Hey everyone! I was accepted into both Bryn Mawr and Smith in the past week, and am (for the most part) deciding between these two schools for commitment. Can any past or current students of these schools help me discern some key differences between them? Specifically, I want to know the difference in the types of students that attend each. I know they’re very similar in values and atmosphere, so it’s hard to choose between the two. I was supposed to visit before May 1st, but with campuses closed that can’t happen anymore… Thanks in advance!
Hey, I’m a current Bryn Mawr freshman. I can’t really speak so much to Smith, but overall I would say these two schools are super similar. Smith being a lot bigger is definitely the biggest difference I can see. Bryn Mawr is an extremely small community, you practically will know everyone, including professors and staff. You’ll always be running into friends and professors in the Campus Center or one of our libraries. We have a lot of traditions that almost everyone participates in, like Hell Week and Lantern Night, and a lot of opportunities to be involved in student government and club leadership even for first years. Even our physical campus is pretty tiny, the northernmost dorm (Brecon) is a 15 minute walk away from the southernmost (Erdman). Despite it being really small, we somehow have 3 libraries which I always appreciate! We were also ranked the #2 most beautiful campus at some point. We also have an extremely close relationship to Haverford which is only 10 minutes via the iconic blue bus. Haverford is a huge part of most of our experiences, you’ll end up there for classes, parties and events all of the time. Our food is also known for being the best in the tri-co (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore) and we probably have way better food than Smith from what I’ve heard, lol. In terms of location both schools are similar in that they are walking distance to a small town (“Bryn Mawr town” as many here call it), but we are also a 5 minute walk (3 if you run!) from a train station that will take you into Philly’s 30th street station. You can catch megabuses from there and be in New York or DC in an hour. There’s also a high speed rail, and a bus stop that does local stops along the main line just a little farther than that. A lot of classes incorporate Philly into the experience. That’s all I can think of for now.
I also think that the types of students that attend each school would really be almost exactly the same if I’m being honest. Maybe we are a bit artier and more alternative? That’s not really true of all students, especially the athletes, who tend to be a bit “preppier”.
Hello! Current Bryn Mawr junior here! I also work as a tour guide in the Admissions Office. We definitely get a lot of students who are deciding between Smith and Bryn Mawr, so hopefully it’s helpful to know that you’re not alone. And I’m sure campus closures are not helping with your decision process right now.
Because I’m not an expert on Smith, I can only talk about Bryn Mawr, but I do think that one large draw for Bryn Mawr is its proximity to Philadelphia. Having access to a major city is HUGE for a lot of students, and something that is definitely not the same for Smith students. Bryn Mawr is just a short train or bus ride away from Center City, where students can find intern positions, set up praxis courses, volunteer, or just go out with friends into the city and have fun! Although I love Bryn Mawr’s small size and close-knit community, being around the same people and in the same community all the time can sometimes feel isolating. Going into Philadelphia allows for temporary big-city fun before coming back to the quiet and calm of Bryn Mawr.
In my sophomore year I volunteered every weekend in Philadelphia with a non-profit organization that provides harm reduction materials for those affected by the opioid crisis. This was a hugely influential experience for me. I have also attended conferences at Penn, gone out for dinner during Philly Restaurant Week, visited countless museums, and just walked and wandered the city. When Bryn Mawr starts to feel a little too small or suffocating, Philadelphia is there for you.
As a rising senior (yikes!) I’m starting to really recognize how valuable Bryn Mawr’s connection to Philadelphia is. I hope to take classes at Penn next year, volunteer with an organization in South Philly, and potentially do a Praxis course that would involve working with a non-profit organization in the city as well. There are really countless opportunities when you have the resources of a big city in your back pocket. And you can always come home to Bryn Mawr at the end of the day. 
If you have any questions for me, feel free to reply here! I also set up an AMA (Ask Me Anything) post about Bryn Mawr specifically if you want to ask questions about life as a student at Bryn Mawr.
Wishing you the best of luck with your decision! Stay healthy!
-Saskia
Hi! I’m a current Smith student. I didn’t apply to Bryn Mawr, so I can’t speak much about the differences between the two schools either. They’re both well-regarded historically women’s colleges in the Northeast, so I would imagine there are many similarities. However, since you’ve already gotten some great answers about Bryn Mawr, I thought I’d chime in with a Smith perspective.
I think the size of Smith’s student body is ideal. I frequently ran into people I knew on campus by happenstance, but I also continued to meet new people in my class year well into my senior year.
Smith’s student body is diverse in many respects so it feels weird to try to make generalizations about Smith values or atmosphere. That said, Smithies lean liberal and tend to be politically aware or active. We make an effort to be inclusive and aware of the different needs and backgrounds that we all come from. I think Smithies, on average, tend to be more candid about their thoughts and feelings than people I’ve met outside of Smith. Yet I’m always struck by Smithies’ commitment to doing the right thing, whether it be through their activism, choice of employer/job, or just random acts of kindness. In the midst of the panic of moving off-campus suddenly due to COVID-19, I lost a sentimental item just before I left and thought I would never see it again. Amazingly, a Smith student who I didn’t know told me they thought they saw it, and another Smith student who I also didn’t know found it and mailed it back to me, and I’ll be forever grateful to them.
While there is a definite “Smith community” feeling campus-wide, smaller communities are also formed through the residential house system.
Academically, Smithies tend to care about their grades and learning. Students aren’t afraid to advocate for themselves, but I wouldn’t describe it as cutthroat either.
Smith’s alumnae network is strong. I often cold-email/LinkedIn message alums with interesting career paths asking for an informational interview, and I get a response (always positive) approximately 90% of the time.
Since Embeth mentioned traditions, Smith also has a lot of traditions which you can read about here: https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/some-special-traditions. The main thing I’ll regret not being able to experience now that Commencement week has been indefinitely postponed is actually Illumination Night.
Since Saskia mentioned location, I do agree that that is a difference. Northampton is a cute hipster college town with lots of restaurants, shops, and the Academy of Music theatre. Downtown Northampton is just a short walk down the hill from Smith. But Northampton is neither a big city nor very close to one. I only went to Boston about once a year since I didn’t have a car on campus; it’s about a two hour bus ride or one and a half hour drive each way.
I’d be happy to answer any additional questions you may have about Smith.
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