<p>i guess this is self explanatory. unfortunately, i haven't visited any of these schools yet, but may apply this jan. i know about smith's open curriculum, semester in washington, jya in paris and geneva, house dorm system and these are all huge draws for me. i guess what i'm more interested in is why wellesley and bryn mawr appear to be more selective, or less self-selected, and what the differences in student body and academic reputation are. i have a acquaintance/friend that goes to bmc and is totally in love with it, but i dont know anyone who goes to w or bmc. maybe this is the wrong place to ask for first hand experience.
i have read the earlier thread about smith vs. bryn mawr, but i haven't seen one about smith v wellesley, and i thought i'd just throw bmc into the picture in case someone could comment directly on the french and govt/polisci programs that are of interest to me.
one thing that would really help me is if you could tell me the focus of the poli sci/gov departments. i would rather go somewhere where it's more theory based and less numbers based, ie not university of rochester.</p>
<p>These are all great schools. You will see significant differences (and similarities) when you visit, which is really what you need to do.</p>
<p>W was my D's #2. She felt more at home at Smith and liked very much that the performing arts were more central at Smith than peripheral at Wellesley.
There is a nugget of truth inside the stereotype that W students are more tightly wound, Smith students a little more laid back.</p>
<p>D thinks her political theory classes at Smith have been pretty good but among the most demanding non-Math classes she's taken.</p>
<p>These really are both wonderful schools, and it comes down to "fit." When we visited W it just didn't hit home for us or our D. Nice campus, but didn't find it very outgoing and friendly. Kinda stuffy for our tastes. We visited twice and had the same feelings both times. We also found numerous beer and alcohol bottles strewn all over campus and dorm halls, which didn't sit well with us. Maybe this was an unusual circumstance, but not a good first impression.</p>
<p>Well, I have no idea about the selectivity of BM or Wellesley, but I can speak to Smith's poli-sci department. The Gov. dept. here is very good, because Gov majors are one of the biggest majors on campus and more majors =more profs=more classes=more choice. You can choose to have a theory focus if you want (there are plenty of theory courses), but I think Smith's strengths lie in American government and International Relations. Even though we don't have an official IR department, our profs who teach IR and comparative govt classes are very good and quite distinguished. As for American gov, that's the area of study of some of the gov departments favorite profs. One complaint I have about the Gov dept. is that it does not have the Middle Eastern studies courses I would like it to have, but I supplement with five college and History dept. courses.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr has a very distinguished French Program. Depending on one's French background at entry on can get an M.A in five or sometimes just four years. </p>
<p>BMC has the Avignon Institute in France which runs programs in the summer and for semesters and years abroad. </p>
<p>If French is your thing you can't go wrond with Bryn Mawr.</p>
<p>'one' not 'one'<br>
'wrong' not 'wrond'</p>
<p>Sorry!</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr Poli Sci students take most of their courses at nearby Haverford (coed).</p>
<p>Going by stereotypes, BMC has students that are the most academically driven (or obsessive) compared to the other Seven Sisters schools also has retained the most archaic girls' school traditions like maypole dancing. My take is that Wellesley is the most heavily pre-professional of the three schools you mention. Read all the posts from TheDad and you'll learn all you need to know about Smith. (disclaimer: I graduated from Mount Holyoke, visited BMC twice with my daughter and had friends at Wellesley.)</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was in a similar position when I made my choice. (Wellesley v Smith v Bryn Mawr v Mount Holyoke) I've only taken one class in the gov dept at Smith, but it was awesome. All my Gov major friends LOVE the profs and classes. Gov is a big major here. </p>
<p>I recommend you do overnights at as many schools as possible. The three you're looking at are kinda similar, but the people I know who were choosing between them often had gut reactions to one school or another once thy spent time at them. </p>
<p>In parting, one thing about Smith that I think doesn't get plugged enough though is our student government. It's really active, and we have a respectable amount of power in our community here at Smith. I really like that about us. </p>
<p>I'm sorry if this is a little disorganized and rambly, but I'd be happy to talk to you about Smith further. (This is my break from Rabbinic Lit reading that I really shouldn't be taking.)</p>
<p>I would second the notion that French at Bryn Mawr is truly outstanding. (It's very good at Smith and Wellesley, too.)</p>
<p>The BMC Avignon program is summer only. BMC students go abroad for a semester or year with Sweet Briar and other excellent programs.</p>
<p>If you want to do government and French, no college in the nation has anything quite like Smith's program in Geneva, with internships arranged in the non-governmental organization (NGO) sector where NGOs are attached to the United Nations offices there.</p>
<p>Check the Link:</p>
<p>Again, I don't think there is any other college in America that (for this) comes close.</p>
<p>Pyewacket, it would be interesting to develop a test for obsession between Smith, Wellesley, and BMC. About the only schools that I would concede to automatically might be Swat and U/Chicago.</p>
<p>Heard from my d. tonight. She has finally settled on her courses for the first semester. The required Italian literature/stylistics class (taught by her favorite prof.) History of opera (focusing on the evolution of heroines). History of Florence. And then, up at the university, History of Medieval/Renaissance theatre. This last one she can take for credit or audit, but since all grades are decided by one final exam, she doesn't have decide that now. She plans to play in the orchestra at the university, and has a voice teacher (for which Smith will pay.)</p>
<p>Among the best parts is that she has Friday off, which means she can get on a train to anywhere in half of Europe on Thursday evening and be there by morning. Friends are visiting from Oxford tomorrow - she expects to take 'em around, and maybe she'll cadge an expensive meal. Only gone drinking once so far (the coffee bars turn into wine bars in the evening). </p>
<p>She says the opera professor talks a mile a minute, and scared a lot of the students off. But she says if she sits on the edge of her chair, she can take it all in, and the prof is great!</p>
<p>wow that sounds amazing! your daughter is sooo lucky
does smith pay for instrument and voice lessons in northampton as well?</p>
<p>Not unless you are a music major or minor, which is one thing I've found disconcerting. My voice teacher told me it's $600 a semester; not horrible, but still a fairly hefty sum on top of full tuition. However, music here in general is fabulous, and I'm singing in three ensembles plus voice study (and going to Italy with the Chamber Singers this May... so excited!). Really amazing performance opportunities, and wonderful conductors.</p>
<p>Declare a music major or minor, and it's free. There is also a fund for those on financial aid. And the chair of the department can also waive the fee.</p>
<p>Ladylazarus - I'm so glad it has worked out for you so well. As I said to you months ago, I think Wellesley did you a great favor.</p>
<p>First, I disagree that BM is more selective than Wellesley and Smith; based on what I saw last year, it was easier to get into BM than Smith. (In my d's high school, all six women who applied to BM got in; only two of those got into Smith.) That said, Bryn Mawr, like Smith and Wellesley, has a self-selective applicant pool which means that all who get in are academic achievers.</p>
<p>Interestingly, I asked my d. (who still adores Smith) how her high school friends are enjoying college. Those who are attending Wellesley are much more "disappointed" than those attending the other women's colleges. I couldn't get her to pinpoint why, probably because her friends haven't articulated why, either, except to say that most of their new friends have already decided to transfer.</p>
<p>That elusive "fit" is essential to find. My d. knew after re-visiting her top selections, including Bryn Mawr, that Smith would provide the best opportunities and environment for her. You <em>really</em> need to visit the schools. If it is impossible, then ask the admissions office to put you in touch with a few current students, just so you can get a feel for the type of woman who attends that school. While it won't give you a whole picture, at least you'll get something.</p>
<p>Nice post, MWFN. Especially the part about that "elusive fit." That really is what it is all about, period! Visiting campuses, talking to students and faculty, reading lots of info should never be taken for granted by prospies. I also like the part about self-selection, as it is something I have been professing for a long time about women's coleges like Smith; who presumably have a high admission rate. The women who attend are self-selecting, and therefore the high numbers.</p>