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'Sisters' Colleges Recruit in Middle East

Single-sex education remains strong in region

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Facing fewer applicants than comparable co-ed institutions around the US, representatives of top women’s colleges toured the Middle East this spring on a recruiting mission, the New York Times reports. While women’s colleges have become a niche market for US applicants, single-sex education remains widespread in the Middle East. But attending one of them can be a shock to students expecting protected environments, honoring traditional women's roles.

"The American colleges, for all their white-glove history and academic prominence," the Times writes, "are liberal strongholds where students fiercely debate political action, gender identity and issues like “heteronormativity,” the marginalizing of standards that are other than heterosexual. Middle Eastern students who already attend these colleges tell of a transition that can be "jarring."

Barnard College, along with other Sisters institutions, toured the Middle East to recruit students. ((c) WalkingGeek)

Hillary Clinton, a Wellesley alum, speaks at the college Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Wellesley College, along with other Sisters institutions, toured the Middle East to recruit students. ((c) redjar)

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'Sisters' Colleges Recruit in Middle East

Single-sex education remains strong in region

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Bargain-Hunting Students Swarm State Universities

Officials walk line between shoring up budgets, maintaining reputations

US Students Flock North for Cheap Tuition

Canadian universities appeal to Americans in tough economy

At More and More Colleges, SAT Is Now MIA

Standardized test seen as poorly calibrated measure of students' abilities

We Need a Match.com for College Admissions

Our current system is badly outdated: Kevin Carey

America's No. 1 College: Williams

And it's followed by Princeton, says Forbes

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Single-sex education remains strong in region

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Middle East • women • college admissions • higher education • college • Smith College • Wellesley

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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More Newser Stories

Bargain-Hunting Students Swarm State Universities

Officials walk line between shoring up budgets, maintaining reputations

US Students Flock North for Cheap Tuition

Canadian universities appeal to Americans in tough economy

At More and More Colleges, SAT Is Now MIA

Standardized test seen as poorly calibrated measure of students' abilities

We Need a Match.com for College Admissions

Our current system is badly outdated: Kevin Carey

America's No. 1 College: Williams

And it's followed by Princeton, says Forbes

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Newser By Users

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