Smith is a highly-respected all-women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Students to Smith from 67 countries, and 17% are first-generation. The college is especially well-known for having an . This means that you can take what you want when you want, aside from major requirements and a few first-year courses. Students who have a vision for their future and want to focus on what they love adore the open curriculum, as they can dive fully into the subject they would like to be an expert in. The acceptance rate is about .
Smith offers applicants Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision routes to admission. It is also , meaning that you do not have to submit SAT or ACT scores to get in. However, that doesn’t mean that you should immediately stop studying for either test. Smith has been test-optional since 2009, so their policy is very unlikely to change. However, of recently accepted and enrolled students submitted scores — so scores aren’t dead for Smith. A strong SAT is 1480+, and a strong ACT is 34+.
In this post, we’ll be focused on a key aspect of your application that can’t be quantified: the supplement. Numbers are crucial, but what sells an application isn’t a score or GPA: It is who you are. So, let’s show them.
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The Smith supplement has only one question, and it allows for a 250-word response. Before you start digging in though, it is crucial to remember one thing: Smith cares about knowing you. They want to see who you are beyond grades and scores and academic dreams, and this supplement allows you to give them a look into who you are and where you come from.
Smith has a unique housing system, where students of all class years live together in 41 different houses. With our Residential Curriculum, students will become critically aware global neighbors, exploring their self-identity by living in community, engaging in reflection and challenging their own beliefs.
What personal experiences, background or abilities would you bring to this residential environment to share with your neighbors and what would you hope your neighbors would share with you? (250 words)
The Smith supplement is a classic “tell us about you” supplement through the frame of the Smith housing system. Smith has strong residential communities that are truly a hallmark of the experience the college offers. But this prompt isn’t about where you would live, it is about who you are.
What is it not, however, is a hardship test. This is not Smith asking you to share your most traumatizing experience or challenging hurdle. Remember, they want to know what you would bring to your residential community.
We love answers to this prompt that bring in culture and community. If you have shared a bedroom with two siblings for most of your life, that could speak to skill for navigating the sharing of space. If you grew up cooking Sunday dinners with your grandmother, you could make treats for new friends. Or, if you love anagrams and wordplay, you could share that alongside an enthusiasm for potentially creating alternative room labels for future hall mates.
At least half of your response to this supplement prompt will be a story from your life mapped onto or connected to the Smith experience. The rest of the supplement, though, needs to address the second thing Smith asks for. They also want to know what you want to learn from, and about, your neighbors in your residence hall. Now, you don’t know who you will be living with. So, you can’t speak to specifics here in the sense of actual facts about someone’s life. However, you can write about the types of things you hope to learn and experience. It could be having the chance to taste cuisine you haven’t tried before, or maybe celebrating a holiday for a religion or culture you have no experience with. Paint a picture for the application reader spotlighting how you want to engage with and learn from those around you.
End the supplement with a sweet moment that ties you to the Smith residential community — underlining your commitment to what makes Smith special.
As you prepare your application, remember that Smith heavily prioritizes Early Decision I and Early Decision II applicants. If you want to go to Smith, applying EDI or EDII is critical — and EDI is your best bet. This means starting in on your application early so that you’ll be prepared to submit before Thanksgiving. You need to do more than drafting, though. You should also speak with your recommenders about the expediated timeline. Remember, too, that your last chance to take the SAT or ACT will be in early fall 2025.
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