Five Turtles Continuing on to Women's Colleges

Liliana Stinson ’23 will be attending Mt. Holyoke to study political science, a field that at many schools can feel dominated by male voices. 

“I’ve liked my experience here, being at a girls' high school. Specifically, it allows us to have our opinions and share our thoughts and have them really earnestly considered. Especially going into political science, it’s often dominated by male voices. I think it’s nice to have a space where I won’t necessarily have to compete with that aspect. My mentality is, give yourself as many opportunities as you can while you have them. There’s no reason to be limited unnecessarily, no one should have to settle for that. Historically women’s colleges teach people that.”

Eva Melendrez ’23 was attracted to Barnard for the programs that were offered as well as the location and relationship with Columbia University. The focus the school has put on STEM programs and accompanying majors, in particular, was a draw. Continuing on at a women’s institution was an added bonus. 

“Having my voice heard is important to me. When I attended a coed high school, very often it was the male students who got to speak. It was a STEM magnet school and oftentimes I would have a lot of male teachers or students who really had the attitude that as a girl I wasn’t as smart. It was so frustrating. Attending a girls’ school has not been any less rigorous, we are all incredibly intelligent people.”

Dr. Erin McHugh, dean of college counseling, is heartened by the rise in popularity of women’s colleges among Chatham Hall students. 

“Students are here at Chatham Hall, an all-girls institution, for a reason. Often, when they look ahead to college, students feel like they are ready for a change and look for a coed institution. But I love when students are open to continuing their education at a women’s college and looking at each school individually. There are so many great things about women’s colleges — students will get four more years in supportive environments in which they are the focus in the classroom. They won’t be fighting to be heard. There is plenty of proof that those who go to single-sex institutions are more confident in speaking up, and four more years of that after Chatham Hall will be wonderful.”