Why are so many more women applying?

fireandrain
Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:29:24 +0000

And as pointed out by fireandrain, Brown is not shabby in computer science or engineering either.



However, the reputation of Brown’s CS and engineering program among most HS applicants and parents is less than that of most other schools. Whenever someone on CC says they want to study CS or engineering, you never see Brown recommended – it’s always Cornell or MIT or Stanford or CMU. Most guys interested in those two areas don’t apply to Brown, and that contributes to the imbalance.

Fraternities and a business school boosts Dartmouth among male applicants. Wharton is attractive to guys, so that helps Penn.

The lack of interest in attending team sporting events is another factor. Football stadiums packed with screaming fans appeal to male students, I think.

What’s troubling is that the imbalance is growing – the gap is getting wider. When my daughter applied several years ago, there were more women applicants, but the margin was smaller.