Wellesley or Claremont McKenna?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
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<p>So I thought I was set on Wellesley - until I began reading more about CMC. CMC seems to have it all - happy students, great academics, wonderful activities - but it doesn't have the international reputation of Wellesley. On the other hand, Wellesley has a wonderful reputation and great academics, but students don't seem to be as happy there. Choosing either school would have its own downside.</p>

<p>I am very, very confused now. Claremont is becoming more and more appealing, but I'm not sure what it'll mean in terms of my future. I'm already planning on going to Harvard law/grad school, and I feel like it would be easier to get in from Wellesley. </p>

<p>Can somebody please help??</p>

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<p>I think you should post on the other thread where a student will answer your question, but in all honesty, you are not going to make this decision on feedback from either CMC or Wellesley posters. You need to visit both campuses and make your decision based upon first-hand personal experience. </p>

<p>Going to CMC will not hinder you from going to Harvard Law, if you have the qualifications. The school is very highly regarded by all the graduate schools in the country.</p>

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<p>Hi runbunnyrun, I’m a current CMC student. In all honesty, it’s very possible going to CMC would actually increase your chances of being accepted to Harvard Law. As parent57 said, CMC is very highly regarded by all of the country’s graduate institutions and Forbes currently ranks us as #9 among private schools in the country, putting us in good company with Harvard at #8 and Yale at #10.
We are considered the happiest college in America, and I think you’ve caught onto that. Regardless of where you end up, I urge you to not make your decision based on name-recognition or prestige. While your next door neighbor or your grandparents may not have heard of CMC, the people who really matter for your future (ie potential employers, grad schools, etc) certainly know CMC and hold it in the highest regard. Like parent57 said, the best way for you to figure out where is right for you is to visit.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice, but I currently live in China so it’s not really possible for me to visit both schools between now and May.</p>

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<p>CMC parent here-</p>

<p>D looked all over for a great prelaw environment as well…and chose CMC in the end. Yes, she feels that CMC does truly have it all. On admitted students day she attended a prelaw info session at CMC (as she did at her other final contenders) and she loved what she heard about placement in law school, 5C environment and other opportunities (like internships, study abroad, the atheneum etc). She loves CMC…she certainly has not been disappointed.</p>

<p>Both Wellesley and CMC are great schools that will open doors for you. My concern would be the fixation on international reputation. What will really matter as far as recognition when you go job hunting is where you get your grad degree from…in the meantime any law school will be very impressed when they see CMC on your resume. Wellesley has been around longer than any of the Claremont schools. CMC was founded in the 40s and look how far it has come already. (Compare the #s.) This place is on top of things and the alumni/networking connections are amazing. It is one of the best options out there for prelaw.</p>

<p>That being said, it sounds like your parents are more concerned with the ‘prestige’ aspect. As a parent, I would not want to make that decision for my kids, especially when the choice is between two fine schools because you are the one that will have to live with your decision in the end. The common advice in this situation is to go where you will be the happiest because that is where you will do the best. That will translate into the strongest prelaw application. </p>

<p>My D would not consider Wellesley. She knew she did not want to be at a women’s college. Is that a plus or a minus for you? She also would not look that far north as she would not enjoy the weather. Is that a consideration either way? One thing my D mentioned is the commute. I would think that coming from China it would be a plus to be in California. A lot of students from Asia and Hawaii prefer the West coast for college. They think that is far enough to travel. Also, which place is less intense? (The Claremont colleges have a nice, relaxed environment.) Where will you be able to get the grades? Also, D thought she would end up on the East coast for grad school so thought it would be nice to have the West coast experience for undergrad.</p>

<p>One more thing not mentioned is money. CMC is one of the best schools out there as far as $$$. If you are looking at law school, conventional wisdom is to save your money for grad school because it will be very expensive. (CA will also decrease travel costs, as well as time.)</p>

<p>Again, both schools are very good ‘feeder’ colleges for law school. Where will you be happiest and do the best? You don’t have a bad choice here!</p>

<p>Check this out…(CMC is #!..Pomona and Harvey Mudd are also top 5…
lots of CA schools high on the list.</p>

<p>[The</a> 100 Happiest Colleges - Galleries - The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1515/5/]The”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1515/5/)</p>

<p>You can also check out the lists on the Princeton Review site.</p>

<p>Congratulations and good luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>runbunnyrun-</p>

<p>What about your major? Is that stronger at one place or the other?</p>

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<p>Law school admission is almost entirely a function of GPA and LSAT. Whether you go to Wellesley or Claremont McKenna isn’t really going to affect your chances of getting into any law school. You should go where you think you’ll be happiest.</p>

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<p>Money isn’t an issue right now. Neither is weather. My parents aren’t overly fixated on international reputation; they’re telling me that either school is great and that I should go to either. So the decision is all mine. In a way, I wish they would make the decision for me because I’m not sure what I’m going to do.</p>

<p>As for my major, I’m thinking of econ/political science. I’m not entirely sure yet. The all-women’s college part is a minus, but my decision isn’t dependent on that.</p>

<p>One of the things that I loved about Claremont is the relationships the students have with the faculty. In September, one of the admissions officers personally came to find me in Beijing, which is why I even decided to apply in the first place. But on the other hand, I like a lot of the programs at Wellesley and its proximity to MIT/Harvard/New England schools.</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your help. I’m still not entirely sure where to go, so I guess I’lll have to research more.</p>

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<p>You should really try and visit these schools before you decide.</p>

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<p>If weather is an issue, and the presence of the opposite gender, and social life in general, are important to you, put some checkmarks in the CMC column. My daughter has a friend who LOVES Wellesley, but even she says the social life is, as the tour guides there say, ‘you have to work at it’. A colleague of mine at work says her daughter says pretty much the same. You can’t beat Claremont weather, and SoCal is just so laid back . . . take it from this Nor’easterner.</p>

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<p>Well said ayzdad-</p>

<p>I try not to be biased and both schools would be great, no doubt, but in this case I would definitely recommend CMC. For one thing, it is top notch for econ and gov. You will have amazing opportunities there and the speakers at the atheneum are wonderful. D had dinner with Michael Eisner and the Polish minister of finance this year…as in sat at the same table and had a nice talk over dinner…not just listening to the presentation. There are many econ/gov speakers.</p>

<p>Her gov teacher has incredible credentials. (Take a look at the back of the catalog.) And she gets to sit in class and chat with him twice a week. (Her classes are under twenty students…one is only seven.) Those personal relationships you talked about are everywhere at CMC. Maybe at Wellesley too.</p>

<p>Anyway, it is smart of your parents to let you make up your own mind. It will be a little bit painful to give up a school that you really like, but it will be so exciting once you make up your mind and move forward. Obviously, the idea of Boston and the more ‘traditional’ college experience appeals to you as well. Be sure not to romanticize things. Pick the place where you really want to spend the next four years of your life. They are both great choices academically.</p>

<p>Too bad you can’t go and meet your prospective peers. CMC students seem very focused and there is a real energy to the place. Does that appeal to you? Or does the traditional all girls environment call? California weather is great and you certainly do not need to work at having a social life there!</p>

<p>Good luck…and come back and let us know what you decide!</p>

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<p>Thanks for all of your help!! I emailed the admissions officer from CMC and he sent back a long email in depth answering my questions within a day. A bunch of CMC students have voluntarily emailed me offering to answer my questions as well, and I think that personal touch is really great.</p>

<p>I am 90% sure that I will end up at CMC right now. Next week I’m going to a Wellesley Tea, just to make sure that I’m making the right decision. But so far I’m feeling pretty great about my choice!</p>

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<p>The admissions people are wonderful, aren’t they? In our opinion (maybe slightly biased but we have experience with a lot of colleges by now) CMC’s personal touch can’t be beat.</p>

<p>Enjoy your tea and hopefully after that you will have a strong feeling, one way or the other where you belong.</p>