Hello everyone. I am a high school senior that has been accepted to both Smith and Wellesley college. Rapidly one of the best things that has ever happened to me is becoming its own kind of hell as I have no idea how to choose between the two. I fell in love with Smith, and still feel drawn to go there, it’s just very hard to think about turning down the chance to attend such a prestigious institution as Wellesley. My current plan is to double major in a science (some form of biology) and a humanities major (peace and justice, poly sci, or government), then attend law school, before going into environmental law. I am wondering if either institution would be better for me to attend as someone planing to double major, as well as go on to law school after graduation? Any thoughts?
I’m also wondering about the atmosphere of both places. When I visited both schools it was during the summer, so I didn’t really get to see each place in their natural states, but from everything iv’e seen and heard during my research, it seems as though Wellesley is quite a bit more tense and competitive, while Smith is a little more nurturing and relaxed on a daily basis. Smith definitely seemed more warm and welcoming when I visited, and though that could have just been due to my interactions with certain people there, iv’e heard similar thoughts from quite a few people, so I don’t know. I would greatly appreciate any information anyone has on the prevalence of stress culture at either school, as I can cope fairly well in that type of environment, but prefer not to have to be locked into study mode at all times.
I am also curious as to how the housing compares. I know that Smith has their unique housing system, while Wellesley has more traditional dorms, but in actuality, how do they differ? Are the accommodations larger at Smith, is it more common to have your own bathroom, or a single rather than double???
Please help me to figure out some of this so that I may make a more informed decision. I was relying on admitted student days and activities to help me make up my mind, so now I don’t really know what to do.
Thank you so much for any insights you may have, they are greatly appreciated.
Is Wellesley more prestigious than Smith?
Smith’s notably flexible curriculum would be more conducive to planning a double major.
Your choices would be equivalent in this regard.
Sorry, I had to laugh at this good example of evocative writing.
“Is Wellesley more prestigious than Smith?”
Wellesley is ranked #24 on the top US colleges list by The Wall Street Journal, while Smith is at #41. Iv’e also found that Wellesley has a higher recognition than Smith, and is regarded as slightly more rigorous.
“Smith’s notably flexible curriculum would be more conducive to planning a double major.”
I do agree, and Smith’s open curriculum is a large part of why I am drawn to go there; however there are a fairly large percentage of students at Wellesley that double major as well.
“Sorry, I had to laugh at this good example of evocative writing.”
Thank you 
I hadn’t actually written anything in a hot minute, so I think I felt the need to spice it up a little 
Both are great colleges.
Unless I am misreading it, your posts sound to me as if you definitely prefer Smith and are looking for validation that it is okay to choose Smith above Wellesley.
But try this exercise. Imagine for a moment that you have just chosen Smith and refused Wellesley. How do you feel? Now do the same in reverse, imagining choosing Wellesley and refusing Smith. How do you feel?
Which school brings you more relief/joy to imagine choosing and more regret to imagine refusing? Go there!
Best wishes for a wonderful college experience!
Smith '93 here. Best decision I ever made in my life. (Besides my son). The housing system cannot be beat, nor Northampton, the Valley, the 5 College Consortium, the beauty of the campus, the driven yet non competitive students, the traditions. Clearly, I’m biased, but if you have any specific questions ask away. PS I went to law school no problem with a merit scholarship.
Thank you TheGreyKing and Charlie2772.
-TheGreyKing: I appreciate the advice, and will definitely continue to so some self reflection in that regard. I am not necessarily looking for someone to validate a decision to choose Smith, but rather either decision. Though I do love Smith, there are some definite advantages to choosing Wellesley that cannot be overlooked, and i’m simply trying to get some more feedback so that I may make a more informed decision. Thank you for your kind wishes and helpful words!
-Charlie2772: Thank you so much! That is actually wonderful to hear right now. If you don’t mind, I do have a specific question. So, I know that the five college consortium is a big deal, but in actuality, how common is it for students to spend time at the other colleges, for social events, classes, ect.?
Thank you again
In my experience lots of students do the exchange at least once. Often I had one to two men in my classes and sometimes a woman would identify herself from, say, Mt. Holyoke. I took one class at UMass before I had a car. I probably should have taken another once a had my car. My boyfriend, from UMass, took one class at Smith. In terms of social events, we had, at least at my house, lots of men (and women) at our house parties from UMass and also from Amherst. I always saw men at other house’s house parties. Not entirely sure where they came from, but I’m thinking UMass and Amherst at those as well. I’m not sure how many were from Mt. Holyoke or Hampshire. I also went to parties at Amherst and many, many at UMass. I also saw bands at UMass and attended lectures. My friends from Smith often accompanied me over to Amherst or UMass. I went to bars in Amherst as some of my Smithie friends did and I know students from other colleges were often at Northampton bars, restaurants and shops. The “Happy Valley” truly feels like a united community.
I for one take those rankings with large shakers of salt. Haverford dropped like about ten places once. Why? Because it had hired several new faculty members in sufficient numbers to change its ranking. I can’t remember if it was that they all skewed too young now that there were so many of them or whether there were more jr level faculty or whatever. Clearly the hires meant a better college and yet it pushed H down the rankings list. Those rankings are a stupid system that maybe is true within about 100 levels–that one school is objectively “better” than the other-- but certainly not within like 25 spots or even more. And again it’s worth mentioning that what’s most important is how you, the student, feels is the best environment for you, the student, to thrive in. Not some list randomly generated by some magazine that otherwise would fold. The rankings are gamed all the time by colleges precisely because so many people take them seriously without looking more deeply at what a given college offers. For more info on that google “northeastern university” and “gaming the rankings.” It is not the only school to do so. They all do it somewhat (explaining the boom in buildings on campuses somewhat and the shameless marketing of U of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Columbia etc.) In any event this rant is to give you permission of “you be you” and don’t give a fig about what the rankings say. Grad schools, law schools especially, care little about that and mostly about what your GPA is and your LSAT scores. So if env law is your future, be sure to maximize that GPA and practice your LSAT to get into a top 15 law school (T15 law schools will best guarantee that you will be able to get a job that uses your law degree.) Best of luck to you.