A couple questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bryn Mawr College
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<p>I have a couple questions about Bryn Mawr, now that it’s a very real possibility that I might go there. I am visiting in a couple weeks but I’m too impatient : )</p>

<li><p>Curriculum/distribution requirements–how strict are they? General as in a certain number of social and natural science courses, or more specific as in…everyone must take a math course? Also, I know Bryn Mawr has a health/phys ed requirement and this does bother me, as I abhorred that part of high school (being a completely nonathletic geek) and thought I was done with it. I know that college phys ed offers a lot more freedom though–do you actually have to take a class of some kind, or could I do something independent, like going for runs by myself (which I do already), to get the credit? What exactly does the phys ed requirement consist of? And what’s this about a “swim test?” I don’t like the sound of that.</p></li>
<li><p>Ok, I realize this is a weird/unanswerable question, but…I’m just worried I wouldn’t fit in socially or whatever. I’ve read about the “Traditions” and they actually sort of make me worry that I would be uncomfortable, because I tend to hate that kind of…dressing up/hazing-ish sort of stuff. Maybe I’m wrong though. Does Bryn Mawr have a “preppy” feel? I sort of got that impression from my first visit, and I didn’t like it. Are there a lot of people there who are indie-music-listening, hippy-ish geek types…not at ALL preppy (er…that’d be me.)</p></li>
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<p>If anyone actually read this, thanks. I hope none of these questions seem ridiculous or overly critical, because I really like many things about Bryn Mawr.</p>

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<li><p>The distribution requirements are relatively strict as these things go; there's no core curriculum, but yes, you have to take math, you have to take language, you have to take lab science. As for phys ed, there are a wide variety of classes offered, including some (like archery) that don't involve sweat. You can do self-directed exercise for phys ed credit if you take some wellness classes first. At least as of a few years ago, the total requirement added up to four semesters.</p></li>
<li><p>Uh...if you hate dressing up/hazing-ish stuff, I think you should be concerned about the traditions. Only two of the "big four" involve hazing, but they're a pretty big deal. Technically, you don't have to participate (technically), but frankly, it's no picnic to be one of the few people on campus sitting them out, especially since many of your classmates will be wholehearted gung-ho fans. Trust me on this one. The whole point of a tiny LAC like BMC is the intimacy with your classmates and sharing experiences with them. I would not recommend going to BMC if you think you're not going to be on the same page with your classmates...think Swat, think Oberlin, think Vassar.</p></li>
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<p>Hm, thanks. It's not that I'm wildly against that sort of thing, just not sure I would be real into it.
Haha, I didn't get into those schools, that's why I might to go Bryn Mawr.</p>

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My daughter attends Bryn Mawr and I visit quite often. I would not characterize the traditions as hazing at all. When you visit, ask the students about it. I think you may be pleasantly surprised. I have seen relatively few students that seem to fit the "preppy" mold. Students appear quite accepting of diversity. Keep an open mind until you see for yourself. Daughter LOVES it there and is so not preppy.</p>

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<p>You're right, thanks for the thoughtful advice.</p>

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<p>just for the record "indie-music-listening, hippy-ish geek types" pretty much describes my daughter so I think there's a good chance you would feel comfortable at BMC, I know she hasn't mentioned the prep factor as an issue at all.</p>

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<p>^ "indie music listening, hippy geekish type".. I like that Louise71! Haha, I would love if it my mom could say that about me.</p>

<p>Anyway, I totally thought "Traditions" were more like bonding experiences or holidayish things...I had never ever thought of it as "hazing". Can someone give an example of Traditions or something? I'm a little confused.</p>

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<p>That is true of Lantern Night and May Day. It is not strictly true of either Parade Night or Hell Week. I did not find it a bonding experience, nor a holiday, to arrive at college and be expected to sing a song to the tune of the "Brady Bunch" theme about how much I hated the "ugly sophomores."</p>

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<p>Well you obviously have a different perspective on things. All I can say is that my daughter was somewhat dubioius about all the things you mentioned prior to experiencing them. Afterward she thought it was highly amusing, did not feel it was like hazing at all. She loves the traditions and really did have quite a few positive things to say, no negatives at all on that score. Her only complaint so far is the work load. But she's still her own indie-music listening, rebellious, non-conformist, wise-a**, take no prisoners self and she feels right at home.</p>

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<p>Interesting perspectives. By hazing I didn't mean..you know, Animal House type stuff. Just weird joke things that are done to initiate students. I am glad to see from Hanna's post that not everyone is hardcore into these Tradition things. Who knows, maybe if I do attend Bryn Mawr I will love the Traditions, it's just from past experience I tend to be very averse to any sort of organized "bonding" activitiy. I've been known to hide in the music practice rooms at my school to avoid pep rallies.
I guess what I would like to know is if I don't feel like participating in some of these activities, will I be alone, or is there a sizeable population that hates stuff like dressing up in slut costumes and singing school songs?
I'm not a prude; those things just aren't my style.</p>

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<p>i was a little skeptical about the traditions when i decided to go to bryn mawr, but they're really a lot of fun. i would say the only tradition that involves "hazing" of any kind is hell week, but ure not forced to take part in it. i actually didnt participate much in hell week (i didnt get a heller, i just attended dorm stuff) and i didnt feel out of it at all. everyone just has a lot of fun and if u dont wanna do something, no one looks down on you for it. i know what u mean though, i wasnt looking that foward to some of the stuff bryn mawr has before i came here, but it turns out theres nothing to worry about. the gym requirement is really easy to fulfill, and as hard as i thought it would be to fulfill that and the distribution requirements, its soooo easy. compared to other schools that have curriculum requirements, ours is pretty lax.</p>

<p>about the student population...i wouldnt catergorize myself as really "preppy" since i like to wear sweatpants and stuff sometimes...but i do carry only coach bags, own polo shirts, and love jcrew. however (since im sure that turned you off a little), there are a few people that ive met here who are like me, but for the most part everyone seems to be more towards what you described yourself as. i think you would feel more at home here than i do :) everyones pretty laid back, and theres no huge stress on what youre wearing or what you look like. i have many friends who sound very similar to you, and they like it here more than i do.</p>

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<p>I'm glad to hear that this has changed. My best friend and I founded the Hell Week Alternatives Committee during the 1996-1997 school year because we caught so much flak our freshman year for not participating. We were the only non-participating frosh out of the two customs groups in Erdman, and not only did we face repeated and hostile pressure from many sources to participate, our appeals to our customs people, the Traditions Mistresses and finally the administration for support were met with complete inaction.</p>

<p>Our sophomore year, the HWAC held alternative events throughout Hell Week (movie night, making Valentines, etc.) so that non-participants were not isolated in their rooms during dorm events. Last I heard, it was still in operation.</p>

<p>It makes me wonder how much has changed, though, when I see that the Traditions web page accurately describes the activities that take place during Lantern Night and May Day, but for Parade Night and Hell Week, there is zero information about what actually takes place.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.brynmawr.edu/activities/traditions.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.brynmawr.edu/activities/traditions.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I expected to love the traditions before I went to BMC. Lantern Night totally exceeded my expectations -- it's a beautiful, welcoming ritual that respects the dignity of everyone involved. And I had a blast with my hallmates dressing up in crazy costumes on Halloween and at teas and doing heroin-chic lingerie photo shoots in the Pit. But I just don't see the fun in "pretending" to control, insult, or mislead the freshmen. Never did.</p>

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<p>the traditions were one of the things that made me love BM! especially since my HS is so dead in terms of spirit!</p>

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<p>aw thats so sad about ur freshman year, i cant believe the administration got into it! i felt completely fine not going participating in a lot of hell week, though sometimes i felt left out...but not cause anyone was trying to make me feel so. it sounds like its changed a lot since u were here, though theres still some discussion now about how to make hell week more friendly to people that dont wanna be part of it.</p>

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<p>isn't the main reason for hell week that it makes the nameless/secret event that happens after it so special? that's what i've heard at least and think it's very cool.</p>

<p>"may all of your days be :) days!"</p>

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<p>"especially since my HS is so dead in terms of spirit!"
see that's what scares me...i am not a school spirit person!</p>

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<p>im not either. dont worry about it, its not a big concern here. there are so many different types of people, if u dont participate in a school spirit thing, there are far more "weird" people out there</p>

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<p>Though I graduated from and now <em>adore</em> Bryn Mawr, I really didn't want to apply (I only did so to please a family member). As it turns out, it was the only school to which I was accepted, so I went.</p>

<p>I knew nothing about the traditions, but wasn't shocked by them. Preparing for Parade Night was great, since I already enjoyed writing parodies... and the "parade" was like a quick sprint. I didn't get wet, but did get pelted with candy and silly string. I missed Lantern Night, skipped most of Hell Week, and was sick on May Day. But in following years I tried to catch up and always found the activities to be a fun way of getting to know my fellow students. Any pressure I felt during my freshman year was minimal -- I now realize that the folks that encouraged me to participate were just trying to prevent me from regretting my decisions later. I'm not a big believer in regret, but sometimes I do wish I had done more with traditions. Oh well.</p>

<p>As for the curriculum requirements: Yep, you've gotta fulfill them. Otherwise, no diploma! I know women that were taking the swim test just days before graduation, and I know one woman that didn't get her diploma because she was still missing a gym credit. But, as already said, you don't have to sweat to get the credits. I took ballet twice, nutrition twice, self-paced walking a few times... easy peasy. Oh, and for your quantitative requirement (aka "math requirement") you can take Computer Science 110 -- great if you're strong in logic or analytical skills but suck at calculus, like I was.</p>