As UMass Amherst students, we are part of the Five College Consortium, where we can take courses at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and Smith College. This semester I decided to take a course at Smith College, specifically Intermediate Microeconomics. Going to such a large university, I was really curious to see how Smith College would be since classes are so much smaller and the culture there is so different.
As an economics student, I’ve noticed that most economics courses are male-dominated. Currently, in one of my economics courses, there are about 12 girls in a class of 60 students. Going from that to a class full of girls is nice and refreshing. It makes the class a bit more comfortable. All the students were super lovely and welcoming, and I was instantly able to make new friends with my peers. There are also a lot of international students, so the diversity is great to see and allows for interesting discussions.
Since it’s a smaller group, discussions are a large part of the class, and the professors are really encouraging about asking questions and sharing opinions. It doesn’t ever feel awkward or stressful to raise your hand in class. The professor also is attentive to students and class needs and is always available after class or during office hours to answer any additional questions or concerns.
I have classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so I’m on campus quite a bit. I leave in the mornings and I have my car on campus, so it takes about 25 minutes to get there but there’s free street parking down Elm Street, which usually ends up being a 10-minute walk to campus. On Wednesdays, I have a lecture and discussion, which are two and a half hours apart, so I spend most of my Wednesdays at Smith College. I get lunch there at the dining halls and then usually go to the library to get some work done before class. The library was just newly renovated, and it is beautiful. It’s a very large and open space with several different sections, many quiet spaces, and also more social spaces. I enjoy studying here and every time I’m there I find a new favorite study area. The campus is also quite small, so getting from one building to another takes less than five minutes, which is very nice.
I have had a great time taking a class at Smith College. I love that it just forces me to get off the UMass campus and be somewhere else, especially since Northampton and Smith College are beautiful. It’s refreshing and a nice change of pace. It definitely took me a couple of weeks to get used to the campus and how everything works, but it’s just like any other school, and everyone I have met has been so welcoming, the adjustment wasn’t bad at all. So, if you’re looking at a course at one of the other colleges, I would highly recommend it.
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