OK, so it’s a couple days before May 1, I know I’m screwed, but I am still so unsure about committing to Wells as my final decision. I was rejected/wait listed from all of my top choices (Brown, Vassar, Hamilton, Sarah Lawrence) & am seriously considering spending freshman year @ community college, raising my test scores, & reapplying as a freshman. Is this a stupid choice? My parents are strongly rejecting this, & saying I should just be happy that I got into some decent LAC, but I really REALLY wanted a school w/ an open curriculum. Can anyone offer some words of wisdom?
What schools were you accepted to?
If you go to community college, you will no longer be a freshman for admissions.
What is wrong with Wells? Also, what do you like about Wells? Why did you apply there?
I took a look. You can cross register for classes at Cornell and possibly do a joint profession degree with Columbia for Wells.
Had never heard of it but a quick look at the website and it looks like a great school. I’m assuming with the difference in acceptance rates from those places that you were rejected/WL, that this was your safety? Did they provide merit aid in your package?
@TQfromtheU Thanks so much for answering. Sorry, I meant “reapply as a transfer.” Things I don’t like about Wells: the size, EXTREMELY rural setting (I visited & there is literally nothing to do in Aurora), no open curriculum, horrible dorms, old buildings, and huge turnover rate in my preferred dept. (English). I applied as a safety school in NY (I love the state) in case I didn’t get into Sarah Lawrence. I like their study abroad program, the 2 required internships, & the fact that it’s supposed to be “quirky.” The English prof I talked to dropped a hint that she was leaving soon, & she also advised me to “look at the places that aren’t on the tour.” 
So tell us your options: Wells, community college, what other acceptances?
Check the current financial stability of your choices also.
@NEPatsGirl Yes, they were my safety, and yes, they did provide some merit aid.
@TQfromtheU I was super interested in the Cornell cross register, but I found out when I visited that you can only take courses there that Wells doesn’t offer. This may sound fine in theory, but most of the students I talked to weren’t able to take classes at Cornell bc Wells had all the ones they needed 
The joint profession thing with Columbia does not apply to me, as I am an English major.
“I got into Wells, Allegheny, & Loyola, waitlisted at Sarah Lawrence, & rejected from Vassar, Hamilton, & Brown (my top 3)”
Loyola Maryland is a great school in a more urban area. Why not go there?
I got into Allegheny, Arcadia, Mills, Washington College, Loyola (in MD), and Wells. Due to financial aid & other factors, I’ve narrowed it down to Wells, Mills, & community college.
Wells is a nice school and you could certainly do worse. I think it’s one of the hidden gems.
As for the internships, that’s something you could do on your own, no problem.
As for finding a town to visit, you can probably get into Ithaca pretty easily and that’s a nice town. Wells offers daily shuttle buses to Ithaca. https://global.wells.edu/ICS/Students/Transportation.jnz?portlet=Local_Transporation_Services
As for the cross reg at Cornell–just look for classes that Wells doesn’t offer.
At the very least, you could start at Wells, get As and transfer, possibly into Cornell. Cornell takes a lot of transfer students from CCs and elsewhere. But at the least you could almost definitely transfer into Sarah Lawrence.
At Wells it also looks like they have experiential learning that you can take advantage of–
https://www.wells.edu/ELCS/students
Also in the third year there is a “service learning component” which involves hands-on learning.
https://www.wells.edu/academics/academic-catalog/academic-information/requirements
I have only read this qickly but it doesn’t look like there are many core courses and the rest of the courses are up to you to pick. https://www.wells.edu/academics/academic-catalog/academic-information/requirements
@suzyQ7 #1 They are very Catholic, and I’m an atheist (I know they say they’re open to all faiths, but the Jesuit profs did NOT like me). #2 Low financial aid offer. #3 I stayed overnight, and all everyone does for fun is use fake ids to go to bars in Baltimore /
A year at CC may very well not help your chances. Transfer acceptance rates are lower than regular acceptance rates. Aid is often worse, too. A safety isn’t a safety unless you are happy to attend it, for anyone reading this in the future. One of my kids attended her safety and was really happy & successful there.
I’d compare Wells & Mills side by side and pick one.
I agree that Wells and Mills should be compared side by side and you pick one. Both offer a lot. Both seem to be somewhat hidden gems in my book. I keep them close to my heart for my kids as safety schools–them plus Earlham.
I also like the Books Arts center at Wells
And the Entrepreneurial element there, which also echos Sarah Lawrence somewhat.
Dustyfeathers pulled up some really good information for you!
@Dustyfeathers Thanks for the info. I will seriously consider both of these options.
Best wishes. I’m sure you’ll find the right place for you.