Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA, USA

Reviews

Bryn Mawr College

Mary from plano, TX

accepted here and planning to attend soon
13 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
The campus is absolutely beautiful. The academics are rigorous.
Bang for the buck
It's an expensive school but it is elite and that is what you expect for a school of this caliber. Financial aid is need based and if they really want you, the money will come.
Tips for prospective students
Take lots of AP courses, not the gut AP courses. Interview is important. Make sure you know some of the history behind the school and make sure you are well prepared for your interview.
Great for these types of students
If you take your education seriously and are independent or want to become an independent woman, this is the school for you.

Raminta from Asheville, NC

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Bryn Mawr asks that you think critically, analytically, and carefully. Rather than teaching to a test, professors want you to absorb the material and formulate your own ideas about it. Dialogue with students and professors is encouraged, so you're challenged every day with new things to consider. In addition, I have so much support from my professors, advisors and peers!
Am enjoying being here
Bryn Mawr is quite small, but it still has many opportunities. The campus feels a lot bigger because of the consortium with nearby schools. Having a new experience and a change of scenery is as easy as a bus ride to an event at Haverford or Swarthmore or taking a class at UPenn. This consortium really expands the academic and social opportunities here. But I also love to just stay on Bryn Mawr's gorgeous campus!
The location is perfect. Bryn Mawr is in a nice little town that's just a train ride away from Philadelphia and not far from New York either.
The community on the campus and the anything-goes zaniness really feels like home to me. I was a little unsure about going to a women's college, but it makes the community stronger and I feel very comfortable and empowered in this environment. Bryn Mawr's rich traditions also strengthen the community in a way that just wouldn't be as effective in a coed environment.
Bang for the buck
Bryn Mawr is expensive but it the education is just what you would expect for the cost and it comes with access to all kinds of opportunities, services, and facilities that are definitely worth the money. Financial aid is also need-based and negotiable.
Tips for prospective students
Take lots of AP courses. Take the exams as well so you can place out of some prerequisite courses. Visit the campus. Stay overnight.
Great for these types of students
This is a place for academically driven girls who want to become strong, independent women and spend four years with such women. There are men around, but be look forward to a predominately female presence. The women here tend to have feminist and liberal views. There are others, but it's important that you're comfortable with this sort of environment.

Jacqueline from Battle Creek, MI

a current student here
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Bryn Mawr College has taught me the most important life lesson that many colleges fail to acknowledge. You don't come to receive, you come to take. I don't receive an education, I take my education ambitiously and passionately.
Tips for prospective students
To excel at Bryn Mawr College you are not required to be perfect. Any one can go beyond expectations if they are passionate in what they do. If you have a goal or dream that drives you to achieve, Bryn Mawr will become a tool to your success. Use it wisely. Be ambitious, partake in traditions, live, and have fun.
Academic Rigor
There is a lot of work involved, that many prospective students may not be used to. However, it is the high academic rigor that does prepare Bryn Mawr women on how to think and solve problems in the world.
Dorm Life
The dorms are beautiful during any season. Each one has its own personality, and many rooms come with fireplaces and spacious closets. Up to 25 first year students can get placed in a single. First year students live in a hall group of 8-14 students and 1-3 Customspersons for their entire first year. These groups become a tight-knit family over the course of the year, celebrating Bryn Mawr traditions, and hosting teas.
Food and Dining
BMC has two wonderful dining halls, Erdman and Haffner. They not only cater to vegans and vegetarians, these dining halls are know for their ethnic bars and events. Take-out boxes available during the week and many spellbinding 'special dinners' throughout the year.
What to do for fun
You have endless possibilities at your fingertips. Philadelphia is only 30 minutes away and is easily accessible by SEPTA (a regional train line). Not only do you have the 'City of Brotherly Love' down the street, you have five other schools in close proximity that share many parties and events.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Bryn Mawr College is well-known for its four major traditions: Parade Night, Lantern Night, Hell Week, and May Day. Each tradition is full of surprises and history.
Great for these types of students
This school can meet the needs for both the introvert and extrovert. Students that want a greek life, or a co-ed atmosphere, may need to reconsider applying to Bryn Mawr.
Campus Safety
Campus Safety can be seen patrolling the campus at all hours of the day.

KW

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
An amazing place like no other.

Rigorous academics force mawrters to become serious about what they want to achieve academically.

Home.
Tips for prospective students
1. Be yourself. Please. Just do that and I promise you, you'll find your friends here. I know I did and it's made all the difference in the world for me.

2. The prospect of college may seem scary, but here, our school traditions really cater towards the freshman and helping them adjust 100% to the BMC way of life.

3. The school traditions (particularly Lantern Night and May Day) are AMAZING. You won't find traditions like these anywhere else, I can promise you.
Academic Rigor
While the academics may be challenging, the professors really, really care about their students' progress, and who their students are as people. So. don't fret. I loved all of the classes I took my freshman year and it was because the classes were really geared towards my academic interests and the career path I planned on choosing. The small class sizes really make a difference: in getting to know your professors, and in class discussions as well..
Dorm Life
The dorms are gorgeous, stellar, comfortable, and (due to most of them being over a hundred years old) have a lot of personality. Housekeepers clean on a more than weekly basis and keep the dorms clean and tidy.
Food and Dining
Food is of the near highest quality. Dining service workers work hard and are friendly; and they all do something specials for many holidays, which is just a nice touch.
What to do for fun
1. Walk to ACME or the bakery in town.

2. Go to see a movie in the movie theater in town.

3. Go to PHILLY and have fun. It's just a convenient 30 min train ride away.
Bang for the buck
Definitely get my money's worth here in terms of overall experience and academics. This place has become my home, how much more bang for my buck could I get than that???
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
1. Parade Night

2. Lantern Night

3. Hell Week

4. May Day
Great for these types of students
Great for all types--bookish, wild, adventurous, etc.
Clubs and Activities
Many, many many clubs that have something for everyone. Believe me.
Campus Safety
Public Safety is on campus 24/7 to help when needed. It's amazing how safe it is here.

Jwahir from Cambridge, MA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fantastic school. Perfect fit for me. Accepted with the Posse Scholarship (four yr full tuition) and I am eternally grateful to be spending my next four years. Love the honor code. Love the welcoming atmosphere. Love the traditions. Absolutely gorgeous school w/ beautiful people. Good food too!
Tips for prospective students
Write a well written essay that truly answers the question and how you will be a good fit.
Academic Rigor
Big work load but worth it. Top professors in the country.
Dorm Life
Most beautiful dorms in the country.
Food and Dining
Top food in the country.
What to do for fun
Philadelphia!!!!
And there's so so many colleges surrounding you. Villanova, Haverford, Drexel, Upenn, endless list.
Bang for the buck
Going there for near free so I'd say I've won the lottery!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Lantern night! Beautiful! Magical (as always, the whole campus is magical)
Hell Week! (Hilarious week of april fools like antics)
Great for these types of students
collaborative types. (not competitive)
who want a second family.
Greek Life
none. but there's philly and villanova (which does)

Bettina from La Crescenta, CA

researching this school
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This college has the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. It provides everything I am looking for in a school environment and provides good academics. This college is my top choice if I receive enough financial aid/scholarship to attend, since the tuition is a bit pricey.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
I learned about lantern night and a Harry Potter dinner during my visit, the cross country team (which I plan to join) also seems to have fun traditions.
Clubs and Activities
Feminist club, Harry Potter Club, Asian Students Association, and Depression Awareness are all clubs that address things that are very important to me.
Greek Life
As far as I heard, there is none.

Greta

researching this school
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
Apply early and get an interview early. Deadlines sneak up on you! It's important to visit too because it's where you would be staying for a while. Also, taking AP exams is not completely necessary. If you want to skip the basic courses during freshman year, you can test out of them through placement tests. You just have to make sure you'll do well on the placement tests.
Academic Rigor
It's hard since it's private and so small.
Dorm Life
Not bad. Yet, there are some dorms that are better than others.
Food and Dining
Food is good. There are two different dining halls, one that serves a variety of food from different cultures (switches each day), and one that serves hot dogs and pizza and stuff.

kfletcher

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It's a great community academically, as long as you're willing to work hard, you'll get plenty out of your time here.
Tips for prospective students
Keep your head down, and be active and passionate about what you do.
Academic Rigor
There's no getting around the work here.
Dorm Life
Our housekeepers are awesome and keep our dorms clean and shiny!
Food and Dining
The special dinners really stand out here and the food day-to-day's really good too!
What to do for fun
I usually just hang out with my friends, catch a movie, etc.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We've got four main traditions on campus and... you've gotta be here to really appreciate them.
Greek Life
None.
Campus Safety
Campus Safety works with students, not against students - they're really the best.

Student from Bryn Mawr, PA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A great community, amazing professors and a student becomes very confident in their field.
Tips for prospective students
Keep an open mind, ask questions and do things that you wouldn't do elsewhere
Academic Rigor
It is stressful but as a Bryn Mawr student, you learn to manage everything on your plate
Dorm Life
It's what you make out of the dorm life. Organic mentorship through cross generation dorms
Food and Dining
Great dining halls, the workers there really want you to love the food, great cuisines
What to do for fun
Go into town, into the city Philadelphia, you can go to Haverford, Swarthmore or Upenn
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are many traditions!! Goddess Athena is the patron of the college
Clubs and Activities
Too many activities and clubs and too little time

Madelaine from Martinez, GA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
i am so excited to attend next year. i cannot wait for the many opportunities to explore different fields and learn about what i want to do with my life.
Tips for prospective students
if at all possible, visit the campus. it makes a huge difference and can completely change your mind about whether you want to attend a certain college or not.
Food and Dining
i am not sure yet, but i am required to put something, so this would be my guess. i hope i'm right!