<p>Similarities: Both UChicago and Wellesley are academically rigorous, so I know I don't have to worry about getting a fulfilling education--more like, how the hell am I going to keep up. Both have generally small classes, and great professors, as well as the share of incompetent ones, but overall, the reputation is pretty good. Both have lovely campuses, and UChicago's is very much self contained while Wellesley's campus is closed. Both gave me same amount of finaid. Both have reputations on the lack of social life, yet both say that it's what you make of it and you can find it if you try.</p>
<p>Differences: One is co-ed, the other all women's, but I don't really think I'll have a huge problem with either. Wellesley is 30 min drive away from home (I live in Boston) and UC is a plane-ride away, but I don't know what I want since in both cases, I'll be living on campus, and I don't know whether it's better to exprerience true independency (UC) or have that help 30 min away if I need it. For the most part, the differences don't really make a difference for me because I don't truly know what I prefer over the other among the above factors.</p>
<p>Questions: Which degree has more respect as a whole, in different areas, in the real world? (Basically, which is more prestigious?) Because they are different schools, one a big university and the other a LAC, so I don't quite know how to compare at all.</p>
<p>Any comments, opinions, advices, or anecdotes are appreciated.</p>
<p>I'm putting forward this post, because depending on what the mail tells me on Monday, I may or not have this same dilemma... with a twist, but this dilemma will be part of it, regardless.</p>
<p>well i have heard bad things about wellesley socially (very very boring campus and cutthroat grls <em>from what I heard</em>), but you do have boston right near you if that lessens the blow....yet wellesley gives the students the opportunity to cross register at other universities like MIT, dartmouth, amherst, etc. so I guess that is something to consider if you are looking to "go abroad" your junior year. I hear Chicago's classes are amazing and really out of the box type of learning...I think both are great, but UChicago just seems like you would have the city and more fun socially. I would only choose Wellesley if you are more on the studious side versus social side because unless you leave campus, there is not much "partying" going on...i heard their version of fun is having grl nights studying and watching movies...well to each their own...id say Uchicago!</p>
<p>by the way as far as prestige goes, both are amazing. wellesley is known for their political science (Hilary Clinton went!) and Economics. They are pretty good in everything but those two things stand out the most. Im not sure what UChicago is "known" for except that they seem to be strong in everything</p>
<p>Well, I don't know about UChicago's "urban" social life, because when I went, it really wasn't urban at all (for me) and downtown Chicago does take some transportation (just like Wellesley to Boston). There wasn't many stores around (we looked) except some restaurants. As for their reputation in terms of social life, many people say that it's the place where fun comes to die. For many people in UChicago, the library is like their home. When I went, my host took me to a couple frat parties, but they're not the big thing on campus because most people there think it's dumb. Another girl had a locker at the library. As for Wellesley, some girls have told me that they crash MIT/Harvard parties.</p>
<p>Socially as a whole, both are not the greatest and you really have to try, although UChicago may be slightly easier in that aspect.</p>
<p>As for classes and stuff... both have amazing professors, UChicago's are brilliant, and Wellesley's are more supportive. As for the schools' focuses, there's this sense: Wellesley seems to be more practical and train you for a future career, and so you get the "powerful" people coming out of there, the big lawyers, businesswomen, and doctors, etc. UChicago, I heard, is not kidding when they plaster "life of the mind" in every brochure. It's all about critical thinking and becoming a genius in your specialized field. And so you get your geniuses (nobel prize winners). I'm not sure which is "better"...?</p>