<p>Which is more difficult to get into? By how much? Mount Holyoke and Smith are my two top choices, but I'm also considering Bryn Mawr. I have a SAT score of 2310 (800 reading, 780 math, 730 writing) and SAT II scores of 740 math 1, 760 biology, and 800 U.S. history. I'm homeschooled, so I've taken several courses at a community college (chemistry, psych, history, literature) and worked both on my own and with a tutor on various subjects. I have a 4.0 GPA in the community college courses. I'm also very heavily involved in classical music: I play cello at a precollege music program at a conservatory in upstate NY.</p>
<p>What are my chances? Any opinions would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I think all three schools would be very interested in you, given your academic stats and music background, particularly if your recommendations and essays are consistent your grades and scores. My daughter attends Smith, and she and most of her friends are strong in academics and at least one other area (music, sports, art, etc.), so you sound like a great fit.</p>
<p>Smith has a reputation for being more difficult to get into than Mt Holyoke. It’s hard to find good data on this, but if you look at the common data sets for each school, you’ll see that Smith has a higher average GPA for entering students and slightly higher test scores than Mt Holyoke. However, they make admissions decisions on more things than these stats.</p>
<p>I’d recommend visiting them all if you can, particularly during the school year, since they all have a different feel. My daughter visited all of the seven sisters. She applied to and was accepted at Smith, Bryn Mawr, and Wellesley (plus coed schools). She narrowed it down to Smith and Bryn Mawr for revisits, and chose Smith. Much of her choice was based on specific programs and offerings at Smith, but a lot of it was the vibe and feeling she got at the school. You may or may not feel differently.</p>
<p>I agree with photodad, and my daughter also looked at all these schools. There are many similarities -in fact they probably have more in common as a group than compared to other co-ed schools of the same type and caliber-, but they really do have a different “vibe.”</p>
<p>We found that some schools (particularly the women’s colleges) that look nearly identical on paper or on a drive-through visit can really appeal much more or less strongly after an in-depth visit. At accepted students days, my daughter met tons of women who had applied to both these schools plus Wellesley and often Bryn Mawr and Barnard as well. They all had different reasons for choosing the school they eventually decided to attend. Sometimes financial (for instance Mount Holyoke tends to give very good merit aid) sometimes because of specific academic programs offered, but often because one or another of the schools just “felt like home.” If possible, sit in on a few classes and do an overnight visit.</p>
<p>That said- also remember that if you apply to both Smith and Mount Holyoke, and get into one or the other, you can always take classes at the other college since they’re both part of the 5-college consortium. Since both schools are free to apply to (using the Common App) why not apply to both? I agree, you have a very good shot at either, based on your stats above.</p>
<p>I would look at both Smith and Mt Holyoke and if you are interested in a women’s college in a suburban environment that’s closer to a large urban area look at Bryn Mawr or Wellesley. Your scores/GPA certainly put you in the running for these colleges and maybe even for merit money. If you are interested in continuing your music, BMC is not too far from the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia (it’s a well-respected music conservatory).</p>
<p>As a Bryn Mawr student you can also take advantage of Haverford’s music department either through extra-curricular performance groups or academic coursework.</p>
<p>I think you’re fine at any of them. Mount Holyoke’s acceptance rate is the highest, and if you’re in love with that school, go for it. I feel that way at both Bryn Mawr and Wellesley. Every school DOES have a different vibe… For instance, Bryn Mawr just feels like home to me, but it’s different for everybody. I would highly suggest visiting. I’m a rising senior and I went on a “college road trip” during spring break, and I was able to cut three schools off my list because I just didn’t feel right there. That saves both your time and money, so it’s worth it!! I believe you have a good shot at getting into any of them, even Wellesley or Barnard… Good luck!</p>