Smith's website proclaims: "I am Smith" and boy are they right. Smith is made up of Smithies who are more powerful than the administration or faculty in determining the mood, focus, and energy on campus. Each person has a fire to them, whether it be their volunteer work in Africa, expression through art, vocal political opinions, or insightful interpretations of literature. It may not be immediately apparent what is Smithie about each Smithie, but the admissions people know what to look for and sooner or later you see a glimmer about what makes each student special.

What is the typical academic effort at Smith is not typical anywhere else. Smithies take their papers, exams, and labs extremely seriously and dedicatedly put in the time necessary to do their best work. Everyone holds themselves to the highest standards, without needing competition to keep them striving for the top (though some of that helps!). Professors know that they are dealing with a super-smart group of women and they hold their students in the highest respect. If you want to do a special studies or design your own major, they are behind you, giving all of their time and energy to support your project. They are readily available for emails, coffee, and lunch not to mention office hours, and will sit chatting with you for hours.

Smithies are extremely diverse, yet united by the institution they comprise. There is no typical Smith student. She could be rich/poor, black/white, American/international, gay/straight, political/artistic/book-worm/fashionista/athlete, she/he, and-or a thousand other things.

We work super hard every day of the week and only stop to party when our work is done. If that happens on a Saturday night, cool, but it's just as likely to get crazy on a Monday after working hard all weekend. Academics come before drinking, and most people are happy to make that commitment. But when our hair gets let down we commit just as much to our play time.

Driven, fierce, smart women who aren't afraid of expressing themselves.

You betcha.

I am Smith.