I have heard back from all my schools and my top choices are Wellesley College and Colgate University. I am leaning towards Wellesley, but I want to get some advice before I commit, since I still have some time.
I am a full Korean, first gen student from a public high school. I am of a single-parent household and am not well off.
I am interested in anthropology or environmental studies.
I am hesitant about Colgate, considering I don’t fit their main demographic at all, but I know that their academics are great.
My only concern about Wellesley would be the competitiveness, as I have heard the campus is more cut-throat than collaborative.
Both schools have offered me similar financial aid (I would have to pay around 3k), so the deciding factors are mainly the school’s atmosphere and academic setting. I know the stereotypes of both schools, and I would appreciate any advice from alumni, current students, or parents of either!
Hi–I’ve known several people who have attended Wellesley and Colgate, both. I’ve heard a lot about the competitiveness too, but I think it’s couched within the idea of a “sisterhood” setting. The individuals that I’ve known well from there and have met from there more briefly, both, seem to be seeking the best possible for themselves, while not being “cut throat.” I have never met a “cut throat” person from Wellesley but they all seem to want to do the absolute best that they can–and they are ambitious. I’ve admired the Wellesley people I’ve known. Colgate people are competitive in a business sense, I find, if I can generalize. It’s more “this is business it’s not personal.” and they compete away. Like one person from Colgate, this stood out in my mind vividly, said that when she trained for the marathon she always practiced running through puddles rather than around them. It’s a small detail but that’s what she did and that’s what she chose to tell me to explain herself. It’s interesting, I thought and I’ve always remembered that: the driving forward tendency at all peril, stopping at nothing, but perhaps not the wisest way to get through, but the most expedient. Running through puddles means wet shoes to make the rest of the journey that much harder–they’re heavier and chafe. It’s always fascinated me. In any event the other issue of Colgate that you wouldn’t need to deal with at Wellesley is the Greek and party culture. Colgate is 45% Greek!! It would be hard to avoid this culture. If you’re into Greek, it’s great! If you’re not, it would be a challenge. Both are good schools academically but Wellesley is the more intellectual to my mind while Colgate is more practical. Colgate is like Dartmouth in a way–both party-hardy schools with smart folks many of whom go into some angle of finance or high-level sales or business. Wellesley is more aligned with the Seven Sisters which, on the whole, are more focused on academics and learning as an end in itself–after which you go into whatever you like and it runs the gamut. It’s a different feeling and intent. I hope that my limited knowledge is somewhat helpful to you in making your choice. Don’t worry about the “public school” part of your background; many at these private colleges are from public schools too Best of luck to you.
Wellesley College appears to be the better choice for you unless you want to participate in Greek social life in which case Colgate is the better choice.
Wellesley College students often socialize with MIT students.
In general, the case for Colgate would be made on the success of its graduates, the flat-out beauty of its campus, its authentically rural setting comfortably offset from the Eastern megalopolis and its relationship with the friendly village of Hamilton:
Insightful comment from the Fiske Guide To Colleges 2020 regarding Colgate University:
“Greek organizations and jocks are still well entrenched despite administrative efforts to neutralize their influence.” “Greek life definitely dominates the party culture.”
Don’t know about your assertion that Colgate students (2900 or so) are in the Greek system at a 45% level. How would that work? There are 8 houses and 50% of students, the freshmen and sophomores, are not eligible. I would guess a 30% figure is more like it.
Anyway, there are lots of housing-affinity choices at Colgate and the Commons system introduced a few years ago has been very useful in making all freshmen and sophomores integrate easily into the wider community.
This sentence is in Wikipedia. “About forty-five percent of sophomores, juniors and seniors belong to fraternities or sororities at Colgate.” So not including freshmen, 45% of the campus …
Like I said, Colgate does not permit sophomores to live in Greek houses. Maybe someone should clarify for Wikipedia who does what. It is hardly authoritative, is it.
Now, if we are talking about joining a Greek house as a pledge for the following year during sophomore year (as freshmen are prohibited from doing so), or going to parties at Greek houses (which explains why some say the party scene is often “Greek”), that is something else.
Anyway, my point was that Greek houses, as living units, do not accommodate anywhere near 45% of students.
I also question the 45% statistic: students who show up expecting their parents’ Colgate in that regard might be disappointed.
More importantly, rush isn’t until sophomore year by which time many find their social “tribe” which may not include Greek life at all, not to mention how busy you can become. By sophomore year, my club sport and a group research project for my major took up so much of my time that I reluctantly let rush go. Contrary to expectations, there was no shortage of friends, parties and good times.