Bryn Mawr College

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Student Self Identifies as: White Queer Non-Binary

Summary

I am a tutor and a T.A. for the Biology and Chemistry departments. I’m the Biology major representative and have [a leadership position] in a Latin dance group on campus.

Background

Gender Identity: Non-Binary
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Queer

High School Experience: Public high school in Northeastern Pennsylvania with a graduating class of about 35 students. There was not a culture of going to college. Almost everyone went into a vocational career or worked on their family farms.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry

Extracurricular Activities: I am a tutor and a T.A. for the Biology and Chemistry departments. I’m the Biology major representative and have [a leadership position] in a Latin dance group on campus.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
Being able to do jobs and other leadership positions in the departments that I’m academically involved in has led to getting a lot closer to professors and feeling like my major was more significant than it felt prior to when I was just taking classes. My role in my dance group was totally fundamental to making my college experience fun. That’s where all of my friends are and I spend like eight or nine hours a week doing it.

Academic Experience

Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
Depending on the semester, I have one or two lab classes, so that means two three-to-four-hour labs per week, and that’s just for the time spent in class. I do a lot of data analysis, a lot of group projects where we have to meet up, and other collaborative work with other students. I write about a paper per semester for each Biology class, so there is definitely not a lot of writing. But this semester is more writing-heavy because I’m writing my thesis. Some weeks are crazier than others. One week will be okay and then the next week I’ll have two lab reports, an exam, and a paper due.
Is there anything you feel that your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
I think my major’s department does a poor job of building a community within the department. We’re a big major and if you’re working in a certain lab or you specialize in a certain area you may take specific classes, so I think it’s hard to build a Biology-wide community. In terms of things they do especially well, they have an introductory course that is really accessible to everyone no matter where you came from or what your high school biology experience was. They do a really good job of catering to all kinds of people.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s actually kind of funny. Usually, underclassmen are really competitive because they’re coming from a competitive high school environment, so when they get here they might be kind of stand-offish about working together or sharing answers in a problem set to confirm what each other got. But then once they realize the environment here is one where you need be collaborative because it’s difficult work and you need to lean on each other and be okay with that, they pull into it and realize that working together is how the real world works.
How accessible are your professors?
I’ve had anywhere from professors being totally accessible to not at all. I think some professors are super committed to making the classroom environment and coursework accessible and those are the professors I’ve forged close, close relationships with. But, there have been others where I took their class and I didn’t engage with them at all and it was a really negative experience. I either never took a class with them again or tried to avoid them at all costs.
Do you feel people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
When something is brought up in an academic context, like if we were discussing whether some research was done well or not, I think having an unpopular opinion wouldn’t be shot down and it would be encouraged and explored. I do think that there is a political expectation at Bryn Mawr and that’s why a lot of people come here. But, outside of that, other opinions coming forward is not unusual or fought against.
What is your favorite part of the academics of Bryn Mawr?
Academically, the part that makes everything so worth it is engaging in the classroom and having really good group work experiences or really great relationships with professors. Having a professor recognize that you changed a lot, take the time to check in with you or take the time to build a relationship with you has been more satisfying academically than submitting a really good paper.
In what ways do you feel like the education at Bryn Mawr has prepared you for the real world?
From a lab context, I feel really prepared to enter any lab, even if it’s not one whose techniques I know, because I think I could pick them up quickly. I also feel really prepared to enter a group space and be able to communicate effectively and problem solve with other people as opposed to just work by myself.
How has going to a historically women’s college impacted your academic experience?
Feeling like you have the hold of the classroom is something that I think I take for granted every day. Being in a space that is not mostly men is such a normal thing for me that I forget how great it is and how much opportunity it gives me to learn, be hands-on, and get the attention that I need and deserve. Whenever I’ve taken Haverford classes, it hasn’t been super different because the classes I was in had a lot of Bryn Mawr students, so it still felt like I was in a Bryn Mawr class with a few guys sprinkled in. Also, male professors on this campus recognize why we came here and they really tried to step back as men and recognize what they need to do to nurture the environment for us. I have witnessed that from a lot of male professors here.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
In high school, the only class that we had advanced sections was biology, so I took AP Biology since it was the only AP course offered by my school. I was pretty set on the fact that I was going to be a Biology major with an Ecology focus, and I came in and started that right away. I didn’t need to take Chemistry until my sophomore year, but by the time I took it I realized I should have been a Chemistry major and I would have been a lot happier doing that, so that’s why I made Chemistry my minor. It’s not normal to have Chemistry as a minor, it’s more common to be a Biochemistry major if that’s where your interests lie. But, I couldn’t do that because I had started the courses too late to finish everything on time.
I’ve battled with how I feel about my major a lot and there have been times where I thought I made a mistake, but I really like a lot of my Biology courses and I feel like I’m at a place within the department where I’m really comfortable and grateful for what I’ve been able to do.

Reasons to Attend

1) It’s a really specific and good experience of having a classroom that was built with you in mind. By that, I mean that you have a classroom environment where you are there to be the person speaking, learning, writing, and doing. You feel really academically empowered here.
2) The small class sizes and the ability to form close relationships with professors. I’ve been in classes with six people.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) Traditions are a big thing here and you don’t have to do them at all, but there is a feeling that you’re expected to. If that’s something you’re not interested in, that’s a reason to not attend.
2) The lack of diversity and resources for students of color. Students of color are brought into Bryn Mawr through the Posse Foundation and other scholarships for disenfranchised students, and then there are not the resources for them. I think people are trying to be more vocal about that, though.
3) The cost of living in the area. If you aren’t on the dining plan and not on campus, it’s hard to live and hard to get jobs off-campus.

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Quad in Pembroke West
Sophomore: Suite in Erdman Hall with my roommate and I each had our own bedroom and we had a shared common room. It was a huge upgrade from freshman year.
Junior-Senior: Single in Erdman Hall
How was transitioning from your hometown in Northeastern Pennsylvania to Bryn Mawr, PA in terms of location?
Where I’m from is a very small town and it can be very small-minded. It’s very White and conservative and not diverse in any school of thought and not tolerant of anything that’s different than itself, so coming to Bryn Mawr was a huge cultural shift. It was more diverse in every single way and much more accommodating and supportive of my identities, so that was a huge difference. It’s still really weird to go back and forth.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I generally feel super safe on campus. It’s an open campus so anyone can come onto it, but Bryn Mawr as a town is pretty safe. I never feel any threat coming from outside of campus. I also think I have a lot of privilege with my race and the way I look.

Social Opportunities

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
There’s something for everyone here. During my freshman year, I liked attended weekend stuff more than I do now. I really like going to plays, dance shows, and concerts, and there’s a lot of that going on every weekend. Beyond that, there are a lot of little things going on, like groups of friends or clubs will be doing different little activities all over campus. It’s never anything crazy, there are not a lot of huge parties. The big parties we have are annual, so you know when they are happening and you know what to expect from them.
A lot of people go off-campus for partying. I like to hang out with friends in small groups of friends and dance or watch movies and stuff like that. I never really ventured too far out of the Tri-Co. I’ve been to Swarthmore twice, but it wasn’t really my thing to be on a bus going home at 2:00 AM. I’ve also been to Haverford for some stuff. If there’s anything going on at Bryn Mawr, I’ll go to it because it’s really nice to be able to just go home in a five-minute walk. It’s also comforting when I go to things where I know a lot of people.
If at all, how has identifying as Queer impacted your nightlife experience? Is there much of a Queer nightlife scene at Bryn Mawr?
I feel like every nightlife scene at Bryn Mawr feels Queer, even if it’s not intentional. There aren’t necessarily “Queer parties” because more likely half of every party is Queer. That doesn’t mean that everyone is expected to behave Queer, just a lot of people here are Queer.
How happy are you with the weekend activities or nightlife at your school? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m super happy with them. I’m kind of a hermit and like having the comfort of being in my room, so I like being able to do low-key stuff at Bryn Mawr and be able to leave whenever.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
My roommate freshman year was a Posse scholar and there are a lot of Posse students on campus. Posse scholars are really great leaders and they’re really active on campus, so they’re the exact kind of people that I would want to hang out with and do stuff with. My roommate was a Posse scholar and so I met all of her Posse from Boston and now I’m best friends with everyone in that [scholarship group].
How would you describe the overall social scene at Bryn Mawr?
It’s cliquey, which has a negative connotation, but I don’t think it is a negative thing here. When I was a freshman, I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t recognize that there were groups of friends. There are groups of friends and it’s a small enough campus where you know which groups of friends are which and who hangs out with who. It’s not cliquey, it’s just who your friends are, and because there aren’t a lot of huge events, you see those groups of people hanging out together on the weekend as opposed to everyone at some huge party.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I definitely think there’s a bit of separation with that more generally across campus. There are clubs on campus that intentionally seek to go against that like Zami+, [which is an Alliance of Multicultural Organization centering Queer and Trans People of Color], and that’s a space where things are mixed up. In the spaces that I’m in, there is no separation or divide, but generally on campus, there is a separation.
How would you describe the Queer community on campus? How strong is it?
It’s super strong and super Queer. It feels so engrained in the Bryn Mawr culture because it’s such a historical culture at this point. There are different kinds of Queer groups on campus and they all culminate into a big Queer campus. By Queer groups, I mean there are the Queers that play sports and the ones who are in theater and everyone collectively contributes to this really gay environment. It’s really positive, accepting, and good.
How has going to a historically women’s college impacted your social experience?
I don’t think I’ve thought about it too much. While we’re all here and are all students here, you don’t even recognize it. When I first came here, everyone was like, “Isn’t it crazy that there aren’t any guys in our classes!?” First of all, there are usually one or two guys in each class. Second of all, I don’t even notice it. I don’t think anyone’s consciously thinking that we’re at a women’s college, but I think when it’s brought up people agree that certain things happen because it’s all women here.

Careers

Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
I did an alumni interview with someone who was a Chemistry major and now works in the food science industry, and I had an incredible hour and a half talk with her and now I’ve aligned myself with the food science career path. I’m pretty locked in on that because she was able to confirm everything that I needed to hear about wanting to be in that career field. I’m sure if I reached out to her asking about connections, she would help. But generally, I don’t think the alumni network is in your face at Bryn Mawr like it is at other campuses.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I made a commitment to myself to use it more this semester. I’ve used it for resume and cover letter workshops, applying to externship or internship programs, and I’ve used it for some of the pop-up events.
Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages that will be helpful professionally?
I’ve gotten pretty good with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. I don’t know how to code and that’s something I wish I would have done. I’ve also had to use Mathematica for a lot of courses.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, how easy is the office to work with and how responsive are they?
I’m pretty reliant on financial aid. Generally, I found the office to be really helpful in answer questions and dispelling fears I had. If your balance isn’t paid, you can’t apply for classes or if it’s between semesters you won’t be allowed to move back in, which is a really scary situation to be in if your balance isn’t what it needs to be. I have a lot of external scholarships that I have to get signed by the school and that’s always a super easy process. A lot of the time I have a balance that isn’t paid, but there are scholarships that pay it that the school needs to sign, so I’ve been able to work through that easily here.