<p>I've posted before in the BM section but here goes again</p>
<p>DD is in the final stages of choosing between BMC and Simmons after rejecting SUNY Binghamton, UMass Amherst, Rutgers, Smith and Goucher. She says that BMC is where she is now but Simmons is who she wants to grow to be. And I will say that she fell in love with BMC two years ago before she saw Simmons. Simmons is a relative unknown for me. I would like to hear from CC posters who have actual knowledge of both schools. </p>
<p>I have some knowledge of Bryn Mawr. Beautiful campus with a ton of smart girls. You can get into Philadelphia by train in 20 minutes and your DD can take classes at other consortium schools (Swarthmore, Haverford, Penn?). Definitely a great education at Bryn Mawr and the benefit of all girls if your DD wants that. </p>
<p>These factors are part of the reason she loves BM. But I think she sees herself at Simmons. Sometimes. I wish I could explain the difference. Simmons is in the heart of things happening. There is the lure of the city. There is a lot of involvement in the life of Boston (hospitals, schools, government) that is available through Simmons. BM is cloistered. Not a bad thing but two different approaches to education. I am no help to D. I vassilate daily. Literally. But I want to feel more comfortable before I see her turning down a BMC education. </p>
<p>I don’t see how anyone could compare Simmons and BM. They are in totally different leagues in term of academic rigor, campus facilities, faculty, resources and reputation. BM versus Smith, sure. But not Simmons! Take a look at any ranking system, take a look at the average gpa and test scores of the students they admit.
Location is important but it should not be the most important factor when choosing. I think she just likes being in Boston, in which case she should have applied to some more selective schools in the Boston area.
Wow, my mind is still blown by the concept that someone would even be having this debate!</p>
<p>BMC grad here. I had several friends who left BMC after a year or two because they out-grew the intensely academic focus there. It is my impression that Simmons has a much more practical world view, and that the graduates walk out of Simmons into solid careers as a result of the internships they pursue at institutions that are basically right next door. If that is what your daughter is after, BMC probably wouldn’t be a good long-term fit. Yes there are career pathways that would be much easier to enter directly out of college from Simmons than from BMC. If she wants to spend the next four years engaged in the life of the mind, then I’d recommend BMC over Simmons. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, I’d have her sit down and try to organize her reasons for each place. If the she changes her mind halfway through college, is there a reasonable transfer path from the place she is attending to the other one? What about reasonable transfer paths from either of them to a different institution altogether. If she can verbalize what she means by Simmons being “who she wants to grow into”, I think you will feel more comfortable with her choice.</p>
<p>She can frame all those other college acceptance letters. If she is good enough to be admitted to all those other places, but knows in her own heart and mind that Simmons is going to get her to where she really wants to be, then she is going to do a bang-up job when she gets to that place.</p>
<p>Wishing you and your daughter all the best!</p>
<p>@happy mom. Thanks. That was our feeling about the “life of the mind.” I think she will do that wherever she goes. I think she is looking for immersion not isolation. </p>
<p>@beantown. I hear you and that is part of my discomfort. I don’t believe that name brand is necessarily fit. Or GPA determines growth potential. BMC is not right for every woman. And we were waitlisted at Wellesley which we couldn’t afford anyway. That is the only women’s college in the Boston area that fit our science needs. We have tried to communicate that learning takes place not just in the classroom. We are not able to afford the school associated travel/study abroad experiences that come with BM. Ds study abroad kind of has to be Boston. </p>
<p>Thanks to you both</p>
<p>Based on all you’ve said, I’d recommend she go with Simmons. How to explain? I hear what your DD is saying and beieve Simmons will deliver. Will she encounter snobs from other higher ranked schools? A few. Will she find satisfaction, stimulation and pride at Simmons? Likely. Will she engage with the college & Boston community? You bet. The school is not some backwater. Some of the most fab women i’ve mey were educated there. Some of my favorite scholars taught there. Will she take amazing courses that demand she think deeply? That’s built in. Don’t be afraid. And frankly, she’ll learn that this very debate is as old as the schools involved. 
I think you will be delighted with Simmons if your DD goes all-in! (Excuse phone typos.)</p>