What are the Seven Sister Colleges?

Hey everyone, I've been hearing about the 'Seven Sister Colleges' and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about them. What makes these colleges special and why are they called Seven Sisters? Curious to know more! Thanks!

Hello! The Seven Sisters are a group of seven prestigious liberal arts women's colleges in the northeastern United States. The name "Seven Sisters" was inspired by the Pleiades, a group of seven stars in Greek mythology that represent the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas. Here's a list of the seven colleges:

1. Barnard College (New York, NY)

2. Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)

3. Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA)

4. Radcliffe College (Cambridge, MA) - Merged with Harvard University in 1999

5. Smith College (Northampton, MA)

6. Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY) - Became coeducational in 1969

7. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)

These colleges were founded between the 1830s and 1880s with the mission of providing women access to higher education, which was a rarity at the time. They were also known for their strong commitment to providing a comprehensive liberal arts education, fostering leadership, and empowering women in various fields.

While Radcliffe has merged with Harvard and Vassar has become coeducational, the other five Sisters still maintain their original mission of empowering women by providing excellent education, resources, and opportunities for their personal and professional growth. If you attend one of these institutions, there are opportunities to network and connect with students and alumnae at the others, which helps students have a broader, more comprehensive college experience.

The remaining five Sisters are consistently ranked among the top women's colleges and liberal arts institutions overall in the United States, as they are still known for their excellent academic programs, research opportunities, small class sizes, diverse student populations, and dedicated faculty. So, if you attend one, you would not only receive an empowering education, but also a superb one!