Got in to the "Seven Sisters", which to choose?

Parents Forum
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<p>Nothing is wrong with upscale communities. Some people love them, other people hear the words “upscale community” and think stuffy and lacking in diversity. Obviously some of the people on this thread who have lived in the town of Wellesley and a few who have visited the college, found this to be the case at least some of the time. Some have not. </p>

<p>I’m sure people that visit Northampton find that at least some of the time it’s “out there” and “strange” (we have a guy who plays Christmas carols on steel drums from November-January on the street corner, and a bunch of kids whose parents make six figure incomes who loaf around downtown with dreads and worn out clothes and try to con tourists into giving them change. It’s a crazy place). I would probably love Wellesley if I had ever visited, which, as I feel like I cannot make clear enough, I have not visited. </p>

<p>I wasn’t talking about “rowdy restarants” per se, along the lines of bottle breaking etc. But just relaxed places where you can have a reasonably good time, whether you’re drinking or not. For example, in Northampton we have a bar/restarant called Packard’s. It’s your typical kind of brew-pub, it’s open to families and non-21s during the day and early evening, you can play pool there, they have kareoke and theme nights, and it’s fun to bring a big group of friends there to hang out after a hard week of studying, or to bring a bunch of people for a person’s birthday party (they serve you free champagne on your 21st Birthday). </p>

<p>We have another bar called the Tunnel Bar, which is a little upscale, in that it’s in a tunnel underneat the old train station and serves amazing (and strong) martinis to patrons sitting in leather lounge chairs. There’s some new bar that opened up called the Dirty Truth which only serves beer, lots and lots of beer. And gourmet food. There’s a micro-brewery with an outside deck that serves good food and makes its own beer. </p>

<p>There’s a clothing shop that sells nothing but clothes that are made out of hemp for crying out loud! But we do not have a Gap (and the Urban Outfitters might be out of business now, I don’t know, it was under protest from the community). </p>

<p>Basically there’s a lot of restaraunts, bars, and stores that are fun, funky, unusual, and laid back. And that appealed to me when I visited, and when I lived there. Some people might prefer a quieter town or a town with a more upscale vibe. That steel drum guy gets pretty annoying once you’ve heard “Jingle Bells” for your 500th time. </p>

<p>Again, it’s a matter of what you like in a place. Noting wrong with an upscale place if that’s what you want, especially when you have Boston right outside the door.</p>

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<p>And I will say that despite the wealth of bars i just mentioned, Northampton is very, VERY strict about carding (if you have an out of state ID, they will usually demand that you show a second form of ID, like a credit card or insurance card). But a lot of these places (Packard’s and the Brewery at least) serve food and allow people who are having dinner to enjoy the surroundings if they are under 21 as long as they don’t try to drink.</p>

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<p>I live not far from Wellesley (the town) and I too would categorize it as rather stuffy and not much fun for a college student.</p>

<p>Actually I was in the Wellesley College bookstore last week. A student came in and was disappointed that she was unable to buy tissues because they were out of them. The store clerk told her she would have to “go into the Ville” to get them…</p>

<p>More tidbits from the Princeton Review - interesting that there is little overlap with Vassar…</p>

<p>Barnard students also look at and often prefer: Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Brown
Barnard students also look at and sometimes prefer: Univ of Chicago, Stanford, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Tufts, Univ of Penn
Barnard students rarely prefer: Fordham, Berkeley, Cornell, Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Boston College</p>

<p>Bryn Mawr students also look at and often prefer: Brown, Univ of Penn
Bryn Mawr students also look at and sometimes prefer: Haverford, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, Smith, Swarthmore
Bryn Mawr students rarely prefer: Vassar College</p>

<p>Mount Holyoke students also look at and often prefer: Dartmouth, Wellesley, Yale, Barnard
Mount Holyoke students also look at and sometimes prefer: Bryn Mawr, Brown, Smith
Mount Holyoke students rarely prefer: Vassar, UMass-Amherst, Middlebury, Brown, Skidmore</p>

<p>Smith students also look at and often prefer: Brown
Smith students also look at and sometimes prefer: Wellesley
Smith students rarely prefer: Mount Holyoke</p>

<p>Wellesley students also look at and often prefer: not available
Wellesley students also look at and sometimes prefer: not available
Wellesley students rarely prefer: not available</p>

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<p>Well, not particularly relevant to the OP, but I think she left a long time ago, Morningside Heights is the perfect place for students. So many inexpensive food joints, gelato, cupcakes, the Soup Nazi, bars where Allen Ginsberg read poetry and a quick subway ride to any indie movie you little heart desires or just to sit at the fountain at Lincoln Center.</p>

<p>I think the best experience D had was going to the all night Apple Store when her laptop was sick. The hospital is open 24/7. I did make her take a taxi after 10 with the laptop. She thought it totally unnecessary.</p>

<p>That said, again there are wonderful experiences to be had at all the schools.</p>

<p>I’m a big fan of Noho (two movie theaters), but I <em>do</em> think the house system is the most distinctive aspect of Smith and more of a factor than the town. That’s just me.</p>

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<p>

Pizzagirl, I guess it is a matter of different tastes. I have lived in several communities considered upscale, but there is a difference between upscale/uptight/pretentious and upscale/comfortable/attactive and gracious. I detest the former and am drawn to the latter. Lovely landscaping matters much more to me than fancy stores. I prefer cozy cafes to white-tablecloth restaurants.</p>

<p>After visiting my D at Smith several times a year, and continued occasional visits to a good friend who lives there, I could see myself living in Noho – if it were not for the long winters. I could also handle Bryn Mawr just fine, and as I mentioned, I currently live just a few minutes from Bryn Mawr (and was there today and my son was born at the Bryn Mawr Birth Center :)). But I would run from Wellesley (and my college roommate lived in the Wellesley area and also found it uptight and could not wait to relocate once her sons finished high school).</p>

<p>Guess I am simply a middle-aged hippie. :wink: As the French say, Chacun a son gout. (Please pardon lack of accents – not sure how to do those here.)</p>

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<p>One difference between Wellesley and Northampton is that if Wellesley is too “stuffy” or “upscale” for one’s liking–there are other areas to seek entertainment–Cambridge and Boston, for example. A little farther afield, but doable. If you don’t like Northampton and/or don’t find entertainment that appeals to you–there isn’t much else around.</p>

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<p>I love Sylvester’s for breakfast in NoHo. There used to be a wonderful macrobiotic restaurant, but that was many years ago when I was a true hippie.</p>

<p>Now I must take a trip to Wellesley. It was the only sister I have never seen. And I want to. Not to jeer, to appreciate. I really enjoy the atmospheres of all these schools.</p>

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<p>I agree, but just because a given clothing store may be expensive or a given restaurant may be white-tablecloth – that may make it irrelevant or out-of-budget for most 18-22 yo’s on a typical college budget, but that doesn’t make it uptight or pretentious. Unless the storekeepers of Wellesley turn their heads and refuse to provide services to Wellesley students who wander in to check out their wares, I’m not getting how it becomes pretentious.</p>

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<p>^ I just have this recollection of not one of our family caring for the town of Wellesley, and not cottoning to the restaurant scene (we did have a meal in town and had stayed overnight at the local hotel), yet we always enjoyed our times and meals in Noho. And in our case it was not about cost, but rather atmosphere.</p>

<p>PG, I was simply recounting one family’s reaction, and other posters do seem to get what I was saying (several confirming what I have tried to convey), but at this point I think we will simply have to agree to disagree. It is all about individual impression and individual taste, to which *each *of us is entitled.</p>

<p>By the way, mythmom, the W campus is beautiful, and on our tour we were joined by an elderly (80-ish!) woman who has, in retirement, made a hobby of visiting college campuses throughout the country! She was delightful! And I recall that the admissions office served coffee, tea and hot chocolate. :slight_smile: Enjoy your trip when you go!</p>

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<p>I really will, and see Brandeis while I’m there. Have already seen MIT, Harvard and Tufts.</p>

<p>I have a heart too soon made glad as Browning would say. I have found something to love in almost every college we went to see.</p>

<p>I teach college. I guess it’s just a preferred environment.</p>

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<p>PG, it’s like saying Manhattan (New York, not Kansas) is crowded: if everyone says more or less the same thing…I’d use the words “aloof” or “snooty” or instead of “pretentious,” or maybe “unengaged with the college community” if I were writing in PR-speak…and it doesn’t connect, then, yes, you don’t get it. Doesn’t mean it’s not so. It’s not price of restaurants or shops. It’s the affect and attitude. </p>

<p>I just made up a joke:</p>

<p>Q. What does the town of Wellesley give students when they graduate? </p>

<p>A. An exit visa.</p>

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<p>Ah, TheDad, excellent buried Barnard bash. (Nice assortment of b’s, don’t ya think?) I am being totally serious and not offended at all. Touche! Where’s an accent when you need one?</p>

<p>And woven within a Wellesley wallop. </p>

<p>C’est magnifique. A double!</p>

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<p>My experience at Wellesley is dated now, but the town itself never figured very large in our plans. We went into Boston for drinking, partying, culture, good food etc. and only went into Wellesley to buy necessities at CVS or get pizza or ice cream.</p>

<p>I also just want to add, in response to #59, that Wellesley also has a very strong academic honor code with self-scheduled exams. That feature is not unique to Bryn Mawr.</p>

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<p>This reminds me of a fairy tale – the seven sisters who became five. Each is trying to woo the princess.</p>

<p>But fortunately, there are enough young women who want to attend these schools they don’t need to compete.</p>

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<p>MM, nah, not a Barnard bash. Was just thinking about conveying the sense of Manhattan to someone who had never been there. D and I do fine, I’m still bemused how we can walk 10 feet and TheMom is 20 feet behind. D was fine with the crowded part of Manhattan; she didn’t care for the degree to which she had to crane her head to see the sky. As for B vs. S, she thought students at B were too NYC-centered, as opposed to being B-centered…a nuanced view that probably has a bit of truth with no right/wrong answer, neh?</p>

<p>NJS, Smith also has the Honor Code and self-scheduled exams. Contributed greatly to D’s performance as she never had to take an exam before 11am…she’s no more of a morning person than I am and I wearily recall calculus tests at 8am…shudder.</p>

<p>MM again: four sisters. Pembroke and Radcliffe are no more and Vassar, ah, had gender reassignment therapy.</p>

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<p>TheDad, I kind of knew that, but I still thought it was cute. I am not defensive. I don’t think my girl with agree with yours; she’s fiercely B centric, but it doesn’t matter, does it? Both got excellent educations.</p>

<p>Barnard has some sort of honor code as well, but I don’t think they had scheduled exams.</p>

<p>And sadly Pembroke was never a sister, and yes, we do still have five:</p>

<p>Smith, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, Mt. Holyoke and Barnard. I don’t know why Pembroke wasn’t an original.</p>

<p>Vassar is Plato’s true hermaphrodite.</p>

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<p>All of this stuff about the town of Wellesley supposedly being a hostile environment is simply ludicrous. That one person’s family didn’t find it to their taste does not equate to students from the college being treated with scorn and derision by all of those supposedly uptight and pretentious residents. (I find this quite amusing on some level, because the town always seemed quite modest in comparison to the town I came from.) </p>

<p>As NJSue says, the reality of the situation is that the town is attractive, safe, and convenient for necessary shopping, and it does not figure much in the life of college students who have over 200,000 other college students in the greater Boston area to socialize with and easy access to the enormous college-student-oriented resources of Cambridge and Boston, not to mention the art museums, the classical/early/jazz/rock music scenes, the major league sports or whatever else floats your boat. </p>

<p>BTW, several of my good friends from college actually CAME from the town and went to the college. Oddly, neither they nor their mothers were Lily-Pulitzer-wearing Barbie dolls.</p>

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<p>Consolation: That must have been some town you were from! And you’re right. One person’s taste is not the last word on a town.</p>

<p>I’m glad your experience and NJSue were good ones.</p>

<p>I have heard the same from others, too.</p>

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<p>RE: Surrounding communities.</p>

<p>Northampton is definitely an “alternative” kind of place. I was surprised by the comment that it was dreary looking. I was there within the past 3 years and found the downtown much more lively and engaged than when I was there in the late 1970’s. </p>

<p>It has become a very popular area for people into non-mainstream ways of living - lots of green types, many types of sexual identity, even some remants of communal living - all living their somewhat alternative lifestyles quite openly. While this situation may have something to do with all of the colleges in the area, there are plenty of people who have moved to NoHo in the past 15 years who did not come there with a college affiliation. (I think a lot of them lived in certain areas of Brooklyn!)</p>

<p>There aren’t a large mass of people right in Wellesley MA or mainline Philly who are classified as “alternative.” Wellesley was, for many years, a restricted community. A few catholics, but no Jews. It is still a very wealthy, waspy community. Bryn Mawr is part of Main Line Philly – also known for restricted housing.</p>

<p>It’s important for anyone considering these schools to realize that they should feel comfortable with the vibe on the school’s campus. That’s where you will spend the majority of your time (except for, possibly, Barnard.) That’s where your lifelong friends will come from, if your experience is anything like the women’s school alumnae posting on this thread. It’s where your closest relationships with faculty, administrators and alumnae is likely to come from. </p>

<p>It’s great to get off campus, and to be somewhere where it’s easy to enjoy a variety of diversions — but make sure the life within the campus gives you a high comfort level feeling. Try to talk with current students and recent alums. If an applicant/admittee can’t spend much time at the colleges, I suggested earlier in this thread to look at a school’s student publications, PR (not its admissions PR…but the PR put out institutionally) and alumnae magazine, to get a feel for what’s important to the community WITHIN that college.</p>

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<p>I’ll be the first to admit that our time in Wellesley was limited and we didn’t spend a lot of time there aside from on the campus itself, but the way some of you are going on about it, you would think that it was the richest town in America! It was hardly Palm Beach or Hamptons-style wealth … Isn’t it just a nice old-line moneyed suburb, the kind that has equivalents near every single major city in America? (some of the Main Line suburbs in PA including Bryn Mawr, Winnetka or Kenilworth or Lake Forest in IL, the Grosse Pointes in MI, Ladue in MO, etc.)?</p>

<p>Maybe it’s just the name Wellesley. Have to admit, it was hard for both D and me to even say the word without sounding like Mrs. Thurston Howell!</p>