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Bryn Mawr College, founded in 1885, is a highly selective,
independent liberal arts college. Its two graduate schools
are coeducational, but the undergraduate college is for women
only.
While Bryn Mawr initially modeled its curriculum and standards
on those of European universities, it was founded to be quite
unlike those older institutions. Being small, it could address
the individual needs and concerns of its students in a way
that large universities could not. And it still does. Bryn
Mawr remains today a demanding and caring community where
both ideas and individuals matter very much.
HOUSING
1,200 students can be accommodated in college housing, which
includes single-sex dormitories and co-ed dormitories as well
as off-campus apartments. In addition, there are language
houses, special interest houses and a residential Black Culture
Center. Students may live at Haverford College, a nearby co-ed
college, after the first year. On-campus housing is guaranteed
for all four years, and 97 percent of students choose it.
All but first-year students may keep cars.
ACTIVITIES
More than 100 student groups encourage diverse extracurricular
interests, including drama, creative writing, dance, music
and visual arts; international and social-policy issues; community
service; ethnic and cultural heritage and multiculturalism;
sexual orientation and gender issues; professions; investing;
radio and TV; publishing; and computers. Visiting artists
frequently offer master classes as well as performances.
Events at Haverford, Swarthmore College, and the University
of Pennsylvania are open to Bryn Mawr students. Popular campus
events include May Day, Lantern Night, Fall Frolic, and Rhoads
Halloween Party.
SPORTS
There are 11 intercollegiate sports and six intramural sports.
Facilities include a gym, eight tennis courts, an indoor pool,
neighboring stables and golf course, an archery range, a weight
and fitness center, and softball, lacrosse and hockey fields.
Varsity Sports (click on link
for more information)
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Bryn Mawr's UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE awards bachelor's degrees
in the arts and sciences; its GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the arts and sciences; degrees
awarded by its GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
are Master of Social Services, Master of Law and Social Policy,
and Ph.D. in Social Work. A cooperative five-year program with
the University of Pennsylvania leads to a Master of City Planning
degree.
Bachelor's degrees are awarded in Anthropology, Astronomy (at
Haverford), Biology, Chemistry, Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology,
Comparative Literature, East Asian Studies, Economics, English,
Fine Arts (at Haverford), French and French Studies, Geology,
German and German Studies, Greek, Latin and Ancient History,
Growth and Structure of Cities, History, History of Art, Italian,
Mathematics, Music (at Haverford), Philosophy, Physics, Political
Science, Psychology, Religion (at Haverford), Romance Languages,
Russian, Sociology, and Spanish), as well as independent majors
that may include established concentrations in Africana Studies,
Computer Science, Creative Writing, Dance, Education, Environmental
Sciences, Feminist and Gender Studies, Hebrew and Judaic Studies,
Hispanic and Hispanic-American Sudies, International Economic
Relations, Linguistics, Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Peace
and Conflict Studies, and Theater.
VISIT INFORMATION
The Admissions Office is open Monday through Friday (except
holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., during which time there
are regularly scheduled orientations for prospective students.
Tours are offered every hour starting at 10:00 a.m. until 3:00p.m.;
and on Saturdays in the fall from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
It is strongly recommended that you have an interview or information
session (it is not necessary to have both). For more specifics,
click
here to go Bryn Mawr's "Planning an Admissions Visit"
page. Student-guided campus tours and interviews can be arranged.
There are guides for informal visits, and you may sit in on
classes and stay overnight.
DIRECTIONS TO BRYN MAWR
Traveling by Car
From the East via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276)
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I276) west to Exit 20 (old Exit
25A). Follow I-476 South toward Chester. Proceed south on I-476
to Exit 13 (St. David's / Villanova). Bear right on the ramp
to travel toward Villanova. From here, follow the instructions
in blue (*) below for directions to the College.
From the West via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76)
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) east to the Valley Forge
interchange at Exit 326 (old Exit 24). Follow sign to I-76 East
(Schuylkill Expressway). Take I-76 to Exit 331A for I-476 South
(toward Chester). Proceed south on I-476 to Exit 12 (St. Davids/
Villanova). Bear right on the ramp to travel toward Villanova.
From here, follow the instructions in blue (*) below for directions
to the College.
*From Route 30 eastbound
Follow Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) east through Villanova
for 2.4 miles. One block after passing the Ludington Library
on your right, turn left onto Morris Avenue. Please note that
the street is called "Elliot" on the right and "Morris"
on the left - and the Morris sign is hard to see! There is
a Starbucks on the right and a Sunoco gas station on the left
at the intersection. Note: there is NO sign for Bryn Mawr
College on Lancaster Avenue in this direction; watch carefully
for the landmarks.
Follow Morris Avenue as it curves left under the train track
bridge then bears right. Cross Montgomery Avenue (at the traffic
light). The Benham Gateway, which houses the Office of Admissions,
is located on the corner of Morris Avenue and Yarrow Street.
The driveway entrance is on Morris Avenue and ample visitor
parking is available. Distance from turnpike to the College:
under 7 miles. Driving time: approximately 10?15 minutes.
From north of Philadelphia (via the
New Jersey Turnpike)
Leave the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 6 (Pennsylvania Turnpike
I-276). Drive west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 20
(old exit 25A). From here, follow the "From the east
via the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-276" instructions above.
Distance from the New Jersey Turnpike via the Pennsylvania
Turnpike to the College: 35 miles. Driving time: approximately
45 minutes.
From Philadelphia International Airport
Follow the signs from the airport to I-95 South (toward Delaware).
Take Exit 7 to I-476 North. Follow I-476 north approximately
12 miles to Exit 13 (St. Davis/ Villanova). Then follow the
instructions in blue (*) above for directions to the College.
From south of Philadelphia (via the
New Jersey Turnpike)
Leave the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 11 and follow Rt. 322
West to the Commodore Barry Bridge to I-95 North. From I-95
take Exit 7 to I-476 North toward Plymouth Meeting. Then follow
the directions below for "From Washington, D.C., and
other points south." Distance from the New Jersey Turnpike
to downtown Philadelphia: 9 miles. Driving time: approximately
20 minutes.
From Washington, D.C., and other points
south
Via I-95 approaching Chester, PA, take Exit 7 (I-476 North
toward Plymouth Meeting). Follow I-476 north approximately
12 miles to Exit 13 (St. Davids/ Villanova). Then follow the
instructions in blue (*) above for directions to the College.
Distance from I-95 to the College: 15 miles. Driving time:
approximately 25 minutes.
From Center City Philadelphia
Take I-76 West (Schuylkill Expressway) and follow the Valley
Forge signs. Take Exit 339 to City Avenue (Route 1 South).
Once on City Avenue, travel about 2.5 miles and turn right
on to Lancaster Avenue (Route 30 West). Travel about 4 miles
to reach the center of Bryn Mawr. Turn right onto Morris Avenue
þ a gas station will be on your right and a Starbucks on your
left, and you will have just passed a Barnes and Noble and
a Staples.
Follow Morris Avenue as it curves left under the train track
bridge then bears right. Cross Montgomery Avenue (at the traffic
light). The Benham Gateway, which houses the Office of Admissions,
is located on the corner of Morris Avenue and Yarrow Street.
The entrance is on Morris Avenue and ample visitor parking
is available. Distance from Center City to the College: 13
miles. Driving time: approximately 35 minutes.
From Center City Philadelphia via I-76
and I-476
Join I-76 West (the Schuylkill Expressway) and drive west
following the Valley Forge signs. Take I-476 South to Exit
12 and follow the Route 30 eastbound directions in blue (*)
above for directions to the College.
From Philadelphia International Airport
There are several options for reaching the College once you
arrive at Philadelphia's International Airport:
Commuter Train
SEPTA's
Airport High Speed Line has four stops within the airport
(at terminals A, B, C/D, and E). Take the Airport Line (also
known as the R-1) to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Catch the R-5 commuter train to Bryn Mawr as instructed below
in the "Traveling by Train" directions. When you
get on the train at the airport, tell the conductor that your
final destination is Bryn Mawr so you don't get overcharged
when you change trains at 30th Street Station. And hold onto
your ticket receipt ? you'll need it to change trains!
Travel time from the airport to Philadelphia: 20?30 minutes;
from Philadelphia to the College, 19 minutes. Cost, one-way,
is $6.
Limousine Service
On arrival at the airport, follow the signs to Baggage Claim.
Go down the escalator to the Ground Transportation desk; dial
32, Main Line Airport Service, for the time of the next departure
and follow the directions to Zone 7. Advance reservations
are suggested, call 610-525-0513.
Car
Take Exit 7 to I-476 North. Follow I-478 North aproximately
12 miles to Exit 13 miles (S. Davids/ Villanova). See the
instructions in blue (*) above for directions to the College.
Traveling by Train
** Don't forget to call Campus Visit Travel Desk at 877-88-PHILA
to find out how you and your parents can save 50% off on your
tickets to Philadelphia. **
Amtrak
(800-USA-RAIL) has frequent service to Philadelphia's 30th
Street Station. At 30th Street Station you can transfer to
a direct commuter train to Bryn Mawr on the area's mass transit
provider, SEPTA.
From Philadelphia's Market East Station (11th and Market Streets),
Penn Center/Suburban Station (16th Street and J.F.K. Boulevard),
or Amtrak's 30th Street Station (30th and Market Streets),
board SEPTA's R-5 Paoli Local or Bryn Mawr Local train to
Bryn Mawr (17-19 minute ride). The train schedule, if you
want to pick one up at the station, is the royal blue R-5
Paoli/Downingtown schedule. It runs from 6:15 a.m. until 12:15
a.m. on weekdays and from 7:15 a.m. until 12:15 a.m. on weekends.
The campus is a five-minute walk from the Bryn Mawr train
station. Hint: you want to be on the north, residential side
of the station; you will be on the correct side as you get
off the train if you are coming from Center City. Take the
stairs by the station under the track if you're on the other
side. From the Bryn Mawr station, walk north on Morris (straight
ahead as you get off the westbound train) for two blocks.
You will cross Montgomery Avenue (mind the traffic lights
- traffic travels very fast here). The Benham Gateway is located
on the corner of Morris Avenue and Yarrow Street.
Cost, one-way, is $4.50 peak and $3.75 off-peak.
If you have luggage and wish to take a taxi from the Bryn
Mawr station to the College, you may call Bennett Taxi Service
on a direct-line phone located on the train platform. The
taxi service operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. until
12:30 a.m.
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