Single-sex education can have enormous benefits for its students, especially women. While you may initially balk at the idea of attending an all girls school or a women’s college, a number of studies have shown that women who attend single-sex schools tend to have better self esteem, stronger study habits, and more ambitious career goals than their co-ed counterparts.
StepsPart 1Part 1 of 3:Researching Single-Sex Education
1Embrace an equal opportunity education. Many students and parents select all-girls schools because they encourage women to enter fields that have been traditionally dominated by men, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In co-ed schools, boys are often expected to enter these fields whereas girls are often expected to succeed only in the humanities or the arts.XTrustworthy SourceNational Education AssociationUnion of professional teachers devoted to promoting the success of the public education system by advocating on behalf of teachers and students.Go to sourceGirls who graduate from single-sex schools are three times more likely to become engineers than girls who attend co-ed schools.XIn a 2013 study, science faculty at six leading research universities were asked to assess the resumes of potential students they could mentor. The resumes were identical, with the exception of one being named “John” and the other “Jennifer.” The faculty members overwhelmingly favored the male student, rating him as more competent and hireable than the female applicant based on nothing other than his gender.XTrustworthy SourceProceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOfficial peer-reviewed and multidisciplary journal for the National Academy of Sciences.Go to source
2Eliminate bias against girls in the classroom. Studies have indicated that in co-ed settings, male students are often preferred over female students. For instance, studies have shown that teachers are far more likely to praise and give in-depth responses to a boy’s comments in class whereas they might only acknowledge a girl’s comments with a nod or a quick response.XTrustworthy SourceNational Education AssociationUnion of professional teachers devoted to promoting the success of the public education system by advocating on behalf of teachers and students.Go to sourceIn co-ed settings, teachers are also more likely to encourage male students to work through problems on their own, while they tend to step in and help female students who struggle with a problem.In an all girls setting, girls are far more likely to speak up frequently and make significant contributions to class than in a co-ed setting.Girls studying in a single sex setting also earn higher scores on their College Board and Advanced Placement exams than girls who study in co-ed settings.X
3Enjoy a personalized education. All girls schools tend to be smaller than co-ed schools, which means your teachers will be able to tailor the material to your personal learning style and interests.In a personalized setting, your teachers and professors will be able to write detailed letters of recommendation
4Research individual schools. If you are interested in attending an all-girls school for high school in the United States, you can find detailed rankings of them from websites such as Niche.X You can find a directory of women’s colleges at http://www.womenscolleges.org. Part 2Part 2 of 3:Learning From Single-Sex Graduates
1Talk to alumnae of the school or college. No amount of research will replace actually talking to graduates about the benefits of their school. Ask them questions about their experiences at the school and why they would recommend attending.Many schools will have events where you can speak to alumnae and learn what kinds of career paths the graduates of their school have taken.
2Research notable women’s college graduates. People such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Meryl Streep, Gwen Ifill, Eudora Welty, Natasha Trethewey, and Gloria Steinem are all graduates of women’s colleges.Twenty-two percent of women in Congress are women’s college graduates.
3Use your network. Alumnae of women’s colleges tend to be very supportive of their school and their younger, fellow graduates. You will have a successful and powerful network in place after you graduate from your school.Part 3Part 3 of 3:Visiting A Single-Sex School
1Select a few schools to compare. When you are deciding upon a school to attend, you shouldn’t just pick the first one you find. Instead, plan to visit at least a few options to compare the best one for you.If your parents are encouraging you to attend a girls’ school for high school, try to talk to other students who attended the school at their parents’ urging. What do they think of it? Are they happy they came to the school?If you are concerned about your dating prospects, remember that many girls’ schools will have social events with local boys’ schools or other private schools.
2Stay with a current student. Many girls’ schools and women’s colleges will have visiting weekends for prospective students. During these visits, you can generally stay with a student and experience life in the dorms and also attend a few classes. You should ask current students for their honest opinions about the school and why the wanted to attend it.
3Consider other factors. While the benefits of single-sex education are great, you should also consider other attributes of the school that might be important to you. Some of these might include:Location. Is the school in a beautiful rural setting or a bustling city? In which setting will you be happiest?Facilities. What are the buildings on campus like? What kind of labs or learning centers are available to students? Does it have a nice library, a theater or artistic space, a gym, etc.?Career opportunities. This will be more of a priority if you pick a women’s college. Does the school have a good career center? Do they support students in finding internships, externships and other opportunities?Campus life. If it is a boarding school or residential college, you should see the types of dorms or apartments available for students. What kinds of activities happen on campus for students? Are there clubs or extracurricular could you participate in during your time there?
