Making the choice as to which college or university to apply to can be a troublesome task because of the large number of institutions that all offer quality education. For some women, there’s the added problem of deciding whether to go to a co-educational or all-women’s college. To help you make an informed decision on this, here is a brief list of the advantages and disadvantages of studying in an all-women’s college.
Pros and perks of attending an all-women’s college
1. All-women’s colleges foster self-confidence and emotional security among students.
Most women’s colleges are also dominated by female faculty members. Because of this, students feel secure that their professors know and understand both their personal and educational needs. All-women’s colleges also boost the confidence of women by showing them that they can excel in various fields, and that academic excellence is not just for men.
2. All-women’s colleges encourage academic excellence and friendly competition.
One of the best things about all-women’s colleges is that the teaching styles and methods usually take into consideration women’s specific learning styles. Having gender-sensitive teaching methods allow women to learn effectively. Women’s colleges also foster sisterhood, which provides students with encouragement from other women and cater to their emotional needs.
The absence of men also means less academic and emotional distraction and competition. The same-sex environment and spirit of sisterhood allow for healthy competition among students in the fields of academics and athletics.
3. All-women’s colleges provide women with opportunities to practice, and be recognized for, their leadership skills.
A common tendency among some women in co-educational universities is to shy away from leadership opportunities, which in the real world is still largely dominated by men. In all-women’s colleges, women are able to gain vast experience in handling and managing people, which may translate into their capability of holding top positions in the workplace.
Cons and downsides to attending an all-women’s college
1. All-women’s colleges can be a venue for inadequate real-world leadership training.
Because of the absence of men in all-women’s colleges, students have limited interaction with males. This means that although they are provided with leadership training, they may only learn how to lead fellow women and not men, because there is minimal exposure to the mental and behavioral process of men.
2. Some all-women’s colleges have limited social and/or cultural diversity.
While this definitely does not hold true for all-women’s colleges, some colleges are a bit exclusive to a specific social class or race. This lack of diversity limits the students’ overall college experience, and does not equip them with the necessary skills in dealing with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Should you decide to apply for an all-women’s college or university, one of the requirements you need to prepare is your college admission essay. Here you will explain why you chose to study in an all-women’s learning institution. To get a better idea of how to write your essay, you can consult free college admission essays which can be found on the Internet.
Photo Credit : Marcio Machado
There are a lot of women’s colleges in the US that offer quality education to those who wish to excel in their undergraduate studies. To help you explore your options better, below is a list of the top five women’s colleges in the US, along with each school’s admission requirements.
Wellesley College
Established in 1875, Wellesley College is one of the oldest and most well-known women’s colleges in the US. Wellesley is known for being one of the first colleges to offer a computer science major and for producing highly educated women like journalist Diane Sawyer and Madeleine Albright, the very first woman to become US Secretary of State. Wellesley College offers one of the best liberal arts programs in the US, and promotes intellectual excellence and cultural understanding in their programs.
Application requirements: Common Application form (which can be filled up online) and the Wellesley College Supplement. Applicants may also request a checklist from the admissions office or download it from the Wellesley website.
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College was established in 1885 and is recognized today for its liberal arts and sciences curriculum. The college aims to instill in their students freedom of conscience and a commitment to making global contributions by aiding in their intellectual development. Bryn Mawr currently offers 36 majors and 38 minor courses, and the college provides students the option of cross-applying to Swarthmore, University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College.
Application Requirements: Common Application and the school’s supplement, TOEFL, SAT and ACT results, personal statement, two teacher evaluations, school report, as well as mid-year and final reports.
Barnard College
Founded in 1889, Barnard College is affiliated with Columbia University but maintains an independent campus in Manhattan, New York. Barnard is known for its liberal arts curriculum and highly selective admissions process. For this reason and more, Barnard College remains as one of the most prestigious women’s colleges in the US. The college’s alumni include renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead and Jeane Kirkpatrick, the first female US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Application requirements: Common Application and Barnard Supplement, both of which can be downloaded from the school’s website. Applicants will also be required to submit official transcripts and two teacher recommendations.
Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts women’s college founded in 1893, and is located in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Holyoke is known for their highly competitive admissions process, and offers 49 major courses, as well as a dual-degree engineering program. Mount Holyoke College aims to prepare women for the challenges of globalization through cultural education.
Application requirements: Common Application (which can be submitted online or in hard copy) and the Mount Holyoke Supplement which lists down the other required forms, essays, and records.
Smith College
Founded in 1875, Smith College is a private liberal arts college for women located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Smith College aims for academic excellence and global readiness, and fosters leadership among the students. Notable Smith alumni include Nancy Reagan and feminist-activist lawyer Catharine MacKinnon.
Smith College applicants need to fill up the Common Application and supplement, and submit teacher recommendations, SAT and ACT scores, essays, and reports.
Note: It’s recommended for applicants to women’s colleges to check out free college admission essays to serve as their guide in writing college admission essays.
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