Bryn Mawr vs. Middlebury

Momwaitingfornew
Sun, 23 Apr 2006 09:22:05 +0000

If you really love Bryn Mawr but there’s no formal “pre-architecture” program the way there is at Middlebury, just check to see whether Bryn Mawr offers similar courses. A lot of incoming students don’t realize that it’s not really the major the grad/professional schools look for–it’s the prerequisite courses on the transcript. When I was an undergrad, a friend of mine who was a drama major was accepted into several law schools.

I’m assuming that architecture requires some engineering and design courses. Can you take that at Bryn Mawr?

Computer science is different, of course, since you aren’t talking about a pre-professional program. Neither school is known in particular for its computer science, but then, you probably knew that. Check out the courses available at each college, and see whether they might possibly challenge you. At this late stage, with only a week or so left before you have to make a decision, it’s almost too late to do a real comparison. You could call the department chairman at each school to discuss the opportunities available to undergraduates, but beyond that, you’ll have to guess.

UPenn, one of Bryn Mawr’s consortium schools, IS known for computer science, but I hear that it’s not a convenient option. You’ll have to work to make that happen.

I agree with the poster who said you need to consider the single-gender issue. You also have a geographic issue to consider. Is it important to be near a city, or do you love the idyllic but remote setting of New England? Prestige-wise, Middlebury has the edge, but not enough of one to warrant an outright rejection of Bryn Mawr.