Hi! I’m a senior and I’m planning on applying to Wellesley this fall. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on Wellesley’s English program? How are the professors, what are the classes like, etc etc? Thanks so much!
I’m just a parent but I’ll take a stab at it. The program is very strong. There is an exchange program with a school in England. There is a building on campus called the Shakespeare house http://www.wellesley.edu/youarehere/like/shakes In short, it’s a very active vibrant department.
All First Year students have to take a writing class–it’s recommended that English majors take WRIT 105/ENG 120, Critical Interpretation: “This course introduces students to a level of interpretative sophistication and techniques of analysis essential not just in literary study but in all courses that demand advanced engagement with language. Sections explore the principal literary genres, including a selection of poems, a play, and prose narrative. Required of English majors and minors, “Critical Interpretation” fosters intellectual community among its students by teaching some texts common to all sections and keying them to campus events such as performances of the year’s play by London actors, film screenings, lunchtime lectures by English faculty, and other occasions for discussion and collaboration.”
So that is where you would start.
You can look at the departmental page to see what is beyond that…
Wellesley is not particularly generous in terms of giving credit for AP/IB courses. Expect it to take the full 4 years even if you make all 5s on your AP exams…
Read this and all the links through it: http://www.wellesley.edu/english
@redpoodles thanks so much!
I’m a Wellesley graduate (2013), and one of my majors was English. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the English department–the professors are amazing, and you leave class with a solid understanding of the literature you’ve studied. Professors tend to be hard graders, and they expect you to go above and beyond in your analysis of what you’ve read, but I loved that about the department. Classes tend to focus on six or seven books over the course of a semester rather than cramming in a million different readings, so you really go in-depth. Also, most classes are heavily discussion-based, so if that’s your jam, you’ll love it at Wellesley.
Let me know if you have any further questions!
Oh, also, if you go to Wellesley, make sure you take a class with Lisa Rodensky. She’s amazing.
@WendyWellesley13 thanks for the tip! English at Wellesley sounds really exciting 
I know this is an old thread, but I would also recommend Professor Octavio Gonzalez of the English department. He’s super easy to talk to and chooses really exciting and actually interesting material!