Four Precollege students on the front porch of a Smith house.

About Life at Smith

High school students in Precollege Programs join a community of scholars to pursue their academic and extracurricular passions at Smith College. What sets us apart from other programs is Smith’s commitment to helping students build college connections—with each other, faculty, staff and undergrads. Through daily and intentional after-class activities, the precollege team creates an environment to support growth and community.

A Typical Day

During your time here, you can expect in-person classes to go from 9 a.m.–4 p.m, Monday–Friday, with a lunch break at our dining hall. After class, we provide activities in our houses, or you can choose to unwind. Precollege students have access to the following on-campus amenities: two indoor gyms, outdoor track and field, botanic gardens, a new bookstore, Smith’s distinguished art museum and the state-of-the-art Neilson Library. Academic lectures and office hours are also hosted throughout each week, and dedicated Smith students serve as classroom assistants and residential counselors throughout your precollege journey.

Time

Activity

7–8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

9 a.m.–noon

Morning class

noon–1 p.m.

Lunch

1–4 p.m.

Afternoon class

5:30–7 p.m.

Dinner

7–10 p.m.

Fun house activities that change daily

11 p.m.

Quiet hours
Group of students having tea in a house living room

Where Students Will Be Living

Life on campus is an integral part of the Smith experience. Here, students don’t live in traditional dorms, but a house community. Each house has living rooms, communal bathrooms, free washer and dryers, a communal TV, piano, and a unique selection of books to borrow. Students are provided with linens (sheets, towels, lightweight blanket, and pillow). There are weekly house meetings and optional nightly activities, as well as orientation groups to help students acclimate to the Smith Precollege community.

Learn About Smith Houses

Get Outside

There are plenty of outdoor spaces, gardens, patios and lawns adjacent to all houses across campus for students to enjoy.

Capen garden with the flowers in bloom

Your Smith Support

Each house has a live-in professional House Manager, as well as Residential Counselors who are current Smith students.

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Paradise City

Explore downtown shops and cafes in the vibrant city of Northampton—only a five-minute walk from campus.

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“WGR helped me grow my confidence giving me the ability to not only stand up for what I believe in but also the ability to articulate and argue with evidence and reasoning.”
—Allison, 2023 participant

A high school student who participated in the WGR class of 2023.

“Academically and personally, SSEP turned my anxieties about college into hopes for the future and has set me up successfully for my junior year in my sciences.”
—Nyasa, 2023 participant

A precollege student holding up a Smith shirt.

“SSEP aided me with my independence and reliance on myself, while also teaching me to not be afraid to ask for help at times when needed. Smith also did a great job of providing me with an idea of what I'm looking for in a university/college.”
—Aimee, 2023 participant

A precollege student who participated in the SSEP class of 2023.

“I now see everything in a different perspective and keep looking more into all the topics I learned about in WGR.”
—Bethzabeth, 2023 participant

Precollege participant in WGR.

Food & Entertainment

Dining

Three meals a day are provided in an assigned Smith dining hall, buffet-style. Students can eat any time during the windows provided. Smith chefs accommodate many diets including vegan and gluten-free. We cannot accommodate kosher or halal diets during the summer. Check out the sample menus below to get a feel for meals at Smith.

Breakfast
(7:30–9 a.m.)		 Lunch
(noon–1:30 p.m.)		 Dinner
(5:30–7 p.m.)
Blueberry pancakes
Hot oatmeal
Fresh fruit salad
Fresh strawberries
Hard boiled eggs
Applewood smoked bacon
Cereal
Bagels and toast		 Maple-glazed acorn squash
Steamed peas
Pulled pork sandwiches
Curly fries
BBQ jackfruit
Pickled red onions
Coleslaw
Tossed salad
Salad bar with fruit and protein options		 Linguine
Whole wheat penne
Steamed broccoli
Kale and white beans
Smoked turkey sausage
Marinara sauce
Caesar salad
Salad bar with fruit and protein options

Enjoying Downtime

Your time at Smith won’t be all about classes. We have fun downtime activities for you, including (but not limited to!): 

  • capture the flag
  • zine making
  • a café crawl downtown
  • a Paradise Pond walk
  • DIY fairy crowns
  • vision boards
  • Museum self-guided tours
  • a talent show
  • spa night
  • yoga

For Accepted Students

Students may withdraw from a course and receive a tuition refund on or before June 1, 2024. Your deposit and application fee is nonrefundable. Notification of all withdrawals must be submitted in writing to Smith College Precollege Programs. If you are unable to attend your program, contact summerprecollege@smith.edu as soon as possible. Tuition refunds are prorated according to the following schedule.

  • If a student leaves the program early for any reason, no portion of tuition will be refunded. 
  • Refunds may be given for some extenuating circumstances when the parent/guardian submits a written request to the director of Precollege Programs.

COVID-19 protocols are subject to change based on caseloads, research, current data, and government guidelines and recommendations. Smith will continue to examine and adjust protocols based on evolving information. While the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required for community members, the college strongly recommends that all members of the community follow CDC COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, including being up to date with all COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. If you have questions, please visit the Schacht Center web page to learn more. Students who are immunocompromised and/or disabled are encouraged to visit the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to learn more about their services.

Campdoc.com Portal

In late April, students and parents/guardians will receive a welcome email from CampDoc.com., an electronic health record system we use to consolidate and integrate student enrollment forms and health information. The security, confidentiality and privacy of your personal health information will always be protected. A completed Campdoc profile includes:

All enrollment forms signed:

  • Assumption of Risk
  • Media Consent
  • Rules & Regulations Contract
  • Policy on Acceptable Use of Computer Resource

Medical Examination form completed by a physician. Examination is acceptable when performed no more than 12 months prior to your arrival at Smith.
Proof of all required vaccinations.
TB risk assessment completed by you and your physician.
If applicable, current and accurate prescribed medication profile.
Accurate allergy information (if you have an EpiPen you need to list it in the medication profile).

Weather in New England

New England is famous for its changing weather, but summers in Northampton are usually warm and sunny, with the occasional rainstorm. Most rooms do not have air conditioning. Each student is given a box fan. We have a house laundry service that provides clean linens. For personal laundry, please bring quarters (coins) for the machines. It costs $3, total, to wash and dry a load. Each house has washers and dryers. We will provide laundry detergent, to be kept in the laundry rooms of each house. It will be a generic, unscented brand of detergent.

Smith provides sheets, blanket, pillow, towel and washcloth. At registration we will also provide each student with a Smith College t-shirt, a key/card lanyard and holder.

Facilities on Campus

Smith has two gymnasiums, indoor and outdoor track and tennis facilities, squash courts, dance studio, croquet court and fitness center. Smith is also home to a distinguished art museum, an award-winning botanic garden and greenhouse, four exciting libraries and a rare book room. The Campus Center features a bookstore and café.

Prohibited Items

  • Pets
  • Weapons (including pocket knives)
  • Cigarettes, Juuls, vaporizers or any form of tobacco
  • Alcohol
  • Cannabis in any form
  • Illegal drugs

Not Permitted

Precollege Programs does not permit candles or open flames or wall hangings in the rooms.

Summer at Smith students may not wear anything that depicts drugs, violence, illegal activities or hate speech. While in class, students are expected to dress for learning in a college environment.

By Bus

Peter Pan, Greyhound and Vermont Transit serve the area. Most routes go to the main bus terminal in Springfield, where you can catch another bus to Northampton. Buses run almost hourly between Springfield and Northampton. Smith is a 10-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the bus station. Call 413-586-1030 for bus schedules.

By Train

Amtrak’s Vermonter stops in Northampton. Smith is a short taxi ride from the train platform. For more information, visit Amtrak's website or call 800-872-7245.

By Airplane

Bradley International Airport (BDL), located in Windsor Locks, Conn., is the only airport for which we will be providing transportation to campus. We are unable to assume responsibility for unaccompanied minors.

Taxi and Transportation Services

Transportation to Smith from the Boston or Hartford airports is available from several services. Reservations may be required.

Please be aware that while services like Uber and Lyft may be readily available from airport regions they are not reliable services to use when departing from Northampton to catch a departing flight at the end of your program.

Participants in Summer at Smith Precollege Programs are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, which states:

  • Participants are expected to adhere to the highest standards of good citizenship, honesty, and integrity in their academic work and in their personal conduct.
  • Participants are expected to show courtesy and respect for their fellow participants, for Smith College personnel, and for College visitors.
  • Participants must abide by the Summer at Smith COVID-19 Culture of Care protocol. 
  • Participants shall not take part in or facilitate discrimination of any kind, including, but not limited to, discrimination based on gender, gender identity, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, handicap, or intelligence.
  • Participants are expected to show respect for and take reasonable care of College property, including their residences, dining halls, classrooms, and other Smith facilities, equipment and furnishings (for instance, course materials, computers, street signs, and other structures in outdoor areas).
  • Participants are expected to respect the belongings of their fellow participants. They shall not borrow, use, or disturb items belonging to other participants or Summer at Smith summer staff without clear prior permission. Participants also are expected to respect the belongings of the participants of other programs at Smith and other Smith visitors.
  • Participants shall not use, possess, or distribute alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or drugs, including cannabis, with the exception of prescription and over-the-counter medications approved for use by the participant’s parent or guardian and Precollege Health Care Team. Participation in an incident involving the above-mentioned substances is cause for immediate dismissal.
  • Participants are expected to be well behaved and follow the instructions of the residential staff, instructional staff, and other College personnel. Unruly behavior will not be tolerated.
  • Participants shall not commit acts of violence on persons or property, nor shall they threaten to commit any act of violence. Any threat or act of violence is cause for immediate dismissal.
  • Participants shall not engage in any form of harassment or bullying. Harassment consists of conduct of any type (including but not limited to written, verbal, graphic or physical conduct) which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance, or which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning, residential, or working environment.
  • Participants shall not engage in any form of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes sexual conduct, or conduct with sexual overtones, which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance or which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning, residential, or working environment.
  • Participants shall uphold high standards of academic integrity through honesty, trust, fairness and responsibility. Participants are expected to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and exploration within the academic guidelines provided by their instructors, and to meet the intellectual challenges of the program through honest effort and hard work.
  • Participants shall abide by all federal, state, and local laws.

Failure to abide by any Code of Conduct rule may result in the immediate dismissal from a Smith Summer Program and removal from the Smith College campus, even for first time offenders. In addition, violations of the law (for example, drug or alcohol use) will be reported to the Smith College Campus Police. Parents or guardians will immediately be notified of violations.

Smith College Precollege Programs is focused on providing an experience that helps students develop self-reliance, accountability, independence, and academic curiosity. Frequent intervention by parents/guardians undermines these goals. Accordingly, to create a successful summer experience, all parents/guardians are expected to refrain from interceding on behalf of their participants and to adhere to civil, respectful, truthful and cooperative behavior at all times. Required forms must be fully completed and submitted on time. All specified deadlines must be met, including but not limited to registration, check-in, medication drop off (if applicable), and check-out.

Failure by parents/guardians to abide by our Code of Conduct may result in the immediate dismissal of their participant(s) from Smith Precollege Programs. Participant(s) will not be allowed to remain on campus, and parents/guardians will be responsible for transporting them from campus at that time.

Not all students are ready or able to meet our conduct expectations in a communal residential environment. Accordingly, we encourage students and their parents/guardians to discuss our Student and Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct prior to submitting applications and prior to enrollment in Smith College Precollege Programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you withdraw from any of our programs you are not refunded the application fee or the enrollment deposit.

Smith precollege programs are residential, and there are no commuters. Living away from home with your friends in the program is a great learning experience (plus a lot of fun).

Possibly. We have single and double rooms. If you need special accommodations you will be able to indicate that on an accepted student form after you have enrolled in the program.

Yes, but not inside of the houses where you will live. This is subject to change given COVID safety protocol and the Culture of Care on campus. Houses are open only to Smith College precollege students and staff—no off-campus visitors are allowed under any circumstances. Information will be provided to accepted students prior to your arrival detailing the check-in and check-out protocols.

We expect some participants to feel homesick. When you arrive at Smith on that first Sunday, you’ll see that our staff is prepared to help you. We’ll greet you, assist you in settling into your room, give you a campus tour, sit with you during dinner and introduce you to new friends. The next morning, we will escort you to your first class, and you’ll be on your way. The Summer at Smith staff is here for you. Our professional and college student staff members know what it’s like to be away from home for the first time and are here to listen and support you through your journey in our program.

New England weather is unpredictable. We recommend that you bring clothes suitable for cool nights and hot days, and prepare for rain.

Yes. It will be delivered to the houses as we receive it. Precollege Programs is not responsible for any lost mail nor the tracking of mail. We will not assist in sending mail or returning packages. Please keep in mind that all mail is delivered first to a central processing center, which adds an extra few days to your expected delivery time.

People may send mail to:
Student's Name
Smith Precollege Program / "Program Name" (i.e SSEP or WGR)
100 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01063