<p>This issue has been written about in the press over the last few years. Some calling for redesigning elementary schools to going to single sex education, etc. </p>
<p>Having taught at the college level for many year, it seems to me that differences are often related to maturity. Women tend to mature faster then Men, and it matters early on. I don’t know what the current research says, but some time ago, the studies seemed to indicate it evens out in graduate school when guys decide it is time to study (that’s not to say there are not gender differences by graduate major). We still have imbalances, e.g., women in engeering and men in biology.</p>
<p>Regarding the OP, I heard but cannot verify, that a women was deferred primarily because she was a women and they wanted more men at Haverford U. Again, I do not know if this is accurate, so view it as a rumor.</p>