Stories

June 30- July 8, 2027

How do the places we live and work shape our health? Why is life expectancy well over 80 years in some Philadelphia neighborhoods, but 64 in others? The interdisciplinary field of social epidemiology offers tools for answering these questions and many more.

This class investigates the unique history of housing in Philadelphia. We will cover the problems the city has faced and still faces in providing affordable housing, fair access to housing and creating diverse and vibrant neighborhoods and its great legacy of innovation in this area.

How have Black Philadelphians contended with public health crises and sought to redress racial health disparities? Together, we will explore this question and more to learn about the intergenerational struggles Black people have engaged in as they employed public health concepts and redressed gaps in government-supported public health initiatives over generations.

"As interviewers, we are rooting for you during the college admissions process."

March 27, 2026 - May 31, 2026

“I think that my four project assistants of this semester went above and beyond my expectations because I ended up reaching myself a better understanding of my own scholarship through their independent discoveries, research, and insights.” — Luca Zipoli, Assistant Professor of Transnational Italian Studies

"College is going to feel uncertain sometimes. Lean into that. That’s where the interesting stuff happens, where you surprise yourself, grow, and become someone you didn’t even know you could be."

"Pursue your passions — especially academically! You will find a lot of support from your professors and peers. I never imagined I could be a BCMC major, do research in a lab, and also get my M.A. in French, but it has been an incredible experience."

"I am most excited to take my learning in a new direction, studying something much more physical, while still building on my background in sociology. While at Bryn Mawr, I have studied the sociology of culture and hope to develop my understanding of food as a cultural aspect, a tool for connection, and a symbol in my further studies. "

"There is so much richness in experience and learning awaiting you at Bryn Mawr, so choose how you spend your time wisely while welcoming the unexpected and the uncomfortable."

If you are interested in anything (a class, an internship, a research opportunity), don't be afraid to reach out and ask! Bryn Mawr is what you make of it, and everyone from peers to professors to alumnae is excited to help.