigned to applicants?
To the best of my knowledge, totally randomly.
12. An interviewer emailed me, but I didn't see the email in time and now it's too late to have an interview. Or I accidentally no-showed to the interview. What happens now?
If an interview doesn't happen for whatever reason, interviewers are still required submit a report. The interviewer will pick one of the following options and that information will appear in your application.
13. I requested an interview, but I wasn't contacted by an interviewer. What happened?
Either you requested an interview so late in the process that they were unable to find an interviewer in time, or you were assigned an interviewer and they just simply weren't able to contact you before the submission deadline. Either way, information about what happened will be present in your application.
14. Will it hurt my application if I don't interview?
No.
15. Is there a prescreening process?
No. The interview process occurs in this order: 1) applicant requests interview, 2) interviewer is assigned, 3) volunteer schedules with applicant, 4) volunteer conducts interview, and 5) volunteer submits report.
Other information
r/smithcollege • u/corbeauu • Jun 19 '26
Please ask your quick admissions-related questions, comments, and "chance me" posts here. This thread is for prospective students interested in starting their first year at Smith College in Fall 2027.
If you have any general college admissions questions, please ask them in r/College or r/ApplyingToCollege.
Additional Information:
r/smithcollege • u/CareEcstatic9794 • 8h ago
The Student Event Committee is interested in hosting a Pitch a Friend (queer edition) event. Want to help your amazing single friend find love? Create a 3-min presentation to pitch them to an audience! Or just come mingle and make new connections :) Fill out this form to help us gauge student interest: https://forms.gle/GTRbsME4L6JaE7ds5
r/smithcollege • u/Correct-Station-3527 • 3d ago
Hello everyone! I’m an incoming freshman at smith that matched through questbridge last December. I initially went over my financial aid with a mentor and found out that insurance wouldn’t be covered and that I would need to pay 3k upfront, do work study or just keep my insurance. I thought that the best idea would be to keep my insurance.
Turns out I’m an idiot!!!! I’m on NY Medicaid and it probably wouldn’t transfer to Massachusetts. I got my Cashnet and it says I owe 2k by August 10th 😭 what are my options? Do I call and if so what do I say?
r/smithcollege • u/moblovemail • 4d ago
Hi everyone, I’m a transfer and I’ll be entering as a second semester sophomore based on my accepted credits. I’m 23, so I’m nontrad but I don’t qualify to be an Ada. I’m planning to bring my car to campus. At home I live on my own in an apartment without off street parking and I don’t really have anywhere I can store it if I can’t bring it. I noticed that decals go on sale to seniors and juniors and then to sophomores, but the wording made it sound like it’s very possible there won’t be any left for sophomores by the time it opens.
Does anyone have experience getting a parking decal as a sophomore? Will they sell out and should I reach out to the school about it, or do we think I can probably get one if I’m on top of getting one as soon as they open?
r/smithcollege • u/error101ishere • 8d ago
Hello.
I am an incoming student, and I go by a different name than my legal name. I would prefer to be able to use that name when going about my day; however, I do not want my parents to see that I am going by that name to avoid any less-than-ideal conversations. Is there a way to make sure that any place that my parents would see wouldn't feature my preferred name, or is the best course to just tell people to call me it individually? Tbh, even if I set my "preferred" name as my middle name (which would hopefully remove the risk of that conversation, but I'd have to get used to being called my middle name) and just told people my true preferred name, that would be better.
Thank you for reading, whether or not you can help!
r/smithcollege • u/error101ishere • 16d ago
Hello.
I am wondering what French class would be ideal for me to take. I wish to continue it in college, and I last took French 5 through SUNY Oswego at my high school (for reference, that is "FRE 202 - Continuing Intermediate French" on the SUNY Oswego website). I am struggling to determine which French class at Smith would be best due to the differing language describing the courses.
I am also trying to make my mock schedule for my first semester, and I was wondering what classes and labs are typically taken during that semester for biology so that I am able to plot out what I want to put around it.
Thank you for any assistance, and I am very willing to answer any questions that you have to assist in answering!
r/smithcollege • u/B-phina • 16d ago
As a product of a co-ed public school system, the concept of gender-separation in college is foreign to me. I’m sure it’s been discussed here but I didn’t find a good thread. I’d appreciate arguments in support of going to an all-women institution. Thanks!
r/smithcollege • u/borbolula • 19d ago
Hello! Does anyone know semi-recently graduated alumni that I can talk to about life in the graduate student housing?
Im wondering what the rooms are like, whats the parking situation if i have a car, general vibes/policies to keep in mind, storage/closet space, appliances, walk to classes, temperature, what to bring or not bring
miscellaneous questions really, would appreciate any info!
r/smithcollege • u/Bidofthis • 19d ago
How do you get AP scores early on the Smith college portal? Thank you!
r/smithcollege • u/Randomacc1234567891 • Jun 22 '26
Smith is one of my dream schools so I’d want to see if I have a shot! What stats (SAT, GPA, ECs etc.) got current students accepted to Smith?
r/smithcollege • u/Ok-Nature2087 • Jun 22 '26
this is like so stupid but i locked myself out of duo because of too many failed attempts on another device (looong story) but as an incoming freshman i have like all this stuff i have to do through my email account and i cant get it. like… what do i do 😭 i submitted a help ticket with IT but they havent gotten back to me (probably cuz its the summer?) can anyone help me outt
r/smithcollege • u/Ay3sha_P7ram1dz • Jun 21 '26
Hi, I’m currently in cc looking to apply in a year or two and wanted to know if you really need a crazy amount of ECs to get into Smith.
On socials I keep seeing people who have 10-15 extracurriculars talking about how that’s how they got in. It honestly freaks me out a bit because I’m scared they’re going to look at my application and toss it lol. I have around 5 extracurriculars, mostly internships, theater contract work, and then general community service.
Just really looking for assurance here on whether or not that’s enough and general advice for getting in :)
r/smithcollege • u/borbolula • Jun 18 '26
Hello! Whats it like having a car on campus? Whats the parking situation? Any experience with charging stations? Im an incoming grad student and have not decided whether to live on or off campus so would like to know what its like for both commuters as well as for people who live on-campus
I have a Plug-in Hybrid but it takes a long time to charge so im wondering what the EV parking spots are like. What about general daily parking? How far is it from classes? Thanks in advance for any info!
r/smithcollege • u/r_pancake • Jun 18 '26
Does anyone know if there’s a way to purchase mountain day shirts from previous years? (I’m an alum if that matters)
r/smithcollege • u/bookwormbells • Jun 17 '26
I’m 30, live in Chicago, and looking to transfer next fall. What are your experiences as a transfer? As an older student at Smith? As much as I’m looking for the quality education, I’m looking for a quality experience. TIA!
r/smithcollege • u/Emotional_Radish430 • Jun 13 '26
What’s a reasonable weekly or monthly budget for spending beyond room and board? My child will be a first year and plans to get a work study job. We will send her some allowance for spending money but can’t afford a ton. Any ideas about what we should be budgeting?
r/smithcollege • u/No-Adhesiveness3164 • Jun 09 '26
Hey everyone, I start at Smith in the fall and there’s a few concerts I really want to go to in Boston. Is Amtrak a reliable option or is there a better way people get from Northampton to Boston? I’m from the Southeast so I’m used to entirely relying on cars to get around so any advice is appreciated. Also would love to meet anyone who may be going to the same shows. I have tickets to see Geese and Slayyyter and would love to see Phoebe Bridgers if that’s possible this fall
r/smithcollege • u/creepycowman • Jun 05 '26
hey guys...i'm an incoming freshman and i only recently was able to log into gmail...only to discover that I HAD A OVERDUE ADVISOR FORM. how cooked am i?? i quickly filled it out as soon as i realized but i feel so horrible...
r/smithcollege • u/Deep-Somewhere1524 • May 27 '26
I’ll be starting my freshman year this fall! I’m super excited and wanna maximize my 4 years at smith, so current students & alums; what are things you regret doing or NOT doing in your freshman year?
Any advice, academic and social would be very appreciated!
Some context: I’m a gov/ philosophy major with a minor in Studio Art on a pre-law track. I hope to attend a T-14 law school so any opportunities, classes, EC’s that could add to my law school resume would be great! Thanks in advance :))
r/smithcollege • u/Ok_Reputation_8218 • May 26 '26
Hi! My girlfriend will be attending Smith in the fall and I was looking for recs for a good (Smith related) graduation gift to get her. She‘s artsy and will be a music major!
r/smithcollege • u/ShortChicken4952 • May 26 '26
Hello! I’m transferring into Mount Holyoke in the fall and really excited to take creative writing classes across the consortium. Would love to hear your favorite teachers/classes (and any to avoid). Since I only have two years to explore and about 20 credits to devote to writing, I’m hoping to find the most inspirational classes. Thank you so much in advance for any help!
r/smithcollege • u/ShortChicken4952 • May 26 '26
Hello! I’m transferring in the fall and really excited to take creative writing classes across the consortium. Would love to hear your favorite teachers/classes (and any to avoid). Since I only have two years to explore and about 20 credits to devote to writing, I’m hoping to find the most inspirational classes. Thank you so much in advance for any help!
r/smithcollege • u/AdFresh7927 • May 23 '26
smith was my dream and now it's mid-late may, would i have heard by now if i got in off the waitlist? Be honest!
r/smithcollege • u/Guinea-Pig-Cafe • May 22 '26
Hi All,
I’m starting a doctoral program at Smith next week (!) and feeling incredibly nervous and out of my element. Does anyone have recommendations of things to do or spaces to check out when I have down time? Realistically I won’t have much but if you have a space you really love or even a coffee spot to look for I’ll take it!