The better academically the college, the less your AP credits qualify, because pretty much everyone’s had AP so AP is the assumed background for a 1st year class, not the equivalent of a 1st year class.
I think that Gettysburg and Bryn Mawr will give you roughly equal advantage when applying for graduate school; the rigor/quality of their coursework/curriculum is also pretty similar, and their political science programs are likely to be similar (besides that, you aren’t going to study political science, you are going to get a BA - which is a broad degree with classes in lots of areas). Bryn Mawr is probably somewhat better-known, but Gettysburg is not going to put you at a disadvantage. Most small colleges have great traditions, particularly women’s colleges, so you will get awesome traditions either way.
So I think this question is more about where you want to be socially - do you want to go to a small women’s college in a consortium with two other elite LACs and just outside of Philadelphia, or do you want to go to a small co-ed liberal arts college in a more remote area but with a more stereotypical “classic” college experience?
I’m leaning towards Bryn Mawr right now, but I’ll hopefully know for sure after the the 20th when I’m done visiting all the schools.
I’m going to Gettysburg’s day with a really good friend of mine, so I have to make sure knowing somebody there doesn’t effect my decision. Hopefully the weather is nice for both as well because my opinions are really effected by the weather, like I’ve ended up hating schools before because I went in the rain.
And @juillet, you’re right. I think it will come down to the environment of the school for me. I am very familiar with Gettysburg already because I only live 40 minutes from it, so hopefully I can take some time to explore the area around Bryn Mawr before I make my decision because I’ve only been to Philly 4 times in my life. I hope I can visit each school more than the once before I have to decide.
@doschicos Yes, I really like the honor code. I think it was one of the main reasons I was attracted to the bi-co because the type of community it creates seems to be really unique and productive. It’s not that it’s not competitive, but it seems to create more competition within oneself to do better, and there is a greater focus on actually learning, which I like. I was reading a current student’s post about the honor code on Facebook, and it is definitely a positive.
I have an ongoing notebook of questions to ask when I go to visits, so I added questions about graduate school, internships, and alumni networks. I also have a few questions about the political science programs in the concentrations I want to study.
@notstevebuscemi - That’s awesome! You sound super organized. It might be useful to pop into the career centers on each campus while you are there.
Another great thing about Bryn Mawr is there are plenty of shops, restaurants, etc. within walking and biking distance.
I hope you are less stressed about the whole process.
@doschicos Yes, I’m definitely become less stressed, still highly stressed, but just less now. I try to organize everything in response to the stress haha.
I looked at the admitted students day schedules, and they both have a period set aside when the career center and its faculty will be available answer questions and everything, which will be very helpful.
Hang in there. Enjoy the process and the results of all your hard work! 
Also, I might create a new thread, but I’ll ask on here first. Does anyone have an opinion between Pitt and Bryn Mawr? I know, two totally different schools! But still options. I think Pitt would cost a little less, I know a lot of people there, and the city is amazing. But Bryn Mawr would only be like 2k more, and its also in a great area.
Pittsburgh is as great city. One thing nice about Philly is how easy it is to get to NYC or DC if you want a weekend away. Cheap Bolt Bus or Megabus tickets.
I don’t know enough about Pitt to make an educated comparison.
@doschicos Thank you! I wasn’t even thinking about transportation to other cities. Pittsburgh has less transport options to other cities because of the mountains, but it’s still there. And I know they hire coach buses to take students to major cities and most larger Pennsylvanian towns for breaks, so that is a plus because no cars for first years. I havent made plans to tour Pitt this month yet, but I will have to.
Yo, I’m kinda in the same position (except the state school I’m considering is IU lol, but BMC is also 2k more). But I’m considering poly sci too, and like doschicos said, I really like the accessibility into NYC and DC especially. Obviously I wouldn’t be going to DC all the time, but I think it’d be a great place to get into as political science major, even if you’re just there for a day experiencing the culture, or political rallies, especially during election times.
@literallyleslie Yes! I forgot about elections next year! The accessibility would be fantastic. Plus Bryn Mawr has a Ready for Hillary club that looks like it raises money for her campaign, so…
Oooh, I didn’t know about the Hillary club! I mean, she’s not my first choice (Claire McCaskill 2k16!) but it’s fab to see rampant support for a woman contender! (Well, I suppose it is a woman’s college tho )
@literallyleslie - Students at the Bi-Co (Bryn Mawr and Haverford) have arranged bus transportation paid for by one of the organizations on campus to different marches in DC and NYC. For example, they went to the big People’s Climate March in NYC last September.
Pitt is now definitely off the table for me. It is cheaper for me to attend either Bryn Mawr or Gettysburg, and I’ll get the liberal arts education I want at those two for more of a value. I have an interview for full tuition at Washington College this weekend. If I get it, I still think I would chose Bryn Mawr over full tuition because their financial aid package was amazing, but I would really have a tough time choosing between Gettysburg and Washington because I think they are pretty similar, just ranked differently.
Honestly, other than being small LACs, I think Gettysburg and Bryn Mawr are fairly different.
@doschicos I agree with you about Bryn Mawr and Gettysburg. I actually think Washington College and Gettysburg are the two similar ones.
Oh. Sorry. Bad reading comprehension. Good luck with your decision, @notstevebuscemi!
From my list on the first page, I instantly crossed off Washington & Jefferson and Pitt.
I toured Washington College on April 11th, and really liked it. I did not receive full tuition from the interview, and tuition is far too expensive. I like their internship programs and their fellows program a lot. Like I was so close to basing my entire decision on the possibility I would be able to take part in their one selective program where I could have interned in UK Parliament for a year and attended class at LSE. I really liked the school, and my parents were absolutely in love with it. They want me to try and appeal for more money because my stats are above the college’s averages, and I have shown long term interest in them.
I toured Gettysburg on the 18th, and really liked the clubs and Eisenhower Institute, but overall, the day was insanely boring for me. I met a lot of great people, but the President was boring when she spoke, and everything the students had to say sounded the same. The Greek Life was definitely evident, with a huge frat party starting up just as the days events were coming to a close. I did not love the school, just the clubs, but they were also the only college I visited with an extracurricular fair.
I just got home from spending my day at Bryn Mawr, and I absolutely fell in love with the school, but my parents were way less enthusiastic. From the moment I stepped on campus this morning, I felt at home, and I couldn’t help but to enjoy myself despite the rainy day. My parents were rude all day and kept suggesting that I reconsider Washington College, and that I should appeal the financial aid. They wouldn’t let me submit a deposit before we left, and they probably won’t let me until the end of the week. I bought a tshirt from the book store and they asked me why I was wasting my money.
I don’t know what to do because I could see myself at Bryn Mawr or Washington College. I have loved Bryn Mawr since the moment I started looking into it, but Washington College has always been in the background with my dad rooting for it. My parents are paying for my education and will ultimately let me make my own choice, but I’m not sure if I want to deal with the fallout of them hating my college choice.
@notstevebuscemi - What was it that your parents weren’t crazy about at Bryn Mawr? Do you think they have a problem with the all women’s education? I know some people do. I’m surprised that they didn’t like it. It is the strongest academically of your options, the campus is gorgeous, great location, not a party atmosphere that gets some parents concerned…