Bryn Mawr College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Bryn Mawr is known for its strong academics. That said, your academic experience here really depends on your own interest in what you study, your own hard work, and more of your own hard work. Professors are typically characterized as helpful, encouraging, and enthusiastic, but you are pretty much also guaranteed to encounter several professors who are aloof or impatient. One unifying feature of the Bryn Mawr professor is his or her open door. Professors usually have very accessible office hours, and most will stay with you until you understand how to integrate byparts or until your chat about Virgil ends.

Do not assume that accessible professors mean easy grades. Professors will not cut you any slack at the end of the semester, even if you have debated Dostoevsky over dinner at their house. Students credit their fellow students, as well as their professors, for the high quality of discussion that many classes offer. Students also welcome the opportunity to add classes available through the Tri-College system, as well as majors at these other institutions, especially in majors not formally offered at Bryn Mawr, like linguistics, religion, and music.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Classes are intimate, so the... Classes are intimate, so the quality of the class depends a lot on the quality of the group of students in it. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I would say that the professors... I would say that the professors and classes I have been privileged to have at Bryn Mawr are extremely intense, but they have provided me with an invaluable, multi-faceted base of knowledge. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Teachers were prepared for class,... Teachers were prepared for class, engaged, and excited about what they were teaching. They all had very high standards, but were understanding and practical in their construction of the course. Professors focus on our potential and success. They always had time or made time, for one-on-ones. No professor was ‘easy.’ 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Most classes here are interesting.... Most classes here are interesting. They are not generic subjects but are focused on a few central questions or ideas, even survey courses. Sometimes this means you get less breadth, but you get plenty of depth. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The professors at Bryn Mawr... The professors at Bryn Mawr offered me more than I could have ever hoped for in four years. They were engaging, interested, accessible, and always ready to challenge, as well as reward. I not only learned a lot about the subject at hand, but a lot about myself and my abilities. Each one of my classes, no matter what discipline, gave me an opportunity to think critically, work independently as well as in groups, and practice the research and writing skills that are valued in a work environment. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Don’t have a clue what you want to major in? Bryn Mawr requires students to take divisional requirements, including two classes in the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. By the time you meet those requirements, you will likely be ready to declare your major.

When times are tough, the tough seek Athena. The statue of Athena is adorned with flowers, food, pennies, articles of clothing, and candy offered to the goddess of wisdom in times of need.

About 50 percent of juniors study abroad for a year or a semester. Bryn Mawr sponsors academic year programs in Russia, as well as summer programs in Florence and Avignon. Students can also choose to go on over 60 approved programs or have a new program approved.

Bryn Mawr’s academic climate is intense, but not competitive; at least, not in the domain of student grades. It is considered a breach of etiquette to discuss grades in public.

Bryn Mawr is part of the Tri-College Community, a feature that allows students to take classes and even majors at Haverford and Swarthmore, and vice versa.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Kaitlin Menza
Hometown: New Brunswick, NJ
Major: Sociology

When Kaitlin's not updating Bryn Mawr's College Prowler guide, she's actually the school's mascot and wears owl suit for games!

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.