Quote: “That there is no more exhilarating and intellectually fertile place in the academic world today than a woman's college”

Adrienne Cecile Rich was an American poet and essayist. Highly influential, her words spoke volumes  . . .  ". . . the student sees herself engaged with her teachers in an active, ongoing struggle for real education. But for her to do this, her teachers must be committed to the belief that women's minds and experience are intrinsically valuable and indispensable to any civilization worthy the name; that there is no more exhilarating and intellectually fertile place in the academic world today than a woman's college--if both students and teachers in large enough numbers are trying to fulfill this contract.

The contract is really a pledge of mutual seriousness about women, about language, ideas, methods, and values. It is our shared commitment toward a world in which the inborn potentialities of so many women's minds will no longer be wasted, raveled-away, paralyzed, or denied.”

A fellow classmate of mine Kendal Hopkins responded to these words by writing, “EXACTLY! Those of us who have experienced this phenomenon of women's education (most of us already have under our belts 12 or more years of coeducation) know the power of learning in a community dedicated to educating and responding to women's learning styles and energy. It is sometimes a subtle difference and sometimes so very unique to be life-changing. It was for me!”

In 1951, Ms. Rich received a bachelor’s degree in English from Radcliffe College. One of the original Seven Sisters, Radcliffe College, became fully integrated with Harvard University in 1999.

Learn more about Adrienne Rich from the Academy of American Poets, The Poetry Foundation, and/or The New York Times.

Happy 4th of July!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Vintage Photographs from The Seven Sisters colleges

I discovered this neat Tumblr page that has vintage photographs from the “Seven Sister” Colleges.

If you would like to learn more about the “Seven Sisters” colleges, visit Wikipedia.

A college-readiness program for college-bound high school girl in the greater Los Angeles area

Scripps College Academy, “established in 2002, Scripps College Academy (SCA) is a free year-round college-readiness program for high-achieving young women in the greater Los Angeles area. Through mentorship from Scripps College faculty and staff, participants develop the confidence and skills to be well-prepared college applicants, successful college students, and professionals who create positive, lasting change.”

Scripps College is a women's college and is located in Claremont, CA. Visit their Web site to learn more or watch these two YouTube videos: What are your thoughts about Scripps College?  and A Brief History of Scripps College.

College of Saint Mary

The College of Saint Mary (CSM) is a women’s college located in Omaha, NE. I really enjoyed reviewing their Web site and hope you do as well. The college offers so many wonderful programs (over 27).  And it’s good to know that the education you receive at CSM is highly-sought after by employers. Consider this - within six months of graduation 92% of CSM’s graduates are employed or in advanced education. Now that’s impressive!

To learn more about The College of Saint Mary, consider reviewing the survey results from the National Survey on Student Engagement. CSM participated in this survey in 2012 and the results are available. The reason I encourage you to read the survey results is because you will learn what CSM students say about nature and quality of their undergraduate experience.

In addition to the videos, I thought the highlights from the “Quick Glance at CSM” page also would be helpful.

Highlights from the page include:

History: Founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Mercy as a Catholic women's college, College of Saint Mary is the only all-women's college in a five-state area, and one of 60 women's colleges in the United States. 

Location: CSM is located on 40 acres in the dynamic city of Omaha, Neb. (pop. 750,000) – providing vast cultural, recreational and professional opportunities. 

Community: Approximately 1,000 students come from all regions of the U.S. and several countries.   

Student Life: CSM offers more than 25 clubs and organizations. Students serve on college committees, participate in professional academic clubs, join community and social organizations and clubs, and get involved in community service projects.  Many rooms in the residence halls are newly renovated and remodeled.  

Recreation: The Lied Fitness Center offers a pool, gym, weight room and more for your recreation needs. CSM also lies along the Keystone Trail, a multipurpose fitness trail.  

Athletics: A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference, CSM offers competitive sports in cross country, soccer, basketball, softball, swimming, and volleyball. Golf also is available.

Unique Programs: Academically, College of Saint Mary offers a solid foundation that is complemented by several distinctive programs:  
•    A Master’s in Leadership program dedicated to exploring and strengthening the unique leadership qualities of women
•    The region's only four-year Paralegal Studies program approved by the American Bar Association
•    Nationally-accredited nursing programs at the associate and bachelor degree levels 

I hope this information has peaked your interested to learn more about The College of Saint Mary. Please visit the CSM Web site. But the best way is to schedule a campus visit. It’s easy to see first-hand if CSM is the college for YOU! . . . To schedule a personalized campus visit please call 402-399-2355 or complete this form.

The Loving Story written by a women’s college graduate: Belle Susie Powell

Bennett College’s Belle Susie Powell '64, a screenwriter, received a Peabody Award for, "The Loving Story."

Congratulations to her and her team!

The story is about an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving, who in 1967 challenged the Supreme Court so they could legally live in Virginia. 

If you like, you may purchase the movie on Amazon.

Below is a brief description of Bennett College from their Web site. To learn more visit the college online.

“Bennett College is a small, private, historically Black liberal arts college for women. The College offers women an education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and life-long learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society. As a United Methodist Church-related institution, Bennett College promotes morally grounded maturation, intellectual honesty, purposeful public service, and responsible civic action.”

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Early Registration: 6-21-13

Quote: Women’s Colleges Create Leaders

Jessica L. from Delmar, NY writes, “Women need to be empowered and a women's college provides the atmosphere to create leaders.”

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Hollins Talmadge Singers. Interested in Music, read about the Music Program at Hollins.

Hollins University : A Small, Private Women's College in Virginia

According to The Fiske Guide to Colleges, "Academics are a top priority at Hollins …. Students leave with confidence, critical thinking skills, and intellectual depth, thanks to a solid grounding in the liberal arts."

Here’s the link to what others are saying about Hollins University  . . .

I love the traditions at Hollins . . . see if you do as well.

Learn more about Hollins by visiting the Web site, reading Hollins’ magazine, or visiting the campus.

  "Women Who Are Going Places"

President Obama appoints a women’s college alumna to his Council of Economic Advisers

A BIG Congratulations to Betsey Stevenson! 

A 1993 graduate of Wellesley College!

Read all about her appointment in this news post.

Highlights include:
“Currently, Stevenson is an associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. She has held professorships at Princeton and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and also worked for the Federal Reserve, among other positions. Stevenson studied economics and mathematics while at Wellesley, then attended Harvard University where she received an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics.”

Wellesley College, a women’s college also is one of the most academically challenging institutions of higher education in the country. Based in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley is “committed to being a scholarly beacon of light for women around the world who want to make a difference.”

"You can see it in the caliber of our faculty. Wellesley professors are outstanding scholars whose love of teaching illuminates a classroom. Faculty members respect students for their intellect, their attention to scholarship, and what they can bring to the classroom experience.

You can see it in the breadth and depth of academic programs, research opportunities, international study, and internship experiences—where an interdisciplinary emphasis encourages broader learning and more creative insight into problems, allowing a student to deepen her understanding of the world and of herself.

You can see it visible on our campus. Look around.... You'll find state-of-the-art labs, studios, instructional technology, athletic facilities, and a nationally-known museum. The campus embodies the hopes and aspirations of generations of pioneering women scholars who built and maintained a physical space that would instruct and inspire them in their work. Its varied landscapes reflect the diversity of thought and approach that is central to the Wellesley experience.

For more than 135 years, women have come here to teach, to learn, to discover, and to grow. If you join us, you become part of our shared enterprise that extends far beyond the campus and the times in which we live."

Music Dreams Come True

Here’s a quote from Ally Einbinder of Potty Mouth as quoted in the article, “Band To Watch: Potty Mouth.”

“In the same way it was a deliberate decision for me to go to an all-women’s college, it was a deliberate desire for me to be in an all-women’s band.” - Ally Einbinder of Potty Mouth.

Ally graduated from Smith College in 2010. Smith College is a women's college located in Northampton, MA. Below is additional information about Smith College. Please note that the following information is from the Smith College Web site.

Here's what Smith's academics are all about:

"Experience a living tradition of intellectual rigor and scope. Take a risk on an untested concept. Develop the acuity to frame an argument, and the eloquence to persuade others of its merit. Take an art class even though your major is engineering. Work with a faculty of scholars who respect their students enough to expect the highest standards of academic achievement."

About Smith

"Since its founding in 1871, Smith College has provided women of high ability and promise an education of uncompromising quality. A world-class faculty of scholars are fully engaged with their students' intellectual development, and an open curriculum encourages each student to explore many fields of knowledge. Mentors for scholarship, leadership and service, across all spectrums of endeavor, allow Smith students to observe different models of achievement, then set their own course with conviction."

An Education as Unique as You Are

At Smith, your individual exploration and education come first. The focus is on making the most of who you are and what you want to become.

• Your education is one of the most personal endeavors in your life, and through it you will discover what empowers and inspires you.
• You’ll be free to pursue your intellectual passions and be supported on your own terms.
• Your learning experience will include faculty advisers and mentors and independent study opportunities, small class sizes and an open curriculum of exceptional breadth and depth.
• Your friends and classmates will be diverse individuals, and each woman’s unique experiences contribute toward creating a vibrant community.

At Smith, the world is your campus: preparing you to live, work and lead across global borders.

• You’ll delve deeply into the world of ideas and perspectives as you explore the rich offerings of Smith’s comprehensive curriculum.
• You’ll live and study with women from around the world.
• You’ll have the opportunity for far-reaching experiences off campus.
• You’ll build the skills to lead a truly international life.
• You’ll gain a network of connections—cultural, intellectual, personal and professional.

At Smith, exceptional young women like you gain the knowledge and skills to excel.

• You’ll be among a diverse group of students from many nationalities and backgrounds who together will form an extraordinary intellectual community.
• You’ll be grounded in the fundamentals of leadership skills.
• You’ll be empowered to take on the challenges of the 21st century and to become an agent of change in your community.

Wordless Wednesday

 
Wordless Wednesday

A Summer of Chemistry Fun for a Cool Chemistry Chick

Alyssa Banotai, class of 2014 at Bryn Mawr College is spending the summer on campus conducting chemistry research.

Her research entails (from her blog post)

“During the past school year, my research focused on the synthesis of starting material, arylacylsilanes with varied substituents on the silane. Although organic synthesis is interesting and offers many learning opportunities as well as occasions to exercise creativity, I am excited to put my starting material to good use. 

This summer, my research will be focused on the cross-coupling via palladium catalysis of arylacylsilanes (my starting material) with bromobenzene to form benzophenones (Rxn 1). In fewer scientific terms, a small amount of palladium will be used, in the presence of water, to bring two compounds together and make new carbon-carbon bonds. An interesting complication arises with the presence of water: water is necessary for the palladium catalysis, but it also aids in an unwanted competitive reaction where the arylacylsilane is converted back to benzaldehyde (Rxn 2). 

It is my goal to monitor the desired and competitive reactions using kinetic studies to determine which arylacylsilane affords the greatest conversion to product with the least conversion to benzaldehyde.”

If you are thinking about a career in chemistry, do yourself a favor and investigate the women's college with chemistry programs, like Bryn Mawr College. 

Below is information about the Bryn Mawr College Chemistry Department.(from the BMC Web site)

“Bryn Mawr’s Chemistry Department has a more than century-long tradition of combining high quality, visible research programs with excellent teaching – a tradition the department is committed to continuing this century. The chemistry department seeks to provide a supportive and rigorous curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate level to students having diverse preparation and diverse goals.

The chemistry major program of study includes introductory and advanced courses in the core areas of biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Advanced courses are informed by the research areas of bioinorganic, nanomaterials, medicinal, computational, organic materials and nucleic acid and protein chemistry.”

Additional STEM Majors offered at Bryn Mawr College include: Astronomy, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology.

Known for their academic programs, Bryn Mawr College is a women’s college and is located in Bryn Mawr, PA.

About Bryn Mawr College (from the BMC Web site)

"Bryn Mawr is one of the world's most distinctive, distinguished colleges. Every year 1,300 undergraduate women and 400 graduate students from around the world gather on the College's historic campus to study with leading scholars, conduct advanced research, and expand the boundaries of what's possible.

A Bryn Mawr woman is defined by a rare combination of personal characteristics:

•     An intense intellectual commitment
•     A purposeful vision of her life
•     A desire to make a meaningful contribution to the world.

These attributes create a spirit that is palpable on campus. It is visible, too, in the lives of Bryn Mawr alumnae, women who have become leaders in a wide range of fields, including those in which women are traditionally underrepresented.

We hope that this energy is tangible in these Web pages, and we encourage you to come to campus and experience it for yourself. It is what makes us proud to be Bryn Mawr."

The Benefits of Women’s Colleges

Evette Dionne is the daily editor of Clutch magazine and managing editor of Full Figured Magazine – she also is a Bennett College alumna. Her article, “The Benefits of Women’s Colleges,” was published on June 14, 2013. Below are the article highlights.

Article Highlights:

“I am often asked why I chose to attend and graduate from Bennett College, a historical black institution for women of color. The answer is complex and involves a mixture of CNN, Dr. Julianne Malveaux and scholarships, but the freedom and doubt from which the question is posed is the issue. The real question should be: Why not?

Women’s colleges are rooted in traditions that promote empowerment, sisterhood, and the intelligence of women. Some might question the relevance of women’s colleges in a society where women are making strides toward gender parity, but statistics show that women’s colleges such as Bennett and Spelman College are responsible for sending over 50 percent of Black women to graduate programs in the sciences.

Women’s colleges encourage students to thrive and excel in leadership positions often reserved for men on co-ed campuses.”

Bennett College is a private four-year historically black liberal arts college for women. Located in Greensboro, NC, the college offers various majors and minors, organized in three divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, and Natural and Behavioral Sciences/Mathematics. Bennett College also offers a Dual Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical) by participating in the Bennett College/NC A&T State University Dual Degree Engineering Program.

The Women’s College Advantage

Aside from the academics, the greatest gift women’s colleges give to young women is a supportive environment where she is free to grow and feel empowered. Where leadership skills are developed and encouraged. Where she can be herself without worrying what others think. As a fellow classmate of mine wrote, “There is virtually no time in a young woman's life that she can just be -- be herself without having to look pleasing to someone else, be interested in something without worrying whether a boy will think she's weird or too smart, be adventurous without worrying that she's not feminine enough, be a leader without worrying about being called some pretty awful names.”

The environment that a women’s colleges provides instills confident so you are less likely to be afraid.  And this environment is found at women’s colleges and that’s why I’m so passionate about colleges for women.

I hope you enjoy this video: Sheryl Sandberg to Women College Grads: What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid?

Women’s Colleges and Economic Diversity

The other day Carol T. Christ, President of Smith College wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times entitled, “Women’s Colleges and Economic Diversity.”

Highlights include:

“Women’s colleges like Smith succeed at enrolling an economically diverse student body to a greater extent than many of their peers. At Smith, 25 percent of students come from families eligible for federal Pell grants. 

Smith and other women’s colleges excel in recruiting and retaining an economically diverse student body, motivating a significant proportion of those students to pursue study in critical fields like science and engineering, and preparing them for advanced and professional study.”

For any high school girl who feels college is unaffordable, I’m here to let you know that if you have the grades, you can go to college. And yet another reason to consider attending a women’s college.

Smith College is a liberal arts women’s college located in Northampton, MA.  Total enrollment in 2011 was 3,162 students and is considered to be the largest college of The Seven Sisters colleges. Notable alumnae of Smith College include Catharine MacKinnon, Jane Bannister, Nancy Reagan, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Julia Child, Madeleine L'Engle, Sylvia Plath, Sherry Rehman, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Rochelle Lazarus, Laura D'Andrea Tyson and Yolanda King.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Grads of Women’s Colleges Tell It Like It Is!

Julia West wrote an article, "All the studious ladies: pros and cons of women’s colleges" that was published on June 9, 2013.

Article Highlights:

"Though the idea of a women’s college may sound outdated to some, the truth is that can still be beneficial. Colleges that offer single sex education are providing a space where women can witness other women achieving, teaching and advancing. We spoke with several graduates who attended women’s colleges and learned the pros and occasional cons of an all-girls school. . . .  

Confidence is a topic that came up frequently when speaking with women’s college alumni and it’s clear that there is no lack of it. Some might ask if single sex environment can lead to timidity in the workplace. The answer, not surprisingly, is a resounding no. Word on the street is that women’s colleges produce headstrong, often fearless leaders who don’t let gender stand in the way."

More Young Women Are Choosing to Attend a Women's College

Congratulations to Converse College –  This fall semester will be the largest class in more than a quarter century for Converse College!

                            Converse College | Make Things Happen

Converse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

Intern at Victoria’s Secret Corporate Headquarters

Meet Terra Carlson a senior at Stephens College. She’s a Fashion Marketing and Management student and just started a really cool summer internship. This “simple yet complex Midwestern girl” as she referrers to herself is interning this summer in NYC at the corporate headquarters of Victoria's Secret.

Terra is blogging about her dream summer internship and if you would like to learn how she became an intern with this chic women's clothing company, check out her blog, Finding Her Wings.

Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. Below is the welcome message (as it appears on the Stephens College Web site) from Dianne Lynch, Ph.D., President of Stephens College.

Welcome to Stephens

"Stephens College was established in 1833. For more than 175 years, we have been educating women to become leaders as well as valuable contributors toward the betterment of our society. I am delighted to be a part of this fine institution, to celebrate her history and to work to create a future of unlimited possibilities.

Stephens offers a variety of programs at the undergraduate level for women, as well as distance-learning and on-campus programs in our Graduate and Continuing Studies division for both men and women. We take pride in the strong bonds we've developed within our local community of Columbia, Missouri, and within the vast network of Stephens graduates we have across the country.

Our commitment to the performing arts, pre-professional programs and the liberal arts is evident in our mission statement. So is our commitment to each student's success at Stephens. Our campus culture offers a values-driven living and learning environment (check out the Ten Ideals); close interaction with faculty and student peers; hands-on experience in the major beginning the student's first year at Stephens; and resources inside and outside the classroom that build students' skills, knowledge and confidence. Our extensive network of alumnae assists students in finding internships and employment after graduation. You can even bring your pet to campus to live with you in a residence hall.

Whether you are interested in forming ties with Stephens — perhaps as a new student — or whether you seek ways to simply keep in touch with the goings-on at Stephens — perhaps as an alumna — we invite you to explore our web site. Please let us know if we can help!"

Sincerely,


Dianne Lynch, Ph.D.

Thinking About a Career in Computer Science?

Tessa Taylor, Founder of Co, a former software engineer at Affinity Labs (acquired by Monster.com), and a 2007 graduate of Smith College is referenced in a recent article,  “5 women busting through the tech industry's glass ceiling.”

From the article:

“Tessa Taylor, who is 28 and lives in New York City, had a different educational experience than many other female coders. She attended Smith College, a women's liberal arts college with a small, supportive computer science program. Coming into the tech industry, she found that her gender was "called to my attention on a pretty regular basis." Being a woman programmer (she knows languages like PHP and Node.js) is like "walking into a dog park and having all the dogs sniff you to make sure you fit in." But she says she's had a plenty of great male mentors, and she has no problem being called a brogrammer. "Sure, I'll drink a beer with you," she says.”

Prior to graduating from Smith College, Tessa attended an all girls' high school for two years (Annie Wright School in Tacoma, WA).  It was here that Tessa really learned the value of empowering girls and women in the classroom by having them be the only ones in the classroom; seeing first-hand the type of women that Annie Wright produced lead Tessa to continue her single-sex education at Smith College.

Tessa writes, “Naysayers of single sex education argue that a women-only classroom does not represent the real world, and that women will be disadvantaged upon graduating because they will have no experience with "real life". I wholeheartedly disagree. Spending time in a women-only environment produces a woman who has a different standard for how she should be treated and how she will take her place in the world. Rather than being disadvantaged by a lack of men, women in single-sex schools are empowered to pursue their interests, step into leadership roles, and to support and encourage each other. With this expectation, graduates go on to break through barriers in every industry and corner of society, because they have learned that they can.

This is of course not to say that co-ed schools don't produce some phenomenal people as well, but that's not what we're here to discuss at the moment.”

Smith College is located in Northampton, MA.
Follow Tessa on her blog or via Twitter.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Arianna Huffington Congratulates Smith College’s Class of 2013

With graduation abound, here’s Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Pulitzer Prize-winning online news website, The Huffington Post sharing her insights at Smith College's 135th commencement ceremony.

Ms. Huffington talks about life after Smith College as she asks each graduate to redefine success. This begins with adding "well being" to the definition and includes regularly disconnecting from technology to reconnect within.

Smith College is a women’s college located in Northampton, MA.

Read Ms. Huffington's commencement address.

Visit a Women's College

Summer is finally here and this is a great time to visit the campuses of women’s colleges.

Bay Path College, located in Longmeadow, MA is having a Summer Visit Day! On June 26, 2013, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

With a wide range of majors and minor, Bay Path could be perfect for you and this is the best way to decide.

Bay Path is known for its exceptional faculty, practical education, and a supportive community. I snagged the following off of their Web site.

Faculty that make a difference 

"Time and again, our students and alumni point out the remarkable role and influence our faculty members have had on their careers. Our low faculty-student ratio gives you the opportunity to work closely, often one-on-one, with professors who are knowledge leaders in their disciplines, and also active practioners in their fields. More important, they are there for you from career advice to networking…guiding and encouraging you to reach beyond your potential. Their commitment and dedication help you reap the rewards of your educational investment."

Education that matters

"Internships, practicums,  live case studies, special on-site projects, study abroad —at Bay Path we believe opportunities like these are what provide you with practical and relevant experiences that add value to classroom learning while building your resume or credentials. Ultimately, our goal is to make your academic experience as meaningful as possible because we know that education will matter in your career and life choices."

Be a part of our community 

"Community is very important at Bay Path. It starts with that first connection you make with one of our admissions counselors and continues after you graduate, as you join our 12,000 plus alumni community. Once at Bay Path, you’ll find that community is also a feeling that is strengthened by our traditions; community is valued by showing a mutual respect for others; and community is encouraged through volunteer projects and service to the greater community. At Bay Path, the power of community is truly a spirit that opens the doors of possibilities."

Congratulations Graduates of 2013!

As you graduate, I would like to share with you a quote that I feel is especially relevant. It’s from Isadora Duncan.

“You were Wild once. Don’t let Them Tame you.” 

Here’s another insightful quote from Isadora, “Most human beings today waste some 25 to 30 years of their lives before they break through the actual and conventional lies which surround them.”

So you may be thinking what does this have to do with women’s colleges.

Women’s colleges provide an environment that encourages you to get to know who you are, by encouraging you to think and feel for yourself. Numerous examples exist within my blog that support these words. Sadly, this nurturing environment is very much lacking in coed colleges.

Women’s colleges are more relevant today than they ever have been, discover the power of a women’s college education – and dare to be different, dare to dream bigger, and dare to be who you really are!

Congratulations to the Class of 2013!

Why I Decided to Attend a Women's College, Agnes Scott College

Agnes Scott College is a women’s college and is located in Decator, GA.

Wordless Wednesday

 Wordless Wednesday 

Women's Colleges Give Every Woman Equal Ground to Grow

I was thrilled to read the article of a very insightful high school senior, Elise Brown. Last week her article, “Women's colleges give every woman equal ground to grow” was published in a local newspaper.

In Elise's article, she writes about the reasons she decided to attend Wellesley College this fall. (Wellesley College is a women’s college and is located in Wellesley, MA). And she also encourages her classmates to consider attending a women’s college.

Insightful, spot on, and one of the best articles I've read all year! If this is the only post you read on my blog, let it be this one.

Article Highlights:

“Now that I’m leaving high school and moving on to a women’s college, I am often asked why that was my choice. Sometimes, the best answer is that Wellesley just feels “right,” but for bigger reasons, I hope more Lions will consider women’s colleges in their search for a school.

It’s unfortunate we live in a world where women’s colleges are necessary. However, it’s wonderful that the women’s colleges we need exist. In fact, thanks to these gender-specific schools, true gender equality can happen sooner.

For centuries, society has labored under a gender dichotomy that favors the man over the woman. Not until the last century did women have a seat at the political table; a woman in the workplace was not normal until my mom was young. Countless sacrifices have been made over the years to allow our sex to make greater strides.

But women still struggle. Even after the Lilly Ledbetter Act, women make, on average, 77 cents for each dollar made by men. Issues of women’s health are political debates, not private decisions. And in day-to-day life, women are still primarily considered objects of desire.”

Spotlight: Stern College for Women

Spotlight: Stern College for Women

I’m thrilled to spotlight the Stern College for Women today. Located in NYC, NY this women’s college is one for women who are looking to earn their bachelor’s degree in the arts and sciences, while embracing their Jewish heritage.

I’m including highlights about the college’s history from their Web site:

“Founded in 1954 with a major gift from Max Stern, president of Hartz Mountain Products, Stern College for Women is a pioneer in the field of women's education. We offer women the unprecedented opportunity to earn their bachelor's degree in the arts and sciences and immerse themselves in rigorous Jewish studies at the same time, in the same place.  . . .  Today, more than 1,000 students from across the United States and countries that span the globe attend Stern College. It is truly a gathering place of people and ideas, from Colombia to Morocco, Seattle to Teaneck. United by their quest for both unparalleled intellectual engagement and spiritual exploration, our students are ground-breakers. They become pioneers in their fields, whether as the first volunteer to serve on the US base at the South Pole, as a clerk for the Supreme Court of Israel or a professor of comparative literature at a Chinese university.

The S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program, begun with a major gift from philanthropist S. Daniel Abraham in 1999, has attracted students of ever-higher academic caliber to the college, where they engage in once-in-a-lifetime research opportunities and forge rewarding relationships with faculty mentors.

We have come light-years from our simple start with a handful of young women and a visionary dream. Our campus has grown from one building and a hotel to five dormitories bustling with students and three state-of-the-art classroom buildings. In December 2009, the beloved 245 Lexington Avenue building was renamed Stanton Hall in recognition of board member Ronald P. Stanton and his ceaseless dedication to Yeshiva University, including a gift of $100 million dollars to fund the Stanton Legacy.

That's where we've been so far. The best is yet to come.”

And here’s a welcome letter from the college Dean, Karen Bacon, Ph.D.

“Prestigious universities are measured by the research productivity of their faculty, the successes of their alumni, the size of their endowments and the weight of their ivy.

Here at Stern College for Women, we can point to some very impressive statistics on all these counts, save the ivy index. But we also pride ourselves on much more.

The commitment of our entire student body to the study of primary texts in Hebrew and Aramaic is unheard of in higher education in America. The number of our women engaged in community service is enviable. And the percentage of our students majoring, doing research and publishing in nontraditional fields for women, such as the physical and mathematical sciences, competes favorably with the percentages at much larger institutions.

Stern College is alive with a cacophony of voices from all over the United States and the world. These women are attracted by our unmatched Jewish Studies Program; our ambitious offering in the humanities, social and natural sciences; and our involvement with the culture of New York which is our campus.

All of this is coupled with opportunities to contribute to and learn from communities as distant as Guatemala and Thailand through our service-learning options.

If you see yourself as someone committed to Jewish studies, to academic achievement, to being part of a network of women who are developing themselves as leaders, movers and shakers, then you belong at Stern College. 

We look forward to adding your voice to our joyous cacophony.””

Pros and Cons of Women’s Colleges

I love how this article, “Pros and Cons of Women’s Colleges,” written by Laina Chin and published on December 30, 2012 begins, “When I met with my college guidance counselor for the first time in eleventh grade, one of the many questions she asked me was, “Would you consider applying to a women’s college?” to which I almost immediately responded, “Of course not!” Having gone to an all-girls’ school since sixth grade, there was no way I wanted to spend the next four years of my life in another single-sex environment.” I hope this opening sentence encourages you to read the entire article.

Is There Still a Need for Women’s Colleges?

I very much enjoyed reading this insightful article and as the title implies answers the question, “Is there Still a Need for Women’s Colleges?” The article also talks about how effective women’s colleges are for those interested in STEM careers as well as how to go selecting the right one for YOU!

Article highlight:
“There are still plenty of reasons to explore women’s colleges as an option, particularly when it comes to honoring the objectives around which they were founded — lessening the gender gaps and ensuring the safest, healthiest, most supportive spaces where women can learn.”

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Single Sex Colleges: Are they right for you?

I enjoyed reading this article, "Single Sex Colleges: Are they right for you?" written by Lisa Jenkins, Writer/News Editor and published on September 20, 2012.

I believe that the power of a women’s college is its supportive environment, an environment that is simply not available in a coed college.

From the article, Lisa writes, “But why is it important for a woman to feel “empowered”? It may have to do with American society today. In Congress, men outnumber women nearly five to one. And Ms. Gabel pointed out the fact that women are still earning less to the dollar as compared to men. Ms. Monkemeier notices the disparity, and feels that “as women gain more of a foothold in the workforce… less of that empowerment will be needed.””

I hope you enjoyed reading Lisa’s article as much as I did and I encourage you seek the answer to the question, Single Sex Colleges: Are they right for you?

Why I Chose a Women's College

 

Learn more about Smith College.

Quote: Women's colleges are empowing and provide a life-changing experience.

Diane C. from Rochester, NY says, “Single sex education is so important, especially for young women who have grown up learning that girls are the lesser sex. Going to an all women's school is an empowering, life-changing experience that every woman should have the opportunity/choice to experience.”

More Quotes: The Power of a Women’s College

Here’s what Lydia A. from Oakland, CA says about women’s colleges, “I attended a women's college and a co-ed college. I learned so much more in the women's college than the co-ed college.”

And here’s what Margee C. from San Francisco, CA wrote, “My women's college education created a safe environment for me to help reach my potential and excel in ways I never thought possible before.”

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Wordless Wednesday

Quote: Going to an all-women's college, Mills College, was the BEST decision I have made in my adult life so far.

Here’s what A.L. from Oakland, CA wrote, “Women's colleges are necessary in cultivating strong, independent women. Going to an all-women's college, Mills College, was the BEST decision I have made in my adult life so far. I would not be the person I am if I had gone to a co-ed school. Women need a place where they are allowed to speak openly and not be afraid to speak up or overlooked. All-women's colleges foster leaders and we need more strong women leaders! Thank you.”

Quote: Regrets Not Attending a Women’s College

Jan W. from Newaygo, MI writes, “As a woman and one who did not pursue her dreams to become a veterinarian until her late 30's (received that DVM three-months before I turned 43), I firmly believe if I had been able to attend an all women’s college I would not have been so discouraged early on. There is a real need and place for schools where only women attend.”

The Role Women’s Colleges Play in STEM Careers

Research shows us that young women who attend a women’s college are more likely to engage in meaningful research projects while attending a women’s college; more likely to attend graduate school (especially in STEM programs); and more likely to earn her PhD.

Coed colleges simply do not provide the same supportive environments that build confidence (especially in male-dominated fields like STEM).

If you are serious about a STEM career, please consider attending a women’s college.

The Competitive Advantage of a Women’s College

For today’s blog post, with permission from the author, I’ve included an article by  Dodge Johnson, Ph.D., CEP (Certified Educational Planner), "The Competitive Advantage of a Women’s College." Since 1984, Dr. Johnson has helped many students and their families navigate the college selection process.

I hope you enjoy his article.

THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF A WOMEN'S COLLEGE
by Dodge Johnson, Educational Consultant
from his Philadelphia Inquirer Column "Countdown to College" 

Women's colleges aren't for everyone. But they are a choice every college-bound woman should consider seriously, regardless of any preconceptions about herself or what women's colleges are like.

Less than 5% of women attend women's colleges. Yet, look who their graduates are:
•    10 of the 24 women in congress.
•    1/3 of women on boards of Fortune 1000 companies.
•    30% of women Business Week picked as rising stars in Corporate America.

They are also far more likely be lawyers, managers, or doctors, to earn advanced degrees, to hold doctorates in natural sciences. And in case you're wondering if they have only careers in mind, know that more than three quarters marry and half have children.

Equally important for candidates: because women's colleges are out of fashion, even the best - the ones where resources rival the Princetons and Dartmouths - are far easier to get into.

What makes women's colleges so successful?

Some ingredients are obvious. Students with the courage to make a less usual choice of college are likely to make courageous graduates. When roughly half the faculty who teach them are women, many balancing family and career, they are inspired by examples of what they themselves may become.

But the real secret is more subtle.

College can be a make-or-break time as students stretch the wings that will carry them into adulthood. And women who mature in an environment powered by women often learn a confidence their co-ed sisters find harder to come by.

It's not that co-ed colleges mean to discriminate. But all too often the atmosphere reflects male assumptions and rewards male behavior. That's a Catch-22 for women, who are disadvantaged in the competition to be, say, a doctor if ambition is considered gentlemanly but not ladylike.

There's more. Studies by Roberta Hall for the American Association of Colleges show that faculty tend to maintain more eye contact with men, to call on them more often, to ask them more searching questions and generally encourage persistence.

They don't do it consciously, of course, which makes the effect all the more insidious. And such built-in bias may explain findings by Alexander Astin, an astute researcher of student behavior at UCLA, that academic and career aspirations of many women actually decline during their college years.

Forces outside the classroom also take their toll. Women may find it harder to capture top leadership positions or maintain control when they do. Fraternities and sororities conspire to foster a climate where men dominate - and women let them.

These constraints simply don't, can't, occur in women's colleges. And the confidence women learn there as undergraduates equips them later to swim with the sharks in a prestigious law firm or a dog-eat-dog business or medical school, where often the rules were invented by - and for - men.

What are women's colleges really like? They are hardly cloisters - they wouldn't attract students if they were. But because men are not central to college life, students often have to work a bit harder at dating than they would in a mixed environment. The trade-off is that men are not ubiquitous or inescapable, nor are they rivals in either the classroom or campus activities.

And women's colleges today are hardly white gloves and finger sandwiches, although some like Sweet Briar guard traditions that make them gracious and distinctive.

Most will let you register for courses at nearby co-ed colleges, as Wells students do at Cornell. And some are entwined with co-ed colleges:

Mt. Holyoke and Smith are part of a yeasty five college group, all within ten miles. Scripps is across the sidewalk from the four other Claremont colleges, and students take courses at all five. Bryn Mawr is knit so closely with Haverford that students not only study on the other campus but can live there as well. Men are around these colleges, in class and out and at all hours. But men will never run them.

Who belongs at a women's college? Women themselves often don't know till they investigate - although if all your close friends are men or you detest women in groups, a women's college is probably not for you.

Jane Cox included a women's college among her campus visits only because her counselor talked her into looking. She fell in love with Marymount, and now only graduation could tear her away.

Beth Talliafero wanted a first-rate education. She chose Mills despite it's being a women's college, but she stayed because she discovered the magic of an ecology that forced her to grow individually while nourishing her and women in general.

But most attend a women's college because they're convinced it can help them become the person they want to be. Carol Hernandez of Mount St. Mary's in Los Angeles says grinning, "I chose a women's college because I put learning first. A husband I can catch anytime!"

To learn more about Dodge Johnson, Ph.D., CEP (Certified Educational Planner), click here.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Quote: My Experience at a Women’s College

Janice B. from Newport, PA says, “When I attended a women’s college from 2001-03 as a transfer student, I felt the atmosphere of the college was significantly supportive of my education because it was a group of driven women. Some elements that exist on co-ed campuses that hinder a focus on education simply did not exist. The small class sizes and one-on-one discourse between faculty and students is the number one thing I valued as a student, and now value as an adult. Whenever anyone asks me about my unique college experience the first thing I mention is the fact that the college was all women and every woman counted and was pushed to bring their very best. Expect more, get more.”

College’s for Women, The Many Advantages of Attending

The Advantages of Women's Colleges
By Christine Hand

Although women's college graduates account for a mere 4 percent of college-educated women, they have made impressive contributions to all facets of society. So what would a woman gain by attending a women's college?

• Women are more likely to perceive their colleges as caring about them and their learning
• Promotes a woman's intellectual and social self-confidence, academic ability and cultural awareness
• Women participate more fully in and out of class and engage in higher order thinking activities
• Students are likely to trust institutions missions and exhibit leadership traits such as public speaking skills and promote racial understanding
• Overall satisfaction academically, developmentally, and personally
• Students often have higher academic and professional aspirations
• These institutions employ many women faculty members who are high quality teaching-oriented individuals
• Students score higher on standardized achievement tests
• Women tend to receive more doctoral degrees and enter medical school
• An increase is salaries along with opportunities for women alumnae to develop leadership and management skills, and lifelong career advancement
• Higher percentage of majors in economics, math, life science and engineering
• There are strong benefits from mentoring, small classes and personal interaction with professors
• Resources are set aside for sophisticated research equipment to preeminent athletics facilities to internship and fellowship funding, all focused on and available to women students
• Women's colleges underscore the need for critical thinking, global knowledge, intercultural competence, and real-world abilities; women's colleges surpass all public and private colleges in helping students learn to think analytically, bring social and historical perspective to issues, work as part of a team, write and speak effectively, make sound decisions, gain entry to a career, prepare for career change or advancement, and be politically and socially aware
• Indicate greater gains in understanding themselves and others, general education, ability to analyze quantitative problems, and desire to contribute to the welfare of their community
• Tend to be more involved in philanthropic activities after college
• Some statistics about women who graduated from women's colleges:
• In the 2008 election, a record number of women won seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives of the 111th Congress. Of the 100 seats, 17 are held by women and two of those were graduates of women's colleges.
• Four women on President Barrack Obama's new administration were women's college graduates - Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Desiree Rogers, and Mona Sutphen.
• Of Business Week's list of the 50 women who are rising stars in corporate America, 15 - or 30% - received their baccalaureate degree from a women's college.
• Of the 4,012 highest paid officers and directors of 1990 Fortune 1000 companies, 19 - or less than one-half of 1% - were women. Of these women, 36% are women's college graduates.
• In a 1997 magazine survey, 20% of the 100 most powerful women in Washington, D.C., attended women's colleges.
• Graduates of women's colleges are more than twice as likely as graduates of coeducational colleges to receive doctorate degrees, and to enter medical school and receive doctorates in the natural sciences.
• 20% of women identified by Black Enterprise Magazine, as the 20 most powerful African-American women in corporate America, graduated from women's colleges.
• Almost half of women's college graduates in the work force hold traditionally male-dominated jobs at the higher end of the pay scale such as lawyer, physician or manager.
• 9 out of 10 women's college alumnae have participated in at least one civic or professional organization since college.

This article is an excerpt from the interactive e-book College Bound - Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare for Getting Into the College of Your Dreams by Christine M. Hand available at http://www.college-path.com/college-path-store.

About The Author: Christine M. Hand, Ed.D, has spent the last 20 years as a consultant, instructor, high school college counselor, and registered therapist. Her work with high school juniors and seniors focuses on career exploration and college counseling. Dr. Hand is a graduate of St. Lawrence University where she received a B.A. in Art Education and Economics. She earned a Masters in Counseling Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. She is an instructor for UCLA's online College Counseling Certificate Program and provides college search and admissions advice on her website, http://www.college-path.com.

Article Source: The Advantages of Women's Colleges

Wondering Why You Should Attend A Women's College?

Click here if you would like the answer to this question.

Advantages of a Women's College

Women’s colleges are committed to educating women. Bay Path College is one such college.  

Why attend a Women’s College?

"Bay Path College is committed to remaining a women’s college because it believes strongly that a women’s college education provides opportunities and experiences that foster confidence, creativity and collaboration.

For generations, women were limited in their options of pursuing a college education. Women’s colleges were founded largely on the belief that women should have access to higher education equally with men, and, in doing so, women would become valued and active participants on many levels (international to community) and in many fields (science, education, politics, and the arts).

Today, more than ever, that imperative still holds true. In fact, with our increasingly complex and global world, the success of Bay Path (and other women’s colleges) in the areas of science, technology, and focused disciplines is emphatic and undeniable. At Bay Path, the personal attention, the focus on academics, and the development of the whole person are qualities that are not only timeless…they provide value that stands the test of time."

The above is from Bay Path's Web site. To read the entire post, click here.
 
Bay Path College is located in Longmeadow, MA.To learn more about this women's college, click here.

Wordless Wednesday

 Wordless Wednesday