Abstract: A process for making polyimide sheet molding compounds which involves the preparation of a polyimide precursor solution of adjusted viscosity that includes a mixture of high and low boiling alcohols, and which also includes monomeric reactants including a diester of an aromatic dianhydride, an aromatic diamine, a monoester of norbornene dianhydride, the reactants being present in a relative molar ratio selected to yield a polyimide having a desired molecular weight. The solution, which further contains particular amounts of staple reinforcing fibers is deposited as a sheet between two carrier film layers and is partially dried to remove the low boiling alcohols.