<p>It will be interesting to see if the creation of an engineering department at Smith will incite more women to go after (and stay in) careers in computer science for instance as compared to coed engineering schools.</p>
<p>I agree with this statement. It will be interesting to see in the long run how these women do in the field. The engineering major at Smith is already listed as one of the best in the nation, so it could be very promising.</p>
<p>My arguement was never that women’s colleges see as their mission to provide their graduates with pre-professional training for higher earning careers in business or engineering. Just that they prepare women in very different ways than most coed schools do. Being in an all-women’s environment (for those who choose to attend) is enlightening in many ways, and provides the students with a feeling of security in who they are and what they can become. It’s an empowering environment; and I believe, one which allows women to go into the workforce with confidence that they can achieve in fields primarily lead by men, such as the hard sciences.</p>