Question about Academic Life at Wellesley

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

<p>Hi,
I've been obsessively reading up on Wellesley online, and there seems to be a lot of diversity in what people think about the academic life.
One person said that most people are totally stressed and miserable their first semester, but eventually come to love Wellesley.
However, another person said that she really loves the relaxed academic atmosophere.
Are people really stressed and overworked? Do people still find time to do extracurricular activities and hang out with their friends, or is it a stretch? Do people enjoy themselves, overall?</p>

<p>Also, Wellesley women are always described as "driven" and destined to be CEOs. Does this mean the academic atmosphere is very career-focused, or are people in classes to enjoy college and savor what they are learning?
Please be honest-- both can be right answers for different people, I'm just more interested in enjoying my classes/college experience after a very stressful, unenjoyable high school life, than miserably working towards another goal after college. (Mind you, I am a very hard worker and I intend to get good grades in college and have a bright future, I'd just prefer a relaxed atmosphere with a feeling of "We've made it, let's enjoy our time here" instead of "Let's work hard and get through college so we can be successful afterwards").</p>

<p>Also, (a non-academic question), I see lots of social activities online that seem, to me, wonderfully tame: Pictionary tournament, decorating doorstoppers, movie nights, baking cookies, doing yoga... Are these things well-attended, or are most people's social lives more based on parties/drinking?
To venture into the land of stereotypes, is Wellesley a "preppy" place, or does the feminism/political activism make the student body a little bit more crunchy granola?</p>

<p>Thanks soo much!! Speedy responses appreciated :)</p>

2

<p>Yes, yes, yes and yes. I would say I know people in all of groups you describe: party/low key, hate-Wellesley/love-Wellesley, preppy/crunchy, career-focused/enjoy-the-moment. That's not the answer you were looking for, but it's my interpretation.</p>

<p>I've found the people who tend toward the negative opinion about Wellesley are the ones who make generalizations about the entire student body. These are the people who complain on Community that Wellesley students are no-fun/too-rich/too-career-focused/called-the-po-on-me/stole-my-lemon-thai and seem to think that they are the only normal, down-to-earth person on the campus.</p>

<p>I imagine that if you lean toward one of the less "practical" majors, you will find many people who share your outlook on college.</p>

<p>The actual attendance of low-key activities depends on the group of people invited, however, I venture they are a good deal more popular at Wellesley than at most other school: they were what I spent most of my time doing. A lot of the things you mentioned might not be RA sponsored, but rather friend-sponsored. The doorstop making is usually res-hall sponsored though.</p>

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<p>"I've been obsessively reading up on Wellesley online, and there seems to be a lot of diversity in what people think about the academic life.
One person said that most people are totally stressed and miserable their first semester, but eventually come to love Wellesley." </p>

<p>Very true, some people are completely stressed and miserable but it honestly depends on what kind of person you are and it just so happens that the peole that stress over work will stress and those that want to enjoy their work and classes wont.</p>

<p>"However, another person said that she really loves the relaxed academic atmosophere.
Are people really stressed and overworked? Do people still find time to do extracurricular activities and hang out with their friends, or is it a stretch? Do people enjoy themselves, overall?" </p>

<p>People definitely find time to do extracurriculars, especially hang out with friends! it just depends on ur time management skills. </p>

<p>"Also, Wellesley women are always described as "driven" and destined to be CEOs. Does this mean the academic atmosphere is very career-focused, or are people in classes to enjoy college and savor what they are learning?"</p>

<p>You make it how you want it. There is an option of taking class Credit Non basically meaning that you receive credit if you pass the class (i believe if you get about a C-) but the actual grade will not be on ur transcript. This is a good option for people to really get to enjor their class and actually learn without stressing over classes.</p>

<p>"Also, (a non-academic question), I see lots of social activities online that seem, to me, wonderfully tame: Pictionary tournament, decorating doorstoppers, movie nights, baking cookies, doing yoga... Are these things well-attended, or are most people's social lives more based on parties/drinking? "</p>

<p>You will find ever type of person- those that bake cookies on the weekends and watch movies and hang out, and those on the bus going to harvard/mit each weekend. You will find whatever suits you best.</p>

<p>"To venture into the land of stereotypes, is Wellesley a "preppy" place, or does the feminism/political activism make the student body a little bit more crunchy granola?"</p>

<p>I think that Wellesley is everything. lol sorry about not answering ur questions directly but it honestly is true: everyone is different, Wellesley is not a school where the majority of the student body is this or that, like BC would be considered preppy.</p>

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<p>Really helpful replies, thanks.</p>

<p>I didn't mean to generalize/stereotype when I asked if Wellesley was a preppy campus, I just wanted to make sure it was diverse. So thanks, and sorry if I offended :)</p>

<p>Yes, I am definitely leaning toward a non-practical major (philosophy/religion).</p>

<p>"Very true, some people are completely stressed and miserable but it honestly depends on what kind of person you are and it just so happens that the peole that stress over work will stress and those that want to enjoy their work and classes wont."
You're so right- thanks. Unfortunately I am a stresser, but I really don't want to be. I guess going to college doesn't change who you are, though! (Although I guess it can). Thanks for making this point.</p>

<p>Thanks so much to both of you!! I think I could enjoy myself at Wellesley.</p>

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<p>dammit. i hate college confidential. i wrote out the longest response ever and then they said i wasn't logged in. so i will write a conciser version of my response.</p>

<p>First off, I have to say I had similar concerns as you do about the pre-professional, career-driven Wellesley woman when I was applying. I'm another "destined to live in a cardboard box after she graduates" English/Philosophy/Art History major. But in the 3 months (!) I've been here, I've found that there are many other students who want to live in a cardboard box with me/ have no idea what they want to major in/ have too many things they want to major in. </p>

<p>I have a theory that the pre-professional thing might stem from the CWS (Career Work and Services) Center's promienence. Other people are welcome to share their thoughts.</p>

<p>"I've been obsessively reading up on Wellesley online, and there seems to be a lot of diversity in what people think about the academic life.One per son said that most people are totally stressed and miserable their first semester, but eventually come to love Wellesley." </p>

<p>Students' descriptions of Wellesley vary from Swellesley to Hellsley. Personally, I really like it here. I've found that my first semester at college is pretty chill compared to my senior year of high school. May have something to do with how I was taking 6 APs and spreading myself too thin... I don't recommend doing that... but it did prepare me above and beyond for college in the end. </p>

<p>"However, another person said that she really loves the relaxed academic atmosophere.
Are people really stressed and overworked? Do people still find time to do extracurricular activities and hang out with their friends, or is it a stretch? Do people enjoy themselves, overall?" </p>

<p>Yes, students do find things to do: whether its watching the latest episode of Gossip Girl in the living room, going to a ballet, having a toga party, taking a break is kind of necessary.</p>

<p>"Also, Wellesley women are described as "driven" and destined to be CEOs. Does this mean the academic atmosphere is very career-focused, or are people in classes to enjoy college and savor what they are learning?"</p>

<p>I don't want to be a CEO...
I think the college makes a point to keep a "liberal arts" academic atmosphere with its distributional requirements. I don't know if the distinction is between career-focused students vs. students who savor what they're learning as it is between career-focused students vs. students who savor everything/a lot of what they're learning. (I know I'm nit-picking). I think the college does lack inter-disciplinary thinkers... </p>

<p>"Also, (a non-academic question), I see lots of social activities online that seem, to me, wonderfully tame: Pictionary tournament, decorating doorstoppers, movie nights, baking cookies, doing yoga... Are these things well-attended, or are most people's social lives more based on parties/drinking? "</p>

<p>Lotsa people attend the cute social activities, lotsa people attend the MIT frat parties. </p>

<p>"To venture into the land of stereotypes, is Wellesley a "preppy" place, or does the feminism/political activism make the student body a little bit more crunchy granola?"</p>

<p>Like another student said, Wellesley IS everything. Whatever your interests are, you'll find others with similar interests. You'll find your niche here.</p>

<p>WendyMouse writes:
I've found the people who tend toward the negative opinion about Wellesley are the ones who make generalizations about the entire student body. These are the people who complain on Community that Wellesley students are no-fun/too-rich/too-career-focused/called-the-po-on-me/stole-my-lemon-thai and seem to think that they are the only normal, down-to-earth person on the campus.</p>

<p>LOL</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for typing all that out!</p>

<p>It sounds like we're in pretty similar situations (I'm also spreading myself too thin senior year), so I'm glad things worked out for you.</p>

<p>Are people generally happy? Like if you walk around campus, will people be talking and smiling?</p>

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<p>I love the mention of watching Gossip Girl.</p>

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<p>FP we visited the campus a few weeks and the girls we saw were friendly, smiling, helpful...I think most would agree with that. :)</p>

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<p>As a senior who has taken classes in many different departments, I would say that the more "useless" majors tend to have more relaxed, congenial departments than the ones that are seen as more pre-professional by students. I've taken a lot of classes in the Philosophy department and they have all been very relaxed and non-competitive. I think that Economics tends to be the most competitive department, although Poli Sci also tends to be intense. The sciences have pretty collaborative classroom environments even with the pre-med crowd factored in. In spite of the fact that many students seem stressed, I don't think this is a result of a competitive classroom environment. People are just too wound up in their own perfectionism; if you can avoid getting wrapped up in it and find friends who aren't too absorbed in their grades and work, you can avoid it almost entirely.
As for the social scene -- it's not the best ever, but you can find whatever you're looking for if you give it enough of a chance. Wellesley provides us with places on campus to go and relax (the Pub is fantastic) and the administration endearingly forces us to take time off for oft-forced relaxation events. There are parties both on and off-campus, with and without men. There are game nights and dorm events and everything else you could want. And Gossip Girl is really a huge event.</p>

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<p>Wahhh there are so many replies already that I'll just reply from my point of view...I'm sure the answers have already covered this, but this way my answer is not biased. :)</p>

<p>It's really up to the student; whether they're stressed or relaxed is something that is decided by them. I personally think that high school was a LOT more stressful for me, so I really love it here. I feel I have a lot more freedom, whether it be with academics, my free time, or my social life. I can go to my classes in the morning and have lunch and then surf the net/play the guitar/draw until I have swim practice, which is about a 5-10 minute walk away from my dorm(it used to be a 40 minute drive). At the same time I am kept quite busy, but I have a lot of fun on my weekends.</p>

<p>Again, it depending on the student, they will be focused on getting into medical school or taking classes to discover new things about themselves. Graduate school is on my mind, but I'm much more interested in getting as much as I can out of my classes than getting the A.</p>

<p>As for the social life, there is always something going on campus to the point where I feel frustrated that I can't attend them all. There is always something going on off campus, too, which you can find out about through friends or facebook invites.</p>

<p>PS: Sorry for the horrible grammar, I just came back from swim practice so I'm a little blehhhhh haha.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies girls!!</p>

<p>Yeah, economics was exactly the kind of major I was not planning on going into anyway, so that's nice (and probably no coincidence) that it coincides with the undesirable pre-professional stressish atmosphere.</p>

<p>I am a pretty intense, easily-stressed person though, so I'd probably get sucked into that mindset somehow... I think I'll probably have to visit to get a good sense, but thanks so much for all your posts!! Very informative.</p>

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<p>In my experience, recognizing that there is a mindset is the first step....</p>

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<p>^^Agreed.</p>

<p>It's amazing, I always thought I was kind of a high strung person, but coming to Wellesley I feel like I'm a much more laid back person...maybe it's because of all the over-achievers here who contrast with my personality. Maybe it's because I'm from the West coast and people on the East are more high strung in general.</p>