“There are some differences. The first is size. Haverford is one of the smaller LACs, and is significantly smaller than Colby. That allows for professorial mentoring, but it also becomes increasingly small as you complete the years. Size is less an issue at Colby.”
The Quaker Consortium which includes Bryn Mawr (Bi-college and seamless connection), Swarthmore, and UPenn, expands the offerings and also makes the school feel less small than it is in terms of student body.
Students can get to Swat on the Tri-Co Van. It runs constantly all day between Haverford and Swarthmore. No need for the train. A student would need to take the train to get to Penn. Yes, more students do take classes at BM than the other two but students DO take classes at Swarthmore and even UPenn. It’s not that unusual actually.
http://www.brynmawr.edu/transportation/trico.shtml#hc_sc
http://www.brynmawr.edu/transportation/bico.shtml
SEPTA is easy to use and efficient. Not a problem at all.
Colby students taking classes at Bowdoin or Bates is not the equivalent of the Bi-College and the Quaker Consortium. It just isn’t.