<p>I’m doing ED for one of the two. Now, it just comes down to which I have a better chance of getting in to. I want to apply to one where my chances are more high.
Which is easier?</p>
<p>Oh and if this makes any difference, I am going to major in Poli Science.
I’m also an accomplished violinist. (I’m only telling you this because maybe one of the schools looks for musicians…?)</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>Speaking as someone who was waitlisted at both as a senior, and then accepted to both as a transfer student, I think they’re fairly similar in terms of acceptance rates. If I recall correctly, I believe Smith is like 1% - 2% more selective than BMC, but I’m not actually entirely sure (this is according to the US News rankings, which tend to be a little outdated at times so take that as you will). </p>
<p>As for ED admission rates, I actually got curious and went and looked up the common data sets of each school, and it looks like for the entering class of Fall 2010 Bryn Mawr had a 61% rate and Smith had about a 50% acceptance rate (I don’t know if I’m allowed to put links in here, but just Google “smith common data set” and “bryn mawr common data set” and you should be able to find the most recent 2010-2011 data set for each school). It’s pertinent to note, however, that overall Bryn Mawr had less ED applicants (only 147) and Smith had 317. Again, take this info as you will. </p>
<p>I think it’s pretty risky to say you’ll only do ED at one that is less selective than the other. You should do ED at the one you like the best, because if you do manage to get in you’re absolutely obligated to go there. Apply to whichever one you feel you’ll fit the best at - I recently visited both and felt entirely different about each respective school and it’s “fit” for me after I visited. </p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr does not have a music department. Is that a deal breaker for you?</p>
<p>@radio what was your decision? Inquiring minds would like to know. :D</p>
<p>Very comparable, I think. BMC (I believe) has less applicants than Smith, and thus a slightly higher admit rate… but not by much. More importantly: which school do you see yourself at most? Pick that one. The schools are very similar in many ways but very different in others. On paper, Smith or Mount Holyoke seemed more “me”… but once I visited all 3 I found that I clicked most with BMC.</p>
<p>And, yes, despite the lovely pianos in the common rooms, BMC doesn’t have an extensive music program.</p>
<p>I was deciding between both as well, and my counselor told me Bryn Mawr was easier to get into. Take it with a grain of salt, since I’m not sure what he based that on. Ultimately, I didn’t choose based on that.</p>
<p>While both schools are fabulous traditional Seven Sister colleges, I’d just like to reply by saying that while Bryn Mawr technically does not have it’s own Music Department, it has a shared department with Haverford College!</p>
<p>I’m currently a Senior at Bryn Mawr College and one of my good friends just graduated from BMC and was a Music major. Two choir pieces she composed for her Senior year thesis were actually performed at this year’s Commencement ceremonies! While she graduated from Bryn Mawr, her Music major was over at Haverford (meaning she took most of her classes there). Because Bryn Mawr and Haverford share courses and have such a tightly knit consortium, some departments are shared. To list some, Bryn Mawr and Haverford share their Growth and Structure of Cities, Geology, Religion, Peace and Human Rights, Environmental Science, Music, Dance, Theater, and Fine Arts departments. Shared departments are most likely hosted on one campus (Religion, Music, Peace & Human Rights are at Haverford and Cities, Geology, Environmental Science, Dance, and Theater are at Bryn Mawr) but students from any campus are welcome to take courses or even major in any department on either campus. While I am not a music major, I am completing a double major in Growth and Structures of Cities (at Bryn Mawr) and Political Science (at Haverford)! Just goes to show you that you really can take classes and even major at the other consortium institution. So, if you’re looking for a Music department, don’t be turned off by Bryn Mawr because it’s right here!</p>