Bryn Mawr College Top Questions

The best thing about Bryn Mawr: I hate to have it be something so trivial, but I love the dining halls and the food. The thing I'd change is: I'd like to see an increase in interest and participation in athletics. The college just doesn't give a shit. The school's size is: perfectly fine, at least for me. I don't like being a number. When I say I go to Bryn Mawr, people say: Well, there are a number of reactions. Some don't say anything; they just give me a look and say, "Where?" Others say, "Isn't that the all-girl's school? God, I wouldn't be able to go there!" because of the awful stereotypes floating around. There are a number who say, "Really? You must be very intelligent!" If people recognize the name, and don't react in the negative way, they're impressed. I spend most of my time on campus in: the science building, in the Physics Lounge. All of Montgomery County is one large college town. The administration is: changing. We're undergoing a presidential search, and hopefully things will change for the better once we have our new president. Biggest recent controversy: Aside from the Barack/Clinton thing? Last year a member of the Student Government Association, through poor judgment, made some racist comments and people jumped on her--"she's a member of the student government, she, more than anyone, has to be impartial and not racist/sexist/abilist/etc." School Pride? Yeah, we have school pride. Not in the football sense, but I do think everyone feels strongly about our school. Bryn Mawr is unusual by: 1) Being a woman's college. 2) Having ties with Haverford, Swathmore, and UPenn. 3) Hell Week! The experience I'll always remember is: Hell Week, definitely. THe most common complaints are: Everyone's too fucking PC.

The best thing about Bryn Mawr is the academics. Academically I am challenged. I'd change the fact that there is absolutely no social life. In my opinion, the size is perfect. Most people haven't even heard of the school and if they have may references to the gay/bisexual population here.I spend most of my time on campus in my friend's dorms. "What college town"? The administartion's wonderful.The biggest recent controversy involves a party that many African-American students believed was racially offensive. The party for the slogan involved the n-word.About one-third absolutely love the school and another third complete despise the school and the fact that there at an all womens college. The other third have simply come to terms with the positives and negatives of the school.Bryn Mawr is A VERY VERY weird school. You have no fucking idea!!! I'll always remeber crying the first two weeks. The most frequent student complaint is the lack of a social life.

Bryn Mawr is a very unique environment. It's first of all a women's college, and even though they tell you that you will interact with boys in the Tri-Co, this is rarer than you would expect. First, of all Haverford and Swarthmore boys have Haverford and Swarthmore girls that they are involved with and the Havergirls and the female Swatties definitely resent Bryn Mawr girls and their desperation for male contact. Second, Haverboys are notoriously awkward, unwashed, and undeservedly full of themselves (mostly due to the ridiculously high female to male ratio in the Tri-Co). So not so much in the romance department, unless of course you happen to be gay. The best part about Bryn Mawr is definitely the food. It's absolutely fabulous and the dining halls put a lot of effort into it. The dorms are really nice too, they are clean and quiet and most people get singles. The campus is very beautiful in a gothic, eerie sort of way. Another great thing about Bryn Mawr is the opportunities that one can take part of: there are tons of funded internships, externships, study abroad programs etc. basically anything you want to do Bryn Mawr can help make it happen. In addition, Bryn Mawr has an extensive alum network that is very supportive. The name Bryn Mawr will open doors.

I'd have to say that the best thing about Bryn Mawr is how it has helped me grow. The Bryn Mawr experience is unlike other college experiences in that it really forces many students to become extremely self-sufficient and outgoing. The Bryn Mawr experience is what you make of it. Granted, there are not a whole lot of social events going on, but if there were I would not have made all of the wonderful connections that I now have at Haverford, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania. The academics are incredible, challenging, and top notch. While there is a close and supportive community, individuality is still encouraged. A women's college is not a typical college experience, and it is not for everyone. Many people are taken aback when they discover that I attend a women's college and am not a lesbian, or sexually repressed and frustrated. While not everyone appreciates the Bryn Mawr experience, the majority certainly have a great deal of Bryn Mawr pride, I know that I do. The thing that I have found extremely telling is that the majority of girls that I know who chose to transfer away from Bryn Mawr ended up transferring back. They said that they had thought that they problems they had had socially and academically were because of the school, but once they were someplace else they realized how special Bryn Mawr was, and that perhaps the issues they'd had that had inspired them to transfer were not rooted in their college but rather themselves, and thus grew considerably from the experience.

The best thing about Bryn Mawr is the student body. People are friendly and often hold doors open for one another even when it isn't expected. One student who swipes meal cards in the dining center even asks how diners are doing and tells them to enjoy their meal. I like the smallness of Bryn Mawr. I don't think that Bryn Mawr is well-known outside of the Philly area, but since I'm from this area, when I say that I go to Bryn Mawr people reply that I must be smart. The campus is absolutely gorgeous. The Customs Program for incoming students is a great way for first-year students living on the same hall to get to know each other and their two sophomore mentors. I just wish that the quantity of schoolwork was reduced so that I wouldn't have to see everyone look so stressed.

The community. I know everyone here. I would like the students to stop stressing and start communicating with one another. It's the perfect size but I would like more people of color and more class difference. People usually have never heard of the school--which I sort of like. I spend a lot of time in the Campus Center. There is no real town of Bryn Mawr--there are some restaurants and a Starbucks. But Philly is only 20 minutes away by train. A lot more students are starting to live in the city and commute. The administration is incredibly understanding and caring. If you ask, they will deliver. The biggest recent controversy centered around a racial issue that seemingly got blown out of proportion. I think a student-lead initiative will hopefully lessen some of the racial tension evident at points on campus. I think Bryn Mawr is the school you love to hate while you are actually attending but there is definitely a bond out there in the real world among Mawrters. I will always remember the friends I made here. We have some weird students--which is actually great, because they feel comfortable expressing themselves--except for when they play Quidditch in an open field with broomsticks. It's a little strange. Also, my favorite quote from a friend, "Bryn Mawr has taught me the joys of platonic communal nudity". I think that sums it up.

I love the people here, both the faculty and the students. The teachers strive to challenge us but also make learning enjoyable and rewarding. The students are mostly very driven and we can talk about what we're studying and not worry about what others think, and this applies to most conversations about anything. Outside the classroom we are involved with many activities that add to the college experience. Bryn Mawr is not a "party school" but we have fun wether it's at parties or just hanging out with close friends, and I feel that I'm not lacking in the social aspect at all. I feel that the administration and the deans are very supportive and encourage active participation in the classroom, school community, and the outside community. One thing that makes Bryn Mawr particularly special is the emphasis on traditions that annually bring the campus together. I'm a freshman this year and I already greatly appreciate the traditions and what they mean to the college. Overall I think that Bryn Mawr is practically perfect.

The best thing about Bryn Mawr is the Growth and Structure of Cities department. I would change the skateboarding policy. Just right. You're gay/you're a nerd. Radnor lounge. "What college town?" BMC's administration is fine unless that includes the deans. The deans are the antithesis of helpful. The biggest controversy on campus was the SGA secretary's invitation to a "mo money mo problems" party which contained a racial slur in the description. There is a lot of school pride and a lot of school hate. Everything is unusual about Bryn Mawr starting with the large numbers of students interested in RPGs and wearing capes. Dorm Olympics 2007. That the social life sucks. And it does.

Bryn Mawr is a small school, there's no doubt about that. But that's the beauty of it! I chose to come here because of its small and inviting atmosphere. I can get to know my fellow Mawrters better than if I went to a large university where I am simply one amongst thousands. Plus, it's not like we're restricted to our campus. We're close to Philadelphia and there are many colleges nearby. There is plenty of school pride. To come here is a special and unique decision and I feel that just by being a Mawrter ties us together.

There's so much I love about Bryn Mawr, besides it's BEAUTIFUL campus, there's a lot of beauty in everything else about Bryn Mawr. There's a lot of school pride. To be honest, I wasn't so sure how I felt about the many traditions that this school has, but at the end of my freshman year I loved everything! All of the traditions and the students' attitudes towards it make the school very unique. I've heard from students from colleges around that they don't have that in their school. I think the size of the student body is also just perfect. Is very easy for you to know everyone, and everyone is just so nice! During my time at BMC I've gone through two hard moments and each time I was amazed at how supportive everyone was! Professors are also great, and the fact that we have small classes makes the bonding with students, professors, and staff just so much easier. It's a great feeling. I love spending time at home and always, like everyone wish for longer vacations, but when I come back to BMC it really feels like a home as well.