Hello CC!
I have applied to Wellesley College. I want to study computer engineering or computer science (for software engineering) and also want to study Economics. I saw that Wellesley College has a dual degree with MIT. Just wondering if anyone has done it or knows about it. How does it work? Is it worth it (the extra year and the workload of a double degree) or should I just go obtain a Master degree instead? Please tell me about your experience and what majors you have taken if you did the dual degree. Thank you!
@mellony Hey! I’m a first year at Wellesley, and I was actually looking into the program for a while. I’m a prospective CS major and was also considering taking economics. The problem for me was all the requirements that you actually needed to apply to MIT. I believe you have to apply your sophomore spring. I talked with someone who went through the Wellesley-MIT program, and she knew going into Wellesley that she wanted to do this program. I think this program is really tough if you don’t plan ahead and really know for sure what you want to do. You need MATH 115, 116, 205, PHYS 107, 108, CHEM 105, 205, and BISC 110 by the end of your three years at Wellesley. (The person at Wellesley did not finish all these requirements at Wellesley, but I think it’s really encouraged you do so. Also, the science classes will be obviously harder at MIT). Your application sophomore spring requires 3 recommendation letters, one of which should be from MIT. I think it’s really encouraged to take an MIT class first year, second semester, which is tough because you’re still adjusting to all of the workload. Also, the transportation to MIT takes at least 45 minutes each way, which takes up a lot of your time. I originally planned to take 6.01 (i think it’s an intro to EECS), but turns out you need to be co-registered in physics 2. I decided not to pursue this program because I didn’t like physics and chemistry enough to take all these classes, and there were so many other classes in Wellesley that I wanted to take. Also, I decided it’ll be more worth it for me to take CS at Wellesley and then possibly pursue a graduate degree later on.
Also, just to add, in your application you have to prove why you couldn’t just cross-register for classes. Like you have to uniquely prove that this dual degree is doing something that you could never do by going to Wellesley and taking some MIT/Babson/Olin classes.
This huge paragraph isn’t meant to deter you! I think if you’re interested, definitely reach out to Dean Alison Black, because she’s kinda the “expert” on the dual-degree program. I would make sure you know for sure this is what you want to do and you’ve researched enough before you decide to commit to this path! I love the Wellesley CS department so much. We call the faculty by their first name and everyone is honestly so supportive. You also have the opportunity to cross-register for MIT CS (or other) classes!
Sorry for the super long explanation. I hope that helped! Let me know if you have any other questions.
1 Like
It’s pretty hard to cross register at MIT because Wellesley is on a MTh or MWTh or TF or TWF scheduling system and MIT is on a MWF or TTh scheduling system. When you have to take a lot of labs, it can be near impossible to schedule things at both schools.
I think the Olin dual degree is a lot more popular for this reason.
Thank you for all your responses!
@ravenclaws Just wondering, are you a double major in CS and Economics? Do you know what you are planning to do after Wellesley? I want to go toward that direction, but I am not sure what jobs or degrees I can do. Also, do you what degrees the person who did the dual degree program obtained? Do you know why she chose this?
Thank you!
@mellony Nope! I decided I’m just majoring in CS unless I find something else I want to do. I want to work in the tech industry, but research is something I’m potentially interested in. Maybe something in data science and machine learning! There’s several first year internships at tech companies and the science center summer research accepts first years as well! I think she chose like architecture and art history maybe? She was originally accepted to MIT for undergrad. She heard about the dual degree program so she decided to go to Wellesley and also pursue a degree at MIT.
1 Like
@ravenclaws Cool! I have been interested in software engineering, but machine learning seems pretty interesting, too. However, I am still a bit unfamiliar with the job prospects of this field. I want to explore this field. Do you have any recommendations on where should I begin and which class do I need to take? Thank you!
Those degrees together appear to be tailored to a professional career as an analyst in a research firm for the tech industry (for a research firm such as Ovum, Forrester or Gartner.) Growing field. You might want to search LinkedIn for Wellesley graduates who work for one of those firms. They could give you some insight into what working for their company is like.