Bryn Mawr College

Photo: Bryn Mawr College. Retrieved from: jonisaloom.wordpress.com

As a highly selective private liberal arts college for women, Bryn Mawr College demands the best from its students as it offers the best in terms of learning environment and quality of education. The campus is located in Bryn Mawr, a picturesque suburban community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. The name of the school as well as the town is Welsh for “big hill” and is very close to Philadelphia.

Bryn Mawr is among the prestigious Seven Sister colleges. It is also one of the colleges that cooperate and communicate as the Tri-College Consortium. Along with Quaker-founded institutions like Swarthmore College and Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College strives to provide its students with the best library collections and the best array of subjects to major in. The student population comprises approximately 1500 undergraduate students and around 500 graduate students.

Although the school is all-female in the undergraduate aspect, The Graduate School has male and female students.

School History

Founded in 1885, Bryn Mawr College was the first college institution to give graduate degrees, like doctorate degrees, to women. The school was established after a sizable donation from Joseph W. Taylor.

Bryn Mawr continued to become a pioneer in the education field. In 1912, Bryn Mawr offered doctorate degrees in social work, the first in the United States. The Department of Social Economy and Social Research was set up for those that want to pursue this career. This department evolved to become the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research during the 1970s. By then, men were accepted as graduate students. Men were accepted in graduate school of Bryn Mawr by 1931.

Bryn Mawr campus opened during summer for Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers, which was the institution’s answer to the labor education movement and the women’s labor movement. Women that attended this school took up science, literature and political economy.

Campus Life

The majority of the student body live in residence halls, where students interact with others, building a community of diverse and driven individuals all there to enrich their learning. Students abide by the school’s Honor Code, which serves as a moral compass for students to develop a set of principles that enables them to cooperate with others and become the best they can be.

Parties are thrown by organizations, and by interested students in residence halls. The party should be disclosed to the administration so that necessary adjustments can be done. The student body is active in extracurricular activities, and many take the initiative to have gatherings to celebrate occasions like club anniversaries and other causes.

There are more than 100 student-founded organizations so there are plenty of opportunities to enhance learning and develop leadership skills. These organizations function in a strongly ethical community of student leaders. Civic obligation is stressed, regardless of the nature of the student organization.

The College competes in the NCAA Division III athletics as well as the Centennial Conference. Many students play club sports like equestrian, ultimate frisbee and rugby.

The social scene is thriving with many events co-sponsored by neighboring schools like Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges, as well as the University of Pennsylvania. Students with a lot of free time to spare can head over to Philadelphia, which is a mere 20 minutes away by high-speed rail.

Financial Aid

Bryn Mawr creates financial aid packages for undergraduates in need of assistance and the packages usually comprise grants and scholarships, work opportunities in campus, student loans and parent loans. Federal Work Study information is available for those seeking this type of aid, and students can alternatively go for community service and off-campus employment.

Rankings

2017 College Rankings