The difference is in aid package. Also, i applied for pre-med, and although i love both schools, Wellesley’s grade deflation is off-putting
I mean, i plan* to do pre-med (not applied)
Both great schools so you can’t make a bad decision. Do you have a preference? Can your parents comfortably afford either choice?
Which has a higher percent of students getting into medical school? In 2017, Brown’s admission rate for undergraduate admissions to med school was 92%… the national average was 43% for the same year. Brown is known for grade inflation (not knocking it; my kid goes there).
Because it was mentioned above, I just want to make a general comment that people be careful with medical school acceptance rates quoted by admissions. It may sound obvious, but it is very important to understand exactly what goes into the numerator and denominator of the ratio as not all schools calculate med school acceptance rate in the same manner. For example:
–Some schools have more “weed out” classes than others reducing the number of students who continue on the pre-med path for four years (lowering the denominator).
–Certain colleges have committees which pre-screen and recommend med school applicants. These committees generally only recommend students who have the stats, experiences etc. to make them very strong candidates for med schools. Students who are not recommended are left out of the equation. In contrast, other colleges support all of the students who want to apply to med school. So while the schools with the pre-screening will have a higher acceptance rate (because of the lower denominator), a schools that support all students may be preferable.
–It is important to know what constitutes a med school acceptance for the med school acceptance rate. Some colleges just count US allopathic med school acceptances and other schools also include acceptances to DO, overseas med schools, podiatry etc. programs in the numerator leading to a higher med school acceptance rate.
My parents can afford Wellesley comfortably.
@happy1 yes, i read about misleading acceptance rates so im not basing my decision on that. The only problem is grade deflation at wellesley
See if Brown will match your Wellesley aid if that’s where you want to go. I read a previous post in which the poster had asked them to match an aid package from Williams and they had. I would put Wellesley in the same category as Brown and Williams.
@Marzzz I do think admissions officers at med schools have a sense of which schools have grade inflation/deflation
@Jon234 I did actually ask Brown to match my aid from Wellesley and they increased my aid by $2600. But there’s still a substantial difference… i mean i could buy a laptop and not worry about transport! (Im international plus low income). Do you think i should try to appeal again? I dont think it’ll work though
I think if you have asked them once they have given you all that they are prepared to give.
Both great schools and, given how many Wellesley grads go on to great things, I would suggest the grade deflation isn’t as big an issue as you might think.
I don’t really think you can make a bad choice between these two schools.
@Marzzz: if you’re international, have you considered whether you’ll even be able to attend medical school in the US? You won’t be eligible for the government loans that most med students use to finance their education, and it doesn’t sound like your family would be able to pay the very high cost of tuition+living expenses for 4 years (~70-80k per year).
At the end of the day, both Brown and Wellesley would give you an amazing education and undergraduate experience. If going to Wellesley is just as appealing to you, and would allow your parents to save some money, perhaps that would be a more reasonable decision. I would not be concerned about “grade deflation” for the purposes of graduate school.
@bruno14 I’m an American who lives internationally (i was referencing to travel costs in my previous comment) so i will be eligible for aid.
Thanks for the answer, i think i will choose Wellesley. Although i’m sure everyone will be shocked that im passing up an ivy lol…
OP it really is about fit. One is a women’s LAC and the other is a mid-sized research university. Go where you tghink you will be happier. With two such great choices you can’t go wrong. We have three kids done and two kids to go and to be honest one of my girls would be happier at Brown and the other at Wellesley. Attending a women’s college is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sending best wishes to you – and a reminder to come back and let us know your final decision. 
I’m surprised it took 11 responses for someone to bring up single sex school. I know college is different but having done 1-12 at a single sex school, I can definitely say it’s not an insignificant thing.
No one here can really answer your question as we don’t know how important that $3,500 per year is to your family. That said, a part time job could help cover all or a good portion of that.
@iwannabe_Brown Yes, i know Wellesley is a single sex school, and i actually think id fit in very well there. I LOVEE Wellesley!! But my other two options are Brown and Duke and both of them are so prestigious and have great world rankings too. I don’t want to regret passing them up. Especially cause most people at my school havent even heard of Wellesley and they’d think im crazy to pass up an ivy and Duke. Also Duke has an 85% acceptance rate to med school and also has a medical school so…maybe it would be the better option…? (I wont participate in greek life at Duke which im afraid will be ostracizing)
But Wellesley just seems like a great fit. I’m introverted and not that confident, so I think at Wellesley ill be able to grow more, given the small class size and all. I also think ill have more opportunities to participate in clubs and societies (which ive heard are very competitive at Duke). My gut just says Wellesley lol. But since i cant visit, im not entirely sure which would be the best fit
The choice should not be made on what others think, or on name recognition or “prestige” but on what is best
for you socially and financially. It would be so great if people were less focused on “prestige”. It’s not about bragging rights. Wellesley is a fabulous school. Congrats! Enjoy.
Wellesley is the school for you, you know that. Its your life, live it. Prestige is only a perception and is skewed by the one looking at it.
@Marzz - IMHO - always trust your gut. You know best about yourself
Sounds like Wellesley is both your preference and the least expensive, so don’t worry about what other kids will say and choose Wellesley. (You’ll hear them for 2 months and you’ll be at Wellesley 4 years).
Anyway in terms of prestige I’d say it’s on par with Brown or even higher depending on what you look at.