Bryn Mawr is a small women’s college located on a historic suburban 135-acre campus just 11 miles from Philadelphia. Founded as a Quaker institution in 1885, Bryn Mawr is one of the Seven Sister colleges and part of the Tri-College Consortium, home to 1,350 undergraduate women and more than 400 graduate women and men. Considered one of our country’s most beautiful campuses the majestic stone buildings are some of the finest examples of Collegiate Gothic, in fact serving as the template for dozens of other schools. Longstanding partnerships with Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges, and the University of Pennsylvania provide Bryn Mawr students with many options to balance a single-sex education by taking courses, joining organizations and attending social events at these nearby institutions.
SHORTCUTS
Stay: The Wyndham | Breakfast: Turning Point
Lunch: Uncommon Grounds | Dinner: White Dog Cafe
Visitor Information: Visit Bryn Mawr
Transportation: The nearest major airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL / KPHL). This airport is 26 miles from the center of Bryn Mawr College. Amtrak has frequent service to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. At 30th Street Station you can transfer to a direct commuter train to Bryn Mawr on the area’s mass transit provider Septa. Take the (Paoli/Thorndale line) to the Bryn Mawr station, which is about 350 yards from campus. The Norristown High Speed Line stops about three-quarters of a mile from campus.
Stay: With only seven rooms it’s not easy to get a reservation at the Wyndham Alumnae House located in a historic building right on campus. Two other alternatives close by that families highly recommend are The Radnor Hotel and The Wayne. Looking for value, book a room at The Americas Best Value Inn in Norristown or the Motel 6 Philadelphia - King of Prussia. If you want to stay in Philly to enjoy all of the city’s attractions and excellent restaurants we recommend The Rittenhouse Hotel, AKA Rittenhouse Square, Kimpton Palomar, or fresh off a 25 million dollar renovation the luxurious Ritz-Carlton.
Coffee: Right in town in the Bryn Mawr Village shopping center start your day right at Philly's hip local chain, La Colombe. Once a garage this is a visually striking, industrial space with excellent coffee and pastries. Other favorite spots include Starbucks and Hothouse Coffee, both on Lancaster Avenue.
Breakfast: Turning Point is a perennial favorite amongst students’ known for its extensive menu with everything from pancakes to fried chicken and waffles to tons of “eggstraordinary dishes.” It is also a good choice for brunch and lunch.
Lunch: On campus, the restaurant at Wyndham Guest House is a great place to dine alongside Bryn Mawr alumni and faculty located inside a fieldstone farmhouse built in 1796 for Patience Morgan, a Quaker widow. For a more casual and quick meal join the students at Uncommon Grounds in the Neuberger Centennial Campus Center for salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Right in town its fun ordering from a digital wall menu at healthy quick-serve Bryn & Dane's or enjoy custom made pizza and salads at Snap Pizza.
Dinner
Casual: In nearby Haverford and Wayne are branches of uber-popular White Dog Café where the whimsical dog décor accompanies a varied seasonal menu with something to satisfy everyone in your group. For burgers and BBQ platters head to Tin Lizard Brewing Company. In the mood for sushi and Japanese favorites head to Samurai Japanese. Local Taqueria El Limon serves authentic flavors of Mexico, try their sopes and tacos al pastor in fresh corn tortillas.
A Step Up: The food matches the soaring, beautiful room at high style Italian Enoteca Tredici, and a top pick for dining in the Main Line. For creative, Italian fare, BYOB Fraschetta delivers rustic Roman fare, Start with the cacio e pepe ravioli before moving on to the more substantial entrees.
Sweets: It’s hard to choose from the extensive menu of treats at Sweet Freedom Bakery, but we were told the magic bars, and cupcakes are must orders. Hope’s Country Fresh Cookies is a quaint shop serving muffins, ice cream, and assorted homestyle cookies.
Local Attractions: If you haven't visited the Liberty Bell since an elementary school trip, it's time for a repeat visit. And stop by the nearby National Constitution Center; an engaging, interactive and surprisingly stirring museum devoted to the U.S. Constitution. If you a fan of Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse you must visit the Barnes Foundation, home to one of the best collections of French Impressionists in the world. Philadelphia Art Museum is another worthy art stop. Eat your way through Reading Terminal Market, the country's oldest farmer's market with more than 80 merchants.
Campus Tour
— Quotes From Campus —
“I have known many graduates of Bryn Mawr. They are all of the same mold. They have all accepted the same bright challenge: something is lost that has not been found, something’s at stake that has not been won, something is started that has not been finished, something is dimly felt that has not been fully realized. They carry the distinguishing mark – the mark that separates them from other educated and superior women: the incredible vigor, the subtlety of mind, the warmth of spirit, the aspiration, the fidelity to past and to present. As they grow in years, they grow in light. As their minds and hearts expand, their deeds become more formidable, their connections more significant, their husbands more startled and delighted. I once held a live hummingbird in my hand. I once married a Bryn Mawr girl. To a large extent they are twin experiences. Sometimes I feel as though I were a diver who had ventured a little beyond the limits of safe travel under the sea and had entered the strange zone where one is said to enjoy the rapture of the deep.”
BRYN MAWR FAST FACTS
Established
1885
Mascot
Predator D. Owl
School Colors
White and Gold
Acceptance Rate
38%
Common Application
Yes
Supplement Essays
Yes
Early Action/Decision
Early Decision
SAT
Average - 1410
ACT
Average - 31
Type
Private
Size
Small -1,350 Undergraduates
Website
Region
Admissions Office
101 North Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010
(p) 610-526-5152
(f) 610-526-7471
admissions@brynmawr.edu
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division II
Greek Life
No
Noteworthy Alumni
Katherine Hepburn
Edith Hamilton
SHOP
BRYN MAWR
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