Cornell or Wellesley
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Anonymous
| And why do discussions about women's colleges always devolve into a discussion about relationships and boys? Wellesley students meet students all around the Boston area. Many meet partners in grad school and on their first jobs. Some stay single. But there are plenty of single women who graduate from coed schools too. Please help your DDs think broadly with an open mind when they choose their college. |
Anonymous
There are other options at Wellesley. |
Anonymous
+100 DCUM always showing its misogyny. |
Anonymous
| As much as I liked the idea of Wellesley, it wasn't the right fit for my straight daughter. Yes, academics/alum network is strong. But my kid wanted a full college experience with strong academics, networking, dating, potential for greek life, etc. Similar to other all female schools, W attracts a disproportionate # of non straight young women. Yes, W students can take classes at MIT and meet guys in boston, but why choose a a school where u need a shuttle bus if you have another option? My kid chose Penn over W.. So far, so good! She is very happy with the limitless a academic options, her profs, and vibrant social life. Lots of successful networking with upperclassmen and and alums, many of whom are male. |
Anonymous
I went to Wellesley. It can be the best of both worlds, empowering women-only environment during the week and lots of opportunities to meet students at nearby schools on the weekends. The partying -- and this is a positive -- is generally off campus, so the dorms are pretty zen at Wellesley on weekends. |
Anonymous
| I really think the hetero dating culture is toxic in womens colleges. The neighboring schools all have women there who the men view as friends and colleagues and peers, as well as potential dating partners. When they meet someone from W, they see you as a slight intellectual/prestige inferior (just slightly, w is very prestigious, please dont yell at me) and as a potential dating partner, not as much a peer, colleague, dorm friend etc. Its so much better to meet someone as a fellow student. It also feels odd to show up at parties and try to befriend the women at local colleges, it just doesn't work. When you show up at a party, you are creating a zero sum game for the resident women: you bring your lonely female friends, and no male friends with you? no thanks get outa here, is the vibe from the resident women, and I get it. |
Anonymous
| I am going to push back on OP’s assumption that research opportunities are better at an R1. My DD went to a SLAC and had really great research opportunities because there was less competition to get them. She was on publications as a undergrad. Now she is a PhD student at an R1. Their lab is entirely staffed by grad students. There are no undergrad opportunities there. Her colleagues that went to R1s have less research experience than she does. Sure an R1 has more sophisticated research, but your undergrad may never get the opportunity to be part of it. I think at any school, it is important to ask what the opportunities are for undergrads and if the particular lab you are interested in has undergrads working there. |
Anonymous
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My DD is also choosing between Wellesley and a different Ivy. We were so impressed when visiting W last week. The UROP (research) opps between Wellesley and MIT are amazing and sounds like they are often used. Cross registration was amazing. But it does mean the student has to have initiative to take advantage.
My DD made the comment that it seems that W has the benefits of a sorority without having a Greek culture (she's not interested in rush-parties, etc, but very interested in the community and service orientedness of Greek culture). But if your DD wants to participate in Greek life, Cornell might be better. She also liked that it was near a city. As a parent, I've been very impressed by how impressive the student tour guides, panelists have been. I think it depends on the major or area of study for your student. Congrats--both great options! |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| Wellesley also has the babson/olin consortium to give access to business and engineering courses. Lots of opportunities for a small school. And Olin/Babson are very close by. |
Anonymous
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This is my last time posting as I’m a recent Wellesley grad so I’m one of the only people who can actually testify to the school.
Wellesley students do research at both MIT and Wellesley. Half of my friends did research. Wellesley students do so much research that departments will hold mini seminars for students to showcase it AND the school has a literal day called the Ruhlman conference where classes are canceled. It’s a huge deal with catered food that lasts all day with people presenting the research they’ve done all year. There is no shortage of recent opportunities and I’ve even had a couple friends who did research at Harvard. There’s no beef between Wellesley students and other female students at colleges. Many people have friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. at different colleges. Many of those people visit Wellesley and eat at the dining hall with their partner or friends. I’m happy to answer any questions. But the misinformation about women’s colleges is frankly tiring and shows that people view them as lesser or inferior on outdated preconceived misogynistic and homophobic notions. If you’re so afraid of your daughter meeting LGBTQ+ people I’d send her to Brigham Young, Liberty, or Hillsdale. No fear of corruption there. 
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Anonymous
Thank you for inadvertently making the case for women's colleges, Dad. OP, the world is full of people like the above poster who (consciously or subconsciously) put a premium on male voices and opinions. Wellesley offers a four-year reprieve from that. What a gift. |
Anonymous
100% |
Anonymous
+ 1000 |
Anonymous
| Proximity to the greater Boston area is a plus, with so many colleges and universities within a 30 minute ride. |