How to Find a Supportive College for Women Science Majors
HOW TO EVALUATE
COLLEGES
to find the most supportive science depts.
A college education is one of the most expensive things a student will
purchase during her lifetime along with a home and her kids' education.
Yet, many students give more thought to choosing a new CD than they do to
choosing which college they will attend. Perhaps they don't know how to
research the prospective college.
What sort of information is the most important? The typical school catalog
does not tell the student consumer everything she needs to know. It doesn't
help women students find the most supportive science departments. The following
are questions designed to help students evaluate the school and the department.
PLEASE PRINT THIS MATERIAL
I.The College
II.The Department
III. Interview a Student
I. THE COLLEGE
Try to visit each campus on your short list of colleges that interest
you.
1. Is the college financially solvent?
Not every educational institution is in good financial shape, especially
after the last recession. Sometimes, to shore up its economic position,
a college will go "coed" for the first time in their history.
That doesn't mean that the faculty, the staff, or the students are ready
to change.
2. Is the college planning to raise the tuition in the next 4 years?
Another way to solve the school's financial problems is to raise the
tuition or fees the students have to pay. Colleges do plan these raises
in advance, so ask the recruiters or admissions officers the "tough
questions."
3. Ask for any reports analyzing the Drop-out Statistics.
Colleges usually analyze the number of their students who drop out,
not only after the freshman year, but for every year. A demographic analysis
by sex, age, major, ethnic group, GPA, etc. is very revealing. At
some colleges, there exists a school culture which can be hostile to women
science majors or the studious students on campus.
4. Are there many women on the faculty?
Women students need role-models. Look through the school catalog for
this. Are the women faculty in tenure track positions?
5. How safe or dangerous is the campus?
Talk to the campus police and find out the most common type of crime
committed on campus. Ask how you can obtain crime statistics for the campus
and the surrounding neighborhood. Does the college have a nighttime escort
service for students on campus in the evening?
6. Is dorm residence required? What is the security there?
Rapes and thefts are committed in dormitories. Is there a curfew? Or
can visitors walk through the dorm at any hour?
7. Is there a Women's Center on campus? Check out its services.
Is there a Women's Studies Dept? Any courses about women in science?
8. Is there a legitimate grievance procedure in place at the college.
During the 1980's, the Rand Corp. did a study about Title IX and its
effects. What they found out, incidentally, was that 1/3 of the colleges
in the U.S. do not have real grievance procedures which allow students to
to resolve disputes over grades or other problems in an informal way. Some
schools include info about the grievance process somewhere in their catalogs.
If it's not there, then ASK for it.
9. Are student services designed for women as well as men students?
Students pay for these campus activities with their fees. The question
is whether any of these pin ball machines, bowling alleys, music listening
rooms, arts and crafts, boating, etc., are meant to entertain women students?
You decide.
10. Is there a good placement service to help you find a job after graduation?
Some colleges have dedicated staff at placement centers who work their
behinds off to find you a job. They are worth their weight in gold. There
may also be an alumni networking program at the college.
II. THE DEPARTMENT 
When you visit the campus, drop in on the department office in the field
of science that interests you. Call or write the dept. chairman, in advance,
and explain that you're a prospective student and you plan on visiting the
campus. You can also mention that you would like to meet some of the women
already enrolled in the program. Don't be afraid to ask. Think of the time
and money you will be investing in this degree. This is a MAJOR decision.
1. How many students are in the department? What % are undergraduates?
If this is a major university, with a large graduate school program,
then they usually focus on them and not on the undergraduates. Many science
departments, today, are preoccupied with research; the educational program
is just a side-line.
2. How many women students are there in the department?
If the number of women in the department is under 10 (this is not unusual
in Physics), then you may feel isolated.
3. Are there women on the faculty? Post docs and faculty wives don't
count.
Women students need to interact with women professionals in their field.
They make better mentors because they've "been there, done that"
and they may share their experiences with you. Surveys show that women instructors
enjoy teaching more than men, and they take it more seriously. This is an
important indicator of how the department feels about women in general.
4. What is the typical class size for freshman and sophomore courses?
Students do better when they are not lost in crowded introductory courses.
Professors already distance themselves from students, and with a class of
500, it's just that much easier for them.
5. Is there a SPS chapter ACTIVE in the department?
The Student Physical Society (SPS) is an important indicator of how
the department feels about undergraduate students.
6. Are there procedures in place so that students can report sexual
harassment?
Most college professors do not sexually harass or target students for
dating. However, the small number of men who do this often feel encouraged
because of a very lax attitude there in the department. Read The Leacherous
Professor and familiarize yourself with the problem.
7. Are the math courses taught by applied math professors?
Most math professors at American colleges are pure mathematicians; and
when they have to teach applied math courses, the results are not always
satisfactory. Often, the lowest seniority guy is given the assignment in
the math department. This could make or break your career in physics.
8. Do undergraduates have the opportunity to do any independent lab
work?
Is the science curriculum an endless series of problem sets and finals?
What is the dept. doing to enliven the program and make it more exciting
and interesting. Are there any field trips? Special seminars? Any courses
for women? Anything for freshmen?
9. Visit the machine shop before you leave (in physics departments).
Are there wall calenders with pin-up girls prominently displayed .
10. Is this a happy department? How is the morale?
Are the secretaries friendly? Do the hallways look like a dungeon or
a garage? Tap into your female intuition. Do you want to spend 4 years in
this place?
III. INTERVIEW A STUDENT 
Currently enrolled students are a wonderful source, perhaps the best
source of information. Women students know about the quality of teaching,
mentoring, equipment, and possible problems in the department. Try to meet
some and sit down for an informal chat.
1. Why did you pick this college? Has it lived up to your expectations?
2. What is the most interesting course so far that you've taken?
3. Who are some of the better instructors? How do their lectures compare
to other departments?
4. Does your faculty advisor welcome your visits? Any mentoring?
5. Are women students encouraged to attend colloquiums?
6. Have you had a chance to do any independent lab projects?
7. Does the department hassle women students when they need equipment?
8. Have you ever been rebuffed by professors? Do they encourage women?
9. Do male professors discount women scientists in lecture or in conversation?
10. Have you noticed women students dropping out? Do you plan to go on?
