Visiting Year Applicants

Each year Smith College admits a limited number of visiting women students who wish to spend a semester or year at the college. Though entering as nondegree candidates, visiting students may use their Smith coursework for credit at their own college or university.

As a visiting student, you will be enrolled in Smith courses, live in our residence halls and become involved in extracurricular activities. You may apply to transfer to Smith after one semester of a visiting program with approval from your home institution. Financial aid is not available for visiting students.

Forms & Deadlines

The application deadline for September entrance is July 1.

Applicants should use the Transfer Common Application and select the Visiting Student - Fall program.

Fall (September Entrance)

Item Deadline
Transfer Common Application July 1
College Transcript(s) July 1
High School Transcript or GED Certificate July 1
Transfer College Report  July 1
Two Academic Recommendations July 1


 

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
admission@zhenrenqi.com

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from well-qualified students with strong academic records. You may apply to spend a semester or a year at Smith.

Financial aid is not available for visiting students.

International Students

International students must be in their final year of studies leading to university entrance in their own country or currently enrolled in a university program abroad. If accepted, candidates will be expected to present examination results—Baccalaureate, Arbitur or GCSE, for example—before enrolling.

Junior Year Visiting Program for the Study of Mathematics

The Junior Program is for undergraduate women mathematics majors who want a mathematically intense semester or year among other women. (While the program is intended to take place during the junior year, second-semester sophomores and rising seniors will also be considered.)

There are no formal mathematical prerequisites for the Junior Program. An applicant should be majoring or intending to major in mathematics and should include two letters of recommendation from mathematics professors as part of her application.

Program for the Study of Women and Gender

Students must be at least a sophomore and have a strong academic record that includes two or more women and gender studies courses. In this program you may take courses in any department or program at Smith in addition to the many women and gender studies offerings.

12-College Exchange

Students studying at colleges participating in the 12-College Exchange (Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut College, Connecticut College National Theater Institute, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Wheaton and Williams-Mystic Seaport Program) as well as the Pomona-Smith Exchange must apply through the 12-College Exchange Program and not as visiting students.

Required Materials

Smith College uses the Common Application for prospective visiting students. There is no application fee. 

  • Transfer Common Application
  • College Transcripts: Smith requires official transcripts sent from all post-secondary institutions attended. To initiate that process, use the "Download Transcript Request Form" located in the "Colleges Attended" section of the "Academic History" quadrant of your Common Application.
  • High School Transcript or GED Certificate: Official high school transcript(s) or GED certificate are required. Please contact your secondary school(s) and ask for official transcripts to be sent directly to the Smith College Office of Admission via mail or email. GED certificates may also be sent to this address.
  • Transfer Mid-Term Report: The Common Application Mid-Term Report is required from those applicants currently enrolled in college courses. Completed forms may be uploaded on the application "Documents" screen or emailed to the Smith College Office of Admission.
  • Transfer College Report: The Common Application College Report is required for all visiting student applicants. This form must be filled out by a college official. Completed forms should be mailed or emailed directly to the Smith College Office of Admission.
  • Two Academic Recommendations: Please submit two recommendations from college instructors who have taught you.

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.

Standardized Testing Policy

Smith has a test-optional standardized testing policy.

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:

  • 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.

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.

Contact Admission

7 College Lane
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063