smith college essay prompts

How to Get Into Smith Guide

How to get into smith—general information.

Smith College is a private women’s college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1871 , it stands today as one of the largest liberal arts colleges dedicated to women in the US. Smith’s 147-acre campus is home to approximately 2,100 undergrads whose interests span over 50 different areas of study.

In this How to get Into Smith guide we’ll cover:

• The average Smith College GPA
• The importance of Smith College SAT scores
• Interpreting the Smith College acceptance rate
• Smith College admissions requirements
• Writing an effective Smith College supplemental essay
• Acing the Smith College interview, and much more about the Smith College application process! 

Wondering how to get into Smith? You might find yourself researching the Smith College GPA or Smith College acceptance rate. Rather than worrying about these figures, focus on what you have complete control over: your Smith College application. To maximize your chances of impressing the Smith College admissions team, take time to compile your Smith College application materials. This means writing a strong Smith College supplemental essay and preparing for your Smith College interview.

Figuring out how to get into Smith takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Want to maximize your Smith admissions odds?  Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How to get into Smith

If Smith College is on your list, you’d probably like to know how to get into Smith. Firstly, understand that Smith College admissions use a holistic approach to evaluate applicants. This means that no singular component will make or break your Smith College application. Instead, Smith focuses on accepting the whole student rather than just a statistic. 

Smith College admissions counselors will review your whole Smith College application: your high school transcript, Smith College GPA, and your Smith College supplemental essay. With its optional components—the Smith College interview and arts supplement—Smith invites applicants to provide further context about who they are.

As you put together your Smith College application, you may get caught up in questions like “How to get into Smith?” or “How can I compete with the Smith College acceptance rate?”

Instead, consider these questions: 

• Do I demonstrate my ability to successfully manage a rigorous curriculum? 
• Have I conveyed how I think and what I care about? 
• Do I show what kind of community member, classmate, roommate and teammate I would be at Smith? 

By answering these questions, you’ll set yourself up for success in Smith’s vibrant community of learners—this is really how to get into Smith!

For more tips on how to make your Smith College application stand out, check out this article . 

Is it hard to get into Smith?

With a low Smith College acceptance rate and a high average Smith College GPA, you might feel unsure about how to get into Smith. As with any selective school, it is important to keep these statistics in mind. However, don’t let them steal your confidence . Yes, your Smith College application will face strong competition. However, Smith College admissions looks for women whose value lies beyond numbers. 

So, don’t let the Smith College acceptance rate scare you. With a carefully crafted Smith College application and a strong Smith College interview, you can increase your chances of getting in.

Continue reading this “how to get into Smith” guide to learn more about the Smith College GPA, the guidance on Smith College SAT scores and ACT scores, the Smith College acceptance rate, and what you need to get started on your Smith College application.

What is the average GPA needed for Smith?

Once you’ve started researching how to get into Smith, one of the first things you might ask about is the average Smith College GPA. 

The school’s holistic review process means you don’t need to meet a minimum Smith College GPA to be considered by Smith College admissions. However, students with successful Smith College applications tend to have strong high school GPAs. For the Class of 2025, 74% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA.

The average Smith College SAT scores and ACT scores are also high. In the Class of 2025, 34% of enrolled students chose to submit Smith College SAT scores, and 20% submitted ACT scores. Of those students, the middle 50% of Smith College SAT scores were 1390-1510, while the middle 50% of ACT scores were 31-34.

The average Smith College GPA and other academic statistics can seem daunting. However, remember that the strength of your Smith College application does not come from meeting the average Smith College GPA or  Smith College SAT scores alone. Instead, it comes from your ability to maximize each part of the Smith College application. This includes your academic record, teacher recommendations, Smith College supplemental essay, and Smith College interview.

By having a balanced “how to get into Smith” strategy like this, you’ll show your commitment to Smith’s values of audacity, agency and authenticity. In doing so, you’ll craft the strongest Smith College application possible. 

Want more tips? Check out CollegeAdvisor’s other resources on mastering your GPA and standardized tests .

What does the Smith application require?

When considering how to get into Smith, it is important to start your Smith College application well before your chosen deadline. Smith offers three decision plans : Early Decision I (November 15), Early Decision II (January 1), and Regular Decision (January 15). No matter which deadline you’ve chosen, your Smith College application will need to include these materials :

• The Coalition Application or Common Application
• Smith College Supplemental Essay
• Secondary School Report (including official high school transcript)
• Counselor Recommendation
• Two Teacher Evaluation Forms
• Midyear Report
• Early Decision Agreement (if applicable)

If you are a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident, Smith College SAT scores or ACT scores are optional. If you are an international citizen, Smith College SAT scores or ACT scores are required. 

The Smith College application also includes an optional Smith College interview with an admissions counselor. Note that if you are a woman of nontraditional college age applying to be an Ada Comstock Scholar, the Smith College interview is required. Although optional for standard applications, Smith College admissions indicate that the interview is just as important as your extracurricular activities. So, if you can, make the Smith College interview a part of your ‘how to get into Smith’ plan!

If you decide to complete a Smith College interview, do so before the deadline for your chosen application cycle (ED I by November 15, ED II by December 22, and RD by January 15). 

Finally, as you prepare for your Smith College interview, check out this article on “Ten Tips for a Great College Interview” from Smith College admissions.

What is the Smith College acceptance rate?

You shouldn’t become too preoccupied with the Smith College acceptance rate. However, it’s a good figure to have in your mind as you craft your “how to get into Smith” strategy. 

According to U.S. News, the 2020 Smith College acceptance rate stands at 37% . This percentage includes ED I, ED II, and Regular Decision applicants. Given the high average Smith College GPA and strong Smith College SAT scores and ACT scores, you should craft an application sure to impress Smith College admissions.

If Smith is your top-choice school, keep in mind that the Smith College acceptance rate for Early Decision is 57% . So, it may work to your advantage to select one of the earlier deadlines.

For more guidance on how to factor the Smith College acceptance rate into your ‘how to get into Smith’ plan, check out our article on college acceptance rates and the admissions process .

What extracurriculars does Smith look for?

As you put together your “how to get into Smith” plan, it’s important to look beyond the Smith College GPA and test scores.  Smith College admissions look closely at your extracurricular activities, too. This part of your Smith College application is important because it showcases your passions, involvement, and dedication beyond the classroom.

Rather than a list overflowing with surface-level engagement, Smith values those extracurriculars that demonstrate quality of involvement . This can look different for each activity, from independently mastering a new skill to effectively leading a sports team. Whatever your activities are, make sure you give them the opportunity to shine as part of your Smith College application. You should also highlight them in your Smith College supplemental essay.

Some students have artistic passions they can’t convey in the standard Smith College application. If this sounds like you, Smith invites you to submit an optional art supplement before February 1.  Keep in mind that they only accept submissions in music, visual art, and dance. If your interests stretch into another area, talk about them in other areas!

How to write a Smith supplemental essay 

Part of your “how to get into Smith” plan will be completing the Smith College supplemental essay. In addition to your personal statement, this essay lets you show Smith College admissions who you are.

Here is the 2021-2022 Smith College supplemental essay prompt:

Music means so many things to so many people. It can bring us joy, inspire us, validate us or heal us. Please tell us about a song or piece of music that is particularly meaningful to you and why. Please include the name of the song/piece and the artist (200 words).

Creative prompts like this can be intimidating because they give you the freedom to share something personal about yourself that may not feel directly related to your education. However, you should still take your response as seriously as you would a more formal essay.

Smith’s Tips for a Great College Essay explains your goal perfectly: “to convince admissions officers…that you would be a good match for their college.” Even though the prompt is asking you about a meaningful piece of music, your answer should also convey something about why you would be a valuable member of Smith’s campus.

Finding inspiration

If you are wondering how to draw that connection, look to Smith’s mission and values for inspiration. Smith is dedicated to educating women who will become engaged global citizens. They do this by creating a learning environment that celebrates and explores critical thought, creativity, and the complexity of human experiences and world cultures.

Don’t just pick a song because you like the way it sounds. Consider the lyrics, why they resonate with you, the setting you first heard it, or what the song reminds you of. Maybe it connects to a certain part of your identity or a perspective that helps shape the way you see the world. Whatever the connection, make sure it is meaningful and clearly articulated. Your reader should appreciate what this song means to you while learning something about who you are.

Finally, when crafting your Smith College supplemental essay, you might find these top tips useful. 

Will Smith review my social media accounts?

Smith College admissions does not review social media as part of their holistic evaluation process. So, don’t feel like you need to factor your social media accounts into your “how to get into Smith” plan. However, even though they don’t make a point of reviewing social media accounts, you should still be conscious of what you post.

Remember, anything you post to the internet becomes public information. If Smith College admissions became aware of a concerning post or piece of content you shared, it could impact their decision about your Smith College application. As a good rule of thumb, don’t post anything online you wouldn’t want a future professor or employer to see.

Is Smith the school for me?

Before you start thinking about how to get into Smith, you consider whether Smith College is the school for you. Knowing that Smith is a good fit will keep you motivated throughout the process. You will be inspired to write the best Smith College supplemental essay you can and to prepare for your Smith College interview.

A big part of your decision process will be deciding whether a women’s college is right for you. A small, women’s liberal arts college is a very specific type of learning environment. At Smith, you’ll be in a tight-knit, intimate community that is known to empower women to achieve their greatest potential. 

An education at Smith will be unlike an education at a larger or co-ed institution. Take some time to explore everything Smith has to offer, from academics to student clubs & organizations to equity & inclusion initiatives . If you are still undecided, check out CollegeAdvisor’s page on Smith College . Our page can help you learn more about what the school has to offer.

Additional tips to get into Smith

As you finalize your ‘how to get into Smith’ strategy, take note of the following final tips. 

Consider your application holistically

Smith College admissions will evaluate your application as a whole. This means, you should use this mindset when putting together your Smith College application. Rather than getting hung up on one thing, focus on highlighting your strengths. For example, if you feel like your high school transcript doesn’t compare to the average Smith College GPA, express what you have accomplished in your personal statement. Also, use your Smith College supplemental essay to better highlight strengths and experiences.  

Prepare for your interview

If you’ve researched how to get into Smith, you know that completing a Smith College interview is an important part of that plan. Especially if you get nervous during these types of situations, make sure you set aside time to prepare for your interview . Think about how you might answer questions about your extracurriculars, academic history, your interest in Smith, and what you hope to get out of a college experience.

Take time on your essays

Aside from the content of your essays, your personal statement and Smith College supplemental essay will be evaluated for writing style, sentence construction, fluidity, and voice as well as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. So, as you work on your essays, make sure you take the time to choose a topic that you feel confident writing about. Then, make sure you draft, edit, revise, and proofread your essays before you submit them. 

This guide was written by Stefanie Tedards. If you want to know how to get into Smith, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from many top schools. Create your free  account  or  schedule a free advising consultation  by calling (844) 576-0953. (844) 343-6272.

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How to Get Into Smith College: Admissions Stats + Tips

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Since fielding its first class of 14 students in 1875, Smith College has grown into one of the largest and most respected women’s colleges in the country. Smith offers all the advantages of a small, top-tier liberal arts college, however, its inclusion in the Five College Consortium provides benefits commonly associated with much larger schools. Through the consortium, Smith students are given access to everything from libraries to classes at four other colleges in western Massachusetts: Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Smith’s admissions process is demanding. The college received 5,249 applicants for its Class of 2025 and accepted just 1,917 students, resulting in an approximate overall acceptance rate of 36% . Smith has an early decision admissions process through which 441 students applied to its Class of 2025 and the college accepted 285 applicants—an early decision acceptance rate of roughly 64% . 

Smith College’s acceptance rate is low, but your chances are determined by the strength of your profile. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator uses factors like GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to help you better understand your odds of admission and provide tips to improve your profile. 

The average high school GPA of Smith’s Class of 2025 is 4.0 .

The middle 50% SAT score range of Smith’s Class of 2025 is 1350-1490 . The middle 50% ACT score range is 31-34 .

Smith students are commonly among the strongest students in their high schools—72% of Smith’s Class of 2025 graduated in the top tenth of their class. 

It takes more than great grades and outstanding test scores to wow admissions officials at highly selective schools like Smith, nearly every applicant has those. Rather, schools like Smith use holistic admissions when fielding their classes and judge each applicant on their high school program, performance, experiences, and future potential. 

Smith provides its students with a great deal of control over their education—Smith has no distribution requirements and students design their curricula under the guidance of an advisor. A Smith education is founded on “essential capacities,” which are:

• The ability to draw upon and convey knowledge
• The ability to engage across differences in place, culture, and time
• Creativity, curiosity, and innovation
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Resilience and resourcefulness
• Self-awareness as a learner

A student who is able to demonstrate these “essential capacities,” how they’ve developed them along their education path, and how they’ve guided their lives both inside and outside of the classroom will have taken a strong step to show how they fit at Smith. 

How Smith College Evaluates Applications

According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, Smith College considers the following factors “very important” :

• Course rigor
• Recommendation letters

These factors are “important” :

• Extracurricular activities 

These are “considered” :

• Test scores
• First generation 
• Racial/ethnic status 
• Volunteer work 
• Work experience 

And these are “not considered” :

• Geographical location
• State residence 
• Religious affiliation
• Applicant interest

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

1. Achieve at least a 4.0 GPA while taking the most challenging classes available

Smith highly values academic success. The college considers both GPA and course rigor as “very important” to admissions. It also views class rank as “important.” The average high school GPA of Smith’s Class of 2025 is 4.0 and 67% of the class graduated high school with a 4.0.

To submit a competitive application to Smith, you’ll need a high school transcript containing all, or almost all, As in the most challenging coursework available. Applicants at highly ranked schools like Smith have commonly completed between five and 12 AP classes . 

Top-tier colleges use a tool known as the Academic Index to aid in admissions decisions. Academic Index summarizes your entire academic performance with a single number. If your Academic Index fails to meet Smith’s standards, you risk being viewed as academically unqualified and your application not being given serious consideration. 

If your GPA is below Smith’s high standards, there is still time to raise it. Check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re further along in your high school career, it’s harder to increase your GPA—earning higher test scores is the best strategy to improve your Academic Index. 

2. Write engaging essays

After clearing Smith’s academic hurdles, the essay is one of the best places for you to set yourself apart from other applicants. Smith considers essays “very important” to admissions decisions and their quirky writing supplement is designed so that you can have some fun and let your personality shine through. 

The prompt on Smith’s 2021-2022 writing supplement is: 

Music means so many things to so many people. It can bring us joy, inspire us, validate us or heal us. Please tell us about a song or piece of music that is particularly meaningful to you and why. Please include the name of the song/piece and the artist. (50-200 words) 

A strong college essay is written in your voice and highlights your personality, character, and strengths—so don’t pretend Mozart is your jam if you’re a card-carrying member of the Beyhive. Winning essays also show why you fit at a school and how a school will benefit from you being on campus. For Smith-specific essay advice, check out our article, “ How to Write the Smith College Supplemental Essay 2021-2022 .”

3. Cultivate one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”)

Extracurricular activities provide an avenue to show Smith your interests and accomplishments outside of the classroom, aspects of your life not easily captured on other parts of your college application. A highly developed interest, known as a “ spike ,” and one or two impressive extracurriculars on your profile will help you stand out from other applicants and boost your odds of acceptance. 

Some extracurricular activities carry more weight with colleges than others. The four tiers of extracurriculars offer good insight into how colleges value your activities outside of the classroom:

• Tier 1 activities mark you as a significant member in your field or activity. These are the most influential and rarest extracurriculars and they demonstrate exceptional achievement, leadership, and merit. Tier 1 activities include winning a notable national award and attending a renowned merit-based summer program.
• Tier 2 extracurriculars demonstrate great achievement, leadership, and merit but fail to meet the prominence and rarity of those in Tier 1, and subsequently carry less weight. Tier 2 activities include earning state-level recognition in athletics or music, winning a regional competition, and holding a leadership position like student body president. 
• Tier 3 extracurricular activities demonstrate participation more than prestige. These activities hold less value than those in the higher tiers and include holding a minor leadership position in a club and playing a varsity sport. 
• Tier 4 activities are the most common and least impactful to college admissions, demonstrating interest but not distinction. Tier 4 extracurriculars include participating in a club, general volunteer work, or an after-school job.  

 4. The right recommendations 

Recommendations are a “very important” part of Smith admissions and the college requires you to submit three: one from your counselor and two from your teachers. Your counselor recommendation frames you in the context of your school, while your teacher recommendations speak to you in a classroom setting. 

In most years, Smith’s student-to-faculty ratio hovers near 9:1 and students are expected to work closely with their teachers; consequently, the opinion of your high school’s staff carries a lot of weight. The teachers who write your recommendation should know you well and be able to speak to your strengths and potential as a student. The nine rules for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers provide a good guide for navigating the recommendation letter process. 

5. Ace your interview

An interview is optional at Smith, but it’s worth noting that the college considers it “important” and serious Smith applicants will want to schedule one. Due to COVID-19, the college is not currently scheduling in-person interviews, rather they’re all being conducted virtually. 

Interviews are an awesome opportunity to interact person-to-person with an admissions officer and give you a chance to show off your personality and ask questions. Make sure you put your best foot forward by being prepared for your interview —knowing what to expect, how to dress, and what questions you’ll likely need to answer .

6. Apply Early Decision

Smith College has three admissions tracks: early decision I (ED 1), early decision II (ED II), and regular decision (RD). Applying early decision can give you a significant admissions advantage. Smith’s early decision acceptance rate of approximately 64% is substantially higher than its overall acceptance rate of roughly 36% . 

Applying early decision is not without its drawbacks, however—most notably, by applying ED I or II, you’re committing to attend Smith if accepted. Early decision is best for students who’ve carefully considered their college options (academically, financially, and socially) and have concluded, without a shadow of a doubt, that Smith is where they want to attend.  

How to Apply to Smith College

Application requirements.

Smith College accepts the Common Application and Coalition Application. Other application requirements include:

• Secondary school report
• Mid-year report
• Smith writing supplement  
• Counselor recommendation 
• Two teacher recommendations 

Other optional materials include: 

• SAT/ACT scores
• Art supplement

Learn more about Smith College

Interested in learning more about Smith College? Check out these other informative articles: 

• What Does it Cost to Attend Smith College?
• Open Curriculum Schools: 11 Colleges That Allow Students to Direct Their Own Learning
• What is the Five College Consortium?

Want to know your chances at Smith? Calculate your chances for free right now .

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

First-Year Applicants

Who goes to Smith? We could quote statistics on geographic distribution, class rank and College Board examination scores. But statistics do little to give you a sense of the vibrancy, intelligence and talent of the women who choose Smith. Every incoming class includes some who have unusual talents and maybe some yet to be discovered. Though diverse, all have strong academic records, as well as several other attributes that the board of admission seeks: motivation, determination and curiosity.

You can apply to Smith under one of three decision plans: Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision.

Ready to Apply to Smith?

Smith accepts two applications for first-year admission—the Coalition Application and the Common Application. Smith does not have a preference for one application over the other. There is no application fee.

Forms & Deadlines

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Early Decision I

About early decision.

Early Decision is a binding commitment and is intended for students who have determined that Smith is their first choice. An Early Decision candidate may be admitted, deferred to Regular Decision or denied. If you are admitted under the Early Decision plan, you must enroll at Smith and withdraw all other college applications.

In accordance with the National Association of College Admission Counseling policy: "Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment."

Deferred applicants are reconsidered with regular decision applications in the spring. Decision mailings are sent mid-December.

Where to Send Forms

You can send your documents to us by email, through the mail or via fax. Please make copies of all documents submitted.

Office of Admission Smith College 7 College Lane Northampton, MA 01063

Fax: 413-585-2527 [email protected]

Early Decision II

Deferred applicants are reconsidered with regular decision applications in the spring. Decision mailings are sent in late January.

Regular Decision

Decision mailings are sent in late March.

*If you are unable to provide the Midyear School Report by February 15, please send it to us as soon as possible.

Natural Disasters or Community Crisis      If you or your community has recently been impacted by natural disaster or a community crisis, we understand that you may not be able to meet our posted application deadlines. Please know that we are here to work with you during this difficult time. If you anticipate a delay in the submission of your application, please contact us at [email protected] to request an extension.

Application Materials

Smith accepts two applications for first-year admission—the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Smith does not have a preference for one application over the other; both of these application types will receive equal consideration in our admission process. All required forms and instructions for completing each application are available on the application web sites. 

• Common Application or Coalition Application
• Secondary School Report, including official high school transcript
• Counselor Recommendation
• Two Teacher Evaluation Forms
• Midyear Report
• Early Decision Agreement (if applicable)

International Applicants

Additionally, international applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency and may be required to submit testing. International citizens whose primary language is not English or have not attended a school at which English is the primary language of instruction will be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or the Duolingo English Test/DET. Applicants may be exempt from this requirement if they:

• Identify English as their first language;
• Have attended a school in which the primary language of instruction is English for the duration of their secondary school career;
• Have attended a school in the United States and been instructed in English for at least two years;
• Are enrolled in or have completed the IB Diploma Program or A level curriculum taught in English.

Please note that the test requirement is based on citizenship, not on where a student attends school.

Art Supplement

Students with strong backgrounds in music, visual art or dance are welcome to submit supplementary materials to support their application. Materials in other genres are not accepted or reviewed. Please note that you must submit all materials electronically using SlideRoom (not via regular mail). Materials will be accepted beginning August 1 through February 1. Portfolios started by February 1 must be completed by February 15 or they will not be reviewed.

Applicant Interviews

Interviews are optional for first-year and transfer applicants, and are conducted by Smith admission alum volunteers. Upon submission of your application to Smith, instructions for requesting an interview will be available on your applicant status portal.

Financial Assistance

U.s. applicants.

If you intend to apply for financial aid, you must do so when you apply for admission and by the published deadlines.

U.S. citizens who do not apply for financial aid by the published deadlines will be required to complete 64 credits earned at Smith before they are eligible to apply for institutional financial aid. This means that a student would be eligible to receive only federal, state and outside aid for her first two years at Smith; no Smith grant aid would be available before that period.

Visit Tuition & Financial Aid for financial aid deadlines and information and instructions on applying for financial aid.

International students who do not apply by the published deadlines prior to admission are ineligible to receive institutional financial aid from the college at any time .

Standardized Testing Policy

Smith has a  test-optional  standardized testing policy. International applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency and may be required to submit testing.

Smith College has been test-optional since 2009 and remains test-optional today.

Our admission process is holistic.

At Smith we look at the whole applicant and do not rely on a test score to define your potential for academic success. Your academic record, extracurricular activities, essay, recommendation letters, personal accomplishments and characteristics, and engagement in your community are all carefully considered during our review and selection process.

Unsure about whether to submit your scores?

If you are unsure of whether you should submit your test scores, we advise you to base your decision on whether you feel that your standardized test scores accurately reflect your academic ability and potential, or highlight an academic strength. If you choose not to submit test scores, you will in no way be disadvantaged in the admission process.

Does the test optional policy apply to both US Citizens and International citizens?

The submission of SAT or ACT scores is optional for all applicants.

International applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency and may be required to submit testing. International citizens whose primary language is not English or have not attended a school at which English is the primary language of instruction will be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or the Duolingo English Test/DET. Applicants may be exempt from this requirement if they:

Undocumented and DACA Students: Undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students follow the procedures and requirements for first-year or transfer admission. They are evaluated in the same way as U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents; SAT or ACT scores are optional.

Transgender Applicants      People who identify as women—cis, trans and nonbinary women—are eligible to apply to Smith. For more information see  Gender Identity and Expression .

Undocumented Applicants

Undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students follow the procedures and requirements for first-year or transfer admission. They are evaluated in the same way as U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents; SAT or ACT scores are optional. Undocumented and DACA students should indicate “Non-citizen” or “Other” in the citizenship field on the Common Application. Because we want to obtain a comprehensive picture of the student’s background and experiences in the context of her school and community, we encourage undocumented and DACA applicants to disclose their citizenship status in the application. Undocumented and DACA students may apply under any admission plan, including Early Decision.

Smith meets 100 percent of the demonstrated need of all admitted students who apply for financial aid by the published deadlines. Because federal financial aid is not available for undocumented and DACA students, Smith provides institutional, need-based financial aid in its place.

Please be in touch with the admission office if you have further questions.

For more information about resources for undocumented students, visit our Immigration Policy Resources and Responses site .

Additional Information

Ap, ib, and college credit.

A maximum of one semester (16 credits) earned through any combination of AP, IB and college credit while in high school may be applied toward your Smith degree. Pre-matriculation credit may be used only:

• to make up a shortage of credits incurred through failure
• with the approval of the administrative board, to make up a shortage of credit incurred as a result of dropping a course for reasons of health
• to undertake an accelerated course program

Credits are recorded for scores of 4 or 5 on most Advanced Placement examinations. The credits allotted are determined by the individual department.

Smith will award up to a semester's worth of credit if you have taken part in an International Baccalaureate program. The exact amount of credit will be determined once an official copy of results has been sent to the registrar's office .

Deferring Enrollment

Admitted students who wish to defer their enrollment should send a letter to Dean of Admission Deanna Dixon, or send an email to the admission office . Please state the reasons for deferral and explain your plans for the next year. You must pay your enrollment deposit by the published deadline to hold your space in next year's class.

We must have your request in our office by May 15 .

Contact Admission

7 College Lane Smith College Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: 413-585-2500 Email: [email protected]

Directions and Campus Maps

Interested in Smith? Request more information .

The Application Process

Applying to a health profession program can be a daunting process. One of the best ways to allay your fears is to understand how the admission process works. This section will provide you with resources to help you determine whether you are ready to apply and, when you are, how to submit your application. An application cycle for many health profession schools lasts more than 18 months, so be sure to meet with your health professions adviser well in advance of your anticipated application date.

How to Get Started

• Read the recommendations in “ Are You Ready to Apply? ” and refer to this website for FAQs.
• For committee letter applicants, review the timeline and deadlines under Requesting Committee Letters. Applicants requesting a committee letter are required to meet with the HPA Director at least once during the year prior to the start of each application cycle.
• Applicants not requesting a committee letter should discuss their individual application preparation and timeline to apply with the HPA Director.
• Stay in touch with members of the  Board of Health Professions Advisers . We are available to advise current students and alumnae.
• Resources regarding formatting resumes, mock interviews, and related information are available at the  Lazarus Center for Career Development .

Forms & Resources

Are you ready to apply.

Before you apply, it is critical to reflect on what you have achieved inside and outside the classroom and determine, in consultation with your health professions adviser, whether you are a fully qualified applicant. Simply discussing your motivation and passion for health care is not enough to create a strong application. You must have long-term, in-depth, convincing evidence that demonstrates your ability to succeed and excel in your field of choice. The following list highlights important characteristics of a successful applicant. We encourage you to consider your evidence for each of the following criteria.

Factors to Consider

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Academic Performance

Is your GPA competitive for the profession you wish to enter? Do you have any particularly low grades? What story does your transcript tell about you? (For example, do your grades show an upward trend? A challenging transfer to Smith from another school?) Admission offices evaluate your academic record to assess whether an applicant can handle the rigors of professional school and be competitive on the exams required for licensure. A competitive candidate will have an above average GPA and entrance exam score. Any academic missteps, such as an F (E on your Smith transcript), incomplete, or other conditional grades should be discussed with a health professions adviser.

• Entrance Exams

Entrance examination scores strongly influence the likelihood of admission to a health profession school. Though the entrance examination is just one part of your application,  do not  believe that other qualifications will compensate for poor scores. Similarly,  do not  believe that excellent scores will compensate for weak qualifications in other important areas.

Career Choice Rationale

How have you investigated your field of choice? Admission committees require evidence that you know why you are choosing this career path and are confident that it is the right fit. Evidence may include experience shadowing practitioners, conducting research, attending clinical internships, or volunteering in a healthcare setting.

Caring for the Welfare of Others

Health care is ultimately about caring for others, whether people or—in the case of veterinarians—animals. How have your experiences demonstrated this passion? Perhaps through substantive student activities, volunteer work, internships or post-graduation employment.

Interpersonal Skills

Have your experiences allowed you to develop the qualities necessary to interact with people in need? Reflect upon whether you have cultivated patience and an open mind for serving diverse populations. Because you will work with a larger care team, admission committees also seek evidence of organizational and leadership skills, motivation to work both independently and as part of a team, and strong written and oral communication skills. Aspiring veterinarians: This applies to you, as well! Your ability to interact with an animal's owner or caretaker will be critical to your success in this field.

Ethics, Morals & Professionalism

Health care workers may face ethically and morally ambiguous decisions. Admission committees seek evidence of good judgment, even-handedness, integrity, and maturity. How have you developed these skills? Also evaluate your professionalism. Does your public persona raise questions? Admission officials do check social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and inappropriate or questionable content could jeopardize your chances of admission. Your email address and voicemail greeting should similarly be professional and mature.

Any academic or legal misconduct (including  any  violation of Smith's Honor Code, large or small) should be confidentially discussed with the Director of the Health Professions Advising Program before you decide to continue with your application. You will be required to enter this information on your professional school application, and serious infractions may disqualify you for consideration at your chosen health profession schools.

How have your experiences prepared you to practice innovative health care? Many health profession schools consider research the primary mechanism for improving standards of patient care, and thus a necessary part of what it means to be a health care professional. Research should be considered broadly and does not need to be confined to laboratory work. Many successful applicants conduct research in the social sciences, arts and humanities. All independent research ultimately demonstrates responsibility, initiative, innovation, the ability to self-monitor and self-motivate, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Bear in mind that each health profession school has its own personality. If your goal is to attend a school that has a strong focus in scientific research, you should have demonstrated a sustained interest in learning what it means to be a scientist by working in a lab, attending a summer internship, or completing a senior thesis project. Moreover, most health profession schools will want to see that you have developed strong laboratory skills, whether or not this connects directly to your independent research experience.

All of your experiences are particularly valuable if you have demonstrated leadership in creating, sustaining, or reviving an area of your interest. Pursuing the experiences about which you are most passionate will help your leadership skills to grow and shine.

• Letters of Recommendation

An otherwise qualified applicant will receive little consideration by health profession schools without strong supporting letters of recommendation. In order for a reference to write an outstanding letter, you, the applicant, must put in the effort to help your potential letter writers get to know you. Actively participate in your classes, visit office hours and speak with your professors about your interests and career goals. Employ similar relationship-building strategies with supervisors and mentors, and you will receive rich and detailed recommendation letters that can set you apart from other applicants.

Personal Readiness

Are you financially, emotionally, and physically ready to attend a rigorous training program? The application process is expensive, time consuming, and emotionally draining. Once in school you will need money for living expenses in addition to your tuition, so think carefully about how to fund your education. Also consider whether you are mentally prepared for the stress that can accompany a fast-paced academic program. Finally, if you have any health concerns, consider how you might prepare for the physical rigors of school.

Improving your qualifications and building a "Plan B"

Building evidence of qualifications takes time. For those who need to strengthen one or more elements of their application, the wisest path is often to summon patience and apply in the following cycle. Even the most qualified individuals will need to think about what they will do over the course of the application cycle to continue improving the weaker areas of their application, while also developing a backup plan in case they are not accepted the first time.

"I will apply and see what happens"

This is a common sentiment, and it rarely serves the applicant well. In most cases, we hear this from applicants who recognize that they are not yet fully qualified. We cannot stress enough the importance of working with the Board of Health Professions Advisors to assess your qualifications and determine the optimum timeline for applying. We will be honest and inform you if we believe you need additional time for preparations. Certainly, we cannot predict who will be admitted to a health profession school, but we can predict with a good deal of accuracy who will not gain admission. We urge you to take our advice seriously.

Application Materials

• Transcripts, Résumés, & Curriculum Vitae
• Primary & Secondary Applications

Transcripts

If applying through a central application service, carefully follow the service's instructions about transcripts. After sending your transcript(s) to the application service, check on the verification process early and often. Follow up if your transcripts are not received in a timely manner. Applicants not using a central application service should follow the instructions given by individual schools.

You should have an extra copy of your official transcript(s) sent to you so that you can check for errors and to refer to when filling out your online application.

Please note:  The Board of Health Professions Advisers cannot request a transcript for you; only you can request official copies of your transcript. Follow instructions for requesting your official Smith College transcript .

Make Requests Early

It can take up to a month for a transcript request to be processed. Transcripts should be sent directly to your health profession's application service  before  you submit your primary application so that the service can begin verifying your courses and grades immediately after you submit.

Problems Getting a non-Smith Transcript

If an institution you attended does not provide transcripts, you may need to submit a letter from them to the application service or individual programs.

If an institution you attended is no longer operational, you may be able to procure an archived transcript through the  U.S. Department of Education .

Committee Letter Applicants

You are required to submit  unofficial  copies of all transcripts as part of your preapplication. Transcripts from all of the tertiary-level institutions you attended should be uploaded to the preapplication in one PDF document.

Résumés & Curriculum Vitae

A résumé or a curriculum vitae (CV) is included as one of the preapplication documents supplied by applicants requesting a committee letter from the Board of Health Professions Advisors. We recommend that non-committee letter applicants also develop one. Résumés and CVs may be helpful during an interview and can be referenced when completing centralized applications.

Definitions

Students may wish to build a résumé or a CV depending on their experience and their profession of interest. Primary differences between these two documents include length, content and the document's purpose.

A résumé is typically one or two pages and summarizes your education, experiences and skills. A résumé may be used for a variety of purposes including applications to jobs, graduate schools or fellowships.

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a more detailed document which may include topics such as educational background, research, publications, presentations, posters, teaching, awards and honors, professional affiliations, conferences and other details. A CV is often used for academic, research, scientific and similar pursuits.

The Lazarus Center for Career Development offers a  guide for building your CV and résumé  as well as a handout with sample science and technical resumes. Career advisers and peer advisers in the center are available to provide feedback on your work.

Many health professions schools require standardized test scores as part of the application requirements. These tests target academic topics that have been covered in your undergraduate studies and also measure your ability to study appropriately and do well in a test-taking scenario. The most common entrance exams required for admission to health profession schools are listed below. The Lazarus Center has partnered with The Princeton Review to offer discounted MCAT, DAT, GRE and other exam preparation classes for Smith students and alumnae.

Medical College Admission Test , required for admission to any medical or podiatry school within the United States. MCAT scores are also accepted by some physician assistant programs.

Preparation resources from Khan Academy

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)

Osteopathic Medical College Information Book

Graduate Record Examination  general test, required or accepted for admission to veterinary medicine, public health, physical therapy, chiropractic, nursing, occupational therapy, and physician assistant programs.

Practice GRE Material

Dental Admission Test , required for admission to dental schools.

• ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools

Pharmacy College Admissions Test , required for some applicants to pharmacy programs.

Practice PCAT Material

AACP Pharmacy School Admission Requirements

Optometry Admission Test , required for admission to optometry schools.

ASCO Admission Requirements Handbook for Optometry Schools and Colleges

Chiropractic College Aptitude Test , required for some applicants to chiropractic schools.

Please note:  Schools for acupuncture and Oriental medicine and naturopathic medicine do not require an entrance exam.

Preparing For Your Entrance Examination

Studying for a standardized test should not be taken lightly. Re-taking your examination after a poor score requires time and resources that might otherwise be used to polish your application. In addition, it is not helpful to have multiple scores on file, as most admission committees review all available test results.

Take a Diagnostic Test

A good start is taking a diagnostic test to determine your baseline score. Then plan an appropriate study regimen that targets your weaker areas. Consider test prep to be like a challenging basic science course: the amount of time you would typically devote to that class is roughly the amount of time you should devote to studying. Be sure to track your progress and adjust your study habits as needed.

Research Study Materials

Many applicants consider purchasing supplementary study materials from companies or taking test preparation classes. The Board of Health Professions Advisers neither advocates nor discourages use of these resources. The best way to study is what will work most effectively for the individual learner. Free or less expensive resources do exist, including online preparation materials (be sure they are from a reputable source!) and secondhand prep books. The Lazarus Center has partnered with The Princeton Review to offer discounted MCAT, DAT, GRE and other exam preparation classes for Smith students and alumnae.

Time Yourself

Your standardized test will be timed and computer-based. Many are several hours long and will test your cognitive endurance. As you prepare, practice passages or tests under the same conditions, including at the same time of day when you will take the actual exam. At a minimum, always time yourself while working through problems. Test producers offer full-length practice tests. Taking these periodically will allow you to authentically track your score while enabling you to replicate 'test day' circumstances. Limit yourself to the same break schedule that will be allowed on test day.

Be sure to prepare for the details of test day. Gather the appropriate ID and snacks, and make sure you know where the test is held. Consider developing a sleep routine that is consistent with when you need to be awake on test day.

Assess Your Financial Preparedness

Be financially prepared for your entrance exam! Registration is expensive, although fee assistance programs may be available for applicants with demonstrated financial need.

Timing of the Entrance Exam

Take it early.

We strongly recommend that you take the admission test early enough to permit you to know your test scores before you apply and, if necessary, to retake the test. The Board of Health Profession Advisors recommends that applicants know their entrance exam score prior to submitting a primary application. It is also critical that you have completed, or be completing, courses covering topics included in the exam content by the time you take the test. 

For applicants to medical/dental/optometry/podiatry school who will not receive a committee letter from Smith (i.e. those who have not participated in the preapplication process), we still do not recommend taking a late test. Most health professions schools have rolling admissions, and it is in your best interest to submit an early application (no later than July 1) with your test score. This requires adhering to the same test schedule as we have outlined for applicants receiving a committee letter.

For applicants to other health profession schools, the timing of your test will vary depending on your application deadline(s) and whether the schools to which you are applying use a system of rolling admissions. If it is rolling, you would be wise to submit your application, with your test score, as early as possible in the admission cycle.

Retaking the Test

You should not retake the admission test unless it is necessary to be competitive for your schools and you are absolutely positive that you can improve. Retaking the test and not improving may cause health profession schools to question your judgment and time management skills. If you are unsure whether re-taking the test is in your best interest, please arrange an appointment with a health professions adviser.

Application Essays

A strong application essay is an interview on paper. Above all, an essay must effectively respond to the prompt provided. Application essays may also express who you are and how you see yourself contributing to your field; give insight into your personality, motivation and passions; discuss how you are unique; highlight your values; and/or show your capacities to make a difference.

Personal Statements and Other Primary Application Essays

Most health profession schools require that you complete a personal statement. This essay not only shows your ability to communicate effectively but also helps distinguish you from the competition. Applicants to dual-degree programs (e.g., M.D.-Ph.D.) will complete additional essays on their primary application.

WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT

Secondary Application Essays

Some health profession schools that use a central application service will require applicants to complete a secondary application. These secondary applications often include additional essay prompts, offering you the opportunity to share more about yourself and personalize your interest in an individual school. School-specific prompts vary only slightly from year to year and are sometimes found online. While waiting for your primary application to be verified, you may wish to draft secondary essays. Note that some institutions only ask certain applicants to submit a secondary.

MEDICAL SCHOOL SECONDARY ESSAY PROMPTS

Editing Tips

• Understand your audience.
• Coordinate your personal statement and primary and secondary application responses to avoid redundancy.
• Use an 'active' voice.
• Answer the question that was asked.
• Support your statements with concrete, detailed examples.
• Avoid clichés and generalities.
• Ask different people (professors, family, friends, people who don't know you that well) to read your essay and provide feedback.
• If you struggle to describe yourself, ask the opinion of someone who knows you well.
• Explore how the qualities you describe translate to your future self as a healthcare provider.
• If you get stuck, put the essay aside and come back to it later.

Acuity Insights / Casper & Duet

The Acuity Insights suite of assessments includes Casper and Duet. Applicants must confirm if their selected schools require one or more of these assessments.

Casper® is a uni-directional, online, situational judgement test. It presents a series of 15 hypothetical situations to which an applicant provides typewritten responses (9 scenarios) and video responses (6 scenarions) over the course of 100 - 120 minutes. Casper assesses applicants for behavioral tendencies and characteristics such as empathy, professionalism, resilience, and self-awareness among others. The assessment offers applicants a chance to demonstrate their people skills in addition to their academic and experiential qualifications and to do so early in the application review process. Snapshot is a 10-15 minute video assessment of a candidate's communication skills. Applicants convey their reasons for choosing a career in medicine. Duet focuses on applicants' values and interests in terms of choosing medical schools.

• Learn more about the Acuity Insights assessments Casper and Duet. Sample questions are available at  https://takealtus.com/test-prep/
• List of U.S. medical schools that require the Acuity Insights assessments .

The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam (formerly known as the AAMC Situational Judgement Test (SJT))

The AAMC PREview is an online standardized exam that presents a series of hypothetical scenarios students may encounter in medical school and asks examinees to evaluate the effectiveness of a series of behavioral responses to each scenario.

Learn more about the AAMC PREview  and the list of participating medical schools.

KIRA Talent Assessment

Kira Talent is an online interviewing platform. Admissions committees use responses to evaluate qualities in applicants such as leadership, verbal and written communication, professionalism and motivation for pursuing their chosen health care profession. Participation is by invitation only. Applicants will complete either an asynchronous, unidirectional assessment of either 1). video and/or written responses, or 2). a live two-way interview. 

Visit the Kira Talent website to learn more about the platform and FAQs.

We are providing  general  information about letters of recommendation for health profession school applicants. Keep in mind that specific requirements will vary. Carefully read all application instructions, both for individual institutions and application services.

Types of Letters

Individual letters are written by a single letter writer and are either sent individually or compiled by your health profession advisor into a letter packet or committee letter. A letter packet includes a brief cover letter, while a committee letter is a lengthy, narrative evaluation of your qualifications. Most applicants to medical, dental, optometry and podiatry schools will request a committee letter from the Board of Health Professions Advisers. Applicants to all health profession schools will request individual letters.

A Note on Confidentiality

You have the option to choose confidential or open letters of recommendation; however, health profession schools prefer confidential letters.

Committee Letters

All applicants receiving a committee letter must create an  Interfolio  account where individual letters of reference will be held. Your account must be affiliated with the "Smith College Pre-Health" institutional account; this requires that you use a specially generated link to create your account. If you have already submitted your preapplication, the link is included in the post-submission email you received. If you have not yet completed the preapplication, please contact the HPA Director to request the link.

Number of Letters

Unless otherwise specified, applicants typically include four to six individual letters of reference, which will be appended to the committee letter.

Letter to Recommenders

You must provide letter writers with the  Letter to Recommenders  (PDF) handout.

Interfolio Document Request Form

You will need to grant your letter writers the ability to upload letters to your Interfolio account by sending them the  Interfolio Document Request Form . Your recommenders must attach their letter to the form and either mail or e-mail it to Interfolio. It is not necessary to send a request form for the committee letter.

No Committee Letter

If you are not receiving a committee letter, consult the application instructions of your programs to determine the letter collection criteria. Programs that do not receive letters of recommendation through a centralized application service will have explicit instructions about requesting letters of reference, and may have instructions or questionnaires for letter writers. It is your responsibility to ensure that your programs of interest receive letters of reference.

Some applicants may find it useful to create an Interfolio account for the confidential storing of individual letters of recommendation.

Whom You Should Ask

Unless explicitly indicated otherwise, letters are written by professors, employers, supervisors and those who have a working relationship with you. Letters should  not  be written by family, friends or acquaintances.

A strong letter is written by those who have known you a long time, think highly of you and have supervised you in the classroom, laboratory or a clinical setting. The writer should know details about your major accomplishments. A strong letter of recommendation is dated no more than three years prior to your application to a health profession school, but ideally will be more recent to reflect your current capabilities.

Applicants receiving a committee letter will discuss the selection of their individual letters of reference with the HPA Directore during the initial preapplication review meeting. Applicants who will not receive a committee letter are also encouraged to seek advice from members of the Board of Health Professions Advisors if they are unsure of the best collection of letters.

When to Ask

Request letters of reference at least  two to three months  before you will need them. It is a good idea to request a letter relatively soon after you've taken a class or finished an internship, as that is the time that your writer will most clearly remember what you achieved.

Committee Letter Deadline

All individual letters of reference for a committee letter are due in Interfolio no later than May 25. See Committee Letter Timeline and Key Deadlines.

Don’t Be Presumptuous

Make your request for a letter in person before sending any official requests through a third party letter organizer (such as Interfolio), central application service or individual schools' online application systems.

Do Be Formal

Writing a letter of reference is hard work and time consuming, so make your request carefully and respectfully. Don't request a letter of reference while passing in the hallway or by sending a quick email. Instead, stop by during a professor's office hours or request a meeting with a current supervisor.

If you are geographically distant from a potential recommender, a professional email may be an acceptable first contact, but always offer to follow up with a phone or video call.

Provide Résumé and Goals

Once an individual has agreed to support you with a recommendation letter, provide the writer with a short explanation of your goals, a list of "talking points," a copy of your personal statement and a current résumé. 

Letter Format

All individual letters of recommendation should be written in a formal style. They should be written on letterhead from the letter writer's place of employment and should be signed before submitting. Ensure that your recommenders understand this, and if necessary, direct them to their department's administrative assistant (if at Smith) for technical support in this area. Letters that do not follow the format described above will not be accepted.

Requesting Committee Letters

A committee letter is an evaluation of your qualifications for a health profession school. 

Selecting Schools

Apply to the correct number of schools.

For applicants to medical school, you will want to focus on 15 to 20 schools. Applicants applying to MD and DO programs may end up with a combined total of 20 to 25 schools. Applicants to most other health professions apply to a smaller number of schools, usually 8 to 12 programs.

Research Admission Protocol

Research average grade point averages and entrance exam scores of admitted students at different schools. You do not need to fall at or above the median numbers for  all  of your schools, but you should certainly fall within a given school's ranges in these areas. If you are in the lower ends of a school's ranges, you should have stellar qualifications in other areas.

Find the Right Fit

Be sure a school matches your interests. Look at the philosophies of schools where you may be a qualified applicant. Read mission statements. Investigate what the school's current students and alumni/ae are doing and how the school is (or is not) integrated into the surrounding community. Ascertain the general campus climate around any religious, political or social issues about which you feel strongly. Does what you find resonate with your values and career goals?

At the same time, be flexible! Your choices may change dramatically as you interview. Most students report feeling the right fit—or not!—after they have visited a school.

Consider Geography

Geographic preferences are important, but some flexibility in this area will allow you to select from a broader range of schools. Remember that your time in professional school is only a few years, not the rest of your career.

Calculate Costs

There is no way of knowing the cost of your professional school education until you have been given an offer of admission with a financial aid package. If you are interested in a school but concerned about the costs, carefully research the financial aid available, and then determine whether you feel it is worth the cost of your application. It is important to note that while public institutions generally have lower tuition than private ones, private institutions may have greater financial resources to offer scholarships to eligible students.

Apply to Both Public and Private Schools

Selecting both public and private schools is usually in the best interest of most applicants. Above all, do include schools in your home state or region. Many schools give preference to in-state residents, and tuition for in-state residents is often much less than that for private school.

Do not apply to any school that you would not be happy attending if it is the only school that makes an offer of admission.

Helpful Resources

The following resources provide concise overviews of admission requirements for individual schools based on profession.

• AANMC Member Schools  (naturopathic medicine)
• ACA Chiropractic Colleges
• ACAOM Find http://acaom.org/directory/A School  (acupuncture and Oriental medicine)
• "All Access" Med School Admissions Podcasts
• Discover Nursing List of Schools
• Medical School Admission Requirements  (allopathic medical schools, including Canadian schools)
• OptomCAS Information About Schools and Colleges  (optometry)
• Osteopathic Medicine Choose DO Explorer  (osteopathic medical schools)
• OTCAS Participating Programs  (occupational therapy)
• PAEA Program Directory  (physician assistant)
• PharmCAS Directory  (pharmacy)
• Podiatric Medical College Information Book
• PTCAS Programs Directory  (physical therapy)
• SOPHAS Participating Institutions and Program Search  (public health)
• Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements

Interviewing

Congratulations! Your primary and secondary applications have been received well by schools, and you have been offered an interview. This is a good sign; it means that the admission committee believes that you have the potential to succeed within that program. For most admission committees, an interview is an opportunity to get to know the individual presented in the application materials. For applicants, the interview is a chance to assess whether the institution is the right match and to demonstrate your interest.

Mock Interviews

The Health Professions team uses Hireflix , an industry-standard asynchronous mock interview platform, to help you practice your interview skills. Hireflix allows you to record your answers to interview sets created by your adviser. No account is needed and interviews can be completed on any computer or phone with a camera. You can access pre-made mock interviews on your own time. Lazarus Center advisers are also happy to meet with you for interview practice. Schedule an appointment via Handshake or call 413-585-2582.

In Advance of Your Interview

Interviewing is stressful, and you will be most relaxed and 'yourself' if you feel well prepared. Make sure to book flights as soon as possible to avoid rising fares and consider student hosts if your school offers them. You can also contact Smith alumnae in that area using the  Stay with a Smithie Facebook group .

A note about contacting alumnae : Please use good judgment when reaching out to alumnae who you do not know, and avoid putting them on the spot. For example, it would not be appropriate to ask an alumna if she could provide you with accommodation. She may, however, be able to offer advice on local accommodation and transportation options. 

Practice Interviewing

Research the interview format of the school so you can prepare for the types of questions that may be asked. Read through  commonly asked interview questions  and practice articulating your answers. Prepare to discuss emerging issues in health care by reading current journal articles and forming your own questions and opinions. Above all, practice, practice, practice! You can practice interviewing with friends, family, co-workers, professors...anyone who is willing. We strongly recommend using Hireflix and to schedule a mock interview via your Handshake account.

Plan for the Day

Prepare for interview day by fulfilling any requests of the admission office.  Plan professional attire for that day . At a minimum, applicants should wear dress pants and a blazer, or a dress or skirt with an appropriate jacket. Jewelry and makeup should be unremarkable. Conservative colors, such as grey, blue, or black are safe choices. Be sure to arrange enough time for a non-rushed arrival and departure, and know where to go. A pocket-sized notebook is useful for writing down names of people you will meet. A  padfolio  can be useful and professional.

Interview Styles

‘open file’ interviews.

The interviewer has access to your application information.

‘Blind’ or ‘Closed File’ Interviews

The interviewer has limited information about you and, at a minimum, does not know your test scores.

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

A series of short, timed, sequential, scenario-based questions that assess a candidate's communication, logic, judgment, and interpersonal abilities. These are increasingly common among medical schools in the United States and Canada. If you get this type of interview, it is strongly advised that you  review the process  (more  here ) and practice a few scenarios.

Behavioral Event Interviews

A series of open-ended questions that require you to give evidence-based answers about how you work, communicate, and make decisions.

Stress Interviews

Questions that are increasing in difficulty, or that are uncomfortable, personal, or otherwise distressing. The purpose of this type of interview is to evaluate how you function under stress.

The Day of the Interview

Arrive a few minutes early.  Be friendly, professional and nice to everyone, including the other applicants! Do a brief review of your itinerary.

Listen and ask thoughtful questions.  Take time to reflect on the school's values as the day progresses. What is the school proud of? Do their values fit your professional goals? Write down the names of everyone you meet. Use down time to note small details that you thought were interesting or unique. Maybe you witnessed a student helping someone who had dropped their books, or you connected with a faculty member over a shared interest.

M.D.-Ph.D. candidates  should be prepared for at least one in-depth conversation about their research, with a faculty member who works in a similar field. Be confident but not presumptuous. Recognize that you do not have all of the answers. Practice for this portion of your interview with a current PI or other research mentor. Read current peer-reviewed publications in your area of research.

Do not be thrown off if an interview is not what you expect.  Some faculty will ask formal questions, while others may simply wish to talk about the future of health care. If you have a group interview or exercise, you will be evaluated for your ability to work in a team. Respond thoughtfully to the ideas of others, and do not monopolize the conversation. Try to avoid the mindset that all questions have 'right' answers. Often, questions are asked to assess your ability to think logically and communicate clearly.

Be formal.  Unless instructed otherwise, address faculty formally, using professor, doctor, Ms., Mr., etc. Thank your interviewers, tour guides, and the admissions office for inviting you to interview.

Turn off your phone.  Your cell phone should be off or stowed throughout the day. Nothing conveys disinterest faster than consulting your cell phone during any part of the interview, including what you may perceive as 'down time.'

Smile!  You will get far by showing enthusiasm for the school and a passion for health care.

After the Interview

Thank-you notes.

Send thank-you notes to those who interviewed you. Handwritten may be appreciated (provided your penmanship is legible), though an emailed note can be easier to add to your file. Be sure to include anything that you particularly liked or noticed throughout the day. Some schools have policies against applicants contacting interviewers directly. When this is the case, it is acceptable to send a thank-you to the general admissions office address.

Letter of Interest

You may also send a letter of interest (LOI). A letter of interest (LOI) is any letter sent to an admission committee that is not required as part of your application. The purpose of an LOI is to convey your continued interest in a particular school. There are no hard rules about submitting an LOI, but you should do your homework and send LOIs judiciously. Some admission committees discourage LOIs, while others welcome them. In almost all cases, an LOI is appropriate following an interview, but be aware of schools that have policies against contacting interviewers directly.

Notes About Difficult Experiences

Though rare, negative interview experiences do take place. If you encounter a bad experience, remember to keep your cool. You can report a poor experience and, if you choose, withdraw your application. Many schools ask for anonymous feedback. It may also be beneficial to discuss a poor, uncomfortable or confusing interview experience with your health professions adviser.

Smith College 2018-19 Supplemental Essay Guide

Regular Decision: 

Smith College 2018-19 Application Essay Question Explanations

It’s almost de rigeur for a small liberal arts school like Smith to have a quirky supplement. So here you go! The prompt is so straightforward and the word limit so low that this might feel like a trap. But it’s not! The only challenge here is getting out of your own head.

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball

We know that colleges ask a lot of hard questions on their applications. This one is not so hard and we promise, there is no hidden agenda-just have fun! If you could star in any movie, what movie would you pick and why? (50-200 words)

You heard them — just have fun! And we think they mean it, too! In our book, having fun means not overthinking your answer or agonizing over what admissions might want you to say. In general, the most successful answers to these sorts of oddball questions spring from a genuine interest or instinct. It’s just easier to have fun writing about something that you genuinely enjoy and know about!

In other words, don’t say you would star in Citizen Kane if you’ve never seen Citizen Kane — it’s as simple as that! But what’s fun about this prompt is that the wording leaves it open to interpretation. “Any movie” could literally be any movie , past, present, or (gasp) future. Your reason can range from the movie’s content to its more technical elements.  Maybe you actually would want to star in Citizen Kane because you’re a movie buff, and you’re mostly curious about the camera setup. Or perhaps you strongly believe someone should make a movie about Julia Child’s career as a spy during World War II; if you have to put lifts in your shoes and play the beloved chef yourself, so be it! To come up with the perfect idea (that you can express clearly in no more than 200 words!), give yourself some time to brainstorm. Jot down as many ideas and combinations as you can come up with — no judgements allowed! Then narrow them down until you find the idea that works best. The prompt said it once, but we’ll say it again: don’t forget to have fun.

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle & High School – 2024

April 15, 2024

Some high school students dream of writing for a living, perhaps pursuing an English major in college, or even attending a creative writing MFA program later on. For other students, creative writing can be useful for school assignments, in English and other subjects, and also for preparing their Common App essays . In a less goal-oriented sense, daily freewriting in a journal can be a healthy life practice for many high schoolers. Not sure where to start? Continue reading for 100 creative writing prompts for middle school and high school students. These middle/high school writing prompts offer inspiration for getting started with writing in a number of genres and styles.

Click here to view the 35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing .

What are Creative Writing Prompts?

Similar to how an academic essay prompt provides a jumping-off point for forming and organizing an argument, creative writing prompts are points of initiation for writing a story, poem, or creative essay. Prompts can be useful for writers of all ages, helping many to get past writer’s block and just start (often one of the most difficult parts of a writing process).

Writing prompts come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they are phrases used to begin sentences. Other times they are questions, more like academic essay prompts Writing prompts can also involve objects such as photographs, or activities such as walking. Below, you will find high school writing prompts that use memories, objects, senses (smell/taste/touch), abstract ideas , and even songs as jumping-off points for creative writing. These prompts can be used to write in a variety of forms, from short stories to creative essays, to poems.

How to use Creative Writing Prompts

Before we get started with the list, are a few tips when using creative writing prompts:

Experiment with different formats : Prose is great, but there’s no need to limit yourself to full sentences, at least at first. A piece of creative writing can begin with a poem, or a dialogue, or even a list. You can always bring it back to prose later if needed.

Interpret the prompt broadly : The point of a creative writing prompt is not to answer it “correctly” or “precisely.” You might begin with the prompt, but then your ideas could take you in a completely different direction. The words in the prompt also don’t need to open your poem or essay, but could appear somewhere in the middle.

Switch up/pile up the prompts : Try using two or three prompts and combine them, or weave between them. Perhaps choose a main prompt, and a different “sub-prompt.” For example, your main prompt might be “write about being in transit from one place to another,” and within that prompt, you might use the prompt to “describe a physical sensation,” and/or one the dialogue prompts.  This could be a fun way to find complexity as you write.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Students (Continued)

Write first, edit later : While you’re first getting started with a prompt, leave the typos and bad grammar. Obsessing over details can take away from your flow of thoughts. You will inevitably make many fixes when you go back through to edit.

Write consistently : It often becomes easier to write when it’s a practice , rather than a once-in-a-while kind of activity. For some, it’s useful to write daily. Others find time to write every few days, or every weekend. Sometimes, a word-count goal can help (100 words a day, 2,000 words a month, etc.). If you set a goal, make sure it’s realistic. Start small and build from there, rather than starting with an unachievable goal and quickly giving up.

100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Teens

Here are some prompts for getting started with your creative writing. These are organized by method, rather than genre, so they can inspire writing in a variety of forms. Pick and choose the ones that work best for you, and enjoy!

Prompts using memories

• Begin each sentence or group of sentences with the phrase, “I remember…”
• Describe a family ritual.
• Choose an event in your life, and write about it from the perspective of someone else who was there.
• Pick a pathway you take on a regular basis (to school, or to a friend’s house). Describe five landmarks that you remember from this pathway.
• Write about your house or apartment using a memory from each room.
• Write an imaginary history of the previous people who lived in your house or apartment.
• Write about an ancestor based on stories you’ve heard from relatives.
• What’s your earliest memory?
• Who was your first friend?
• Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen since childhood.
• Write about yourself now from the perspective of yourself twenty, or eighty, years from now.
• Write about the best month of the year.
• Write about the worst day of the year.
• Rant about something that has always annoyed you.
• Write about the hottest or coldest day you can remember.
• Visualize a fleeting moment in your life and as though it’s a photograph, and time yourself 5 minutes to write every detail you can remember about the scene.
• Draw out a timeline of your life so far. Then choose three years to write about, as though you were writing for a history book.
• Write about a historical event in the first person, as though you remember it.
• Write about a memory of being in transit from one place to another.

Objects and photographs as creative writing prompts

• Describe the first object you see in the room. What importance does it have in your life? What memories do you have with this object? What might it symbolize?
• Pick up an object, and spend some time holding it/examining it. Write about how it looks, feels, and smells. Write about the material that it’s made from.
• Choose a favorite family photograph. What could someone know just by looking at the photograph? What’s secretly happening in the photograph?
• Choose a photograph and tell the story of this photograph from the perspective of someone or something in it.
• Write about a color by describing three objects that are that color.
• Tell the story of a piece of trash.
• Tell the story of a pair of shoes.
• Tell the story of your oldest piece of clothing.

Senses and observations as creative writing prompts

• Describe a sound you hear in the room or outside. Choose the first sound you notice. What are its qualities? It’s rhythms? What other sounds does it remind you of?
• Describe a physical sensation you feel right now, in as much detail as possible.
• Listen to a conversation and write down a phrase that you hear someone say. Start a free-write with this phrase.
• Write about a food by describing its qualities, but don’t say what it is.
• Describe a flavor (salty, sweet, bitter, etc.) to someone who has never tasted it before.
• Narrate your day through tastes you tasted.
• Narrate your day through sounds you heard.
• Narrate your day through physical sensations you felt.
• Describe in detail the physical process of doing an action you consider simple or mundane, like walking or lying down or chopping vegetables.
• Write about the sensation of doing an action you consider physically demanding or tiring, like running or lifting heavy boxes.
• Describe something that gives you goosebumps.
• Write a story that involves drinking a cold glass of water on a hot day.
• Write a story that involves entering a warm house from a cold snowy day.
• Describe someone’s facial features in as much detail as possible.

Songs, books, and other art

• Choose a song quote, write it down, and free-write from there.
• Choose a song, and write a story in which that song is playing in the car.
• Choose a song, and write to the rhythm of that song.
• Choose a character from a book, and describe an event in your life from the perspective of that character.
• Go to a library and write down 10 book titles that catch your eye. Free-write for 5 minutes beginning with each one.
• Go to a library and open to random book pages, and write down 5 sentences that catch your attention. Use those sentences as prompts and free-write for 5-minutes with each.
• Choose a piece of abstract artwork. Jot down 10 words that come to mind from the painting or drawing, and free-write for 2 minutes based on each word.
• Find a picture of a dramatic Renaissance painting online. Tell a story about what’s going on in the painting that has nothing to do with what the artist intended.
• Write about your day in five acts, like a Shakespearean play. If your day were a play, what would be the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution?
• Narrate a complicated book or film plot using only short sentences.
• Read a short poem. Then write a poem that could be a “sister” or “cousin” of that poem.

Abstract ideas as creative writing prompts

• Write about an experience that demonstrates an abstract idea, such as “love” or “home” or “freedom” or “loss” without ever using the word itself.
• Write a list of ways to say “hello” without actually saying “hello.”
• Write a list of ways to say “I love you” without actually saying “I love you.”
• Do you believe in ghosts? Describe a ghost.
• Invent a mode of time travel.
• Glass half-full/half-empty: Write about an event or situation with a positive outlook. Then write about it with a miserable outlook.
• Free-write beginning with “my religion is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with organized religion as you’d like).
• Free-write beginning with “my gender is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with common ideas of gender as you’d like).
• Write about a person or character that is “good” and one that is “evil.” Then write about the “evil” in the good character and the “good” in the evil character.
• Write like you’re telling a secret.
• Describe a moment of beauty you witnessed. What makes something beautiful?

Prompts for playing with narrative and character

• Begin writing with the phrase, “It all started when…”
• Tell a story from the middle of the most dramatic part.
• Write a story that begins with the ending.
• Begin a story but give it 5 possible endings.
• Write a list of ways to dramatically quit a terrible job.
• Write about a character breaking a social rule or ritual (i.e., walking backwards, sitting on the floor of a restaurant, wearing a ballgown to the grocery store). What are the ramifications?
• You are sent to the principal’s office. Justify your bad behavior.
• Re-write a well-known fairytale but set it in your school.
• Write your own version of the TV show trope where someone gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger, or a secret love interest, or a nemesis.
• Imagine a day where you said everything you were thinking, and write about it.
• Write about a scenario in which you have too much of a good thing.
• Write about a scenario in which money can buy happiness.
• Invent a bank or museum heist.
• Invent a superhero, including an origin story.
• Write using the form of the scientific method (question, hypothesis, test, analyze data conclusion).
• Write using the form of a recipe.

Middle School & High School Creative writing prompts for playing with fact vs. fiction

• Write something you know for sure is true, and then, “but maybe it isn’t.” Then explain why that thing may not be true.
• Write a statement and contradict that statement. Then do it again.
• Draft an email with an outlandish excuse as to why you didn’t do your homework or why you need an extension.
• Write about your morning routine, and make it sound extravagant/luxurious (even if it isn’t).
• You’ve just won an award for doing a very mundane and simple task. Write your acceptance speech.
• Write about a non-athletic event as though it were a sports game.
• Write about the most complicated way to complete a simple task.
• Write a brief history of your life, and exaggerate everything.
• Write about your day, but lie about some things.
• Tell the story of your birth.
• Choose a historical event and write an alternative outcome.
• Write about a day in the life of a famous person in history.
• Read an instructional manual, and change three instructions to include some kind of magical or otherwise impossible element.

Prompts for starting with dialogue

• Write a texting conversation between two friends who haven’t spoken in years.
• Write a texting conversation between two friends who speak every day and know each other better than anyone.
• Watch two people on the street having a conversation, and imagine the conversation they’re having. Write it down.
• Write an overheard conversation behind a closed door that you shouldn’t be listening to.
• Write a conversation between two characters arguing about contradicting memories of what happened.
• You have a difficult decision to make. Write a conversation about it with yourself.
• Write a conversation with a total lack of communication.
• Write a job interview gone badly.

Final Thoughts – Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School 

Hopefully you have found several of these creative writing prompts helpful. Remember that when writing creatively, especially on your own, you can mix, match, and change prompts. For more on writing for high school students, check out the following articles:

• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• 160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics
• 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
• Good Transition Words for Essays
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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