<p>Other than location can anyone describe some major differences between these colleges? (particularly the student bodies of each?) Thanks!</p>
<p>I unfortunately can’t tell you much about Bryn Mawr, but I went to MHC and I loved it! I think that one of the biggest differences between the two will likely be location as both are excellent schools. What are you planning to study? MHC is known for its strength in the sciences, as well as international relations, psychology, and English.</p>
<p>I’ve only visited BMC twice, but I’ve loved it. Aesthetic wise, the campus and dorms are beautiful. Unless you live in either of the later built “modern” dorms… I find them really ugly. The gym was also just redone and it is GORGEOUS. I’ve never seen a gym like it, especially among colleges. </p>
<p>From an academic perspective, BMC has continuously boasted about their strength in math & science. 20% of the student body majors in either of those fields. The students have come off as friendly and there seems to be a good mix of ethnicity. The tour guides I’ve asked extra questions via emails have said the community is fabulous. BMC also has a consortium similar to MHC… BMC’s is with Haverford, Swarthmore, and UPenn. All fantastic schools. I assume their undergrad psychology is also very good since their graduate psychology program is known to be good. The thing is, if BMC has any weaknesses, it could be made up by the other four school. Ah, the benefits of a consortium (:</p>
<p>Atmosphere wise I’ve found it to be very nice… not sure what else to say since I don’t go there. I have heard from tour guides that there is a lot of work, but it doesn’t take up 100% of the students’ time and they do have time for a life. Anytime I went it was during the day, once during the week and once on Saturday. Both times were quiet. I can’t imagine the campus getting overly rowdy since it’s an all girls campus. I would think a lot of partying would go down at Haverford, which is only a mile away, or Swat. I’m sure someone can answer this much better than I. Also, BMC is near Philly while MHC is near Springfield… not sure if the two are comparable. Depends what you like.</p>
<p>Personally, I’m finding that I like BMC, MHC, and Smith. They all seem quite similar. If anyone has some comments about the atmosphere of Smith/MHC I’d love to hear it! I’ve heard Smith can be a bit hoity-toity.</p>
<p>alienxyz–How would you describe the general pop of MHC? Also, do you think it’s really competitive/hard to get into? Or do they have like a “self selecting” student body (since they admit about 50%) Are students laid back, working constantly, somewhere in between? I’ve found the most defining factor of a college atmosphere is whether or not the students take the work seriously, and then, how seriously since that eats up the majority of time.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies! Its such a tough call…</p>
<p>Cwhaticando, I graduated from MHC almost 8 years ago, so I’m not sure how much things have changed there. I have to say that there was a nice mix of students and a nice mix of personalities. I’d say that most students on campus went to class in jeans and sweatshirts or even pajama pants and sweatshirts, but there were still some girls that dressed up cute and wore make-up everyday, too. The atmosphere is very socially liberal, and the campus is diverse (25% domestic ethnic minority and 25% international students). Everyone there is smart, and it didn’t feel like the atmosphere was “clique-ish”…I hung out with all kinds of students from all kinds of places. When I went to eat at a dining hall I would always find someone interesting to sit next to whether I sat with friends or complete strangers. </p>
<p>The library is generally busy, even on Friday nights, but everyone is always fond of “study breaks” to grab coffees and snacks and socialize. I liked that I felt that we all shared a common bond, not just that we were women, but that we had similar priorities, like being involved in campus activities and pursuing our academic passions. It is was not uncommon for women to be over-involved at MHC. I was definitely one of those people…I was in the orchestra, took private music lessons, was involved in theatre, was on an athletic team, was very active with two cultural clubs, had more than one work-study job, AND demanded high academic standards of myself (my major and minor were both in the social sciences). I would not RECOMMEND this type of over-involvement, but most women do follow their passions, whether it is volunteering, being involved in social justice issues, athletics, or student government in addition to demanding the most of themselves academically.</p>
<p>Students from MHC go on to Ivy League institutions for grad/law/med school and a very high rate…I’ve had several friends go on to Harvard, Columbia, and Yale…a couple on to Cornell for med school and one in a PhD program at Cornell. -Of course, it’s not a guarantee…you’ve got to do very well at MHC, too!</p>
<p>I took a class at Smith and enjoyed it. Smith is a more urban environment while MHC is more suburban. I preferred MHC’s campus to Smith’s, but Smith is beautiful as well. I mostly knew girls there through athletics who were all very nice. One of my friends who chose MHC over Smith said that when she spent time at Smith as a prospective student, she kind of felt she could see all the divisions of students, i.e. the jocks, the snotty rich girls, the social justice kids, the brains, the girls who wish there was a sorority, etc. She said that she felt MHC’s environment was more inclusive and people didn’t seem so split by their differences. </p>
<p>At both MHC and Smith, however, students are VERY focused on academics and are very smart. You’ll be getting a world class education regardless of what institution you attend!</p>
<p>My D is a soph at MHC and loves it. She works very hard and does well. There are others who do not work so hard and do less well. Students DO party, though mostly on Friday and Saturday nights. Students are not competitive with each other, but with themselves. Everyone seems to be very busy doing … whatever. They are supportive of one another. Profs are smart, responsive and accessible. My D and some of her friends take courses at others of the 5 colleges, and like that, although travel is required.</p>
<p>BM is also a great school, but I cannot say anything about it. My D refused to go there to visit, and would not apply. I had the impression that at BM students worked much harder, but in the recent survey, MHC was rated highly as an intense academic place. It think it depends upon the student and the major. Even if you end up in Party U, you can end up working real hard (especially if you major in biochemistry), or if you go to Geek U you can end up partying real hard (especially if you major in basket weaving).</p>
<p>Apply to both, see which accepts you (and if they throw money at you). (MHC waives the application fee if you apply on line, though as someone said on this site you still have to pay a few bucks to send various things to the colleges – compared to tuition, it’s next to nothing) It may be that location will be important to you, i.e., which one is easier for you when you want to go home on vacations, etc.</p>
<p>Either MHC or BM looks really great on a resume (for those in the know – grad schools and savy employers). And there’s nothing like going to school in a relatively small (beautiful) college, as opposed to a university where you are merely a number, not a person.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies ConCerndDad and alienxyz!</p>
<p>My plan is to apply to Bryn Mawr, Mt Holyoke, Smith, and possibly Wellesley (all of which are free via the commonapp). Then Marist (parent’s choice), and maybe Vassar. I feel good about my chances of getting into BMC at the least, and if none of the seven sister schools throw money at me then I’ll be headed to Marist no matter how I feel about it. BMC, MHC, and Smith all sound wonderful. I will be visiting MHC and Smith this month when I’m at U Albany visiting someone. Then I can comeback and do a real comparison of MHC & BMC, emmalovescoffee (:</p>
<p>I now remember why my D would not apply to BM. My D was interested in music as a major, but BM’s music department was at Haverford, not at BM – a major BumMer for her, having to commute for all course and activities.</p>
<p>I was looking at both institutions too. It really is about what you want in a school. I didn’t consider Bryn Mawr too seriously, and I do remember that I enjoyed the entire application process with both schools. What sold me on MHC, however, was the lack of competition. I’m in graduate school and people are constantly asking peers what grades they got on papers. That never happened at Mount Holyoke. It happened when I took classes at the other five colleges too. I can’t speak for Bryn Mawr; I did not go there. All I can say is that I was impressed by their French department and if I had decided I was going to pursue that as a major, I would have definitely enrolled. MHC is where my heart went, though, and I do not regret a minute of my experience. Wait until you visit both schools. Talk to students on campus - NOT JUST STUDENT ADMISSIONS TOUR GUIDES. You want the “real scoop,” you don’t just want to know how many women go on to do greater things. You can learn a lot about a school by talking to its current students. :)</p>