Wellesley College Top Questions

As mentioned, the professors get to know you on a personal level, especially within the major. You have a high likeliness of taking multiple courses with the same professors and they personally guide you into developing a real understanding of the field. Personally, I have gotten to know many professors in my department and have become very close with almost all of them. Some professors (like my advisor) take their students out to get coffee, to eat meals together, and even cook at their house for their students. It's a wonderful environment to learn. Of course, it must be noted that Wellesley has a very rigorous curriculum and any student thinking about applying and attending Wellesley could be ready to stretch their brains in ways they have never before. Class participation is key since the classes can go as small as 6 students. This means that every students is given a prominent voice at every class, and also means that attendance is an important part of our grade. Students are very competitive, some more than others depending on the major.

The academics is truly amazing. Professors not only know my name, but they do care! I can easily make an appointment with any professor, or go to his or her office hours, even if she doesn't teach me. Some professors you can even get to know them on a personal basis. I am a prospective architecture major, and I find all the professors in the art and architecture department are so charming. Each one has particular characteristics and they are all marvelous in their courses. Class participation is common, because most of the classes are small. But I also enjoy lectures, which normally have 20 to 30 people. Students study really hard here. I mean, really hard. But they are all very smart! You get to know really wonderful people here. Last semester I took introduction drawing class with Daniela, and she is the most charming professor I've ever met! She does not teach, but she INSPIRES you to draw. At the end of the semester, I found that I have grasped most of the drawing techniques and know how to draw from the inside and what it means to be an artist. Other professors are also amazing. It is a small liberal arts college, but you will be amazed at its abundant academic resources and the diverse courses that it provides. Because it is near Boston, students usually get wonderful internship and jobs. The courses are mostly for its own sake, but students care about internships and jobs so much that it is almost a peer pressure that you get an internship over the summer, even if you are just a first-year...

The professors are highly touted at Wellesley, and for good reason. They care so sincerely about their students, and the tiny class sizes make it almost impossible to not become close with most of your professors. This is NOT a sit-in-the-back-of-the-lecture-hall type school. Classes are engaging, and there is generally a lot expected of students. As a moderate-conservative in ideology, I am almost scared to venture into the Women's and Gender Studies department (one that is quite popular here). My political theory class was very liberally slanted, and it made me dislike the department, although it is mostly the doing of the student body and less of the professors. My favorite departments are French and Theater. French is a fairly large department, and the opportunities to study abroad are amazing (one program in particular sends about 30 students a semester to Aix-en-Provence, France). The theater department is really tiny, but I know of many students ranging from seasoned professionals to complete newcomers who love the intimacy of the department. The professors almost always care and are there to help you. There are a lot of academic requirements; in fact one of the few schools left who has so many. Personally, I didn't think skimping out of my lab requirement by taking Geosciences will be that helpful in the grand scheme of things, but I do love that there is some structure and it forces you to look at departments you'd never usually consider. Education is DEFINITELY geared toward learning, however I think many people really reap the benefits of that through the means of getting great jobs as well.

Professors usually know students' names by the second week of classes. Classes are small -- the smallest class I've had so far is 10 people, the largest 30 -- and not only do professors know your name, but a trend towards class discussion (especially in the social sciences and humanities) ensures that you often get to know your classmates fairly well too. There is a stereotype that Wellesley students (the most hardcore of us are called "Wendy Wellesleys") are cutthroat with regard to competition, but I have yet to encounter this. Classmates are friendly, approachable and helpful. If you miss a class, you can ask a complete stranger and she'll give you her notes. Like at any educational institution -- including both high schools and colleges -- there are a range of study habits outside of the classroom, where some students never leave their rooms while others have inhumanly active social lives. Classes at Wellesley are definitely demanding, but if you learn time management there's no reason why you shouldn't have lots of free time for Netflix, parties and friends. I'm double-majoring in history and biology, both of which are fantastic departments at Wellesley. I shopped around a lot before settling on these majors (throughout my first three semesters I considered majors in philosophy, political science, Spanish, English, and biochemistry), but Wellesley's flexible graduation requirements enabled me to try out lots of departments without falling behind. My favourite class to date is a history course I took on Alexander the Great, which detailed the life and death of the greatest conqueror the world has ever seen -- the class was awesome and the professor who teaches it is now my major advisor. Next year I want to spend a semester biology (especially genetics) in Dublin.

People care about ideas and are committed to their causes at Wellesley. You are likely to vehemently discuss Foucault and Butler in the dining hall before having a whipped cream fight with your friends. There is an emphasis on originality in your scholarship and research. Women aren't afraid to be smart and a lot of people have a real love of learning. I found people much more interesting and intellectually curious at Wellesley than at law school. The distribution requirements are not onerous, so you have a good deal of discretion in selecting your classes. Both the classes and the school itself are the right size, which is to say pretty small. You are not anonymous here.

The class sizes are generally small. Some classes, like writing classes and seminars, have a cap at fifteen students. I don't think I've ever been in a class where the professor didn't know my name (and I don't speak that often) and they are really good about going the extra mile for students, giving extensions (it's kind of an unwritten rule that you don't ask unless you really need it, so they are generally not denied), extending office hours, meeting on weekends, sometimes inviting classes to their house for dinner. Flying under the radar is not easy at Wellesley, but I suppose it could be done. Competition at Wellesley is not really blatant, but some students always need that A, and will study as much as possible in order to do it. Mostly it's a competition with oneself. And studying depends on the person; the sciences are pretty hard, as well as economics, but I myself don't study very often. Unfortunately, the academics are more geared towards getting a job, meeting the requirements, etc. than towards learning for the sake of learning, with a few exceptions. The creative writing department is amazing, as is the history department; think further, deeper, ask more questions is to be found in some classes, but I would recommend these departments for sure.

Wellesley admits girls who upon entry may not be quite at the level academically of students entering the ivys (harvard, princeton, yale), however after spending four years at wellesley, girls here come out at the level or above their ivy educated peers.

Professors come to Wellesley because they want to get to know their students. The classes are small, and barely any of them have TAs. Instructors are mostly friendly and approachable, and they practically beg their students to come to office hours. Whether or not you come to office hours, the professor will know you by name and major within a few weeks. Wellesley is both politically charged and socially conscious; you'll find a lot of people debating with each other outside of class. While academics matter to students, they don't war with each other for grades. A lot of people tutor one subject or another, and overall classmates support each other. The education at Wellesley is geared toward learning for its own sake, and celebrating the benefits of a liberal arts curriculum. Recruiters come to Wellesley from top professional schools and companies because they know Wellesley produces smart, talented, exceptional workers.

Profs are outstanding, classes stimulating. Small classes, lecture style. Fundamentally, I chose to attend Wellesley because of the intimate learning environment. I have not been disappointed.

Academics at Wellesley are very rigorous; classes are not easy. But, the Wellesley faculty is so approachable and friendly and helpful that if there were a problem in terms of not understanding something, they'd be the first to help in the classroom and outside in office hours or even in the student center. They are willing to assist you in any way you need help, within reason. Classes are small which provide a very intimate learning environment where professors know their students' names and classmates know each others' names. The sciences are very strong at this particular college and it has turned out a disproportionately large number of women scientists. This being said, I am a humanities person and I feel the social sciences are equally, if not stronger, than the hard sciences. My favorite classes have included Art Histories, Political Sciences, South Asian Studies, Spanish, and Economics. I feel that Wellesley's academic requirements are reasonable, and truly encapsulate the essence of a liberal arts college. This institution really stresses the well rounded individual who has taken courses in a wide variety of subjects.

All my professors know my name, and most make it an effort to know it within the next few days. My favorite class would be either chemistry or German. My least favorite class would be calculus, just because I don't like math, but the professors are great. Most students probably study at least ten hours per week. Class participation is pretty common, and students in the same class would normally discuss the topics spoken about in lectures outside of class, sometimes for hours on end. Most students are not too competitive with each other; they are willing to help each other out, but there are some students that will do anything just to be the best in the class.

overall, the academics are amazing and I would only change the grade deflation policy

Academics are what makes Wellesley, Wellesley. You will have a lot of reading and writing and problem sets- it will stretch you intellectually like you cannot even imagine. Classes are small (especially as you take higher level courses) and the professors know you and most departments have some sort of weekly event (example- math tea on Wednesdays, lunch with professors every few weeks in Psych) where you can sit with professors and other people in your course or major. Wellesley students do carry intellectual conversations out of class. There are no classes held during lunch (the entire campus has a break from 12:30-1:20 every day and people generally meet up with friends or student orgs and it's amazing to see what everyone has done that day! You'll be surprised how many times you end up staying awake much longer than you anticipated because you got caught up in a discussion with your friend across the hall about her philosphy class. The Wellesley network is an amazing way to find a job- take advantage of the alums that want you to succeed! The Center for Work and service, which assists in career activities and post Wellesley education, provides services to you FOREVER, even after you graduate-- yo can even store letters of recommendation from professors there in case you ever need them!

The class sizes are small. Professors always know your name and encourage students to come to office hours. Wellesley students are extremely hard working. I feel like the college is trying to prove the rest of the world that just because we are an all-women's college, doesn't mean we still study etiquette and square dancing....we now have grade-deflation (unlike Harvard) and a rigorous curriculum to prove we mean business. Many girls take classes at MIT, Babson, and even at Harvard....99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} come back saying that they were easy compared to Wellesley. The intense academic atmosphere has caused the campus to be a stressful environment. Students are less likely to help one another (however, this could be due to the fact that most of my classes are filled with pre-med girls). I feel like Wellesley hires its faculty based only on their resume . It rarely matters if the indivual is a good teacher or not, if he or she has a Ph.D from an Ivy, MIT, or UC Berkeley, he or she is hired. I have had many bad teachers in the Chemistry department. Yes, they are brilliant, but my high school teachers are better at explaining concepts.

All profs know our names. They make it a point to know your name within the 1st week or so. It's really kinda creepy sometimes. Students are always studying and always have something to say during class. In most, if not all classes participation will be a large part of your grade. Students are very competitive and can end up studying and working all week long. Certain professors will invite your class for dinner at their house at the end of the year or will bring in snacks during class. Wellesley makes you take classes in all areas- it's more so that you can be a well rounded person- it even has a gym requirement.

As I said earlier academics at Wellesley are nothing less than amazing. Ive enjoyed every class I've taken till now. Some more than others, but I have no complaints. Professors here definitely get to know you by name. They are very generous with their office hours and get to know you personally. We even have some departments which choose to have dinner with their students in a less formal environment. Alot of professors even go as far as enviting their classes to their homes. Class participation at Wellesley is VERY common and intellectual conversations outside of class are even more common. Wellesley students definitely have to do alot of studying. As great as the classes can be, there is NO easy A at Wellesley. However, it depends on the student and her courses, but I cannot say that one can slack and make it at Wellesley. In addition, students here can be competitive. Like every other school there is always THAT girl that's trying to hog all the attention in class, already looking up law schools in her first year, and refuses to share her notes. Another thing about Wellesley is that its very "learning for its own sake". Its not very career oriented, and students learn to learn not to get a job. Although, again, there are exceptions.

I've loved almost all of my classes at Wellesley. All my professors have been really outstanding, and I have always felt motivated to come to class just because I don't want to miss what my professor will say that day. I would definitely say that Wellesley classes are geared toward learning for its own sake, but the topics are not so obscure that one could never hope to apply them in real life. Probably the most unusual class I've taken so far was a sociology course called Masculinities, in which we studied the different types of masculinities in society, the possible explanations for why the genders act the way they do, and the rapidly changing gender dynamics in today's society. I really enjoyed taking this class because I felt it was a great alternative to the typical women's studies classes, and it helped me to think beyond feminist propaganda about the actual situation in which the sexes find themselves now. It was taught by two male professors, an older one who wore bow ties and tweed jackets all the time, and a younger one who was kind of loud and liked to joke around a lot. It was very entertaining to watch them play off of each other. As for competition, yes, students are very competitive, but not in an overt way. There are just a lot of really bright girls at Wellesley who are very driven and eager to share what they know. Class participation is quite common, unless it's a lecture-style class.

the academics at wellesley are challenging, if not simply difficult, but the proffesors are there to get to know you, establish relationships, and push you. They will challenge you, and hard work is expected. But the proffesors do take personal interest in you-i was having a very hard time with my french class, and my teacher took me to the side and after repeatedly telling me to see the tutor, she took me to meet her after class and schedule weekly meetings. she also scheduled to meet with me once a week outside of class for one on one practice. I dont know if i would have passed the course without her. All of my teachers have shown that same kind of interest in their students. They have conference hours for visits, but if they are in their office they will take anyone regardless if its visiting hours. I have had teachers take groups of their students to lunch to get to know them, and every teacher makes an effort to know everyones names. we have small classes for that reason-to forge those relationships.

Good. Most classes are academically strong, while some are lacking. A lot of department politics, so sometimes you see really amazing professors (forced to) leave. Students brown nose a lot, professors eat it up. Students don't seem to study much together or help each other out so much. Academic requirements are burdensome.

Academics at Wellesley are probably the best part. Professors, in general, are caring, understanding and passionate. Students are passionate too, about academics and everything else. Every department has it's pros and cons. The best departments are probably Economics and Art History. The only problem I have found with academics is the prevelance of grade deflation. The policy is that in a 100 or 200 level class, the average must be no greater than a B+. This can become a problem because it forces students to compete with one another and forces the mentality that if everyone gets an A, nobody gets an A. Even though students might not want to compete, they may have to.