<p>Hello everyone (rising seniors/future Wellesley students/CC parents), it's that time when the rising seniors become aware of the looming presence of the inevitable college application process. It can be pretty crazy, but it's only as crazy as you make it to be!</p>
<p>With that said, I'm going to Wellesley this fall and the application process is still fresh in my mind, so I'd be willing to offer any helpful advice or answer any questions anyone may have. I'm not an expert, so I probably can't give you advice about what the college is like. However, I CAN talk about why I chose to go to Wellesley, what I did during the application process, and etc.</p>
<p>So go ahead, I can answer questions about interviews, college visits, supplements, why I chose a women's college, anything. :)</p>
<p>do you know about how much i should save for books for first semester? I'm trying to figure out what i can afford to spend on dorm stuff and new clothes and still be ok for the immediate needs for first semester (before my work study money comes).</p>
<p>Depends on what you are taking, but I would say at least $300. You can save quite a bit of money if you are willing to shop around a bit/buy used. I spent about $250 each semester, but I was good about buying my expensive books (math, in my case) at good discounts ($60 less than list price of a new book--both books were in as good as new condition). Sometimes it's actually harder to save money in classes that use several independent books, because even if you get them used, the savings aren't the same as what you can get on an expensive math or science textbook. Of course, there's no guarantee that you will be able to find a good price on a given book.</p>
<p>thanks! was there anything else that you needed money for right away? On the financial aid stuff it seems like there was a lot of money for 'books and other expenses', I just want to make sure I don't get down there and have to beg my mom for money, she'll give me the 'you didn't need those new shoes' (even though I think I did).</p>
<p>Hmm...I really don't think so. The only moderately pressing expense that I had besides textbooks was that I had to pay for my music lessons (which are free when taken for credit if you are on financial aid). There are a few other activities which might cost some money (horseback riding comes to mind), so that may be a consideration, but the average club doesn't have any costs. Obviously all your meals are provided for, so you wouldn't have to spend anything additional on food if you didn't want to. Of course I would budget SOME money for little extras, but I really can't think of any pressing cost you might face other than what I have mentioned.</p>
<p>My apologies to catsushi for crashing her thread...</p>
<p>You can come to campus anytime you want (there's no locked gate or anything) but if you come on a Sunday (or Saturday during the summer) there won't be an organized campus tour or info session, and the admissions office will not be open (so no fancy brochures or anything like that). So it isn't ideal, but you would at least get to poke around the campus somewhat. </p>
<p>if you could hold on until Monday morning, you would be able to have a guided tour--they start at 9 am and a new one begins every hour on the hour up to and including 3 pm, excepting noon.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess this wasn't the type of questions Catsushi was soliciting, but at least I could answer.</p>
<p>I worked in the bookstore for about two days during bookrush, and the worst I saw was someone charging about $500 at one time. I've never spent that much. I think I spent about $250 last semester: Two expensive science books, each about $110, and one Java book that should have cost $100, but I found on Amazon for about $40.</p>
<p>The best advice I can give you is to not freak out that you won't have <em>THE</em> book for the course the first day, it's mostly for background reading (if you do it) and homework. (exception: language classes). For science classes, library often has it on reserve so it's always in the library unless someone else is reading it at that time (and she has to give it back in three hours). Often times an older edition of the book will do just fine- WAIT to ask the professor if he/she cares.</p>
<p>Wellesley students have a textbooks subconference for selling books. It's brilliant. PSA: use the textbooks conference and not the general for sale conference, doing otherwise will make students hate you.</p>
<p>Also, you can return your books to the bookstore before the end of add/drop (first two weeks), so if you don't write in the book and treat it really really nice, you can bring it back if you got a better deal elseware (like the same book, in crappy condition that smells funny for $77 cheaper).</p>
<p>You will have better luck getting books cheap from other students, if it is a class that is offered EVERY semester.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, the two science books I got for $100 were also off of Amazon. They were for 300 level Astronomy and Physics classes, typically people who buy those books are seniors who leave before they can resell them, or want to keep them as reference.</p>
<p>As long as the edition doesn't change, you can often recoup textbooks prices by selling a used book for what you bought it for next semester.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you are on any kind of finaid, the Student Aid Society will give you a $75 book voucher (one time use only), or at least they did in fall 2004.</p>
<p>I think the voucher is now 100 dollars, but it's sort of dumb because you have to spend as close to the voucher amount at one time. I bought something for like 83 dollars and was told I had to use the remaining amount right then. Since I didn't need any more books, I picked some random overpriced school supplies.</p>
<p>Or you could just do what I did last semester and not buy textbooks. Reading is overrated XD</p>
<p>I actually got along fine last semester, but I did have to buy the workbook for my language class.</p>
<p>But seriously, if you use the library reserves, go halves with friends in the same class, buy international editions (except they're harder to sell later) you can save a bit of money.</p>
<p>I recently won a scholarship that should cover for all four years of books, which is probably over 900 bucks. To be honest I don't know for sure because I'm also an incoming student. :] So expenses and what not...probably not a good question for me to answer.</p>
<p>I think admissions doesn't allow students to visit on any day. Certain times, around the finals, are probably times when prospies are not allowed to visit. They really prefer to have all students visit on the special admissions events.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone else for offering input! :)</p>
<p>Does Wellesley have a fall open house as one of these preferred special admissions events??? I know they have one in the spring or later in the year, but I'd really like to go back BEFORE my application goes in.</p>
<p>does anyone know how long it usually takes for the admissions office to get back to you on your interview request?
cause it has been a week now and they still haven't replied.
i know they siad "10 days" but ....i never trust those "lines"</p>
<p>Dai17yi: From my experience, they get back to you very fast if you email the admissions office or call. I didn't have any problems. I would try waiting a little bit more, and if more than 10 days passes I would try emailing them.</p>
<p>LaMariposa, they do have a fall open house. I visited my first time during the Fall Open House and spent the night. This was in October, quite some weeks before the Early Evaluation application was due. You'll be able to visit before you send in your application.</p>
<p>If the date doesn't work for you, then Wellesley allows overnight stays from Monday-Thursday (September 24* November 15). Campus tours run year round: Monday – Friday (Year-round): 9, 10, 11 a.m.; 1, 2, 3 p.m. and Saturday (September 9-mid-May): 9, 10, 11 a.m. </p>
<p>PS: I slightly change my response in my previous post where I said "I think admissions doesn't allow students to visit on any day. Certain times, around the finals, are probably times when prospies are not allowed to visit. They really prefer to have all students visit on the special admissions events". You're free to visit when you'd like, but Open Houses are good because you get to meet other prospective students and listen to presentations from alums/admissions officers. But at the same time, if the date is not good for you, then visiting on normal days are good because you might get a more accurate perspecive of the school since it won't be jazzed up for the mass of prospective students.</p>
<p>Yeah, I've been once before and I'm going back in a few weeks for my interview, but I'd really like to meet more people and faculty and stuff like that, just to get a better idea of the school (since I think it's one of my top choices...I just want to be sure). A Fall Open House sounds perfect for that! Thanks for the info. </p>
<p>Oh, and another question for any who've tackled the Common App: how long was your essay? I've been writing a lot this summer, just trying things out to see how I like them (I tend to be picky, and I DEFINITELY haven't written The One yet). My essays fall consistently at around 900-1000 words...is that too long, or does it really depend on the essay and how it flows? And, while I'm at it, what about the supplementary essays (e.g. the Why Wellesley? one)? How long/short should they run?</p>
<p>My Why Wellesley essay was 350 words long, two paragraphs. My CommonApp essay was about 1,000 words long, which is usually the standard for the CommonApp essay. And it's good that you are picky, I wrote several diferent essays before choosing to focus on one.</p>
<p>hey, i don't know if you ran into this problem when you applied, but i'll ask anyways lol.
well, i'm volunteering for this research lab during the summer, they would pay me if they could, but with my visa, i'm not allowed to work (with pay).
so on my common application, i have no idea where to put that in.
do i put it under work experience?
if so, do i need a letter reference or something or do they just contact the employer?</p>
<p>and do you ask college board to send in ap grades to Wellesley as well?</p>
<p>I shall answer your questions the best I can. :)</p>
<p>From my understanding, you would have needed to apply for a working license or what not in order to be able to work, correct? Well that's not important to mention, but on the Common Application there is always a box for any extra information or comments. If you feel it is important to mention that this unpaid volunteer service is unpaid for a reason, make a note of it in that section. You can always mention this fact in an interview, ifyou haven't finished with your interview.</p>
<p>As for AP grades, I have never heard anybody sending them in. There is always an area on the application where you self report your AP grades.</p>
<p>I would advise you to get a second opinion on these questions. I am more unsure about the second since I never sent in AP grades (I did one SL IB exam my junior year).</p>
<p>I do not think that you should fret too much about putting your research lab position under work. It isn't really volunteering--I would feel awkward putting it there, because when I think volunteering I think of doing something charitable for no pay--not an unpaid internship, which is basically what you are really doing. That's work experience, even if the quirks of your visa don't allow you to be paid. If you feel really want to offer an explanation, you can follow Catsushi's advice and just add a couple of sentences in the additional information section, but quite frankly I don't think colleges will care. I only had odds and ends type jobs (tutoring and working at a concession stand) in high school, but it is not my understanding that you need references or anything-- colleges do not have the time to contact your employers. </p>
<p>You just self-report your AP scores on the common app. If you are admitted and decide to attend Wellesley (or when you decide to attend another school), that's when you send the reports. If you play your cards right, you will know where you are going by the time your senior year APs roll around and won't have to pay for the score report (one isn't too expensive anyway).</p>