<p>I like almost everything about Wellesley, except that I think it might be too liberal for me. I'm a pretty strong Republican and conservative Christian. Does it sound like I'd fit in there?</p>
<p>I'm sure you'd be fine as long you didn't tell anyone that they're going to hell or try to convert them.</p>
<p>Yeah, but is is overwhelming Democrat? Are there a lot of athiests/agnostics? I'm sure there will be at least a few Christians much like me, but is that just a small percent of campus?</p>
<p>I'm an entering student in the class of 2010 so hopefully I can provide some insight, as I've done a ton of research on the school, spent some time there, and have talked to many of my classmates on Facebook in the past couple of months. :)</p>
<p>While traditional "liberal" beliefs are unarguably the majority at Wellesley, the same holds true for just about every school. Most colleges' views sit left-of-center. Is Wellesley more liberal than the average school? Perhaps, but I doubt it's overwhelmingly so. I guess someone who's had experience with other schools as well could better speculate on that. I've heard that Wellesley is not as overwhelmingly liberal as many of it's counterparts (Smith, Mt. Holyoke, etc.), but again, it's hard for me to know for sure since I don't have any experience with those schools.</p>
<p>With that said, there definitely seems to be a fairly strong conservative voice at Wellesley. Even if conservatism isn't the majority, it's definitely there. In addition, there seem to be a lot of students who aren't very interested in politics at all and who have interests that lie elsewhere. You could easily join the College Republicans, the Pro-Life Club, and several other organizations that would cater to your interests. I doubt you'd feel horribly out of place.</p>
<p>Wellesley is overwhelmingly Democrat and liberal, as are most academic institutions, not to mention good ole Massachusetts. But don't worry. The Republicans are rather proud to be the Martyred Minority and the Loyal Opposition, and fight to make their voices heard whenever possible. I can't give you any figures on how many there are, but the Republicans have clout. They got Ann Coulter to come last semester (which made for entertaining Community fodder for a good month). CPLA (committee for political and legislative action) works to raise political issues in a non-partisan way. I try to stay out of political stuff.
There's Wellesley Alliance For Life (WAFL) as well. I remember hearing about a stem cell lecture they sponsored. The Choice side is rather vocal, but it's really the same two people who do the pubbing and write most of the arguments. I'm curious to see who will fill that role after they graduate next June. There are many students involved, just not so ... loud. Pro-Life isn't a popular view at women's colleges- but you knew that. WAFL and Choice did decide to stop the bloodbath somewhat and do something useful in regards to the baby issue- Sister's Keepers (a group that raises money for Wellesley students who have children).
Wellesley's pretty pluralistic when it comes to religion. Wellesley likes to brag about diversity in their viewbook, etc. and they aren't lying. Offhand, I know more Jews than any other group, but maybe that's because they talk more about it because the Hillel is active on a social level as well as a spiritual one, so being a Jew comes up more in the casual conversation. I know Muslims students, Hindu students and a Baha'i student. There was a multi-faith corridor last year in Beebe- I'm not sure if it is continuing or not, I just didn't hear anything about it with this year's housing. I have no idea how many people are Christian- unlike the other religions, there is more than one "Christian" group- there's the Wellesley Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Wellesley Real Life, a Catholic Group (Newman Catholic Ministries), and Unitarian group and a Christian A Capella Group. If I remember my flyers correctly, there's an Asian Baptist group as well. I also know someone who "became" Christian last semester. The Catholics have their own weekly services and I would find it hard to believe that there wouldn't be less than two types of on-campus Protestant services offered as well, if not groups that go to a real church together.
The atheists don't really have their own club which makes them a rather quiet and uncountable segment of the population. There are the Christmas/Easter Christians, then there are some people who just "aren't very religious", practice nothing but believe in some higher power, and some who self-identify as atheist/agnostic. You won't know the difference unless these people tell you.
I can't speak for the whole lot, but most atheists are perfectly nice, moral people who happen to sleep in on Sundays. They don't Kick Puppies and whether or not someone stole your dryer sheets or ate your food in the fridge is completely independent of their religion.
Wellesley was not founded as a religious school so you won't see even a tenth of the school showing up for any such event (barring the quasi-religious Flower Sunday). Whether the school will be a good fit for you depends on whether you love the things about Wellesley that do not have to do with politics or religion.
You will be in the minority as a Republican and a conservative Christian. If you are not intolerant of other viewpoints you will be okay. If you can agree to disagree with people you will be okay. I really don't want to cart the very large and scary L-word into a conversation where it hasn't been brought up (only people who don't go to Wellesley find this to be a big deal just so you know), but you need to be tolerant on that front as well.
I don't think being in a minority is on the whole a negative experience- it's a little scary to be around people who don't think like you do, but you'll learn something. You'll get to meet people who aren't like you at all, but are perfectly nice and completely normal. You'll see where other people are coming from, and those people will get the same experience by meeting you. You may get flamed, but you'll also learn to articulate what you believe in, and really fight for it. Also, while conservative/Christian groups are smaller, they are close knit and you will probably form stronger friendships with those people that you would at a more homogenous institution.</p>
<p>There are more Democrats on campus, this is for certain. But I would say that the Republicans are more organized. They certainly have funnier t-shirts. </p>
<p>Tolerance is the key to dealing with religion at Wellesley- there are many different groups, both large and small, and in general they get the respect they deserve from their fellow peeps. You will be asked to account for yourself and your beliefs at some point during your stay- and so will everyone else. There are many conservative Christians who come to Wellesley and stay, and I honestly think I respect them more than CC's who opt out of challenging situations because they don't hold their beliefs strongly enough in the face of questioning.</p>
<p>Honestly, Wellesley is Wellesley. If you come, you will be asked how you think (and why you think that way) on just about every subject under the sun. Religion and politics are not treated differently on that score.</p>
<p>Does Wellesley encourage people to be liberal/pro-choice more than a lot of other colleges would? I hate to bring it up, but do they kind of foster the lesbians to be a "normal" part of the population? Will you face this in the dorms? Will you get stuck with a lesbian roomate?</p>
<p>I'm going to come right out and say that if you're not comfortable with living around people who identify as LBGTQ, then Wellesley might not be the best fit for you. I'm not saying that you need to be 100% pro gay-rights but you do need to have a willingness to live and work and study and sit at the same table in the dining hall as women who might be very out in terms of their sexuality. Your first year roommate(s) very well could be a lesbian. Or she could come to Wellesley with a boyfriend and end up dating a girl by the end of first semester. I don't remember there being any questions about prefering a straight roommate on the rooming sheet. And I think that most women at Wellesley would find it ridiculous if there was such a question. Wellesley is very inclusive. After being there for a year, I really don't bat an eye when I see two girls walking hand in hand. So to answer your question, yes, Wellesley's gay population is a "normal" part of the wonderful diversity that makes up a Wellesley experience. No one is going to force you to convert yourself into a queer loving liberal, but I feel like there is definitely a general expectancy that you treat everyone with the same level of respect and support.</p>
<p>"Does Wellesley encourage people to be liberal/pro-choice more than a lot of other colleges would? "</p>
<p>Last time I checked, neither Wellesley as an institution, nor any other college for that matter (at least the accredited ones) encourages one particular viewpoint or forces it on their students. Individual professors and students, love to share what they think in whatever forum they can get. It's human nature. Good professors will be impartial in their presenation of their subjects to their students. Students love to convince other people that they are correct.
No one makes you listen or read something (we are in America after all). No one makes you agree (but smiling and nodding gets someone you don't disagree with to shut up sooner at the very least). I only attend one school and can't tell you about other places.</p>
<p>"I hate to bring it up, but do they kind of foster the lesbians to be a "normal" part of the population? "</p>
<p>I have a rather active imagination, but I'm at a loss at what you are trying to ask here. There's no lesbian check box for your application or your housing form or your classes so lesbians are a normal part of the college population. </p>
<p>"Will you face this in the dorms?"
I'm assuming you are asking whether there will be lesbians in the dorms. Absolutely. People gotta sleep somewhere and before they do that they brush their teeth. Will a neighbor's sexual orientation affect you? Absolutely not. As a rule, gays do not pursue people who they know to be not gay. Generally they are very shrewd guessers on who is gay (jokingly called "gaydar"). Even if there are no lesbians on your floor, you will see two women hold hands from time to time. It's cute if you aren't the type who wears black on Valentine's Day.</p>
<p>"Will you get stuck with a lesbian roomate?"
You could. There's a roughly two week housing freeze. After that no one is stuck with anyone. I would not drop a roommate because she is a lesbian. I would drop a roommate if she was discourteous of my space and my rights in the room, something at all not correlated with sexual orientation. The two "I have to deal with the roommate from Hell" victims I know both had heterosexual roommates.
Wellesley does not have an authority that dictates what is wrong, what is immoral or the correct political point of view. College students are adults, who, while stupid at times, can make that decision for themselves. And only themselves. You can recognize that there are people who hold different ideals than you, respect them, befriend them, and at the same time completely feel that you would not live your life the way they do. There will be things that you dislike or disapprove of about some people, but they do not make up an entirety of a person's character. You do not need to share a background with someone to be their friend. If you cannot interact with people in normal situations with the knowledge that they are atheist, liberal, homosexual, pro-choice or a democrat (etc) you will have a serious problem at Wellesley and many other instutions.</p>
<p>What millionlittlepieces said.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Does Wellesley encourage people to be liberal/pro-choice more than a lot of other colleges would? I hate to bring it up, but do they kind of foster the lesbians to be a "normal" part of the population? Will you face this in the dorms? Will you get stuck with a lesbian roomate?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Students are expected to treat each other respectfully. Between the Honor Code and the non-discrimination policy, that covers pretty much everything. </p>
<p>If by "'normal' part of the population" you mean "treated like me" then, yes, the college supports exactly that. The school does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (or race or religion, among other things). It doesn't brainwash you into changing your beliefs, but it does ask that you treat others with respect and courtesy--even if you're uncomfortable around them or if they act in ways that go against your personal beliefs.</p>
<p>You will encounter people who are gay, straight, bi, transgendered, questioning, asexual, uncertain, and uninterested in definitions. You will see homosexual couples, heterosexual couples, and couples that defy standard terminology. You will live with and/or around people who don't agree with you. You may or may not have a roommate who does not identify straight.</p>
<p>This is true of almost every school in the nation. And it's good. Diversity is good. Few students at Wellesley will actually ask you to be a different person (and you shouldn't listen to them). Most will ask you questions and hope that you also ask them questions. As jojodevka said, as long as you keep judgement out of the discussion, you'll be just fine.</p>