Women who choose to attend women-only colleges go through a lot. They often face a lot of pressure from their peers, who wrongly believe that womens’ colleges are convents only for “prudes,” “nerds,” or “lesbians.” These peers couldn’t be more wrong. Many graduates from women’s-only colleges enjoy the highly-competitive, focused, and encouraging community a woman’s college provides. Many employers see the choice to go to an all-women’s college as a sign of the applicant’s focus and drive.
Common Misconceptions
Attendees aren’t going to school in a sheltered convent. In fact, many women’s schools offer their students the chance to take classes at nearby co-ed colleges. Bryn Mawr, a famous women’s-only college outside of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, is one of these schools, where students may take classes at Haverford College, the University of Pennsylvania, or Swarthmore College. Wellesley College, another women’s college, offers students the chance to cross-register at MIT and even graduate with degrees from the two schools.
While women’s colleges do tend to offer larger women’s studies programs and other female-oriented programs than other schools, this largely isn’t the drive to attend a women’s-only school. Mainly, it’s a place to learn and grow besides like-minded females. This experience pushes students to do their very best. Success is the norm, and this pushes and encourages female students to attain it. Your work ethic is formed in this environment, setting you up for success later in life.
No Distractions
Women often police each other when the other sex is around. They dress to impress and judge others who don’t meet the same criteria. If you show up to class wearing no makeup and PJs, the guy next to you isn’t likely to care. But the girls in the front row may be giving you sidelong glances for the entire class.
At women’s colleges, students report that the emphasis is placed on the mind, not the appearance. This often breeds more leaders, especially if a woman was previously taught to defer to male authority. Women’s colleges also offer a small-college feel where individuals are more likely to stand out.