If the Women’s March was any indication, the past few years have been marked by a new wave of feminist mobilization. It may come as no surprise that both applications and yield rates at the nation’s top women’s colleges have increased since 2016. Some women choose to attend a women’s college for the experience of sisterhood, but for many, the appeal is the opportunity to attend an elite college.
The Seven Sisters—seven historically all-women’s colleges in the northeast-- were all founded to provide women with educational and professional opportunities comparable to the Ivy League universities open only to men. Established as a consortium in 1915, the Seven Sisters namesake is for the seven daughters of Atlas, stars that comprise part of the constellation, Taurus. While two of the extremely prestigious seven (Vassar and Radcliffe) are now part of co-educational institutions, the other five maintain legacies unique to the country’s top institutions for women. While all of the seven boast beautiful campuses and classic liberal arts opportunities, each one has a unique brand to which applicants should pay attention.
Barnard
Founded in 1889, Barnard is notably affiliated with Columbia University, though it has been independently governed since its inception. Located in the heart of Manhattan’s historic Morningside Heights, Barnard offers women the opportunity to study in a rigorous environment while taking full advantage of living in one of the most culturally-rich neighborhoods in the nation. With an acceptance rate of 14 percent Barnard is, perhaps, the most-selective women’s college in the country. Students can take classes at Columbia (which began admitting women in 1983), Julliard, and Jewish Theological Seminary. With alumnae who include the likes of Zora Neale Hurston, Twila Tharpe, and Greta Gurwig, Barnard is an ideal school for up-and-coming activists and artists alike who are excited by the idea of learning in the Big City.
Smith
Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, Smith College is the largest of the Seven Sisters. Smith (a test-optional college) puts the “liberal” in “liberal arts.” Like the other Sisters, Smith is committed to environmental sustainability. It also hosts events such as Otelia Cromwell Day, named for Smith’s first African American student, in which students are invited to attend a day of lectures and programs on racism and diversity. Its culture can be considered very feminist and its alumnae register includes Betty Freidan, Gloria Steinem, and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. It was the first women’s college to grant undergraduate degrees in engineering. Smith has a rich campus life—most students live on campus all four years. It is also a member of the Five College Consortium along with Mount Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire, and U Mass Amherst. The acceptance rate in 2018 was 31 percent.
Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke is old. It was founded in 1837 as the Mount Holyoke Seminary, and while its beautiful campus is steeped in tradition, it’s quite a progressive school. In fact, MoHo, as its affectionately called, says it was the first women’s college to accept both trans women and people who identify as non-binary. While sisterhood and community are part of the Mount Holyoke experience, this school offers a number of opportunities for its students to venture out. It is part of the Five College Consortium and the Twelve College Exchange, allowing students opportunities to take classes at other schools. It also offers a vast array of study abroad experiences. The acceptance rate is about 51 percent.
Wellesley
Founded in 1870, Wellesley (whose acceptance rate in 2018 was 20 percent) is a classic. In addition to its beautiful Wellesley, Massachusetts campus, on-site museums, libraries, and institutions, this school is perhaps best known for its rigorous academics and extremely powerful network. After all, its alumnae include women such as Cokie Roberts, and most famously, Hilary Clinton, among many others. Clinton reportedly remarked to a prospective student that for her, she “… was able to call Wellesley her home.” This school is ideal for those looking to form a tight-knit community and bonds that will take them far in life.
Bryn Mawr
Founded in 1885, Bryn Mawr College is nested in the idyllic Philly suburb of Bryn Mawr. In the 1920s and 30s, it offered a summer school associated with the labor movement for working women. Students can take classes at Haverford, Swarthmore, or U Penn. Notable alumnae include Katherine Hepburn. With an acceptance rate of 34 percent, Brynn Mawr offers rigorous academics and a strong community feel, with most students living on campus all four years.
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