<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>I think they’re both pretty comparable. Similar acceptance rates, Similar SAT/ACT scores and GPAs. I think you should pick the one you like better</p>
<p>I am under the impression (correct me people if I’m wrong) that Bryn Mawr is the “theater” and “dance” school of the tri-co. Haverford is the serious “music” school. If you went to Bryn Mawr your serious music classes, I’m guessing, would be at Haverford, a mile and a half away by shuttle. Don’t know the music situation at Smith.</p>
<p>The Smith Orchestra is pretty decent and a fun experience, don’t know about Bryn Mawr.</p>
<p>The Smith Government department is terrific and their Picker Semester in Washington program (which you can extend to nearly six months by doing Summer/Fall) is outstanding. Again, don’t know what the comps at Bryn Mawr are.</p>
<p>no offense, but I think it is harder to get into Smith than to Bryn Mawr. Smith is like more intensely intellectual. But they are both top notch school and rest assured that you would be happy at either place.</p>
<p>IIRC, Bryn Mawr and Haverford have a joint orchestra which rehearses at Haverford.</p>
<p>As for which is easier to get into, it depends on who you ask. I just know that from my daughter’s graduating high school class, only two got into Smith and six (or was it ten?) got into Bryn Mawr, including the two students who got into Smith. Smith and Wellesley never accept more than two students from that HS; Mount Holyoke and Bryn Mawr accept more. </p>
<p>In the end, though, it really doesn’t matter which is harder to get into. Both offer excellent educations. You should apply ED not to the toughest school but to your favorite one.</p>
<p>
I quite agree.</p>
<p>I don’t know about theater or dance, but I do know that for art Bryn Mawr students take most of their classes at Haverford. </p>
<p>I would agree that their fairly comparable. One of the things I didn’t like about Bryn Mawr was the close knit interchange with Haverford and the other colleges in the area. I really wanted a college that was more or less self contained. But a lot of people feel the opposite, they want a women’s college that’s really well integrated with the neighboring colleges. Personal thing. You might consider what you want to study and which you think would have better offerings for that. </p>
<p>Smith has an excellent Orchestra program and a very strong Government major, one of the most popular majors on campus. I was a gov major and I did the Semester in Washington program through Smith (highly recommend), and now I have a job in government, so I can at least attest that the program worked for me.</p>
<p>My very dear friend CMK92 goes to Bryn Mawr and I’ve asked her to come and voice her opinion. Let’s see if she shows up. 
</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that one school is going to desire you for being a violinist just because of the school. It will have much more to do with the appearance of the class of 2016. If Bryn Mawr has accepted a bunch of violinists similar to you by the time they reach your application, they might be less likely to tip your application into the accepted pile. If Smith has accepted very few violinists, you might be just what they’re looking for. Bryn Mawr apparently has very good musical programs, and Smith’s orchestra is really quite excellent as well.</p>
<p>I have heard nothing but good things about the Smith gov department from my friends interested in gov majors. My friend at Bryn Mawr is a poli sci major and has had a very rewarding and challenging experience as well. Personally, I think the Bryn Mawr poli sci department sounds like it might offer more interesting courses than Smith’s gov department, but your mileage may and will vary. </p>
<p>I can’t help but think that if you’re unsure about which college to which you should submit an ED application, then–with all due respect–you ought not to be applying ED.</p>
<p>My dear friend phanatic(above) brought my attention to this thread. I just thought that I would weigh in on the discussion. </p>
<p>As many posters have already mentioned, Bryn Mawr doesn’t offer music or art classes on its campus. They’re taken at Haverford. The bus ride between the two campuses isn’t at all an inconvenience. The buses generally run every 10 to 15 minutes during peak class hours. I have timed the ride myself for my CS class at HC. It took no more than 6 minutes. dharmagrlx, if you’re interested in joining Haverford’s orchestra, they meet every thursday in the evening. Although night rehearsals are at Haverford, you can obtain a key to Goodhart’s music room to practice. </p>
<p>I’m a political science and philosophy double major. I’ll admit, even the intro courses (depending on the professor) are challenging. Anything taught by Salkever, Elkins, or Allen is a worthwhile course. (Although, Salkever may be retiring soon.) Elkins is highly rated for his Philosophy of Law course which gives you a taste of the work that a first or second year law student would be doing. Salkever specializes in political philosophy. Don’t let the course listings fool you, his 200 level political philosophy course is much more demanding than the 300 level. Like Smith, political science is also a popular major at Bryn Mawr. Overall, the courses are varied. There’s something for everyone. If a course doesn’t interest you in Bryn Mawr’s poli sci department, then you can always take courses (or major in poli sci) at Haverford, Swarthmore, or Penn. I’ve yet to take courses at Swat or Penn, but I plan on taking Game Theory at Swat next spring. Some have described Haverford’s poli sci department as more “conservative” when compared to BM’s. While others don’t view it that way. My courses for the fall are: Evolution of the Jihadi Movement (HC), Mourning, Mercy & Forgiveness (HC), Philosophy of Law (BM), and The Politics of Humanitarianism (BM). </p>
<p>As for applying ED, I applied to Bryn Mawr ED II, and haven’t regret it yet. When Bryn Mawr had its admitted students weekend a few weeks back, many of the students there were choosing between Smith and Bryn Mawr. I can honestly say that it boils down to which college you like best. Where would you rather spend your four years of undergraduate study at? dharmagrlx, I think you should visit both institutions before casting your vote for either one of them. I personally would be more than happy to host you if ever you decide to visit Bryn Mawr. </p>
<p>Best of luck on the application process! </p>
<p>P.s. If you have any questions on Bryn Mawr’s political science department, music at Haverford, or anything related to Bryn Mawr in general, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>@CMK: my daughter also narrowed her choices to Bryn Mawr and Smith. I thought that it was a rather odd final two since I felt, despite the all-women’s and excellent LAC shared qualities, that the two colleges had very different feels. But I guess it’s a common dilemma.</p>
<p>If you’re really not sure, then don’t go ED for either one. Any uncertainty you feel is going to come up between the lines. ED is a big commitment, and any hesitation about the decision is easy to see. I applied to Smith ED only because I felt pressured to go ED somewhere, and it wrecked my application. My stats were in their ball park, but they rejected me because, quite honestly, my application was terrible. Bryn Mawr, however, admitted me because my application was much more organized thanks to a lack of pressure. Don’t go ED anywhere until you know 100% for sure what you want and are ready to stake your life on it. It will show up in your application and it will bite you in the backside later on.</p>
<p>One of the local Smithies wrapping up her first year was also down to Smith and Bryn Mawr. Visiting both is what sealed it for her and apparently the decision wasn’t even close. (Of course, someone else making the same two visits could also decide just as emphatically in the other direction.)</p>
<p>She was someone I met at a prospect party and whom I tagged immediately as a great fit for Smith. Fortunately, it turned out that she has enjoyed Smith greatly. Whew. (Always crossed fingers that your perception aligns with reality, that they really will like it.)</p>
<p>dharmagrix, have you visited both campuses? If you haven’t and you visit this summer, there’s a good likelihood you will have my daughter as a tour guide. While a summer visit will give you a sense of the campus and Northampton, it’s even more useful to visit and sit in on classes while the schools are in session to meet several students (not just the tour guide) and profs. I agree with NovelNova that ED is not a good path unless you’re completely sold on just one school.</p>