<p>Hi. I'm from New York City and I haven't visited Wellesley yet. Can you all share your opinions on the school campus? Is there easy access to the city? What is there to do?</p>
<p>Also, what do you LOVE/really like about Wellesley and what do you HATE/dislike about it?</p>
<p>I love the campus- it's beautiful and was designed especially for women. It's also really close to Boston and Wellesley provides free buses there about every 5 minutes on the weekdays and on weekends there's a small charge. Another really nice thing about the college itself is that there is free color printing, free photocopies, etc., I know that it's not a huge deal but you find that even in some schools with huge billion dollar endowments, they still charge you 10 cents to print a piece of paper! I didn't really hate anything about the campus- it's pretty much an ideal college setting. I still have some reserves about going to an all-girls school and the rumors I've heard about Wellesley girls :)</p>
<p>I overnighted last month. The campus is NOT close to Boston, it is about a 40 minute ride. The students don't seem happy socially, it's not easy to meet guys according the students I spoke with. Lots of people eating alone in dining halls. The classes are great, but everyone seems very uptight in the classroom - they take notes frantically. </p>
<p>Of course, it is a fabulous school, but I wonder how many students just stick it out because it's Wellesley. Happiness did not abound when I was there last month.</p>
<p>This is very interesting, Schoolgurl (your last observation). Do you have any observations regarding Bryn Mawr, Barnard or Smith? Have you visitied any of these?</p>
<p>Wellesley does have the cachet, but maybe it all comes at a cost (happiness).</p>
<p>Anyone else care to comment?</p>
<p>I loved BMC and Smith. Didn't visit Barnard. I am not a citygurl!</p>
<p>Six Wellesley First Years would like to correct a couple of false generalizations about our school, social interactions, and campus...</p>
<p>1) Wellesley IS about 35-40 minutes away from Boston by the provided Senate/Exchange bus. The Senate bus costs $2 to ride each way. The Exchange bus is free. It runs every 40 minutes and although it is fairly reliable, it can be a <strong><em>, hence the Facebook group, "The </em></strong> Truck Has *ed Me Over."</p>
<p>2) We really don't want to go into details with the whole printing/copying situation. It's definitely a really miniscule detail when choosing a college. (It's a pretty standard set up, though, if you must know.)</p>
<p>3) Don't seem happy socially? What? If people are eating alone in the dining halls it isn't becaues they are unsocial, depressed, or lack friends. This isn't high school, girls, and the women that attend this college have enough confidence in themselves to do something as simple as eat a meal by themselves.</p>
<p>4) You don't go to college based on the guys you will meet because regardless on where you go, you will meet guys. Period. At the moment, every single one of us has met guys. Some go to Wellesley with boyfriends, some meet a boyfriend, some meet multiple boyfriends, and some meet great guy friends. Oh, and we've only been here for a month.</p>
<p>5) Uptight in the classroom? You were in the wrong classes because there are some amazing professors that teach at our school. Plus, the women you are surrounded by are probably going to be the most amazing people you'll meet in your life. Don't be intimidated by women who work hard and aren't afraid to do so.</p>
<p>6) Rumors about Wellesley girls? Honestly, if you're the type of girl who feeds into rumors, Wellesley is not the place for you. Just because this is an esteemed college, matters that would be overlooked at other universities are blown out of proportion. Everyone wants a good story. Wellesley is an easy target.</p>
<p>Oh, last but not least, college is a 4 year investment and not something you "just stick out." It takes time to adjust anywhere, but make sure it feels right when you're there... and it will feel right. Keep that in mind when you decide on which college to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks Rovee, et al, for your insightful answers. </p>
<p>I was so happy to read your post. There have been recent posts on cc from W students about difficulties with the social life, so it's only natural for prospective students to be concerned. Some of the students I spoke with at W echoed those sentiments. It's good to hear that that's not the case for everyone. </p>
<p>I'm not questioning that there are amazing profs or students at W. That was not my statement. The students just seemed more intense than I expected in the classroom...writing down virtually every word the professor said.</p>
<p>I have one more question. I can handle competition, but I am not a cut-throat type person. What is Wellesley life like in that respect?</p>
<p>Good work, Rovaira :).</p>
<p>My D overnighted at Wellesley and loved it. Students were friendly, outgoing and excited to sing the praises of their school. </p>
<p>Nobody had any concerns about socializing. Plenty of students had cars. Everybody seemed happy. The campus was active and busy, and ooooh, that the new Wang Center is amazing!</p>
<p>Now she just has to decide if she wants to apply ED to Wellesley.</p>
<p>What do I hate?....What don't I hate is a better question :></p>
<p>Are you a Wellesley student, Ilove? </p>
<p>Actually, Elizabeth, some of your posts at the beginning of the school year were what made me think twice about applying to Wellesley. Has life there gotten better for you?</p>
<p>Yes I am...unfortunately</p>
<p>Ilove, I just PM'ed you...</p>
<p>I think it's important to remember that you will find students who love/hate every school. And it's not uncommon for one to hate what another one loves. </p>
<p>You ask questions, you visit the campus, but there are still no guarantees until you actually are a student there. It's hard to project how <em>you</em> will feel at a given school from all the responses you get, though it's the best you can do in an imperfect process which has a lot of randomness in it.</p>
<p>Even when you like a school very much, you can go through the process waiting for the shoe to drop, to encounter something that makes you like the school less than you had. Kinda like a second/third/fourth date after a great first date.</p>
<p>Good advice, Dad. That's why this forum is so helpful.</p>
<p>Schoolgurl,</p>
<p>Wellesley and I have a strange relationship. I don't love it all the time- but I'm certainly not unhappy. I'm still adjusting, and it's not a great idea to take what a brand new freshman says as gospel truth. There are days I love it- like when I realize how incredible my classmates and professors are, and days when I don't love it so much- like when I realize that my social life at home was more readily available. I came here used to nightly entertainment (school nights included) in the form of volleyball, hockey, dodgeball, parties, baseball games, etc. It's not quite like that here, but to be honest I wouldn't have time for anything on school nights anyway. </p>
<p>I'm still figuring out what I think of the place- but everything Rovaira said is absolutely true. I'm not "unhappy socially" here- I rarely go to meals alone, and when I do, it's by choice. I'm just not quite used to what a Wellesley social life means....and I've only had about a month to start figuring it out. What I have figured out in the month I've been here is that a Wellesley education is empowering and amazing, and I don't think that any social life is worth trading what I'm getting here. I'm still working on making it close to perfect, but I think everyone else is too- my issues are just a little different than most people's.</p>
<p>I hope this helps.</p>
<p>-Elizabeth</p>
<p>It does help, Elizabeth. And thank you for your generous responses.</p>
<p>Roviara, thank you! You're hot. And my mom likes you too!</p>
<p>Wellesley is amazing.</p>
<p>I'm a student here, class of 2009.</p>
<p>I applied Early Decision, got deferred, and then got in regular decision.</p>
<p>I have nothing to say right now, really. But I'll be here to answer questions.</p>
<h1>1 Rovaira, you are my hero.</h1>
<p>What do I love about Wellesley?</p>
<p>Diet coke products, women who would gladly drop anything they're doing to help you, great profs, friendly students, beautiful campus, interesting courses, surrounding schools, no grad school=more attention to us, clean, safe (leave your pocket book in the middle of sev. green for a year, and it will still be there, honor code, the new campus center, organizations, alumni network. yada yada yada</p>
<p>dislike
women who'd rather go shopping than hike, people who flaunt their money, racial self-segregation (happens at every school), food is mediocre.</p>
<p>there is not a "typical wellesley student." keep that in mind.</p>
<p>bonne chance.</p>
<p>kate</p>
<p>Love:
The campus
My friends
My classes
My job
the food (ice cream every day)
firstclass
people care about work here
I can be in the middle of the academic road here</p>
<p>Hate
tight dining hall schedule
clean access
not being good enough to make theater here</p>