<p>Hi I am currently trying to decide between Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke. I’m currently trying to major in Biology possibly when I go to the school and I know that both schools offer a program. I am in a dilemma right now as I am unable to visit either of the schools open admitted students days. I have visited Bryn Mawr once during my sophomore year and haven’t seen Mount Holyoke at all. I was wondering if I could possibly get advice about the two schools since they both seem great.</p>
<p>I’m in the same position!! Except I want to double major in Political Science and East Asian Studies and want to go to grad school one day.
Right now though I’m leaning towards Bryn Mawr because it is close to a city, the honor code, the self governance, and the traditions! However, I would really like to get opinions and pros and cons of the schools from people who are attending or who have attended these colleges!</p>
<p>I’d check out what has been said on this thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/bryn-mawr-college/1112837-bryn-mawr-vs-wellesley.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/bryn-mawr-college/1112837-bryn-mawr-vs-wellesley.html</a></p>
<p>@ sayumin i heard that the east asian studies and political science majors at bryn mawr was pretty good. i remember hearing about it when i visited on campus. good luck to you too!!! its nice having someone in the same situation as i. if we end up at the same college i hope we can be friends. as of mount holyoke i’m not that sure how their political science or east asian studies is.</p>
<p>Hello</p>
<p>So I was visiting last summer, both college and I liked Bryn Mawr much better, the people there were much nicer than at Mount Holyoke and the staff with whom I spoke was set in Bryn Mawr much more positive. Who have taken the time to talk with me and also very excited about the atmosphere in which they work spoken.
My visit to Mount Holyoke, however, was really disappointing were all stressed out and no one has really taken time for me, even with the guide I had the feeling that the only just wanted to quickly get rid of.
Well I then applied not only at Mount Holyoke and I was accepted at Bryn Mawr College, my dream. : D</p>
<p>As for biology Bryn Mawr us a pretty good program, a girlfriend of mine as a biology major and is really excited.
And what are you on the East Asian studies and political science majors at Bryn Mawr is perfectly true that we are supposed to even the best majors that you can choose.</p>
<p>I hope I could help you.</p>
<p>I am just wondering, can you not visit the schools at all or just can’t attend the admitted student days? Many colleges realize that some of their admitted students are unable to attend the specified days and will have regular day tours and activities throughout the month for this reason. </p>
<p>As for the colleges, they are both excellent colleges. For Mount Holyoke, there is a strong sense of traditions (Bryn Mawr has them too but Mt. Holyoke started them all), a beautiful campus, the Five College Consortium, and very strong academics and class experiences. Bryn Mawr is very similar, except that it is closer to a city, has a very strict honor code, and a three college consortium. I also believe that Bryn Mawr is a bit smaller as well. In addition, Bryn Mawr will probably be a little warmer compared to Mt. Holyoke (it snowed today in MA). However, overall they are both excellent schools and honestly, I believe most people who thoroughly researched the schools and knew what they wanted and thus applied will be happy at either school.</p>
<p>BMC is much more integrated with Haverford on a day-to-day basis than MHC is with the 5-co. That could be a plus or minus if you value the completeness/intimacy of a campus that flies solo more often.</p>
<p>Biology-- Not sure the Bio program at Bryn Mawr is that great, I think they are in the middle of making a lot of changes. Example, my D had Bio at BMC this past year and she was told it was a “new” way of teaching, they used a non-fiction book (“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks") to drive the course, no traditional Bio textbook… kind of diferent and she wasn’t real fond of the way the class went. You can take Bio at Haverford but they don’t let you take it till your sophomore year so that’s a problem for a lot of people. On the other hand it’s my impression that the sciences in general are pretty strong at Bryn Mawr. Look at the specific classes in the program, maybe she had Bio for non-science majors. I do think that both BMC and Haverford are committed to making changes to their Bio programs to best serve the students.</p>
<p>For international studies and poli sci I think Bryn Mawr would be strong-- for one thing, that’s the field of the new college President (“internationally known scholar of Islamic studies, the former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgetown University”) so that can’t be bad! From “banter” (for what it’s worth) I hear that Holyoke is more of a “party school” than Bryn Mawr. On the other hand, My D has a friend there who is an international studies major and doing great things. If you for sure can’t visit, look closely at the programs and the reputation of the school in that field and make your decision from there.</p>
<p>There are a few things to consider looking at the bio department at bryn mawr. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>The professors in the department are very highly qualified and great teachers. They all have expertise in different areas of biology giving students an opportunity to really learn a wide variety of material. </p></li>
<li><p>I agree with the previous post in saying that the sciences in general at Bryn Mawr are very, very strong. Another thing to consider is the highly renowned Post Bac premed program here --where students from other schools come for an intensive program in the sciences to prepare them for the MCAT and medical school. Though these students are in different classes as the undergrads, they are taught by the same faculty. That is telling in itself of the strength of the sciences here. I have met students who have graduated from Brown, Yale, and many other ivies that are here to take science courses before med school. </p></li>
<li><p>It is true that the bio department is going through changes this year. I believe that the main thing they are working on right now is the structure of the Intro Bio classes. When I took it freshman year, I could tell that there were a few kinks to be worked out–but not in terms of the material and overall education you are receiving, but in how to make the information more appealing and interesting to students. In other words–how to teach Intro bio in a more interesting and unconventional way. As you continue to look at schools you will come to realize that there are always things that are being changed or professors experimenting with new teaching tools/methods. I think its nice that the Bio department is taking the effort to try out new things, and with feedback from the students, I am sure they will come up with something fantastic very very soon!</p></li>
<li><p>With a nod to grades–Its actually a good exercise to learn to adapt to different teaching styles–you will have to do that virtually anywhere you go, and even beyond undergrad. There is no doubt that the science classes here are very challenging, and its hard to get good grades in them. Rest assured though, there are a lot of resources here to help you do well. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>On another note–I can also say that the poli sci department here is fabulous. I am a political science major AND pre-med. Hope this helped clarify any doubts you may have had.</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>