Academics
A women’s liberal arts college founded in 1885 (and the first to offer the PhD), Bryn Mawr College in southeastern Pennsylvania is an “institution with a heart” that fosters “a close-knit community of empowered lifelong learners” who are “committed to striving for social equality and academic excellency.” Students enjoy the relaxed and intimate atmosphere of a small college. One student describes “dinner parties in professors’ homes, small reading groups that meet once a week, film screenings and weekend outings with my classmates” and shares, “I think I’m lucky to have such open and accessible professors and mentors.” Bryn Mawr’s low student-to-faculty ratio allows students to get plenty of face time with their professors and peers in during classes, which students describe as “laid back, in that everyone is working hard but does not feel the competitive pressure found at other schools.” “It is easy to get a spot in most classes,” one student tells us, “so your schedule truly reflects your interests.” Bryn Mawr offers other ways for students to personalize their studies, even within the required coursework: “The freshman writing seminar has about 20 different classes, so students get to explore a topic that excites them.” Bryn Mawr is also part of the Seven Sister Colleges and the Tri-College Consortium “with Haverford and Swarthmore [which] allows students to explore a range of fields without compromising on the small liberal arts college experience.” Overall students are thrilled with their experience at Bryn Mawr and the support they receive, or, as one student puts it: “Bryn Mawr College represents hope and selfempowerment for every student who walks through Pem Arch.”
Student Body
“Brilliantly smart, informed and active in the community,” Bryn Mawr students show a high regard for one another and value the individual contributions each one of their peers makes. “While there are countless stereotypes about the sort of people who attend a women’s college,” one student explains, “there’s really no one Bryn Mawr type.” The college hosts “an incredibly talented and diverse group” of students who are united by “our love of Bryn Mawr and learning in general.” Students say the student body is “quite political,” and “while straight, cis women can certainly thrive at Bryn Mawr, you should come here prepared for an active and thriving LGBTQIA+ culture. It’s a very special part of Bryn Mawr that I wouldn’t trade for anything.” These “intellectual, accepting, open, kind, inclusive and bright individuals” “are a part of dance groups, singing groups and just about any other activity,” and they make sure to “attend each other’s performances.” Overall, students agree that the student body is a reflection of a BMC culture that thrives to “[help] people achieve their fullest potential without forcing them into a mold.”
Campus Life
“Bryn Mawr students are serious about classes,” but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a social life. While “most week days people do homework and study in the libraries,” students use the weekends to “go into Philadelphia or just go around the area” for “restaurants, concerts, museums, and special events.” And there is always something fun to do on campus as well. The “student activities office plans a lot of events like movie screenings, tie dye, concerts, [and] pumpkin decorating” and Bryn Mawr’s many clubs and student groups host events as well, “like crafting nights, culture shows, [and] keynote speakers.” These socially-minded students can also discuss, plan, and organize within the college’s “activist groups with causes ranging from the environment to elder care.” The college’s rich and storied history means that there are a lot of “traditions and annual parties (e.g., ‘East vs. West’)” for students to take part in, and for off-campus parties, “We hop on the blue bus and head over to Haverford, which has a better music/party scene,” students tell us.
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