Wellesley College Top Questions

I chose Wellesley for many reasons, but one of them was that I really wanted to be academically stimulated, and that has more than been accomplished in my time here thusfar. These girls are driven; driven to cure cancer, change politics, paint a masterpiece, get social justice...just driven. One of the least common personalities you will find at Wellesley is apathetic. That makes for a very inspiring, yet intense, environment. There can be some heated competition, but I've never experienced it firsthand. Almost infallibly, everyone I've met here has been truly friendly and willing to help...whether they're a peer, professor, or otherwise. The size is perfect; it is definitely intimate, but in my opinion gives YOU that many more opportunities to take advantage of the large amount of resources at hand. Many people confuse Wellesley with Wesleyan, think of it as "that girls' school," or just don't know of it at all. But I find that in the areas that really matter (i.e. getting a job/internship/applying to grad school), all the right people know exactly what Wellesley is and are more than often impressed by its rigor and reputation in the "real world." The proximity to Boston is one of the best things about Wellesley. It is not right around the corner, but if you want to go into a large, vibrant college city, you can do so (at any time of the day/night/week). Sometimes it will cost you $3/trip, others it's free altogether...but it is always worth it! And the fact that you can come back to your cozy, quiet campus at the end of the night is even better than the proximity itself. The all-women factor is a bittersweet one. There are times I miss socializing with guys and wish I had them "at my disposal" so to speak, but I in no way feel that you feel "out of touch" with the male race when you're here. I am in Boston at least once a week, and have many friends both male and female at various institutions throughout the city and/or Cambridge. I do, however, love the academic environment of having all women. Coming from a fairly normal public high school, I didn't think I would be prepared to have all women in my classes, but I've found it not only to be "okay" but inspiring! There is a definite lack of school pride on campus, heightened by the fact that many women go off-campus for the weekend (when many sporting activities normally take place). However, there is so much general camaraderie on campus that it is definitely reflected in sports as well...just not as much as most large universities. One infamous Wellesley t-shirt comically spells out "Wellesley Football" on the front and "Undefeated since 1875" on the back. If you're looking for a tailgaiting party school, Wellesley is most likely not for you. But the universality of the liberal arts experience lets both our joys and sorrows translate across broad spectrums. One common belief is that Wellesley is just like a giant, eternal sleepover. I guess technically that's accurate! I adore the friends I've made here, and couldn't ask to have met more genuine, smart, fun people than I have throughout the student body. There is not nearly as much cattiness as I would have expected being at an all-women school, and I love that!

The best part about Wellesley is the classroom dynamic. Classes are small, the students are there to learn and are usually studying the course material because they're interested it. Best of all, the professors are brilliant and highly approachable. The are no TAs, so if you have a question or hand in an exam, you're dealing directly with the profs. Size factors into other areas of college life too -- since there are only about 2,400 students at Wellesley, you'll get to know a lot of your classmates very well, which I love. And, because Wellesley is a women's school, students are rarely shy and are usually confident and outspoken. All in all, a great environment! If I were to change one thing it would be the location of the gym, which is on one end of campus rather than somewhere in the middle. That said, the campus has a gorgeous lake with a trail that loops around it, guaranteeing a beautiful run at any time of year. Wellesley College is located in the town of Wellesley, which is mostly populated by ridiculously rich people -- so while there are some great stores just off campus, most of them are outside the average student's budget. However, Wellesley provides frequent (usually hourly) transportation into Cambridge and Boston, the greatest college towns on the East Coast. A frequent complaint on campus is the lack of guys, but this is easily avoided by a short bus ride into a city populated by hundreds of thousands of college students. Wellesley students can also cross-register for classes at MIT, Olin, Babson, or Brandeis.

Someone else on here captured it perfectly when she said that your relationship with Wellesley feels almost romantic. It is a passionate and charged environment conducive to exploration and growth. Because you feel safe there as a woman, you come to feel an intense sense of ownership and connection to place. The Olmstead designed landscape and Collegiate Gothic architecture lend a certain mystery and gravity. Wellesley doesn't lock any doors, literally or figuratively, so you can come to know the campus intimately, from tunneling below ground to sunbathing on the roof of the science center. You will make great friends there, but the college is more than the sum of the individuals that go there. The alumnae network is incredible and deeply loyal to the school - I have found an instant connection with other Wellesley alums, even ones with whom I don't otherwise have a lot in common.

Wellesley's location is really nice. The campus is 500 acres (manufactured in some cases) with a lake, about 30ish minutes outside of Boston. I love that it's a small, green campus, with trees and trails, but that the city is just a bus ride away-- which Wellesley provides for free during the week. And while most everyone is really motivated at Wellesley to get good grades and graduate with honors and hold about 15 internships throughout their college career, you can make of the school what you will. There is such a diverse population on campus, so you're sure to find someone that you can relate to, who has similar interests or passions, as long as you put yourself out there to look for them. And yes, it's a women's college, but there are plenty of universities nearby, and again, your social life is what you make it. The bad news: Parties won't be knocking at your door when you want to have fun. The good news: Parties won't be knocking at your door when you are tired/ writing a paper/ studying for tomorrow's exam. The town is rich folk but there is pretty good food and buses and vans to take you to Boston and Natick if you need to get away. The administration is pretty weird at Wellesley. Some things seem progressive and some just seem stick-in-the-mud. School pride is underlying, I think. We don't have craziness with sports teams, but you'll see plenty of people wearing Wellesley apparel and such. And the school is pretty good about holding events on campus, like mini fairs. Which is pretty cool. We also get really good speakers, and the bands that come (twice a year) are awesome, and run by organizations and student council.

Come here if you want a good education. I have learned more academically, been more challenged and inspired and been taught what I am capable of at wellesley than every before anywhere in my life. Teachers here hold you to a high standard, and I feel that I am much better for it.

The best thing about Wellesey is the high quality of the faculty and the courses. The next best thing is the amount of freedom you have to explore the different departments; don't waste the opportunity! All across the board your professors will consistently impress you and challenge you. Every position of authority in the student body is (obviously) held by a woman, which is something you will never encounter anywhere but an all-women's college. It is a small school, so there is a sense of sisterhood and community on campus. Last but definitely not least is the campus itself. Just take a look at the photographs; it's a beautiful place! Wellesley sits on a lake flanked by a small stretch of pine forest. There is a boardwalk, a forest trail, and a well-known flock of swans who call Lake Waban home. If you need to escape the quiet of "the Ville" (what we call the town of Wellesley), just take the school shuttle or your own car to Boston. It's only 12 miles away.

Wellesley is an academically stimulating environment. People work hard. Students are very determined and focused on themselves and their close group of friends. While people are friendly, Wellesley is an environment where you would most likely sacrifice a party for work. That being said, students quite quickly self-select their peers, those who prefer to live in the libraries versus those who would rather have a personal relationship with the MIT frats. One of the great things about Wellesley is how everyone is accepted: studying on a Saturday night is not "weird" like getting drunk and sleeping all day Sunday is not considered "stupid". Wellesley students respect one another. If you want to be successful here you have to work; and I believe that regardless of individual pursuits and decisions everyone appreciates one another because of this common thing, work ethic.

Wellesley is a great school for many reasons. Foremost, the size of the college is perfect-- not to small and not too large. Due to the small classroom size, each student receives individualized attention from the professors and generally, professors are open minded, accessible, and approachable. The town of Wellesley is nice, albeit a little too upper class; Wellesley's proximity to Boston is a huge advantage. Though people are often shocked at the prospect of attending a single sex college, it is another huge advantage that Wellesley College has to offer. It develops a certain, Wellesley-specific confidence and ambition in each student. Wellesley women also form a very tight community: students and alumnae. The network is far reaching and powerful; alums are willing to exercise their "Wellesley" connection as far as jobs, and summer internships go.

It's a very small school, but I like the attention I get from all of my professors. People have very extreme reactions when I tell them that I go to Wellesley; they either are very surprised and proud, or they have no idea what school it is. When I am on campus, I'm normally in the campus center, or science center. I'm pretty close to Boston, which is a huge college town, but the town of Wellesley itself is very quiet. Wellesley's administration is very helpful and very kind for the most part. The biggest recent controversy on campus was about the students from different backgrounds not mixing with each other. For the most part, there is a lot of school pride. The most frequent complaints from students is the amount of work, or probably about the food during crunch time.

best thing about Wellesley- Professors, campus, and intelligent friends One thing I'd change- Increased accessibility to social activities on campus and off People's reaction to me going to Wellesley- Wow, good school, is that still all girls? Yes, yes it is Time spent on campus- outside when it's warm, boston on weekends, campus center during the week not a super college-friendly town Wellesley admin- okay, financially generous, but sometimes difficult to work with controvercies- often feminism-related, professor-related, food-related school pride- some, not much from sports though, even though we win a lot unusual Wellesley- all girls environment = pretty unusual unforgettable experience- lying in pool floats on the lake student complaints- food

Wellesley is amazing. The best thing is how it looks- the campus is something of a wonderland with the buildings and the trees and the storybook lampposts. A close second is how diverse everyone is. I come from a small, mostly white catholic area and was drawn to Wellesley in part because there are so many international students and people from all walks of life. I was able to perform in an southasian dance show with a southasian friend and buy origami earrings from a Japanese friend at a cultural festival. Downtown Wellesley, or the Ville as we rather mockingly call it (Wellesley the town is quite rich!!), is nothing to write home about, mostly really expensive stores. But the bus to Boston is used quite frequently for both academic (classes at MIT) and social reasons. The size was good for me. After 4 years, I saw a lot of faces I know but always a bunch that I did not recognize as well.

Wellesley is the perfect size. Small enough so you know everyone by two degrees of separation, but large enough to avoid people is necessary. Many people on the west coast have never heard of Wellesley. The best thing about Wellesley are the female professors. Half of the professors I have had have been women. Being a science major this is especially rewarding since females are underrepresented in that field. The most frequent student complaints are the type of people Wellesley attracts. Hate to say, but there are some students who completely lack social grace. Another complaint is the lack of a social life on campus. One will notice on the weekends the campus is dead since everyone escapes to neighboring schools in Boston. The town of Wellesley is quite boring. Yes, it is upper-middle class, but the town is full or chain stores and very few restaurants. Did I mention it is also a dry town.....enough said.

Wellesley is the right size for me, but that's because I wanted a small school where profs would know my name and who I was. There isn't much of a relationship between Wellesley College and Wellesley the town- it's a very rich, snobbish town so they don't really like the fact that Wellesley has become so international and that lots of people there are on a good amount of financial aid. Wellesley can turn into a little bubble and you can be captured into the "all I have to do is study" and end up doing homework all weekend long. Try not to get caught into that and make sure you get into Boston- yes it takes some effort.. but that's what the senate bus is for.

The best thing about Wellesley is that since adversity and struggle break people together, your friendships are very meaningful and close. You have a lot of respect for your fellow student because at some level you acknoweledge that everyone is probably overwhelmed. The campus is small and usually dreary and gray but on a few sunny days in the fall and spring it is simply breathtaking. The lake adds a lot. Most people haven't heard of Wellesley so I usually just get blank stares. When they have a few are impressed and most are like, "that girls school? that must suck." I spend most of my time either in my dorm or in the science library. When I want to relax I have to leave campus even if its just to the grocery store, I can physically feel my stress going down. Wellesley, MA is probably the worst place for a college and Wellesley the school would be SO much better with a cool, thriving community of used bookstores, independent coffee shops, bars etc. Instead we have to go to Boston and spend money and tons of time to do anything and usually we flock uninvited to other campuses. I don't know anything about Wellesley's administration except that they should make it a priority to change the social life of the school, the personality types they admit, and make the "ville" better. Also housing is pretty bad. The closing of the overnight infirmary was a pretty big deal. School pride is kinda non existent except in a way "hey this is really sucky and we are all going through it together hooray." No one supports our hardworking sports teams. There is slightly more enthusiasm for cultural shows and dance groups, though not much. There is not one big event that truly unifies the school and given our small size you would think there would be. Wellesley is incredibly unusual. I think the reason our frienships are SO much more meaningful that at other colleges is a testament to how unique our experience is and also the women's college experience. Wellesley is an incredibly challenging, fast-paced (academically, NOT socially), and socially difficult place for some people. There are few schools to my knowledge that have such a diversity of people, life experiences and truly eccentric people. Wellesley students, while not politically motivated or that involved in anything other than their grades and grad school preparation, are very experimental as well. With their sexuality (probably due to boredom), sometimes drugs or alcohol, but mostly with their relationships.

Wellesley is definitely a very unique environment. The students there are definitely some of the brightest women in the country, and they know what they want. After all, coming to a women's college is not an easy decision to make. The greatest thing about Wellesley is definitely the academic environment. The professors are brilliant and accomplished and easily accesible. Its amazing how well you get to know your professors and how much they become more than just professors and more like mentors. When I first came to Wellesley, someone joked and warned me that every Wellesley woman becomes obsessed with atleast two of her professors. It couldnt be more true, you just get to know these amazing people and they become role models. Another advantage to Wellesley is our size. Its a quaint small campus with around 2,100 students. Around 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of our Junior class goes abroad and so we have only 2,100 students on campus at a time (another great thing about Wellesley is people's willingness to explore new things such as studying abroad- and Wellesley definitely caters to that). You get to know alot of the people on campus, and that makes it all the more fun. People dont generally react very well to hearing that I go to Wellesley. Alot of people tend not to know what it is, and many others gasp and ask how I could possibly be attending a women's college. However, occassionaly, you come across the more enlightened few that congratulate you and ask how you go to such a great school. I personally try to focus on the enlightened few. Another thing one must know about Wellesley is it's a politically charged atmosphere. Every woman has strong opinions about one thing or another and will not take it lightly if her beliefs are not respected. In fact the campus bookstore sells t-shirts that say : " Wellesley Women: I am offended." Its a Wellesley trait that we all eventually learn to love after we realize how much we contribute to it. Wellesley in general is not a place that one can adjust to easily. I definitely didn't. I spent my first semester in pretty bad shape, but my second semester has been a blast and I couldn't be more grateful that I stuck around.

I think a lot of people assume that Wellesley is a distinctly not fun place to go to college because there are so few parties and because most of the students make no secret of how seriously they take academics. When I've told people that I go to Wellesley, they frequently confuse it with Wesleyan, but when they are familiar with the school, they often ask me about the lesbian-until-graduation phenomenon, what it's like going to an all-women college... Although Wellesley is frustrating sometimes, largely because of the lack of boys and because of the very tame social scene, I really appreciate the atmosphere more than I dislike it. I'm not the biggest party-girl anyway, so I have no problem going off campus to party, then coming back to a nice, serene campus. The nice thing too is that if I want to stay in on a Friday night to get a head start on some homework, no one judges me or makes me feel like I'm wasting my life with my books. Everyone is very respectful of everyone else's decisions, at least in my experience so far. My only complaint is that Wellesley girls can sometimes be kind of cold, and that they don't make much effort to talk to other people.

I found wellesley to be the literally the perfect fit for me. there are always a handfull of wellesely women that end up transfering to coed institutions after their first year, because of the lack of males, or feeling isolated on campus. I found getting off campus with a few other girls actually really easy. if you want to explore boston, meet guys, and have a social life, you have to put forth the effort. Wellesley tries to make this easier for us with the bus systems which take wellesley students into boston every hour. from any of the bus stops you can then take the subway or taxi anywhere in boston. It takes homework, effort, and always helps to have friends with you. I found wellesely to be a both a stimulating academic enviorment, but also a safe one that i always returned to when i needed to focus. It does feel seperate from the rest of boston, but that is why i would go out every weekend even for just a movie with the girls.

Wellesley is good for academics. However, there are a lot of cons. It's much too small. You'll feel like you're in summer camp with a bunch of gossipy 12 year olds. I think that the gossip is fueled by the utter boredom and complete lack of a social life students fester in all semester. People also leave campus the second the weekend comes around, so don't expect to have fun on campus much. Wellesley administration talks a lot about multiculturalism but they don't have a clue as to what the words coming out of their mouths mean.

Wellesley is a beautiful place. It is located on a picturesque campus with a lake, tons of trees and beautiful buildings. The student body is about 2,400, perfect as far as I'm concerned. Oh yeah, and they are all women. However, we are not male-o-phobic. We interact with men/ boys however much we choose too. I don't miss them much in class. The facilities are great! Our library is beautiful and the classrooms are well-equipped. The campus center is also brand new. The athletic facilities could use a little work. The town of Wellesley (the Ville) is not a college town. It is an upper-class suburb of Boston. It does have some conveinent stores like CVS, Gap and Breuger's Bagels. Wellesley also has a great reputation among those in the know.

Starting with the Wellesley campus- gorgeous. It's a great balance between nature and city. It's a large enough campus that it is diverse and intricate and at the same time it is small enough that from opposite side of campus are within walking distance. When I tell people I go to Wellesley, I generally get one of two reactions: 1) Wow, it's so prestigious etc. 2) Where's/What's that? Given, I am from the opposite side of the country so not as many people might not have heard of Wellesley. But those who have are aware of the prestige and challenge that is Wellesley. There is a lot of school pride- mainly in the fact that we are an all women's college. We take pride in that- it takes a certain discipline to decide to attend a women's college. That's the unique thing about Wellesley- it's all women, aside from the few male students taking a course a Wellesley. These guys usually come from nearby colleges.