Bryn Mawr or Barnard?

englishivy
Mon, 24 Aug 2015 15:12:41 +0000

I did Barnard’s pre-college program in high school and was absolutely set on the school, but in an odd twist of fate, ended up deciding on Bryn Mawr. I hadn’t visited Bryn Mawr until accepted students weekend and it just clicked.

Barnard is great for independent students who want to be immersed in a city environment. Most students live off-campus after their first year, so I place extra emphasis on independence re: navigating city apartments, cooking for yourself, etc etc. Great if you want to be immersed 24/7 in an urban environment and want to do internships throughout the school year. It’s a great school.

While I knew I didn’t want to be in a rural environment, I didn’t realize there could be a middle ground until visiting Bryn Mawr. At just 20 minutes from downtown Philly (the 5th largest US city) and 2 hours from New York and DC, BMC still offers a lush, classically collegiate campus. I loved being able to have a more traditional community-based college experience, while easily being able to escape to Philly or nearby cities. It was the best of both worlds for me. Bryn Mawr is also VERY active with traditions, which I loved.

Bryn Mawr and Barnard have probably the closest ties with co-ed colleges of the Seven Sisters. Barnard is across the street from Columbia, whereas Bryn Mawr is 1 mile/10-minute bus from Haverford. Both colleges offer total cross-registration and share clubs and activities. It’s all pretty seamless.

I strongly encourage you to visit! That’s how I knew which was best for me.