Williams vs. Wellesley

[Anonymous]

My student toured Williams - loved the academic program and school…said if “I could pick up the campus and move it elsewhere, it would be perfect!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine w/ all women's. Just wants to be around smart, curious, engaged students regardless of gender.

Williams seems to be much higher regarded by her classmates even though they aren't too far off in the rankings. So that's her concern about doing ED

You can't just be "fine" with an all-women's college. You have to really want that experience and be sure you won't miss having men as classmates and friends. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

Both schools are extremely isolated in their own way.

[Anonymous]

What sports does she play?

[Anonymous]

Not every womens college student wanted to go to a womens college more than anything. Most recognized that it’s a unique situation for 4 years that they’ll get a lot from, and applied because they liked the school overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine w/ all women's. Just wants to be around smart, curious, engaged students regardless of gender.

Williams seems to be much higher regarded by her classmates even though they aren't too far off in the rankings. So that's her concern about doing ED

You can't just be "fine" with an all-women's college. You have to really want that experience and be sure you won't miss having men as classmates and friends. Ask me how I know.

How do you know ?

[Anonymous]

Williams is different, not superior to Wellesley. Both Williams and Wellesley offer world class educations. Graduates of similar major and grades from Williams and Wellesley will have similar work and graduate school opportunities. As others have mentioned, the difference is all about the experience and culture at each (Williams is rural and its students are perceived as wealthy, sporty, prep-school kids) although I believe this is a stereotype remaining from a generation ago), while Wellesley is hard core, suburban, and the preferred destination for daughters of ultra-wealthy families from conservative cultures. The most popular major at Williams is econometrics , while the most popular major at Wellesley are social science.

[Anonymous]

Williams is rural and its students are perceived as wealthy, sporty, prep-school kids) although I believe this is a stereotype remaining from a generation ago),

Friend of mine has a son there (an athlete) and he said it’s still like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is different, not superior to Wellesley. Both Williams and Wellesley offer world class educations. Graduates of similar major and grades from Williams and Wellesley will have similar work and graduate school opportunities. As others have mentioned, the difference is all about the experience and culture at each (Williams is rural and its students are perceived as wealthy, sporty, prep-school kids) although I believe this is a stereotype remaining from a generation ago), while Wellesley is hard core, suburban, and the preferred destination for daughters of ultra-wealthy families from conservative cultures. The most popular major at Williams is econometrics , while the most popular major at Wellesley are social science.

Wellesley is the more diverse school racially (ranked #5 among LACs vs #22) and socioeconomically (24% vs 21% on Pell Grants)

The median family income of a student from Wellesley is $141,000, and 59% come from the top 20 percent. The median family income of a student from Williams is $185,800, and 67% come from the top 20 percent.

At both schools, economics is the most popular major. 14-18% of the graduating class at Wellesley studies economics, similar to the number at Williams. It's just both schools report data to IPEDs differently, so it gets reported as 'social studies' by one school and 'specific major' by the other. Wellesley students can take courses at MIT, Olin, and Babson Colleges through a shuttle system.

Williams is a D3 powerhouse and almost always makes the top 5. Big athletics culture. Wellesley has a more diverse range of interests and personalities in my experience.

Both are extremely supportive schools offering extraordinary academics, a plethora of funding for opportunities and clubs, and tightly-connected communities and alumni networks. Wellesley is statistically an easier school to get into, but I don't think that translates to a meaningful difference in anything important to students.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't choose a women's college in the current environment. Now that smart women can go anywhere, women's colleges are left without a productive niche. They've been reborn as focused laboratories for the new world of gender and identitiy exploration. Wellesley is still the most serious educational institution of the bunch, but even Wellesley is entering the fray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My student toured Williams - loved the academic program and school…said if “I could pick up the campus and move it elsewhere, it would be perfect!”

Ha ha, I felt the same when I visited! The isolation is really next-level. Great for some, not for me. FWIW a friend's kid is at Williams and is finding it hard socially as a non-athlete. That might be related to Covid times, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't choose a women's college in the current environment. Now that smart women can go anywhere, women's colleges are left without a productive niche. They've been reborn as focused laboratories for the new world of gender and identitiy exploration. Wellesley is still the most serious educational institution of the bunch, but even Wellesley is entering the fray.

Liked co-ed LACs don't emphasize gender/identity exploration and politics...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student toured Williams - loved the academic program and school…said if “I could pick up the campus and move it elsewhere, it would be perfect!”

Ha ha, I felt the same when I visited! The isolation is really next-level. Great for some, not for me. FWIW a friend's kid is at Williams and is finding it hard socially as a non-athlete. That might be related to Covid times, though.

I know a transfer student going through the same thing currently. The school is very isolated and despite decent diversity it is a PWI with a big athletics social culture. She, a black student from one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the country, finds it very hard to fit in. She does praise the academics endlessly, though.

[Anonymous]

Wellesley has a better location - Boston/Cambridge are very accessible.

I would not worry about rankings at all between these two colleges.
Coed vs. All womens is a big difference to think about

[Anonymous]

These two schools are so different. Has she visited both? Williams is extremely isolated. It's truly in the middle of nowhere with very few restaurants, shopping, etc. Some people love that and will thrive, but it is not for everyone. Wellesley is suburban and has an extremely competitive vibe. A lot of the socializing takes place in Boston because of easy access. I wonder if something in the middle (Amherst/Mt. Holyoke/Smith) might be appealing? Amherst has a similar vibe to Williams without being so isolated. If she wants the women's college experience then Mt. Holyoke or Smith (though they also feel different from each other and you'd need to visit) could be a good choice.