A few quick Qs

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

<p>I’m very interested in Wellesley and have already applied, however, I would like a clearer perspective on things first hand. Sorry, another one of those question threads.</p>

<li><p>I’ve heard the pre-med program at Wellesley is extremely challenging, more so than other schools, is this true?</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t know why I asked number one I want to major in philosophy, women’s studies, film, anthropology, or peace and justice. Many women in the view book were peace and justice majors, is that a heavily saturated major at WEC? can anyone shed some light on the philosophy department.</p></li>
<li><p>Where’s the closest ikea and american apparel? Is a car necessary at Wellesley? How is public transit and how far away are the boys campus’ really? Will my uberly awesome bike suffice? </p></li>
<li><p>How many women choose to attend WEC with false expectations of themselves and leave because of the environment (no boys), lack of boys, all girls? Does a single-sex education rob you from the “college experience” (greek, football, drunkenness… the usual vane crap) or is it more fulfilling?</p></li>
<li><p>The redundant: is it easy to meet boys? This woman from WEC wrote in her blog about how obnoxious girls on her floor were because they would bring males into their rooms at random hours of the day to have the nosiest possible romp; she guessed so that everyone knew what was going on and whom with. How is cross-registration? Is it feasible?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you think that the interview was an integral part of your admission? What is the point of alumni interviews? Are they really just an information session or is it the equivalent to the type on campus?</p></li>
<li><p>What has been your best/ worst experience at WEC? Did you apply to any other single sex schools and why?</p></li>
<li><p>Do they have many vegetarian options, is the food good? How’s the social life on campus: cliquey, mixed bag, wendy-like etc.? What is the drug atmosphere on campus… are some women stoned everyday or does no one know what a bong is? Do the dorms get drafty during winter? What is the most highly participated activity on campus? etc.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I don’t know why I asked as many questions when no. 6 was the only one that I had anticipated for this thread. okay that’s all, thanks in advance. Any information would be helpful really.</p>

2

<p>
[QUOTE]
1. I've heard the pre-med program at Wellesley is extremely challenging, more so than other schools, is this true?

[/QUOTE]

Can't say. Didn't do premed, but my understanding of the program is that you simply take a certain number of courses in physics, chem, organic chem, bio, calc and english. It comes out to a heavy load, and if you want to go to medical school, you can get the courses at any other school because med schools want students to have already had a particular breadth of courses.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

  1. Where's the closest ikea and american apparel? Is a car necessary at Wellesley? How is public transit and how far away are the boys campus' really? Will my uberly awesome bike suffice?

[/QUOTE]

The nearest IKEA is in some city that I don't feel like googling off of some exit on 495. Car territory by a lot. Sorry. The nearest American Apparel is in Harvard Square and the senate bus takes you there on weekends. Otherwise it's a 35 min walk/15 min bus ride ($1.25 each way) up Mass ave from the bus during the weekdays. I only know one Wellesley student who ever biked to Cambridge from Wellesley. Unless you live on East Campus and use the sports center a lot, the hills and bothering to lock your bike (a smart idea if it is uberly awesome or even not uberly awesome) combine to make biking around campus more frustrating than fast compared to walking.
The first senate bus stop is 40 mins away. Olin is a 15 minute bike-ride.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
4. How many women choose to attend WEC with false expectations of themselves and leave because of the environment (no boys), lack of boys, all girls? Does a single-sex education rob you from the "college experience" (greek, football, drunkenness... the usual vane crap) or is it more fulfilling?

[/QUOTE]

I know a couple of people who transferred for one reason or another and the one I can think of most recently hated the weather. I would say that a lot of people want to transfer because of the environment which combines with the roughness of the college transition. Many of those people go so far as to fill out applications but never end of leaving because they have adjusted to college and grow to love Wellesley.
That particular "college experience" that I have also put in quotes doesn't exist much at Wellesley (though can be found off-campus), but there are much cheaper places to seek it out. Students at schools that feature the "college experience" often feel that it is the only thing available.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
5. The redundant: is it easy to meet boys? This woman from WEC wrote in her blog about how obnoxious girls on her floor were because they would bring males into their rooms at random hours of the day to have the nosiest possible romp; she guessed so that everyone knew what was going on and whom with. How is cross-registration? Is it feasible?[\QUOTE] You realize all three of those questions are unrelated, right?
1. You often have to make an effort.
2. That's luck of the draw, really. I never had an issue with people having loud sex. I guess I was blessed with a good sense of timing or general obliviousness.
3. Cross registration is most feasible if you have a large hole in your schedule that you can stick a class and commute schedule in. Olin classes match our days of the week, MIT classes do not. Breaks do not line up. However, had I not cross registered at MIT, I would not be attending grad school there.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
6. Do you think that the interview was an integral part of your admission? What is the point of alumni interviews? Are they really just an information session or is it the equivalent to the type on campus?
[\QUOTE]
No clue about what made me a good candidate for admission- I had a lot of things going for me academically, though that's not the only factor. Maybe the interview helped, maybe it didn't. I had an on-campus interview, and we mostly discussed school. The interviewers invariably want YOU to ask them questions.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
7. What has been your best/ worst experience at WEC? Did you apply to any other single sex schools and why?

[/QUOTE]

Erm. It's 3 am and I'm just writing this to help me stay up late while I'm graveyard shifting so I'm not really thinking much here. I didn't apply to any other single sex schools. If I had to do it all over again, knew what I know now, and could NOT choose Wellesley, I would look at other single sex schools.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

  1. Do they have many vegetarian options, is the food good? How's the social life on campus: cliquey, mixed bag, wendy-like etc.? What is the drug atmosphere on campus... are some women stoned everyday or does no one know what a bong is? Do the dorms get drafty during winter? What is the most highly participated activity on campus? etc. [\QUOTE] Every dining hall has some sort of vegetarian option and there is one kosher hall. I loved the food and I loved the inclusiveness of the meal plan. If you like regular meal times and 21 buffets a week, then the meal plan is for you. I don't know if people get stoned every day, though I lived near some sketchy folks at times and the number of people who joined the side of decriminalizing marijuana was surprisingly large when the subject came up on community. On the other hand, there are people who don't know what a bong is as well. Tower is drafty during the winter. Bates is fine. The most popular activity on campus is flaming people on Community. Or reading it and laughing.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

I don't know why I asked as many questions when no. 6 was the only one that I had anticipated for this thread. okay that's all, thanks in advance. Any information would be helpful really.
[\QUOTE]
You're welcome.</p>

3

<p>wendymouse, thank you for answering my questions. very informative. are you a current graduate student at MIT or will be?</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
1. I've heard the pre-med program at Wellesley is extremely challenging, more so than other schools, is this true?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I have not necessarily heard this. It may be challenging because Wellesley has grade deflation. However, I am not premed myself. </p>

<p>
[quote]
2. Don't know why I asked number one I want to major in philosophy, women's studies, film, anthropology, or peace and justice. Many women in the view book were peace and justice majors, is that a heavily saturated major at WEC? can anyone shed some light on the philosophy department.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I know that there is a peace and justice class that is very popular amongst students, but I really can't say much about the philosophy department since I'm majoring in something else.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. Where's the closest ikea and american apparel? Is a car necessary at Wellesley? How is public transit and how far away are the boys campus' really? Will my uberly awesome bike suffice?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>There's a bus that runs from Wellesley to MIT (Harvard on weekends). I can drive, but I don't think I ever really plan to bring my car. Public transportation is pretty good. It's possible to bike to MIT, but it would be somewhat of an epic journey/workout. However, a bike is good for getting around on campus. As for boys, it depends on what kind of boys you would like to visit. With Olin you might need a taxi, I personally feel like MIT guys are easier to access (well, interpret that as you will).</p>

<p>
[quote]
4. How many women choose to attend WEC with false expectations of themselves and leave because of the environment (no boys), lack of boys, all girls? Does a single-sex education rob you from the "college experience" (greek, football, drunkenness... the usual vane crap) or is it more fulfilling?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think there is a gal here and there who can't take it, but I don't hear of them. There was one girl on Community one time (a first year who had been at Wellesley for a month) who complained about the lack of guys. But really, you need to make an effort to go off campus once in a while if you want to meet new people. The guys aren't always going to just flock to you (although sometimes they will heheh). I do not feel like I have been deprived of the "college experience". I can go off campus on weekends for "the college experience" and come back to a comforting, and quiet dorm. No drunken bodies on the floor, nice and quiet. :)</p>

<p>
[quote]
5. The redundant: is it easy to meet boys? This woman from WEC wrote in her blog about how obnoxious girls on her floor were because they would bring males into their rooms at random hours of the day to have the nosiest possible romp; she guessed so that everyone knew what was going on and whom with. How is cross-registration? Is it feasible?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As I mentioned before, you really have to make some kind of effort to meet guys. I'd say the best time is the first week of college when you don't have much work and some parties will be sober. MIT, in particular, has rush week so they don't have alcohol. I think it's quite nice to meet people when they're sober and will remember you. It was surprisingly easy to meet guys, I was asked out by several the first couple of weeks. I was able to become friends with a fraternity and when I have free time I can take the bus and hang out.</p>

<p>
[quote]
6. Do you think that the interview was an integral part of your admission? What is the point of alumni interviews? Are they really just an information session or is it the equivalent to the type on campus?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The point of interviews is to give you a chance to display yourself as a person or individual. I kind of thought it was a chance to reaffirm some themes of my application: that I'm a swimmer, and I enjoy art and languages. It also gives you a chance to display your interest in Wellesley, and learn more about it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
7. What has been your best/ worst experience at WEC? Did you apply to any other single sex schools and why?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The only other single sex school I applied to was Scripps, because I had really thought that I would want to be in California. I didn't ever imagine that I would go to a women's college, but when I decided to go I wasn't really worried. I've had a fabulous experience at Wellesley so far. It's hard to say what my best experience has been, but the beginning of the school year was so much fun. It was almost like camp. I met so many new people, it was sunny and warm, and the campus is so beautiful. My worst experience has probably been finals week because I got pretty sick, but even that wasn't that bad. I think I've been pretty lucky with my experience.</p>

<p>
[quote]
8. Do they have many vegetarian options, is the food good? How's the social life on campus: cliquey, mixed bag, wendy-like etc.? What is the drug atmosphere on campus... are some women stoned everyday or does no one know what a bong is? Do the dorms get drafty during winter? What is the most highly participated activity on campus? etc.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hahaha I have never seen drugs on campus, except for the occasional student smoking outside. Even so, I'm surprised by how little students smoke. It's pretty awesome. I'm sure if students do drugs then they do it off campus, I have never seen anybody stoned on campus. Tipsy, yes. The food is pretty good, although it'll never beat mom's homecooking. The meal plan is awesome. There is a dorm that offers vegetarian options, I think it's Pom. There's even a peanut-free dorm. As for whether dorms are drafty, mine has been pretty good. My room can even be too hot because my roomie likes to keep the temperature really high. D:</p>

<p>As for asking questions, don't sweat it. That's kind of what this forum is for.</p>

5

<p>I am a current MIT grad student.</p>