Why would anyone go to a women's college?

htamt ondab · 08-22-2009, 02:17 PM

I don't get it. Do these women feel intimidated by men or something?

Plecostomus · 08-22-2009, 02:24 PM

Sometimes I forget how ignorant people can be...

Claire1016 · 08-22-2009, 02:27 PM

No.

Why Women's Colleges Are Still Relevant - Forbes.com

rocket6louise · 08-22-2009, 02:27 PM

I think it has nothing to do with being intimidated. The majority of women's college attendees, especially those at the former seven sisters, would intimidate men.

I'm considering attending a women's college because I want to go into a Science or math field. Some professors are biased towards men in such fields. In a women's college, you would eliminate such bias.

Also, the academic opportunities are extroadinary.

Why wouldn't a woman choose a women's college is a far better question

htamt ondab · 08-22-2009, 02:34 PM

"I'm considering attending a women's college because I want to go into a Science or math field."

If you want to pursue science or math, it's not necessary to attend a women's college.

"Also, the academic opportunities are extroadinary."

The same is true at many non-women's colleges.

" Some professors are biased towards men in such fields. In a women's college, you would eliminate such bias."

Is that's what it boils down to? Feelings of discrimination?

rocket6louise · 08-23-2009, 01:21 PM

"If you want to pursue science or math, it's not necessary to attend a women's college."

No, but it sure does help. Women's colleges are awesome at placing women into masters, PhD programs, and such. Not just that, but their facilities tend to be top notch

"The same is true at many non-women's colleges."

This may be true, but there are many pros to women's colleges. For one, they are smaller, so the opportunities are greater. And, considering Smith has an acceptence rate of nearly 45% and Harvard has an acceptence rate of 7%, I can actually get into Smith and get these opportunities

"Is that's what it boils down to? Feelings of discrimination? "

This is not what it boils down to, but it does play a role. I would want to be in the most positive learning environment while at college. A women's college might be the best.

Honestly, if you don't like a women's college, DON'T apply. Problem solved. But don't knock those who want to go. I used to think "who would ever go to one", but after looking into it, realized it was PERFECT for me

Consolation · 08-25-2009, 08:00 PM

OP, take a look at the USN&WR ranking of liberal arts colleges and then ask yourself why someone would want to go to Wellesley. Wellesley is not known for producing women who are intimidated by men. (Quite the reverse...

)

poetsheart · 08-29-2009, 01:51 AM

My D ultimately chose an all women's college after her dream of attending the U.S. Air Force Academy ended when she failed the medical exam. I have to say, I was really surprised that this girl who at one time desperately wanted to to immerse herself in a very high pressure and very male dominated environment (attended their summer program and everything---came back amped up and gung-ho), ended up choosing a very laid back school where women predominated.

She was admitted to a number of schools, both single sex and co-ed. Early on, it became obvious that Bryn Mawr was an extraordinarily good match for her. She graduated with a degree in a hard science (physics), and over the course of her four years there, I witnessed tremendous growth in her maturity and self confidence.

CrewDad · 09-06-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

The majority of women's college attendees, especially those at the former seven sisters, would intimidate men.

No all men. Sooner or later, most alumnae acquire a husband.

This is of interest.

Quote:

According to the Women's College Coalition and the results of a survey done by NSSE (the National Survey of Student Engagement), students who attend a women's college enjoy the following benefits:

They are more engaged than their peers at coeducation institutions.
They are more likely to experience high levels of academic challenge.
They engage in active and collaborative learning to a higher degree.
They take part in activities that integrate their classroom and outside of classroom experiences more than their counterparts at coeducational institutions.
They report greater gains of self-understanding and self-confidence.

*They are more likely to graduate, and more than twice as likely as female graduates of coeducational colleges to earn doctoral degrees and to enter medical school*

They also earn more after graduation than their coed counterparts because they often choose traditionally male disciplines, like the sciences, as their academic major. Women's colleges continue to graduate women in math and the sciences at 1.5 times the rate of coed institutions.

mardad · 09-16-2009, 04:02 PM

A recent study has shown that women studying math do better with female teachers or with male teachers who have experience teaching women. The learning styles are different. This is more important at the high school level, but it still carries over into college. At a women's college all of the prof.s are used to the female learning style, so they can make it more appealing. In addition a year of labratory science is required. Many women discover a love for science they didn't experience in HS. Jana Levin at Barnard would be a good example. She entered college as a Philosophy major and discovered a love for physics and is now Professor in her field as well as a prominent author.

monydad · 09-16-2009, 04:32 PM

My two daughters both were interested in women's colleges. D2 actually matriculated to one, and D1 had a women's college as the "bridesmaid" in her college selection.

For both of them, the women-only thing was actually evaluated to be a relative disadvantage. However, there were offsetting advantages that made the schools desirable, nonetheless.

Yes certain aspects are available elsewhere, but basically every single school in this country is unique in many ways. And hence can appeal to different students with different objectives and priorities.

D1 was attracted to Wellesley as a high quality LAC located near Boston with a great Political Science department and access to math at MIT if desired. Is that combination so identically available elsewhere? The single sex aspect was the bad part. To her.

D2 was attracted to the great dance and creative writing programs at Barnard, its NYC location and its situation as an excellent LAC, yet with access to the resources of a research university, to the extent desired. Are there dozens of other schools that identically match this description? I don't think so. She was in a relationship and Columbia boys were allegedly around.

My kids' experiences demonstrate that one does not need to be highly fixated on female empowerment to be interested in women's colleges. Like other colleges, they have their own, non-generic excellences and features, and can be appreciated just for these.

Of course, it can't hurt to come out more "empowered". On the other hand, it can't hurt to have an easier dating life during the time you are, uniquely, a young person immersed in a community consisting solely of other young people at your identical age and stage of life.

monydad · 09-18-2009, 02:36 PM

Actually the issue is not necessarily so much dating, as it is just not having normal relationships with guys. It is not supposed to be anything special, or worthy of note,just because there's a guy around. This is more, or equally, the issue, so I'm told.

embord · 09-23-2009, 10:12 AM

Mount Holyoke was the only women's college that I applied to, but I ended up going here because I love the community. It has all of the programs I could ever want, including one of the most premiere International Relations programs in the country (my major).

I am not in any way intimidated by men--I go to other colleges all the time throughout the year, including Ivies, for Model United Nations competitions and have a great time with all of the guys I meet. I was never one to get annoyed with being around girls all the time, or ever get to the point of "AHHH I need to see boys!!!" Again, I'm not intimidated by men, I just don't need them to define my lifestyle or my decisions.

It also helps that I'm bisexual. :-)

Sheva423 · 09-25-2009, 06:19 PM

personally, a women's college became my first choice because of the school itself -- the environment, the people, the programs -- not because it either did or did not have boys.

wej · 10-27-2009, 10:05 PM

I submitted my Early Decision application to Barnard earlier this evening.

When I visited the college this summer, it was toward the bottom of my list--I was not excited to attend a small, women-dominated school. After my interview with the admissions counselor, however, it became my top choice by a mile:
- excellent programs in English, Creative Writing, and Anthropology
- access to extensive internship opportunities
- access to a research university
- brilliant faculty
- small class sizes
- location (NYC!)

It became about everything except the fact that it's a women's school, and I am proud everyday that I chose it as my top school and I will be heartbroken if I am not admitted.