Wellesley vs. Vassar vs. Smith (and Harvard)

College Search & Selection
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<p>So I got into Wellesley, Vassar, and Smith and so far...they're all on equal playing field. I wasn't considering Wellesley at all up until I got in because I had such a bad interview that I was sure that I was going to get rejected. Turns out that I'm in, with awesome financial aide. Smith also has awesome financial aide, offering only slightly less than Wellesley. I haven't gotten my award letter from Vassar yet.</p>

<p>Though Vassar was my first choice out of the three, I'm beginning to lean more toward Wellesley mainly because of the location. It's in Boston, which I've been to several times. I'm from the West Coast, but I know Boston and I know that I like the city.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I can't afford to attend the Open Campus day at Vassar and I have school trip planned on the weekend of Smith's Diversity Day, though they offered to pay. I can go to Wellesley's Diversity day because it's on a free day and they're paying for the trip...</p>

<p>After looking around though, I hear that Smith may be a better choice than Wellesley? Simply because of atmosphere and the city of Northampton is more lively than Wellesley? I don't really know... </p>

<p>Can anyone help me out here with this decision?</p>

<p>Also...</p>

<p>I've been waitlisted at Harvard. I think I have a really good chance of getting in if they choose people off the waitlist this year. But I've heard that undergraduate education and social life is better at places like Vassar, Wellesley, and Smith....?</p>

<p>Thanks to anyone who replied. :)</p>

2

<p>As someone who attended both Vassar and Wellesley, I would cast my vote in favor of Vassar. Look, Vassar is coed, Wellesley is not. That makes a huge difference, not saying for better or for worse, just different. Also, while Wellesley “has Boston,” that is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because Boston is a great town, a curse because everyone splits from Wellesley on weekends to spend their time in the city, or at other, larger colleges (MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Tufts, you name it). It really eviscerates the sense of community and self-sufficiency that a small college would ordinarily benefit from (and that Vassar has). Academically, the schools you mention are all essentially on a par, so that shouldn’t influence you (unless you have a strong lean toward a certain major, in which case one of the schools might have an edge, depending on the major. All the schools are beautiful. Vassar had a much more laid back, fun atmosphere than Wellesley, which was a little too prim for me. Can’t speak with first hand knowledge about the other schools you mention, but you are fortunate to have such solid choices available to you.</p>

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<p>If you can afford it and/or FA comes through, I vote for Vassar as well.</p>