Unfortunately I don’t get to visit either of these schools! I’m wondering which, Mount Holyoke or Bryn Mawr, is less sink-or-swim and more nurturing. Also, any other words of wisdom you might have for somebody who is not able to visit before choosing which to attend.
I was accepted to both, but ultimately chose Bryn Mawr. I visited MoHo a couple times and did an overnight. It’s a beautiful (!!!) campus and I found students to be welcoming and friendly. The Pioneer Valley is truly stunning. However, I felt Bryn Mawr was a better fit for me in terms of social dynamics and location. Both are part of consortiums, so you’ll have plenty of access to classes and activities on other campuses. A big difference is location. MoHo is a little more isolated and rural, whereas Bryn Mawr is 20 minutes from Philadelphia. It’s also easy for students to go to NYC or DC on weekends (about two hours by bus to each). So, a big question to ask your self is wif you want more suburban/urban or more rural/small town. Are you transferring from Sweet Briar? I know MoHo has an equestrian program, if that’s of any interest. BMC has an equestrian club, but the stables aren’t located on campus.
My D is a bio major at MHC and one of the main reasons she chose the school was the strongly supportive/collaborative/welcoming environment. She’s found that the students are not competitive, but much more collaborative. The academics are tough, but there are always peers to help and the professors are amazingly accessible.
Bryn Mawr was also on her list but she felt too hemmed in by the urban/suburban location. It has a beautiful campus though, as does MHC. When she posts pics on social media, people invariably respond, “I didn’t know you went to Hogwarts!” If you’d like to contact her with any questions, feel free to PM me.
Both campuses are stunningly beautiful! Mount Holyoke provided a HUGE amount of student support. My daughter did an overnight there for equestrians and she liked the coaches and the women on the team a lot. To me it seemed as if Bryn Mawr students were on the whole a bit livelier and happier, but it’s really hard to judge these things based on one visit. I’ve heard of really happy and really miserable students at both.
D was accepted to both schools. But why would you think one is supportive and the other less so? One of the draws of small liberal arts colleges, especially those that are for women is the supportive environment. The school where you fit in, where you feel you can be yourself no matter how goofy or different is the place for you. I think you would win with either school.