Bryn Mawr is a small liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, right outside of Philadelphia. The college is traditionally all-women, but now defines their student body a little more broadly, making room for non-binary and transgender individuals in their 1,409-strong student body. Bryn Mawr prioritizes student leadership, and students play a large role in directing and managing residential life and upholding academic integrity. The top three majors are psychology, English, and sociology, and outside of the classroom students build community through off-beat and beloved traditions such as Lantern Night, May Day, and leaving offerings to Athena. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Bryn Mawr offers an academically rigorous program with diverse resources that far exceed the size of the college thanks to partnerships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. There are even bi-college and tri-college academic programs available. As you prepare to apply, you should know that Bryn Mawr is also test-optional. If you do send your scores, they prefer official score reports. If you aren’t excited by the idea of sending your scores, though, don’t stress. 51% of the class of 2026 did not submit their test scores as part of their application.
If you are interested in a small school with big resources, send us an email. We match amazing students with equally exceptional schools.
Bryn Mawr has two supplemental essays that you’ll need to ace in order to be accepted. We break them down for you below.
Why are you interested in Bryn Mawr? (250 words)
This is the “why us?” prompt for Bryn Mawr. First, before you start writing, you need to do your research. Explore the Bryn Mawr website and identify the following:
Prospective major
Two classes you’d like to take
A professor you’d like to study under, and why
Prospective minor
Two extracurriculars you’d like to be involved in (such as clubs, student groups, or programs)
Once you’ve done your research and you have all the information above, it’s time to explore why it is that you’re seeking to attend an institution that has limited who they accept to historically marginalized and underserved groups. What is it about the particular experience Bryn Mawr offers, both academically and residentially, that draws you to it?
After you’ve figured that out, it’s time to put the pieces together. Share your “why” through a story that is focused on the big picture of Bryn Mawr before transitioning to the nitty gritty of what you hope to do at the college. End by circling back to why you feel Bryn Mawr is your best fit academically and socially, emphasizing why you want to go to a traditionally all-women’s college.
The desire to make a positive impact in the world is among the qualities that unite Bryn Mawr students. If you were granted a superpower that allowed you to eradicate one social inequity overnight, what would your cause be and why?
If you’ve looked at the second question in the Common App and are confused about where to start, that’s fair. There is no word count given, and you are instructed to upload your response as a document — as opposed to filling in a text box. They don’t have further instructions on the Bryn Mawr website, which is wildly annoying.
This lack of information and guidance could lead you to the belief that you could do nearly anything you want. But you shouldn’t do whatever you want, so we’re here to guide you on what you need to do to make the most of this supplement.
While Bryn Mawr doesn’t give specific guidance on how to answer this prompt on the website, there is one sentence that at least gives us a place to start:
“The core of the supplement is the essay which will help the Admissions Committee learn more about your interest in the College--it also provides another opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills.”
What does this tell us? First, they want an essay. Second, they want any essay that you write to showcase your writing skills. They don’t say anything about length, but we advise keeping your response under 650 words such it will be a little shorter than your Common App essay.
So — tell a story. Don’t simply explain what you would do and why, show it.
You should also narrow down what you want to write about by looking to your lived experience and your neighborhood. Instead of looking to the other side of the globe, write what you know. And, as you draft, consider creative writing approaches that incorporate dialog, immersive scene-setting, a screenplay format, or another fun format that shows your writing chops.
Bryn Mawr offers a unique educational education in an intimate setting with expansive resources. It’s a perfect fit for students who think differently and want to reshape the power structures of our world.
If Bryn Mawr sounds like it might be your dream school, send us an email. We are experts on top-tier all-women’s and nontraditional colleges.