Thoughts on Wellesley

[Anonymous]

Anyone go there or have a kid there? DD is very interested and will take a tour some time in the next few months. I'm wondering about the environment: social, demographic, political, that sort of thing. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Wellesley is the best school in the entire universe.

-Alum from long enough ago that I'm not sure I'm the best person to answer questions about the social, demographic, political environment today. But I can say the alumnae network is great. College lasts for 4 years, but being a Wellesley alum is for life.

[Anonymous]

I also went to Wellesley, and I loved it. A truly wonderful college experience.

I can't say enough about how much I loved my time there, how much I still value my Wellesley friendships, and the magnitude of assistance I've received during my career from fellow alumnae.

To answer your specific questions:

Social: Incredible friendships. My best friend in the world I met my second day at Wellesley. Eight of the 80 people we had at our wedding were friends of mine from Wellesley. Unlike many other schools, during the week isn't really party time. During the week people are very focused on academics and extracurricular activities. On the weekend there is always something going on, and many people also go into Boston via the Senate bus, often to parties at MIT or Harvard.

Demographic: Very diverse in terms of race, religion, parts of the country, international students, etc. Moderately diverse in socio-economic terms.

Political environment: I'm a Republican, the overwhelming majority of Wellesley students are not (understatement). But I was not social outcast for it, and even some of the most liberal professors actively encouraged hearing both sides during debates and discussions.

[Anonymous]

Another alum here and I loved it so passionately it's hard to put into words. Made amazing friends who have been lifelong (I'm in my 40's now), learned a ton about myself and the world, had a huge number of opportunities to explore who I was and who I wanted to be. The campus itself is extraordinarily beautiful and I long to go back for reunions to revisit my old haunts. I am in touch with several professors and my class dean. Going to this school was a huge turning point in my young life; I didn't realize it going in but I sure know it 20 years later. Oh, and the alumnae network is out of hand -- people will do anything to help another alum get ahead -- anything!

[Anonymous]

Count me as yet another alumna ('81) who cherishes her Wellesley education and experience. I remain grateful to the faculty whose encouragement and intellectual passion inspired and challenged me. My teachers were astonishingly generous with their time and I owe them an enormous debt. Just a few examples: David Ferry, a renowned poet and translator of poetry, spent hours helping me improve my writing; Carolyn Bell, a noted economist, guided me through the analysis of census data for a paper on anti-poverty policy, and Jeanne Trubek, my calculus teacher, patiently worked with me despite my very poor high school preparation in math. I learned so much from these and other teachers at Wellesley, and I will always be in their debt.

I'm also grateful for the friendships I made at Wellesley and for the friendships I continue to make with Wellesley women from graduating classes before and after mine. There's an authenticity to these connections that makes them especially rich and vital. Wellesley women are, almost universally, smart, funny and open to different perspectives. And, they'll always go the extra mile for another alumna. I've had complete strangers set up job interviews for me, help me find a place to live in a new city, and offer wise advice on just about any question I've asked them -- from home renovation to financial matters to college applications for my son.

Finally, to acknowledge the elephant in the room: yes, your DD can have fun at Wellesley even if there are no guys there. Be assured -- and assure her -- that she will not become a nun. There are male college students all over the Boston area, and, believe me, the smart ones will figure out how to get to Wellesley.

[Anonymous]

Bryn Mawr alum with many Wellesley friends, and I also think it's a great school and beautiful campus. I didn't end up going there because the people we met at the tour and the politics (Young Democrats, Young Republicans) were a little too Laura Ashley for me (I was more of the ACT UP, clinic escort type). That being said, every single one of my friends who did go there is an amazing, interesting, accomplished, down to earth woman and I wouldn't hesitate to send my daughter there. (Or to a woman's college in general, although I'm partial to Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, and Smith personally.)

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what more I can add to what others have said. I loved how one PP put it: I love it so much I can't put it in to words. A work colleague a couple of years ago mentioned his daughter was considering Wellesley. I said I would be happy to talk to her about it, but he needed to understand I cannot be objective about it, ever. I drank the koolaid and swallowed the pitcher, too.

It is for this reason that, when it comes time for my own children to consider Wellesley (I guess I can say my daughters since that is kind of obvious! I have two), my husband will take them on the tour.

What I might be able to add is that, because of a volunteer role I took on a few years ago, I get back to campus every year or two. The Wellesley I knew and loved is still there. The students may all carry laptops now, and there are a couple of swanky new buildings, but the spirit is the same. As a graduation speaker once put it, it is a place for "unapologetically smart women." I have to tell you that, in my volunteer role, I meet people I never knew on campus, and we often have had radically different experiences since graduation. Yet that common bond and the ability to think deeply and to really engage in any conversation is always there.

Recently, I was on a plane and talking with someone about college fundraising. The conversation made me really think about some of the reasons why I love Wellesley so much. I believe Wellesley changed my life. Until then, I didn't know my ideas were good. I knew I was supposed to be smart, but I was never really sure that I was. Wellesley gave me that.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for your input, PPs. I can see why DD is so excited to put Wellesley on her list.

[Anonymous]

Not to disparage what others I have said, but to give a different perspective, I know my wife went to Smith and sister-in-law to Wellesley. Neither of them were happy with the all-woman experience and I know my wife is very opposed to either of our daughters going to all woman's college.

[Anonymous]

Welleley is not for everyonel. For me, the experience of being a student at a woman's college enabled me to become my authentic self, to find my voice and feel comfortable with it. After 4 years in a high school where I had felt I had to be a cheerleader in order to compensate for being the newspaper editor and a straight A student -- not in a small town in the boonies, BTW, but in an affluent NYC suburb -- it was empowering to be in a place where there were no boys/men to worry about pleasing. Meryl Streep, a graduate of Vassar before it went coed, put this beautifully in a commencement speech she gave at Barnard. Here's the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/18/meryl-streep-barnard-grad_n_580335.html

[Anonymous]

Another Wellesley alum here, class of 2001. I loved my experience there -- my friends, classes, professors, being in Boston and making friends at all the other schools. I agree that Wellesley is not for everyone.

Since it's a small school, it's easy to get to know professors and excel. I felt like this gave me a huge advantage when I applied to graduate schools because I was able to get good recommendations from professors that knew me well. I ended up at an Ivy Law school. Many of my friends ended up similarly in grad programs. There is a huge push for public service, which I loved and many of my classmates are also teachers and work in government and non-profit sectors.

If have a daughter, I would love for her to go there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Does the IB diploma carry any weight for applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wellesley is the best school in the entire universe.

+1

from a class of '88 alumna who's liberally partaken of the koolaid. (When the sonogram tech told me I was having a girl, my second thought was "YESSSSS! Wellesley class of 2023!")

The Wellesley women who have posted upthread have already made my points. I made dear, close friends there. I can pick up the phone, even now, and call one of my professors for whatever reason -- they remember me, 20 some years later. In retrospect, I think that the experience was a little wasted on me. I didn't know how good I had it at the time.

Demographics? I'm African American, my friends and roomates were from all over ther world. Liberal, mostly, but plenty of conservatives on campus too.

Socially? Wellesley's so close to greater Boston that socializing isn't an issue at all. To be a little crass, if you're a smart young man or woman, you go to where the goods are. They came to us. From all over. I never wanted for company, and didn't have to worry about bumping into my boyfriend around campus.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on there student. I agree with the PP that brought a different perspective. I am sure some people have wonderful experiences but my bestfriend from childhood went there and I went to visit and wanted to gauge my eyes out. She graduated in 2002 and if she hadn't played a sport she would have left after freshman year. I recall one girl telling me she wasn't a lesbian but when she was at Wellesley she was open to girls. Seemed so odd to me.

[Anonymous]

Wow.. DD is a soph in HS and already puts Vassar and Wellsley at the top of her list. So happy i read all of your posts..Sounds likea great place! Thenaks for sharing