Give us two minutes and we'll tell you why you should go to a women's college.

Hollins is a women's university, the oldest in Virginia. Although there are many advantages to attending one, some students say they're afraid that a women's college artificially isolates women from men. After all, they say, women have to compete with men in the "real" world.
   But studies show that what really happens is that graduates of women's colleges -- Hollins graduates included -- compete more effectively in the post-graduate world. That after four years of running the student government, publishing the student newspaper, serving on committees with the president and faculty, and speaking up in class, they emerge more confident of their ability to excel on the job or in graduate school.
   A study conducted by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research (IUCPR) finds that women's colleges are better equipped to help their students. Click here to read more.

The Hardwick-Day Comparative Alumnae Research Survey

During October 2007, Hardwick-Day interviewed alumnae of both single-sex and co-ed public and private colleges and universities from the classes of 1970 through 1997 about their college experiences. The findings, released on March 3, 2008, included the following:

• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other groups to say they benefited very much from good academic facilities and equipment.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other alumnae to say they benefited very much from a high quality, teaching-oriented faculty.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other alumnae to say their experience often included student presentations in class.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other alumnae to say their experience often included classes that include the perspectives of women and minorities.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other graduates to say they benefited very much from an emphasis on personal values and ethics.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae were more likely than all other graduates to be involved in campus publications or student government.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae were more likely than any other group to complete a graduate degree.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to solve problems and make effective decisions.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students to develop the ability to learn new skills.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than other liberal arts colleges and the public universities for helping students have a sense of purpose in life.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness than all other colleges and universities for helping students develop self-confidence and initiative.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to write and speak effectively.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than other liberal arts colleges and the public universities for helping students develop moral principles that can guide actions.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to relate to people of different backgrounds.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than other private colleges and public universities for helping students learn to think analytically.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to work as part of a team.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students to be prepared for their first job and for career change or advancement.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to be a leader and have a leadership role with their college or university.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to appreciate the fine arts.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students learn to be politically or socially aware.
• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for helping students to place problems in social and historical perspective.
• Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all other graduates to believe it is extremely important to have the authority to make decisions. 

To view the complete survey results, visit the Women’s College Coalition website, www.womenscolleges.org.

“Some people argue that women who attend single-sex colleges enter the job market unable to compete with men in the power hierarchy. My experience at Hollins has taught me that this is simply not true. Whether a man or a women is in charge, you still approach them and relate to them in the same way: respectful, but confident of your own abilities.”

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