My D20 and @Dashwoods1811’s D20 (and probably many other students) have the daunting task of choosing between Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke. Two amazing schools, very similar in some ways, very different in others. Add to that difficulty the current challenge of not being able to attend admitted student days at either place due to COVID-19. For those of you who made this choice (or your kid did), some input would be great on:
What were the top 1-2 things about your selected school that made the difference? (Not looking for you to bash the place you didn't go, but what pulled you to your choice?)
What was the most helpful information/resource/decision-aid/process in reaching your decision? Were you a pros/cons person? Did you read through the course catalog? Scroll through the FB groups? Short of (or in addition to ) going back to campus, how did you decide?
I acknowledge what a position of privilege we are in that D20 is facing this specific choice. To take off the table or inform your advice: She got equal merit offers at both places, and we live (much) closer to Bryn Mawr than to Mount Holyoke. Intended major is maybe environmental studies/science or maybe chemistry/art history en route to art conservation grad school.
Mount Holyoke has the Miller Worley Center which was partly endowed by Leslie Miller '73 and is devoted to inter-departmental environmental studies. Years ago the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum received a grant from the Mellon Foundation to develop innovative programs for teaching with art objects. Some years ago when I was on the Art Advisory Board of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, I enjoyed a program put on by students in a chemistry class that had applied their skills to analyzing a newly-acquired painting displayed in the Art Museum. Mount Holyoke has a formal affiliation with the conservation lab at the Clark Museum in Williamstown. I hope this is helpful.
Congrats on your D’s two excellent choices. She may want to do things like look through the school websites, look at professors and courses in her area of interest, and go through some school newspapers to get an idea of the vibe on campus.
Congrats on two awesome options! We visited both. Honestly with all things being relatively equal, I would say what is most helpful is visiting and feeling the vibe of each. Which one could she most picture herself at?Which is the best fit? Both have the consortiums, which is great. Both are in nice areas.
My D20 is facing having to make a similar decision, and my optimistic hope is that everyone will extend deadlines to June 1st to allow for possible visits in May. However, we are planning for that not to be the case, so she is relying on YouTube (virtual tours, student Vlogs) and getting to know some of the prospective students via Facebook groups, Instagram, etc. to see what the best fit might be.
Hi! I just wanted to pop in here as an intern from the Admissions Office to let you know that if you are interested, we are hosting virtual information sessions starting tomorrow! https://www.brynmawr.edu/admissions/visit-campus
Hi! Current junior here. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Sending love <3
It was honestly just a gut feeling. There were some campuses where the vibe made me turn to my mother and say “This isn’t for me, we should leave” 15 min in. As soon as I stepped onto campus for the Bryn Mawr tour, I really couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. And it was raining! They say if you love a campus on a rainy day, you’ll love it when the sun is shining.
I was an ED1 student, and it was now fellow Mawrtyrs from my high school that inspired me to apply. I was consistently inspired by them throughout high school and my time acting with them in plays. When I mentioned that maybe I was applying to BMC, they were so enthusiastic and made time to see me when I visited campus, introduced me to great people and great professors, etc.
I have one distinct memory from applying. I went to what we call an “academic tea,” which is essentially a panel of professors to talk about the departments. I went up to one when I thought I was maybe going to major in Classics, introduced myself, and this professor immediately wanted to know what I was reading and how I was feeling about it, my thoughts, etc. and I was just a junior in high school. That sort of attention and care even just as a prospective student from a professor was really striking, and I can tell you now as a junior, it is not an anomaly by any means.
TL’DR: It’s the people that brought me here, and it’s the people who have changed me for the better that have had me stay and created some of the greatest memories and taught me the best lessons.
Thanks all, for weighing in. In case it’s helpful for future readers, my D20 committed to Bryn Mawr this evening. Hard choice, but we are all thrilled that Bryn Mawr is her destination.
Very wise choice. It is priceless to be able to go home occasionally if one wants, and Mt. Holyoke lacks proximity to a major city. I’m sure you are very happy she will be closer by.
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Sending love <3