<p>I’m a junior, and I think I’ll get in, but I’m wondering whether I ought to even consider it, despite how much it appeals to me.
I want to get 8 hours of sleep and 30 minutes of exercise, and maybe join a club and work at the writing center if they’ll let me. Is this possible for a double major that will require a lot of writing?
Do the people who get mostly A’s have–to put it bluntly–no life?
Thank you in advance for any response!</p>
<p>Hi bmcclassics,</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr’s stereotype within the seven sisters is definitely the “brainy” one, but we’re also on the more social end. Yes, Bryn Mawr is hard, but it’s all about time management. Everyone is seemingly doing everything at once, and sometimes more successfully than at other times, but ultimately it all gets done. Bryn Mawr womyn are very much of the work hard, play hard variety. With Haverford and Swarthmore, plus all of Philadelphia, we have the option to get off campus and easily DO things, not just be sequestered on campus like at more rural schools.</p>
<p>In terms of grades, we don’t really talk about them. Part of our social and academic honor code means you compete with yourself to do your best, whatever that is, rather than compete with your peers. Nobody really knows how anyone does until you see the list of honors in the graduation program.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response, englishivy! It has given me some hope.
I realize that Mawrtyrs can’t talk about grades, but I have heard that they have to work very hard to get an A. Would I be able to get mostly A’s AND get enough sleep, exercise, and participate in a club, or would this be spreading myself too thin?
Thank you.</p>
<p>Honestly, it really depends on many factors-- are you taking four or five classes? Do you have labs? etc etc. I think a lot of things at Bryn Mawr are doable, but with most selective colleges, all students were once the top of their high schools and are now in a pool with their peers. Bryn Mawr is challenging, but if you put in the necessary time and effort, you will do well. I will say it is generally very hard to get a 4.0 – it’s definitely doable, but rare. I would say 3.7 is the standard A while 4.0 is really above and beyond. To put it this way, students take at classes at Penn when they want an easy A (I put in effort in Penn classes that would’ve earned me a 3.3-3.7 at Bryn Mawr but at Penn got me 4.0s).</p>
<p>Thank you. I feel a little more confident now. Bryn Mawr looks like it would be a really good place for me. i hope I get in!</p>
<p>@bmcclassics - While I am sure you know this intellectually, it is still hard for most high school students to imagine how much more “free” time they have at college than in high school because they spend so much less time in class. Sure, that is somewhat offset by higher expectations for time spent out of class doing reading, working on papers, etc. but in the end there are still more hours during the day that you have choices on how to fill. Some peoples schedules can leave entire days open or with only one class. So if you are an organized, disciplined person you should be able to balance sleep, workouts, social activities, etc. while still performing at a high level in your classwork. The students that feel really squeezed usually have either taken on too many classes, too many social activities, don’t use their free time well, or some combination of these.</p>
<p>Best of luck in your application to Bryn Mawr. Great school.</p>
<p>Hi! No offense to Bryn Mawr, but Vassar is a sister that’s considered extremely intellectual and rigorous, as is Smith. Mt. Holyoke is known for its sciences. I’m just adding this to correct this statement: “Bryn Mawr’s stereotype within the seven sisters is definitely the “brainy” one.” Uh, sure the academics are excellent, but I’m not sure then how you’d classify Barnard (studying on same campus as Columbia), and Vassar (Yale’s sister school), Smith (no need to comment on the rigor here) and Mt. Holyoke (sciences). Certainly if Radcliffe still existed there’d be another run for Bryn Mawr’s money.</p>
<p>@Dustyfeathers –
Of course all of the Seven Sisters are academically rigorous–there’s no question there! I’ve spent a fair amount of time in archival content and historically Bryn Mawr has been referred to as that stereotype in popular culture. It’s not to say one is more rigorous than the other, but women who went here have historically been very committed to their studies, i.e. “When Bryn Mawr College opened its doors in 1885, it offered women a more ambitious academic program than any previously available to them in the United States. Other women’s colleges existed, but Bryn Mawr was the first to offer graduate education through the Ph.D.”</p>
<p>I got mostly A’s at Bryn Mawr and still got plenty of sleep and was able to do the outside activities I cared about. It’s about your preparation and skill level as well as the courses and majors you choose. If you are at a rigorous high school that demands a lot of writing, that will make the transition easier.</p>
<p>Most of the selective LACs are similar in academic rigor and As are not easy to get. englishivy and Hanna have said well.</p>