Why Choose a Women's College? : Spotlight on Simmons : Simmons College

Nicole LeBlanc, Simmons class of 2005

Why would anyone choose to go to an all-women's college? I'm asked that a lot.

Of course, there are the commonly cited reasons: Graduates of women's colleges are twice as likely as female graduates from other colleges to enter medical school and receive doctorate degrees in both medicine and the natural sciences. Half of all women's college graduates in the work force hold traditionally male-dominated jobs at the higher end of the pay scale. These women are also more apt to hold leadership positions in college organizations.

But these answers are predictable. Why really go to an all-women's college? I chose to attend one because I wanted to learn who I really was.

Make no mistake: when I was in high school, I felt confident and successful. I was in the top ten of my class, played three varsity sports all four years, held an outside job, and worked hard to contribute to my community. But when I got to Simmons, I realized I was a small fish in a large pond, and I worried I might not find my place here. Throughout the first semester, I began to realize that I didn't really know who I was, what I believed in, and more importantly, how to change.

But I was in the right place to learn.

I was surrounded by lively, thoughtful discussions from faculty and peers and rich, unexpected new experiences that made me sit back and really think about who I was, and what it all means to me. Simmons College has already given me the tools necessary to find out who I am, and the knowledge to use those tools to be successful, to enhance my self-confidence, and to be an even stronger individual.

I grew to understand that being at an all-women's institution gives you the chance to explore who you are, without the distractions of a coed environment. The women here are all trying to discover what they want from life, who they want to be, and how they can find a place for themselves within a world primarily run by men. I chose to study public relations, a business in which men are the dominant clients. Simmons has helped me develop my own special skills to handle just about anything.

While everyone is the same gender here, we're all different people. We have different personalities, different perspectives on life, and different ways of succeeding. The advantage of being at an all-women's college is that we are able to share these differences. This is an open community, where different thoughts and ideas are accepted, and where we can learn from each other. It's through these experiences with different women, and the comfort I feel being around them, that I've grown into someone I know can be successful. There's no greater feeling than being able to do what you want, say what you feel, and know that your opinion may be contradicted, but always respected.

Simmons has given me the opportunity to hold positions of leadership and responsibility that, at a co-ed school, might otherwise be held by a male. I've learned what it's like to be in a position of power and influence, and how to deal with difficult situations. It's an invaluable experience, and an important part of who I am.

Voltaire once said, "True greatness consists of the use of a powerful understanding to enlighten oneself and others." When I hear the term "enlightenment," I think of an overall, encompassing transformation. Whether it has to do with a physical, emotional, or intellectual experience, I think of it as a good thing. That is what being at an all-women's college has done for me.

Being at Simmons has opened my eyes to new ideas, new ways of living, and new ways to develop myself. Simmons holds the power to teach young women how to find themselves and be successful — as women and as individuals.

I can honestly say this to anyone who wonders: attending a women's college is a special and truly enlightening experience.

Nicole LeBlanc, Simmons class of 2005
Williamstown, VT

» Why Choose a Women's College?

Why Choose a Women's College?

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