Over the years, I've visited a few women's colleges and have always been impressed. The young women seem to enjoy the confidence, camaraderie and support that are fostered in same-sex colleges, and for that reason, I began to wonder what type of young woman would seek out and benefit from a women's college.
A woman who attends a women's college is "someone who knows she's a leader and is motivated and self-confident," says Susan E. Lennon, executive director of the Women's College Coalition in Washington, D.C. "A comprehensive college experience at a women's college will enhance those skills and traits and enhance her gifts."
Leadership seems to be a strong theme among women who attend women's colleges. Many leading women in Congress are graduates of a women's college (Hillary Clinton, Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi), and "over 25 percent of all women in Congress attended women's colleges," says Janet L. Holmgren, president of Mills College in Oakland, Calif. Holmgren believes that these percentages translate to other fields such as business, medicine and law.
A preponderance of female faculty members can also contribute to the academic benefits of a women's college. Holmgren said that, unlike other colleges, 65 percent to 70 percent of the faculty at women's colleges are women, and "young women really matter when they are the focus of the faculty." Susan Lennon also suggested that women who are interested in math and science should pay special attention to a women's college. The math and science professors at women's colleges create a "positive campus and classroom culture" for women and are strong female role models. Furthermore, Lennon said that when the "environment includes mentors, young women are supported and teamwork is promoted."
Courtney Jenkins certainly fit the profile of a motivated and confident young woman when she applied to Barnard College. Seeking positive role models, small classes and "rigorous academics," Jenkins, a 2002 graduate of Barnard, found the women at Barnard engaging and bright. She said that she met "incredibly brilliant, diverse young women who are so talented, in a wide variety of ways, and were striving to do important things in their lives." As a budding writer, Jenkins was also impressed by Barnard's reputation. "There were no artistic or intellectual legacies in my family, and Barnard has a legacy of incredible writers. It was exciting to have all these smart women before me." Jenkins also liked the small class size and strong student-professor interaction.
Jenkins, author of the soon-to-be-published "Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters" (Free Press), conceded that it was not always perfect at Barnard. She said that while there was some socializing with young men at the affiliated Columbia University, her social life suffered until her sophomore year when she met her boyfriend. "Socialization felt forced. There was an absence of guys," she said.
Jenkins also revealed the dark side of Barnard and said she encountered many young women who struggled with eating disorders or mental health problems, many of whom "studied all night and took anti-anxiety medication." This, she believed, was in contrast to the young men at Columbia, who seemed more relaxed about their academic performance. Jenkins said that while there were sometimes "petty interpersonal conflicts" between the women, she also found them to be "brilliant, honest, emotional and creative" in an environment in which "it was the best and worst of women."
Many private liberal arts colleges, though not exclusively for women, have a majority of women today — so why bother with a women's college? Holmgren of Mills College said it best: "If I were to look at the whole universe of educational opportunities, women get the best deal at a women's college. Unequivocally, a women's college offers a woman the best opportunity to stand out academically so she can prepare for any field she chooses."
Joanne Levy-Prewitt is an independent college admissions adviser who works with students in the San Francisco area. E-mail her at jklprewitt@gmail.com
© Joanne Levy-Prewitt Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate