By: Steve Patterson
Submitted: 2010-10-31 13:18:28 | Word Count: 562
Finding the right fit in a college—the college at which you will thrive and reach your academic and personal potential, the college that will best prepare you for life after college—is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Finding the right fit is all about you.
The Right Fit for You
Recently conducted research comparing the experience of female students at women's colleges, coeducational private liberal arts colleges, and coeducational flagship public universities found that women at women's colleges are more engaged and more likely to experience high levels of academic challenge, engage in active and collaborative learning to a higher degree, and take part in activities that provide opportunities to integrate their curricular and co-curricular experiences. Women at women's colleges tend to thrive studying subjects such as science and math—subject and career areas in which women are traditionally underrepresented.
I recently asked a student, who took me on a tour of her women's college campus, to tell me the one word she would use to describe her college experience. She thought carefully and replied confidently, "challenge". She explained that her women's college experience had challenged and supported her to take risks, had guided and given her the courage to navigate her way out of her comfort zone, and had helped her set higher expectations for herself to achieve greater goals.
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A Few Reasons to Choose a Women's College
Proves its value over a lifetime. Women's college graduates succeed in entering a range of career fields and graduate programs, regardless of their undergraduate major. More than 95% of women's college alumnae believe the financial investment in their education was worthwhile and that the intellectual and personal capacities they gained are extremely important to them.
Develops critical skills for life and career. Women's colleges surpass 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.
Enables students to engage with top faculty and resources. Women's college graduates attribute their success to interaction with "a high quality teaching-oriented faculty." They report strong benefits from mentoring, small classes and personal interaction with professors. At women's colleges, all of the resources, from sophisticated research equipment to the finest athletics facilities to internship and fellowship funding, are focused on and available to students.
Creates leaders, communicators, and persuaders. Speaking out and speaking up—key components of leadership and civic engagement—are capacities actively developed at women's colleges. Women's college alumnae report more in-class experience with making presentations than their peers at other institutions and are more likely to gain leadership experience in student government and campus media.
Each women's college has its own distinctive identity and culture. From the east coast to the west coast, women's colleges are in the hearts of cities and deep in the country. Students come from all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, and religious groups, across the country and around the world. What women's colleges have in common is a clear commitment to your education.
To find the women's college that is right for you, visit the campuses, meet with students and professors, attend a class, or spend the night. Finding the right fit is about you. Women's colleges are about you!
