Wellesley College is a women's liberal arts college which is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and has passionate students and dedicated professors coming together to create a campus bursting with intellectual stimulation. Students have immensely diverse interests, which cultivates a rich extracurricular environment, with everything from Pre-law Associations to Astronomy Clubs and Quidditch Teams. All of Wellesley College works towards supporting one another in their academic and personal endeavors, and the enthusiasm and compassion of students, professors, and residential life, all come together to make Wellesley College a wonderful place to call home.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Be yourself in your application! Wellesley will like you for who you are.
And of course, take demanding courses in high school, if only to ready yourself for the academic challenge which is to come.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Wellesley College is committed to the pursuit of knowledge at the highest caliber, and with this pursuit comes intense academic rigor. Courses are small, ranging from 4 to 35 students on average per classroom, and 100% of classes are taught by full-time professors. Classes consist of lively, provocative discussions, in which students are encouraged to speak up and ask questions of both their professors and peers. Though each course comes with a medium to heavy workload, professors are each so passionate about their respective subjects, and fellow students are so committed to academic excellence, that this work seems more of an enjoyable task than an obligation. Professors make an effort to be available for their students to help them approach their workload, to assist them in understanding the course material as thoroughly as possible, and to serve as a mentor. Professors encourage students to attend their office hours and arrange additional meetings if necessary.
Wellesley College's academic rigor cultivates an atmosphere of passionate students - who will debate and discuss their favorite subjects everywhere from a classroom to a dining hall - and incredible professors - whose dedication to students and passion for their research and course material inspires students to indulge in all that a liberal arts education has to offer.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
As 98% of Wellesley women live on campus for all four years, residential life at Wellesley College is lively and full of both fun and support. In any one residence hall, students are supported by a Residence Director ( an adult who has graduated from college and who lives with the students full-time) a House President ( a woman in her senior year who has volunteered to be a mentor for the students of the hall, as well as planner of activities an manager of logistics) an Academic Peer Tutor (who mentors the students in academic manners) and multiple Resident Assistants (women of sophomore to senior standing who have volunteered to act as mentors for students of the hall.)
All members of any given residence hall come together once a week for House Council, a forum led by the House President that involves all residents of the house and allows them to voice their opinion on campus wide issues. Another weekly activity is Communi-tea, a weekly tea and cookies hall wide social that is held as a study break. In addition, the House President and Resident Assistants work tirelessly to plan other social events such as movie nights, cookie baking nights, and door decorating contests. As a result, members of each residents hall become extremely close-knit, and pride for one's respective residence hall is something that is seen all over campus. This being said, if one does not want to involve themselves heavily in one's residence hall community, one does not feel forced to (House Council and Communi-tea, along with the other activities, are not mandatory) but residence life does do an excellent way of creating an easy to join, welcoming, and fun community.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Wellesley College has five dining halls for just over 2,000 students. One of these dining hall is kosher and vegetarian, and one of these dining halls is located in the campus center. The other dining halls are located within residence halls.
Wellesley Fresh does an excellent job of providing students with fresh, varying, and wholesome meals. Each dining hall offers multiple options per night, with a meat option, a vegetarian option, grill option, fusion (usually asian) option, and a full salad, sandwich and soup bar. There is plenty of food available, and I have found it to be well-prepared, delicious and, very healthy.
The only reason I have rated Food and Dining four stars out of five is because I feel as though Wellesley Fresh could provide more variance in options for fruit - such as fresh berries and the like, though it does offer a nice selection of fresh whole fruit.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Wellesley College's holds many activities which students attend for fun. From an academic perspective, there is always a lecture with an guest speaker on campus, and Wellesley students to find attending these lectures to be a source of enjoyment. Previous speakers have been Wendy Sherman (lead negotiator for the Iranian Nuclear Deal), authors Salmon Rushdie and Amitov Ghosh, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
Aside from academically oriented lectures, Wellesley's student run organizations host many campus wide events for students. For example, Wellesley's Slater International House hosts cultural shows, various dance organizations hosts performances, and choir hosts free concerts. The Korean Student Association (among other clubs) hosts parties in the campus center, and the Japan Club hosts an annual Japanese festival. There are also various social tea's an even an annual bread baking workshop. These examples are only a sampling of the many activities happening daily on campus.
In addition, Wellesley has a bus system which takes students in to Cambridge and Boston, giving students a chance to have fun off campus and explore one of the nation's largest and most progressive cities.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
- Passionate about something, whether it be an academic field, a global problem, or an unanswered question.
- Likes an intellectually stimulating environment
- Views learning as a fun and rewarding activity
- Isn't afraid to take risks or ask question
- Wants a supportive community
- Has a multitude of interests and wants to explore them all!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Wellesley boasts over 200 organizations from a Chess Club, to Habitat for Humanity, cultural organizations, dance organizations, a high caliber choir and numerous A cappella groups, International Relations Council, Model United Nations, a Philosophy Club, various club sports including ultimate frisbee and quidditch, among many, many others! There truly is something for everyone.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Wellesley College does not have sororities or fraternities.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Campus Police does an incredible job of keeping the Wellesley College community informed of any safety issues by releasing a weekly police report in the Wellesley News.
This being said, I have never once felt unsafe on the Wellesley College Campus.
Wellesley College is a women's liberal arts college which is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and has passionate students and dedicated professors coming together to create a campus bursting with intellectual stimulation. Students have immensely diverse interests, which cultivates a rich extracurricular environment, with everything from Pre-law Associations to Astronomy Clubs and Quidditch Teams. All of Wellesley College works towards supporting one another in their academic and personal endeavors, and the enthusiasm and compassion of students, professors, and residential life, all come together to make Wellesley College a wonderful place to call home.
Be yourself in your application! Wellesley will like you for who you are. And of course, take demanding courses in high school, if only to ready yourself for the academic challenge which is to come.
Wellesley College is committed to the pursuit of knowledge at the highest caliber, and with this pursuit comes intense academic rigor. Courses are small, ranging from 4 to 35 students on average per classroom, and 100% of classes are taught by full-time professors. Classes consist of lively, provocative discussions, in which students are encouraged to speak up and ask questions of both their professors and peers. Though each course comes with a medium to heavy workload, professors are each so passionate about their respective subjects, and fellow students are so committed to academic excellence, that this work seems more of an enjoyable task than an obligation. Professors make an effort to be available for their students to help them approach their workload, to assist them in understanding the course material as thoroughly as possible, and to serve as a mentor. Professors encourage students to attend their office hours and arrange additional meetings if necessary. Wellesley College's academic rigor cultivates an atmosphere of passionate students - who will debate and discuss their favorite subjects everywhere from a classroom to a dining hall - and incredible professors - whose dedication to students and passion for their research and course material inspires students to indulge in all that a liberal arts education has to offer.
As 98% of Wellesley women live on campus for all four years, residential life at Wellesley College is lively and full of both fun and support. In any one residence hall, students are supported by a Residence Director ( an adult who has graduated from college and who lives with the students full-time) a House President ( a woman in her senior year who has volunteered to be a mentor for the students of the hall, as well as planner of activities an manager of logistics) an Academic Peer Tutor (who mentors the students in academic manners) and multiple Resident Assistants (women of sophomore to senior standing who have volunteered to act as mentors for students of the hall.) All members of any given residence hall come together once a week for House Council, a forum led by the House President that involves all residents of the house and allows them to voice their opinion on campus wide issues. Another weekly activity is Communi-tea, a weekly tea and cookies hall wide social that is held as a study break. In addition, the House President and Resident Assistants work tirelessly to plan other social events such as movie nights, cookie baking nights, and door decorating contests. As a result, members of each residents hall become extremely close-knit, and pride for one's respective residence hall is something that is seen all over campus. This being said, if one does not want to involve themselves heavily in one's residence hall community, one does not feel forced to (House Council and Communi-tea, along with the other activities, are not mandatory) but residence life does do an excellent way of creating an easy to join, welcoming, and fun community.
Wellesley College has five dining halls for just over 2,000 students. One of these dining hall is kosher and vegetarian, and one of these dining halls is located in the campus center. The other dining halls are located within residence halls. Wellesley Fresh does an excellent job of providing students with fresh, varying, and wholesome meals. Each dining hall offers multiple options per night, with a meat option, a vegetarian option, grill option, fusion (usually asian) option, and a full salad, sandwich and soup bar. There is plenty of food available, and I have found it to be well-prepared, delicious and, very healthy. The only reason I have rated Food and Dining four stars out of five is because I feel as though Wellesley Fresh could provide more variance in options for fruit - such as fresh berries and the like, though it does offer a nice selection of fresh whole fruit.
Wellesley College's holds many activities which students attend for fun. From an academic perspective, there is always a lecture with an guest speaker on campus, and Wellesley students to find attending these lectures to be a source of enjoyment. Previous speakers have been Wendy Sherman (lead negotiator for the Iranian Nuclear Deal), authors Salmon Rushdie and Amitov Ghosh, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. Aside from academically oriented lectures, Wellesley's student run organizations host many campus wide events for students. For example, Wellesley's Slater International House hosts cultural shows, various dance organizations hosts performances, and choir hosts free concerts. The Korean Student Association (among other clubs) hosts parties in the campus center, and the Japan Club hosts an annual Japanese festival. There are also various social tea's an even an annual bread baking workshop. These examples are only a sampling of the many activities happening daily on campus. In addition, Wellesley has a bus system which takes students in to Cambridge and Boston, giving students a chance to have fun off campus and explore one of the nation's largest and most progressive cities.
- Passionate about something, whether it be an academic field, a global problem, or an unanswered question. - Likes an intellectually stimulating environment - Views learning as a fun and rewarding activity - Isn't afraid to take risks or ask question - Wants a supportive community - Has a multitude of interests and wants to explore them all!
Wellesley boasts over 200 organizations from a Chess Club, to Habitat for Humanity, cultural organizations, dance organizations, a high caliber choir and numerous A cappella groups, International Relations Council, Model United Nations, a Philosophy Club, various club sports including ultimate frisbee and quidditch, among many, many others! There truly is something for everyone.
Wellesley College does not have sororities or fraternities.
Campus Police does an incredible job of keeping the Wellesley College community informed of any safety issues by releasing a weekly police report in the Wellesley News. This being said, I have never once felt unsafe on the Wellesley College Campus.