On Wednesday, we piled into a big charter bus and headed to Pennsylvania to tour Bryn Mawr College, Villanova University, and Haverford College. Over 30 student-athletes, freshmen to rising seniors, came ready to take on college tours.
What do you ask on a tour? It’s always good to get the basics down.
How many students attend?
What is the teacher to student ratio?
How diverse is the school?
How big are classes?
What’s the deal with tuition, and can students live on campus all four years?
Scholarships? Clubs? Pizza everyday?
Of course, everyone has random questions, such as: what are the chances of having a wildlife encounter? Low at Villanova, as it turned out, unless you count their overly friendly squirrels.
At Bryn Mawr, a women’s liberal arts college, students explored small campus life. The college has one of the oldest student governments in the US and prides itself on a strong honor code. With a division 3 rowing team, the girls were excited to learn they could pursue their favorite sport at a collegiate level. It was no surprise that many were interested in attending universities that offered their preferred majors, rowing, and small class sizes. After being dazzled by Bryn Mawr’s “Hogwarts” style building and lantern tradition, we were off to Villanova.
Villanova University provided a great example of a medium-sized school and the chance to see this year’s 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball champions. We gained an insider’s view on the admissions process with Villanova staff and walked away with essay tricks and reassurance that it’s OK to not know what to major in. The tour gave us a sneak peak of the business school, science, and music buildings, as well as the chapel and dining halls. Last stop: Haverford College.
At Haverford College, a school with fewer than 2,000 students, some Row New Yorkers fell in love with the incredibly green and natural campus. The school has an emphasis on social justice and community, which we appreciated as an inclusive and team-orientated group. Half of Haverford students participate in a sport, making it not only a friendly school but an active one too. An additional bonus for students interested in Haverford College was its partnership with Bryn Mawr. Attendance at one of the two schools allows students to take classes at either one.
By the time students ended their third tour, they knew all the right questions to ask and left with a clear understanding of options right outside of New York City. As we say goodbye (or “see you later”) to the class of 2016, we are so excited to continue the college tradition with our current student-athletes. Let’s go Row New York!
