Saint Mary's College (IN) (SMC)

Saint Mary's College, or SMC as it often referred, "is a unique, women's Catholic college that has a strong sense of tradition" and is "across the street from Notre Dame." Boasting "high standards for education, great faculty and staff" and "an excellent sense of community," Saint Mary's has a "small school aspect" with the advantage of having "a big school nearby," where SMC students can enroll in courses. According to one student, Saint Mary's "has a strong academic approach that also values spirituality" and "professors [who] are willing to help students whenever needed, but they by no means [hold] our hands…they push their students to achieve." Saint Mary's "has a large variety of majors to offer," including a nursing program that is "one of the best in the region," where students receive instruction from "nurses who are the best in their field." Additionally, one students tells us there is "a really high acceptance rate into medical school with their chemistry program." Some students have expressed concern about the lack of "wireless internet access for the entire school" and the need for improvements to the school's "library selection" and "health center." But overall, Saint Mary's students have informed us that "the coursework is challenging…professors are committed to helping students succeed," and its "study abroad programs are great."

Saint Mary's students are "from all different backgrounds [and] are committed to their education and have a desire to make a difference." The typical Saint Mary's student has been described to us as "a confident woman who knows herself." "She is kind, friendly, [and] very down-to-earth." "Saint Mary's does consist of [a] white majority" and "could be more inclusive" with regards to the "racial diversity in its student body." However, students inform us that "we do have very active and progressive minority students" and that "not everyone here is Catholic." Many of the college's students come "from the Midwest, usually Chicago suburbs, [and] went to private high school." "While Saint Mary's students enjoy partying and meeting boys, we are much more interested in excelling academically and furthering our educational experiences" "Not every girl at SMC is interested in drinking, parties, and boys."

Saint Mary's has a small campus, which helps foster "an excellent sense of community," and it is complemented by its proximity "to other schools." On the weekends students will "stay active in the community" and "participate a lot with Notre Dame and Holy Cross students." One students tells us that "you get the perks of being an all women's college, [with its] focused, casual, and safe atmosphere, [and] the perks of being a Notre Dame student, [with its] football tickets, extra classes, and boys." "People are very busy and involved" with campus life, whether through the "office of Social and Civic Engagement" or just to "hang out at bars on the weekend," "see a movie, go out to eat," or "take walks on the nature trail behind our school." "This is definitely not a party school" one student tells us. Life at Saint Mary's "includes a good balance of work and fun." "In the fall, football games and tailgates are the main events…on the weekends" and in the spring "the campus comes alive," but at the same time, "the women here take their education very seriously and are here for that reason."