So I'm really considering going to a women's college - I’ve heard amazing things about the community and empowerment there. Could you guys tell me which women's colleges are most selective? Also, what attributes or extracurricular activities might stand out in my application?
The most selective women's colleges in the U.S. are typically considered to be:
1. Barnard College
2. Wellesley College
3. Smith College
4. Scripps College
5. Bryn Mawr College
Each college tends to value different achievements and traits, but they are unified in their interest in students who are academically ambitious, active in their community, and committed to women's leadership.
When it comes to extracurricular activities, remember quality outweighs quantity. I'd recommend using the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars to help organize and think about your activities:
1. Tier 1: These are rare activities that show exceptional achievement or leadership at the national or international level.
2. Tier 2: These showcase high levels of achievement and leadership, and are a bit more common than Tier 1.
3. Tier 3: These highlight your interests and may include having a leadership role in a club or being captain of a sports team.
4. Tier 4: These are the most common activities and typically involve general club/sports/musical membership and volunteering.
“Spikiness” is often prioritized over well-roundedness in the college application process. If you can demonstrate passion, commitment, and impact in one or few areas of interest, that could be more beneficial than dabbling in a variety of different activities.
Highly selective colleges, including women's colleges, are likely to value traits like resilience, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential. These qualities can be demonstrated in your extracurricular involvement and essays.
Remember that these colleges conduct holistic reviews of applications. They consider not only academics and extracurricular activities, but also factors like the personal essays, letters of recommendation, and even aspects like demonstrated interest. Be sure to give each part of your application the attention it deserves, and good luck!
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