Looking at the numbers and rankings for Wellesley College, it seems to me that it’s the #3 LAC and #1 Women’s College in the US. However, whenever I’m on youtube (looking at decision reaction videos) or browsing social media or even CC, it really doesn’t seem like people talk about Wellesley. Why is that? I’m not sure if I have an inflated ego for being admitted or if it has to do with Wellesley being a women’s college or any other reasons, but I’ve found that people (my age, at least) don’t know much about Wellesley or talk about it despite what I perceive as it’s high prestige. Any explanations?
Mostly because is it is all-women, a generally under-valued option, and one that is (obviously) not available to almost half of college applicants.
To be fair, you won’t find as much social media stuff on a lot of the ‘prestigious’ LACs- the name recognition is just not the same. Ask people who are getting into Pomona, for example, how many people are impressed - yet Pomona has an admission rate (7%) that puts its selectivity in the same admissions tier as the ones with lots of ‘decision reaction videos’ (a terrible idea, btw).
You will find that Wellesley gets a lot of love here on CC. You will find that grad schools and employers love Wellesley grads. And you will find that knowing for yourself the value of your institution is a lot more satisfying than fickle and superficial social media fame.
The main thing is, Congratulations!! Wellesley is a super college, and you will not only have amazing opportunities, but you will gain an incredibly strong network of peers and fellow alums that will stand to you your whole life.
Congratulations on being admitted!
I like to think of the Women’s Colleges as hidden gems, some of the best colleges in the US and reserved for slightly more than half of the population. Not only is Welleseley a wonderful place to attend college, but it’s part of the larger network of Seven Sisters (now Five sisters and one cousin (Vassar) and one lost soul – Radcliffe which got eaten up by Harvard). It’s a lovely club to be part of and I think as you move forward in your life you will feel the camaraderie of your fellow sisters – all studious, passionate, smart, directed, ambitious women.
Based on my anecdotal experience, getting admitted to Pomana is harder than 50% of Ivies. I consider Pomona for sure top 3 liberal arts schools.
I recommend it fairly often out here. :). Congratulations on being accepted! Don’t worry about YouTube — you have an acceptance to a great college!
It’s an issue with many top LACs that people don’t recognize the name – the people on the street that is. People who are making hiring decisions and grad school decisions usually know the major LACs.
That being said, I know one professor at a major university who was flummoxed by the name “Bowdoin” and pronounced it many many awkward ways until I finally sort of shouted it out loud in frustration. You know, a top school! And still this professor, who presumably is deciding what students to accept into his/her grad program hadn’t heard of it. That happens. Then there are the people who ■■■■■■■ the first time they hear the name “Harvey Mudd.” Once they understand the caliber of school it is, that certainly stops!
It happens for many schools. Many many excellent schools.
@eggseggseggs Congrats on getting into a wonderful school. It is extremely impressive. Please don’t worry about what others think. You will know you are at an elite school when you experience the opportunities to obtain individualized mentorship for quality research, or when you attend classes at MIT under their cooperative agreement.
I’m really happy to read all the positive replies.
I totally understand what you’re saying @Eggseggseggs it gets to my nerves when my friends keep mixing it with Wesleyan and when I correct them and tell them that it’s a women’s college they look at me all weird. I feel like Wellesley might be one of the most underrated universities. I hope I get in an I can get more people from my school and country to know that it’s an amazing school.
Congratulations on getting in!! 
I think the previous commenters have highlighted why Wellesley isn’t well known to the general public, however, to answer your question as to why there aren’t all that many videos on youtube… For one thing, the lack of name recognition makes a reaction video less appealing to viewers. Secondly, I have found just about all the youtube videos from current students that exist (there’s only about three). Being a student at Wellesley, everyone knows who you are if you post videos, even if it’s just reviews–and ESPECIALLY if it’s critiques of the institution. There is a lot of pressure to be PC, and any statements–no matter how seemingly benign–can cause you to be something of a social outcast. Not only are there examples of why one might not want to post publically about Wellesley, we all just have no time:)
Hope that helped at least a bit!