Bryn Mawr College

Visit Report by bclintonk (Member since May 13 2008 with 770 posts) Visit Date - July 2008

2 of 3 people found this visit report helpful
Visit to Bryn Mawr College in July 2008 by bclintonk (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2010)
Visit Activities:
Information Session: Yes - Small, intimate info session: 2 prospective students, 2 parents, 1 current student, 2 admissions officers sitting around a small conference table in a lovely room. Charming, and oh-so-inviting! Campus Tour: Yes - Our guide was knowledgeable, informative, funny, told lots of amusing and instructive little anecdotes. Very endearing.
Bryn Mawr College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent - Very warm and welcoming, conveyed the sense of a cohesive and caring community, a big selling point for my D. Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent - Admissions staff conveyed the sense they weren't looking for weaknesses, only helping to sort through whether Bryn Mawr was a good fit. It's a disarming approach, and a welcome change. Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent - Drop-dead gorgeous campus, featuring some of the original American collegiate gothic architecture, on grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of NY's Central Park Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent Dormitories: 5 - Excellent Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent - It's a pretty safe little academic enclave in a high-end mainline Philadelphia suburb, no security worries here. Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent - Charming. Lovely. Cozy. The campus fosters a sense of community, and the sense of community is palpable.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 3 - Good - Very nice, very upscale, a bit boring. There's a reasonably lively suburban business strip just a block off campus, but not a lot of student-oriented shops, restaurants, etc. City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good - Best feature: 20-minute train ride to Center City Philadelphia. D usually doesn't like suburbs but this is an exception: a quiet oasis to get your work done, with easy access to Philly, NY, and D
Campus Visit Notes for Bryn Mawr College:
Visit Description: My D fell in love with this place. Strong academics, a close-knit community, the consortium with nearby (1.5 mi) Haverford and, a little further, Swarthmore and Penn opens lots of additional academic (and social) opportunities not usually available at a small LAC. Gorgeous campus and location are almost ideal for her. A strong selling point: Bryn Mawr's honor code prohibits inquiring about anyone's grades or talking about your own, on the theory that the environment shouldn't be about competition for grades but mutual support in a quest to achieve one's personal best. That resonated strongly with D. Icing on the cake: Bryn Mawr's patron and protector is the Greek goddess Athena, with whom D has identified since early childhood, and their school mascot is, naturally, the owl, also identified with Athena. It was love at first sight . . . until she saw Haverford, which managed to edge out Bryn Mawr for #1 in her heart. But she'll be happy to attend either, and in either case will have plenty of interaction with the other. Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments: We stayed in King of Prussia, a 15-min drive; lots of reasonably priced hotels. Bryn Mawr also has a charming on-campus B&B. Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments: Ate at a pretty decent Japanese place on Lancaster Ave., the main business strip. There are several other choices there as well. Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.): Took the train in to Philly to see what that's like. Excellent: fast, efficient, frequent service. Students at Bryn Mawr & Haverford go into Philly a lot on weekends, or to take classes at P
2 of 3 people found this visit report helpful