Andy
Wellesley is too small and distant from the rest of the world. This can be bad if you end up disliking being with women most of your time. If Wellesley were in Harvard Square, or even close to an actual T Station, this place would be more tolerable.
The town does not accommodate to Wellesley students. The townspeople (i.e. [usually white] families with children) use our campus as a park to stroll around, which is okay for them, but it makes the campus feel less like a college. This place doesn't match most people's perception of college.
The most recent controversy here is pretty serious to the students...The 24 hour Infirmary is closing starting next year, which will make after hour health services inconvenient for students. After hour health care will be moved to a hospital, which is a bit of a drive. Thing is, no transportation method has been agreed upon yet, as it's supposed to be the hospital's responsibility to provide us transportation (thanks Wellesley). That's surprising, considering how far they are into the agreement. The school refuses to consider the opinions of the many dissenting students, as they're determined to pass this new regulation anyway. People who are/become sick frequently will find it inconvenient to get themselves to whichever hospital Wellesley decides to ship us.
Wendy
One of the things which I think is fairly unique about Wellesley is the extent to which students are involved in the running of the college. There are hardly any groups or boards which don't have student members. Students take part in Board of Trustees meetings, control the distribution of the student activities fee, are part of every major academic council committee, practically everything. Every year, four or five students are selected by their peers through the SOAC (Student Organizations and Activities Committee - a subcommittee of College Government) to sit on the Board of Admissions for two year terms. It's really incredible to read applicationst and be part of selecting the students who will come to Wellesley... in a very real way, you're shaping the future student body and alumnae network, the way Wellesley is seen in the world.
With those opportunities for involvement, though, I think that it can be hard to keep perspective and there can be conflict between students' more short term goals and the administrative longview. Neither side is always right, and sometimes I think students take the instances of disagreement as proof that the administration doesn't necessarily listen to students - and by this, I think sometimes an issue of students wanting to, for better or for worse, dictate all directives - and sometimes get disillusioned rather than impassioned... it leads to a relatively small part of the student body serving in a large portion of the roles that shape the administrative view of the student body.
And that's something that I think happens on a lot of levels at Wellesley - people find their niches and can sometimes get tunnel visioned within them... Crossing group boundaries can be tricky (especially to do it without getting wicked overexended) and that's something that every student determines for herself how best to navigate.
Casey
I love Wellesley. It's small enough to always pass someone you know on your way to class, but large enough that you can have your privacy and the entire campus doesn't know your every move. The town of Wellesley is absolutely not a college town, but it's lovely, safe place to live. We do have the "Wellesley Bubble," which is the term used to describe the feeling of isolation students have being deceptively far from Boston. A lot of people don't know about Wellesley, but we like to say that the people who matter do know and respect the school and its reputation. Absolutely everyone can find a place at Wellesley.
Wendy
There are two things about Wellesley that I love: the classroom academic and the beauty of the campus. The campus is small, and I often feel the need to get out. I probably wouldn't feel this way if Wellesley was more social. People are impressed that I go to Wellesley - if they have a decent academic background and have heard of the college. Many people in southern California really haven't heard of Wellesley, until I mention the movie Mona Lisa Smile. I spend most of my time on campus in my room. Wellesley isn't in a college town, and I would say it really isn't even a college campus - the administration does not encourage students to have an active social life.
The administration is the biggest drawback to Wellesley. Despite all the claims that they like to support their students...the administration doesn't put their actions where there mouth is.
anna
i like that it's a woman's college without feeling exclusive. there is a male presence on campus, and i see guys all the time both on and off campus in boston. i don't like that the town is so snooty and doesn't really interact with the campus.
Julia
The best thing: the professors, and their amazing accessibility and friendliness and kindness.
What would I change? THE SOCIAL LIFE. The campus is DEAD after 10pm and on weekends.
The school is a little too small. I would add another thousand students.
When I tell people I go to W, they usually either don't know it at all, or know it very well, and smile with a knowing grin, saying, "Oh!....A Wellesley woman, eh?!" as if it's some inside joke that I just don't get. Whatever that means...
I spend most of my time on campus either at the library, at my job in the other library, in office hours, or rehearsing with my group.
"WHAT COLLEGE TOWN?" Wellesley the town does not need the college: it's got its own reputation as the second-richest suburb in America (and no, I don't know the first).
Wellesley's administration is helpful and friendly. Haven't had trouble with any red tape so far, although I hear study abroad prep can get complicated.
The biggest controversy on campus recently was race related: a black girl published an article in an online magazine about why she didn't want to be a part of Ethos, the black student org on campus, because she felt it was reverse discrimination. She got "flamed on Community," meaning she was attacked on the online conferences that all Wellesley community members have access to.
Not so much school pride sports-wise, but academically, yes. I would even say arrogance.
I will always remember staying up until 3:30am the night before first-semester registration with my RA, who helped me pick my classes, calm my nerves and basically keep me sane. That's one thing you won't find elsewhere: someone who will ALWAYS be there to help you, no matter what time it is or how much work they have.
Anne
Wellesley is a great place for women who are self motivate and confident individuals. I love the friends that I've made and the professors that I've worked with. They really care about me and want what is best for me, which is so assuring and encouraging. It's definitely a more intimate environment than a large university. I feel like an individual here, and it's because of the personal interaction I have with such a diverse student body. My one complaint is that Wellesley the town is not really a college town. It is very small and suburban, so it makes social outings more of an ordeal, but it's really what you make of it. I constantly am going off campus and getting involved in activities outside of Wellesley, so it's possible to find a balance.
Olivia
I would change the social scene (which I am doing through SBOG) -- I don't know ... I get bored and antsy here a lot of the time. I feel like I was a little lied to when I came here about what life would be like. It is a lot more low key ... you have to really try to have fun. This is what I feel like most people complain about.
Not your normal college experience.
Alex
When I look back on my Wellesley experience, I won't remember the grades. Gasps and cries of shame come from my fellow students. Wellesley is an intense academic atmosphere; it pushes you to your limits, and sometimes breaks you to put you together, again. Wellesley women are driven; it's no secret. Sometimes, though, we can forget the big picture. Amidst the comma errors, the p-set miscalculations, and the philosophical fumbles, we can get so wrapped up in the Wellesley Bubble that we just about explode. Still, though, grades are not what I will remember. I will remember meeting my soul mates. Coming to Wellesley, I finally met people I could truly call my friends. We were on the same level intellectually, able to discuss books, current events, and all kinds of frivolous subjects. For me, coming to Wellesley was coming home, again.
Catherine
Wellesley as a town really sucks; because I'm from there I feel like I am able to say that. The college, however, is a totally different world. Size-wise, it's small enough to get to know a good amount of your grade, but big enough to run into people you've never seen before. Without a doubt, the best thing about Wellesley is that it makes you feel like you can do anything. As much as we sometimes roll our eyes at the slogan of "Women who will," I feel like we all internalize it. I think I'm going to graduate a totally different, and better, person than I would have after a coed experience.
Becca
How do people react when you tell them you go to Wellesley?
Ha. There are so many possible responses. (1) Oh, Wesleyan? That's really cool. (2) Wait, where? (3) Oh. Ohhhhh. A women's college. Uh-huh. (4) Oh... okay. (As in, I have no idea what that is, but I'm going to pretend I know, because I have a feeling I should.) (5) Wellesley! Now THAT'S a really good school.
The last response is, of course, my favorite, although I only get it from doctors and guidance counselors, strangely. And of course the reactions from other students in the Boston area vary, but they know what Wellesley is, so there's that element.
The administration kind of sucks sometimes. I'm just going to put that out there. The decision making process is NOT transparent, and it's a little ridiculously bureaucratic. That said, lower level administrative departments (like, not the deans and stuff, but Residential Life, Student Activities, etc) are awesome. I love the res life staff (and in fact am going to join them as an RA next year because I think they're fantastic), and Student Activities gets us discounted tickets to all these things in Boston, and stuff like that. So, the administration at its highest levels is irritating, but you don't come up against them all that much. And the people you interact with on a daily basis are almost always wonderful.
The town of Wellesley would be a great college town... if college students were rich middle-aged women. The Ville, as we call it, is full of stores that close at 5pm, and even if they stayed open later, there wouldn't be anything we could afford in them anyhow. CVS, the Gap, and Lemon Thai (Wellesley's collective favorite delivery place) are basically all we can afford. BUT that's what Boston's for! Wellesley has buses into the city on the hour (and every forty minutes, on weekends), and Boston is great and super accessible and MORE than makes up for the Ville.
I think there's a lot of school pride. At least, *I'm* proud of my school! Wellesley women know that, among their peers, Wellesley may not get the recognition it deserves, but out in the real, professional world, it does. (Which may be part of the reason we're perceived as so driven and future-focused and all that.) I think a lot of us are proud to be here.
The best thing about Wellesley (besides the fantastic academics, which I'll get to in the next section) is the community. We have these amazing traditions, and honestly, the people here are the sort of people I want to be friends with in any situation. It's not because there AREN'T guys. It's because there ARE women who have decided, on balance, that they can deal without guys, in the service of becoming the best, brightest, strongest person they can be. They know that Wellesley can help them do that, and they're up to the challenge.
Casey
In my opinion, the most incredibly part of the Wellesley experience is the feeling of sisterhood. There is something about having gone to an all-woman's college that links us strongly to each other and to all the alumnae who have gone before us. I never dreamed I would meet friends like the ones I have met here. I have six best friends who would walk through fire for me- and I think our strong connection stems from the fact that there are no boys over whom we compete or who demand attention in social situations. Wellesley is in the suburbs of Boston but it is incredibly easy to get into the city. My friends and I venture into Boston at least once a week. We explore Harvard square or Chinatown or the North End or Quincy market and we have come to realize that Boston is truly one of the most fascinating and college friendly cities in the country. Aside from Boston there is always the town of Wellesley. The "Vil" as Wellesley students call it, is the quintessential New England Town. There is a Talbots, a Gap, a bagel store, several high-end baby stores and of course the life-line of the students, CVS. I have probably spent more time in that CVS than I have in all the other stores combined. As far as the Wellesley administration goes, there is certainly some tension between the student body and those "higher up." The most recent controversy was over whether or not the infirmary should shut down their 24-hour service. Despite the student protests and petitions the administration went ahead with the shut-down. While this was somewhat disheartening, the administration has never done anything that wasn't in the students' best interest so it is probable that the new infirmary policy will not be detrimental to the student experience. I think the thing that is the most unusual about Wellesley is the bond that we have with alums. There isn't a lot of athletic school spirit per se, but there is an intense pride that comes with being a Wellesley Woman. We are all intimately connected with the women who graduated 100 years ago and with those who will graduate in the next 100 years.
Margaret
There isn't a best thing about Wellesley. The campus is gorgeous, and looks like the stereotypical New England College. As far as dorms go, some of the first year doubles are smaller, but all dorms have gorgeous common rooms equipped with a grand piano. There are six dining halls in various dorms some specialized, like the kosher dining hall, or the peanut free one. The options are great. Most students live on campus all four years, which gives the school a feeling of being closely knit. The size of the school is great, big enough that you don't know everyone, but small enough that you don't feel anonymous. The town of Wellesley is an affluent suburb that doesn't cater to college students, but luckily it has an easily accessible CVS and Starbucks.
Jessie
The best thing about Wellesley is the intimacy. It feels more community like aside the colleges that have some 25,000 students. I think the only thing I would change is increasing the size of the library. Wellesley feels right. Everything is within walking distance. It may feel small at times, but when I think about it, if it were bigger, then it becomes difficult to get to places and it doesn't feel as safe. I get two reactions when I tell people I go to Wellesley: awe because they know Wellesley is prestigious and either admiration that I chose an all women's college or sympathy that there are no men. Half of my time is in class/at work/meetings. I would say the other half is spent in my dorm or at the library. What college town? There is a little ville outside the campus about five minutes walking. That's where the shops and restaurants are. Due to some recent events, I am thinking there is some disorganization in the funding committee for lectures and cultural events. But aside from that, I have had a good experience with the dean's office, admissions, and financial aid. The most recent controversy would probably be that a Wellesley student attempted to murder her ex-boyfriend at a nearby college. There is definitely a lot of school pride! "Wellesley women who will" is a popular phrase often used to motivate students. When it comes to unusual things, I think it would be that Wellesley goes out of its way to keep controversies such as the one mentioned, quiet. Also I hear that there have been suicides, but the college has kept that quiet as well, kind of sweeping it under the rug. One thing I will always remember is going into the lake as initiation. It was cold and I almost lost my shoes! The "Wellesley bubble" is the biggest complaint. The Wellesley bubble is a term used to mock Wellesley's "everything is happy happy happy, let's not talk about the suicides that just happened la la la" attitude.
Lauren
When telling people I go to Wellesley, it is usually met with blank stares or recognition as they cry, "Oh! My nephew played ice hockey there!" When assured that it is a women's college, and they still don't know what it is, I relent and ask them, "Have you ever seen the movie Mona Lisa Smile?" It seems that adults are more aware of the relevance and "name" of the school.
During the week, I hardly notice that I go to a women's college. In fact, males are in a majority of my classes as students from Babson, MIT, and Olin can cross register. Nonetheless, the presence of a male on campus, particularly in the dining hall on the weekend, is met with stares and various degrees of shock. While Wellesley as vacillated between encouraging more of a social scene on the weekends for students, such as the infamous Dkye Ball or the newly introduced Remix, most students go into Boston for their free time. Wellesley students are usually readily accepted to join MIT frat parties or Harvard Final Clubs. While it is difficult to find a group of friends off campus, the myriad options of fun to be had in Boston make every weekend fun.
There seems to be a dichotomy between the administration and the students. Certain aspects of college, such as wireless internet access, cable tv, or an accessible infirmary, which seem a natural part of any college life are null at Wellesley. It seems that years of protecting "Wellesley's women" from the big bad world has left the administration reluctant to change with the times. This would certainly be one of the most frequent student complaints. Nonetheless, changes are being made. For instance, the new Athletics Director, Bridget Belgiovine, is making huge strides in increasing pride for athletics and the school in general. Without a football team, it is easy to forget about athletics. Yet as a varsity field hockey player I have noticed a marked difference since Bridget's arrival as athletic accomplishments are met with more fanfare and support.
Sally
What I like best about being a Wellesley woman is the relaxed atmosphere. Of course we are always nervous about that upcoming midterm, but we have no problem taking time out of our day for a quick round of frisbee. We are all hardworking and passionate about the various events from around the world, especially when it comes to justice for women.
One of the things I would like to change about Wellesley are the stupid steps outside of the Hazard Quad on the way to the Science building. They aren't even steps anymore, more like a trip/fall/concussion hill.
Personally, I think the school size is perfect, we are large enough not to know every single person's name and background, but when I walk to class I can still say hi to twenty people who know me.
When I tell people about Wellesley, I get one of two reactions: Never heard of it, or stunned silence because we all how amazing Wellesley is. I am from a small town in Wisconsin, so most of those reactions are oblivious to the level of Wellesley. I am sure out here on the East Coast, more people are aware of Wellesley and its reputation, but I have not really had the chance to talk to people outside of Boston who all know Wellesley.
Wellesley is located in a really QUIET town. We have cute shops and places to eat, but it is a typical rich little town.
Al
Perfect size great sports, open, accepting. A great place to go to college fr girls who are serious about academics and friendships. Because it is not a very social in terms of perties school, we get to focus on what really matters: friendships, and through these we can go out and do the "normal college" thing. It is always nice to know you have a quiet place to go back to though.
Torry
The best thing about Wellesley: everyone expects you to not only do your best, but that your best be awesome. I would change the dining hall food, it's beyond pathetic. The school size could actually be a little smaller. Most people down south don't even know about Wellesley, but outside of that, most recognize it as that women's school. I spend the most time in my room. While Boston is a college town, Wellesley is not. Wellesley is a rich person's town, everything here is expensive, from the Gap on main street to the Chinese delivery food. Wellesley Admin is okay, although their financial aid department sucks overall. They are very disorganized for a school with so much money. There's a love-hate relationship for Wellesley students with the college. Most here are proud that this is such a good school, but you get the feeling that many would much rather be at an Ivy, just because of its name.