Earlier posts from years back discussed grade deflation at Bryn Mawr. This makes getting accepted into some graduate programs more difficult, if you attend Bryn Mawr, Med School for example.
Could someone comment if Bryn Mawr still practices grade deflation?
The general consensus was yes, you will be graded to a higher standard than at many other institutions. For example, I took two Penn classes while at Bryn Mawr and the work I did would’ve probably earned me 3.7s at BMC, but I got 4.0s at Penn. At Bryn Mawr, I found that 3.7 was really quality work, but 4.0s were reserved for exceptional work. I liked it because it really made me savor those 4.0s and work for them. When I did get them I really felt a sense of accomplishment and not like they were the status quo.
As for med school, because BMC undergrad students take the same pre-med coursework that our Post-Bac program does (which is #1 in the country), BMC students are definitely viewed as having stellar preparation.
Thank you. Does the grade deflation in the premed area mean that many are weeded out from applying?
Englishivy, could you please comment on classes at Haverford as far as grade deflation? My daughter is looking at both schools.
I didn’t take traditional science coursework (I took a chemistry course on pigments that complemented my history of art degree) so I can’t speak to how that grading worked. Since BMC does have this leading post-bac program with agreements at top med schools, these admissions committees will be familiar with the rigor of the coursework. Pre-med students have access to the same resources the post-bac students do, so there’s definitely a lot of resources at your disposal. I would look at the post-bac site to get a better idea of what resources are available:
https://www.brynmawr.edu/postbac
I never took a course at Haverford, but I think their grading is more on-par with Bryn Mawr’s policies.
Thank you, @englishivy
just wanted to comment that no one who applied to med school got in this year… if that’s what you are interested in
@sabribri070 Yes that is what I’m interested in. Not a single applicant from Bryn Mawr was accepted into any medical school?? I’m shocked, frankly.
Also grateful that you posted this.
Do you have any further information?
I mean, I would also look at how many people applied. I know someone who applied and was waitlisted - and they just had a really bad GPA period.
Instead of asking strangers on the internet, why don’t you call or email Bryn Mawr’s Health Professions Advising Office directly and get the real skinny on the situation: http://www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/
@doschicos because many premed programs tell you that an astronomical percentage of their students get into med school. Some say, 98% got into med school. When we visited campus of Bryn Mawr and asked, were were told “all” premeds get into med school. Even assuming that this was an exaggeration and assuming that the speaker meant “all those not culled from the herd” got into med school, it’s fair to assume that a large number of the premeds in fact got in. One checks that idea with other people on the internet because you can get important information like @sabribri070 posted: no one got in this year.
This allerts me to check whether bryn Mawr’s reputation as being supportive and rigorous for premeds is true.
Colleges have one task when meeting a prospective, smart student: to get that student to apply. Often claims are glosses of facts. It’s helpful to look for other sources of information to confirm or not confirm.
It doesn’t look like they claim 100% per their website. Perhaps you should ask more targeted questions regarding their statistics. As their website states, and is true at many schools these days, most students apply after graduation, applying after some work experience. If the info in post #6 is accurate (assuming that person actually knows the personal details of all applicants) was that just current students? Bryn Mawr has a post Bac premed program. I’m sure they do have success in getting students into med school. What I suggest is researching the right, targeted questions to ask to obtain the most accurate information possible.
From the website:
What is the acceptance rate for Bryn Mawr applicants to medical school?
Of all Bryn Mawr applicants from 2009-2015, 56% were accepted to a U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical school.
Thanks. I appreciate that you’re trying to help, and it is a help, very much so. A second reason I am asking on CC these questions is to take students’ emotional temperature about a given program, if that’s possible. For my DD at least, stats are definitely important. But also how people actually fare year to year, and how they feel while in the program. If @sabribri070 cares to comment further, I’m interested in the atmosphere surrounding this year’s results.
@Dustyfeathers Instead of being suspicious about Bryn Mawr’s honesty, why don’t you notice the plain and simple fact that sabribri070 mentioned no evidence whatsoever to back the claim that no one from Bryn Mawr got into med school this year?
@Dustyfeathers I just asked a friend whose friend applied and got into med school (I am a current student) this year. It looks like your inside anonymous source - sabribri - is incorrect. (That being said, I am also just another random person on the internet. Take anything on this forum with what you will.)
@PlasticNebula thank you for your help. We’re all just anonymous people on the internet. Yes, I saw that there was no evidence, which is why I asked for some. I appreciate your other information. Thank you.
I had a friend who took computer science at Bryn Mawr. Compared to my course at Swarthmore, I didn’t think it was too difficult. Although it must be encouraging to be in a department with all women. I think this is probably something you should think about. Men in sciences tend to be louder and command more attention than women, often undeservedly.
I can’t comment on grade deflation, but the unsupported statement that no Bryn Mawr graduates were admitted to medical school this year is plainly untrue. BMC President Kim Cassidy recently had a piece in US News about STEM majors at women’s colleges, which consistently far outstrip their numbers at coed schools (22% vs 9%, I believe). Bryn Mawr students do extremely well at graduate and professional school admissions generally. This unsystematic review of the post-graduation plans of some of this year’s seniors, just posted on the College’s Facebook page, mentions one headed for med school at Drexel and several more doing post-bac research in medicine and related fields. https://www.brynmawr.edu/news/bryn-mawrs-class-2016-set-receive-their-degrees-saturday-may-14
@twintwin88 Thank you. I’m grateful for this follow up.
@Dustyfeathers Sorry for the late reply! I was a recent bryn mawr student who was also interested in premed. I was also interested in being a biology major and I was extremely disappointed with the curriculum and ended up dropping the class after one week. After talking to some senior friends and hearing that NONE of the seniors who applied got into med school (people with higher than 3.7 gpas and good MCAT scores) I knew bryn mawr was not for me. I’m transferring this year to a school with a stronger pre-med program because that is my ultimate goal. If you have any more questions feel free to ask!!