Wesleyan U vs Smith

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wesleyan University
1

<p>I always hear all of these comparisons between Wesleyan and Vassar, Wesleyan and Brown, etc, but I can't find anything about Wesleyan vs Smith! I've done a lot of research into both colleges, and I really love them. They both have very liberal and progressive atmospheres and amazing Gender and Sexuality Studies departments, or so I've heard. Can anyone please add to this? I haven't gotten a chance to visit either yet but will in April, after I get my decisions back. In the meantime, I've been asking my friends at both colleges for their opinions. A friend at Wesleyan said that people at Smith seemed less mature - does anyone else here share this view? Can you add anything else about these two colleges?
Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Wesleyan has about 1400 more men. Northampton has a slightly more artsy feel than Middletown (probably because there’s a lot more money floating around.) Other than that, you’re really talking about academic differences; I think Smith has an engineering program, Wesleyan offers physics classes through the Ph.D level.</p>

3

<p>I’ve spent a decent amount of time at Smith. What do you want to know?</p>

<p>I think Smith’s campus is nicer, as is the town it’s in, although it’s easier to get to New York from Wesleyan. academically they’re pretty similar with the exception of a few majors. </p>

<p>Women’s colleges have a much different kind of social scene, although that isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing. The five college system does add a little bit to it. Smith is definitely easier to get into. that doesn’t mean the students are less smart necessarily, but I’ve met a lot of people at Smith who didn’t get into Wesleyan and I’ve never met anyone who picked Smith over Wesleyan.</p>

4

<p>One of my extremely random criteria would be which place would be more suited to starting a riot grrrl/queercore band. I definitely want to be in a place where I can connect with other musicians of the queer or feminist (or both) persuasions. </p>

<p>I want to be somewhere outgoing where people aren’t afraid of challenging conventions. I want to feel freedom to express exactly who I am. I don’t want a place with snobbery or elitism (I’ve gotten that enough at my high school and am sick of it.) </p>

<p>So, does Wesleyan seem like this kind of place, or is Smith more like that?</p>

5

<p>that’s funny you should mention that because I happen to know someone trying to put together a riot grrl band at wes. (there was a feminist/queercore sort of band last year but they graduated). there’s more of a music scene at wes but more of a feminist/queer scene at smith.</p>

<p>as for the second comment, definitely either school is a good place to have challenging conversations and express yourself, and neither school is completely immune to the forces of elitism that pervades top schools.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>I think Smith’s campus is better landscaped than Wesleyan’s; there are more trees placed in strategic walkways and other locations. Wesleyan’s geographic center is a multi-purpose playing field, outdoor concert stage, and one of the most dramatic graduation venues I’ve ever attended: <a href=“http://sca.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/centennial035.jpg[/url]”>http://sca.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/centennial035.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Architecturally, you won’t see a lot of soaring gothic towers; Wesleyan was founded by Methodists and my sense is that would have reminded them too much of the Church of England (see, Trinity for that sort of thing.) Wesleyan’s buildings tend to be variations of the low-to-the-ground, New England salt-box; modern addititions to the campus have tended to reinforce that basic shape: <a href=“http://www.archinect.com/images/uploads/Roche.03.jpg[/url]”>http://www.archinect.com/images/uploads/Roche.03.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.diblasi-engrs.com/images/photos/college/fauver1.jpg[/url]”>http://www.diblasi-engrs.com/images/photos/college/fauver1.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As such, its aesthetic rewards are more subtle, the kind that come over time as some its quirks and puzzlements unravel with the careful eye:
[College</a> Row-Wesleyan CT | Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/brushbin/2502692454/in/photostream/]College”>College Row-Wesleyan CT | IM00 | John Brush | Flickr)
[Wesleyan</a> U-CT | Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/brushbin/2502692340/in/photostream/]Wesleyan”>Wesleyan U-CT | Broad lawns, old trees, and beautiful buildi… | Flickr)
<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/images/about_campus_01.jpg[/url]”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/images/about_campus_01.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;