Women’s College Dilemma

[Anonymous]

DD attends an all girls high school and has really thrived from the experience. She is hoping to once again experience an all-women’s institution for college, but her preferences have been…strange to say the least.

When we went on tour, her favorite schools were Agnes Scott, where she wants to Ed, and Mount Holyoke. This scares us sick, because she has the stats to easily get into Wellesley or Smith, but she didn’t like the girls she met on those campuses and didn’t find the culture as supportive as the other two when we toured. We are worried she’s throwing away her shot at an elite women’s education in replacement for Fun and nice promotionals, which is not what college is about.

Anyone been through something similar or information on Wellesley/Smith?

[Anonymous]

There’s a lot of Wellesley threads here you can search through. Surprised she didn’t adore Smith; it’s the quintessential HWC and has fantastic resources.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is at Wellesley and is absolutely thriving. Perhaps your DD could look up current students in LI at the schools you prefer and at least talk to a few actual students studying in fields of interest. In any event, with high stats she shouldn’t need to ED at AS to get in, so maybe you could encourage several RD applications?

[Anonymous]

I know nothing about Agnes Scott, but Mt. Holyoke is not significantly different from Smith or Wellesley in prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is at Wellesley and is absolutely thriving. Perhaps your DD could look up current students in LI at the schools you prefer and at least talk to a few actual students studying in fields of interest. In any event, with high stats she shouldn’t need to ED at AS to get in, so maybe you could encourage several RD applications?

OP won’t want to hear it, but the ED would help with merit scholarships. She’d likely be very competitive for a full ride at AS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is at Wellesley and is absolutely thriving. Perhaps your DD could look up current students in LI at the schools you prefer and at least talk to a few actual students studying in fields of interest. In any event, with high stats she shouldn’t need to ED at AS to get in, so maybe you could encourage several RD applications?

OP won’t want to hear it, but the ED would help with merit scholarships. She’d likely be very competitive for a full ride at AS

+1, Id take full ride at AS over fill pay smith. The campus is absolutely stunning!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD attends an all girls high school and has really thrived from the experience. She is hoping to once again experience an all-women’s institution for college, but her preferences have been…strange to say the least.

When we went on tour, her favorite schools were Agnes Scott, where she wants to Ed, and Mount Holyoke. This scares us sick, because she has the stats to easily get into Wellesley or Smith, but she didn’t like the girls she met on those campuses and didn’t find the culture as supportive as the other two when we toured. We are worried she’s throwing away her shot at an elite women’s education in replacement for Fun and nice promotionals, which is not what college is about.

Anyone been through something similar or information on Wellesley/Smith?

So it’s January of her junior year, and you’re “scared sick” because she said she wanted to ED to Agnes Scott???

As a Smith College graduate and parent of a college freshman, my advice is to take a deep breath and a big chill pill. She will likely change her mind a few more times. Go to some more schools. Let her talk to her counselor and teachers. If in the end she decides to stick with AS, that’s fine. It’s a great school.

[Anonymous]

Look at Scripps College in California. She might just love the CA vibe and the 5 college system.

[Anonymous]

Keep an open mind about Agnes Scott, OP. It’s pretty great.

(Pssst….Bryn Mawr is terrific, too).

[Anonymous]

Op, I have no connection to AS before you read the rest of this comment. I just did a quick 10 minute scroll, because I had never heard of it.

Id let her attend if she’s really interested. Their global journeys freshman year sound transformative and they’re pretty close to Atlanta which means opportunities for Co-Ops and internships during the school year and post grad jobs (I’d know, my DD goes to Emory). It’s a mind blowingly nice campus, and they seem really invested in tracking students into fulfilling careers. It’s also very diverse, if that matters.

Now, if she’s been in any competitive high school, this might be her signaling to you that she isn’t interested in an elite school. She may really want to chill it out during college and be able to take time to discover herself in a safe environment. That’s a perfectly respectable thing and Agnes Scott could fulfill that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep an open mind about Agnes Scott, OP. It’s pretty great.

(Pssst….Bryn Mawr is terrific, too).

+1, a girl from DC’s high school attended and is killing it with an internship at the CDC and stellar grades. Big fish, small pond.

[Anonymous]

You’re “scared sick” about the prospect of Mt. Holyoke? I don’t get it…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep an open mind about Agnes Scott, OP. It’s pretty great.

(Pssst….Bryn Mawr is terrific, too).

+1, a girl from DC’s high school attended and is killing it with an internship at the CDC and stellar grades. Big fish, small pond.

+2 my neighbor went there, has an impressive STEM career and now her daughter goes there too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re “scared sick” about the prospect of Mt. Holyoke? I don’t get it…

+1 kids thrive when they are happy with their own choice. Don’t force misery because you are chasing some status list. Listen to your child.

[Anonymous]

I go to Wellesley and would be happy to answer any questions your DD has. If she really loved those other schools though, I wouldn't stop her from going. She will thrive where she fits in the best and can find her people and program.