Wellesley College Top Questions

I could tell you coming in to Wellesley, I was probably one of the minorities of minorities. I was a pansexual, Wiccan, lower-middle class Mexican. And yet, I have managed to feel like I was a part of this campus and not some sort of oddball. I became involved with Wellesley's LGBT organization, the Latina organization, and the Pagan group and found people I can share a background in. My socio-economic status was not a large factor in whether I got along with certain people or not- it just didn't matter. I feel that even if students are worlds apart, it is still possible to get along. For example, my roommate was the type of person who reads Cosmogirl, Vogue, and really picked her outfits well, took the time to do her hair all nice, and her make-up etc. I was the type of person who would wear mostly black outfits, couldn't care less about makeup, doing my hair meant brushing it, and I didn't read any sort of magazine. When we saw each other for the first time, I'm pretty sure both of us must have thought that the housing office had mistakenly paired us up. Nevertheless, we still respected each other, we didn't become BFFs but we sure didn't set up a wall between us. We say hi to each other whenever we see one another even after we don't live together. So yes, I do believe that different people can interact.

There is a higher proportion of gay/bi students who are open -- I'm not sure if it's because of or thanks to the pretty open and tolerant atmosphere at Wellesley. In any case, people are generally very tolerant of all types of sexuality/sexual identity. In most other senses, students are similar to other small liberal arts colleges. Lots of religious/racial/socio-economic diversity (Wellesley has GREAT financial aid!) Students are very liberal, as a whole, although there are of course conservative students.

I'm a minority student at Wellesley and appreciate the diversity of the campus. But I'm obviously from a diverse hometown- and Wellesley was the first time I had ever felt discriminated again- and it wasn't by falculty or administration, but by an ignorant student. Therefore, I've always felt appreciated by the school- but sometimes I wish the students had a more open minded experience as well.

Students are VERY politically aware. I know two girls at least who, every morning they read the New York Times and every time they walk into a room with a television, turn on CNN, I'm not even joking. There is any number of financial backgrounds because Wellesley has a really good financial aid program. Most students on campus are leftist democrats but we do have a republican group on campus just like the democratic group. I'm pretty sure there are some closet republicans on campus because it's hard for me to believe there are as few as seem to represented by the republican group. Students often say stuff like, "when I'm rich and famous, I'm going to ____" but it's said sort of jokingly. People pretty much all believe if they set their mind to it they can make as much as they want and that their life will be determined by them when they graduate.

I, as an Orthodox Jew, feel out of place at Wellesley. Students wear a vareity of clothes to class: some wear sweatpants and shirts, while other dress up in the latest fashions and makeup every day. Students of different races interact with each other. Most Wellesley student seem to be from the Northeast, California, or Florida. Students are politically aware. Both the Democrats and Republicans host lectures, and there is also an organization dedicated to non-partisan politcal action. The student newspapaer prints newsfom around the world, and opinion articles are often about world news. Most students are democrats. Students don't usually discuss how much money they pan to earn in the future.

Students are opinionated, confident, and intelligent women who are here to investigate their personal passions. I have never seen any students argue immaturely, but debates take place constantly. There is a place for every type of young women at Wellesley and it is amazing how you will find yourself a Wellesley woman in no time.

The student body here is so diverse, which was another thing I didn't think was so important when I originally looked at schools, but I was lucky and fell into a good one. It makes such a huge difference. You get to meet people you never dreamed about meeting. Sometimes its a good thing and sometimes its a bad thing. That's just a part of living on a college campus. There are so many different organizations and people and classes and groups that anyone from anywhere can feel comfortable. I'm from a tiny Midwest town and I get along fine with people from New York City and California (there's a huge Californian population, by the way). Wellesley has predominantly left thinkers. There's a group of Wellesley College Republicans, but they're motto is "We do exist!" if that tells you anything about how few there are. But sometimes I think that's required for an all-girls school.

Wellesley girls tend to be very 'liberal' (what ever the hell that means) but rather close minded to the views of their 'opposition'. They would rather be PC, green, democrat then a conservative, traditionalist. There have been many times where I have mentioned my conservative side and then I am automatically branded. Examples... 1. any liberal politician or other type of speaker, preaching the saving of something or another can come in and present and over half the student body will show up, make banners, display pins of support, donate money. A republican politician or speaker comes in and half the student body shows up, 5 (only the brave few) show up in support the rest come to protest with banners and buttons and making rude comments or very pointed questions. 2. The 2004 presidential elections. I am a republican, I was watching the debates and election returns, all the while being berated by 'fellow students'. I was a freshman (I am sorry that is un-PC, first-year), now does that make me feel welcome in my school? Not really. I can't wait until they are in the 'real world' for a few years and start seeing the 'other side' for its good values.

Wellesley is a bubble of super political correctness. Anything you say or do will be scrutinized by other students to see if it could possibly have been meant in a discriminatory type of way. Even if you are just stating your preference of ice cream, I assure you that there is a Wellesley student out there waiting to call you prejudice because you don't like the same ice cream as her.

Here is Wellesley's student body in a nutshell (keep in mind that I am generalizing a bit): Race- there is interaction and friendship between students of all races, but there is still a bit of a divide between the African American population and students of other races. Religion- practice whatever religion you want, or no religion at all...other students don't really care. LGBT- I have many gay friends, straight friends, and bisexual friends at Wellesley. It doesn't play a factor in friendships...people are people. Socio-economic- Thanks to Wellesley's generous financial aid, there are many students that come from low-middle income families, but women from wealthy families still probably hold the majority of the student population. That's not to say they are all "poor-little-rich girls." Most of the students who have a lot of money are still very down-to-earth. You will probably feel out of place at Wellesley if you are unaccepting of alternative lifestyles or if you are uncomfortable being around same-sex relationships. I usually roll out of bed 5 minutes before class, stuff a hat over my bed-head, and pull on jeans to go to class. This is typical of a Wellesley student, but many students also go to class dressed like they are going into a business meeting- it's just personal preference. Ok, so here's a scenario of 4 tables of students in the dining hall: Table number one consists of 3 or 4 seniors and juniors with books open studying for a chemistry exam they have in 20 minutes. Table number two consists of a very loud bunch of 5 African-American students, 1 Latina student, and 2 white students. Table number three consists of a group of 6 friends who all work at one of the student-run food co-ops on campus and also work at Wellesley's radio station. Table number four is like table number three, except they don't work at a co-op or the radio station...one is a swimmer, one is an econ major, one is a math major, one is a history major, one is a theater major, and one is on the rugby team.