Wellesley College Top Questions

Don't let your feelings get lost along the way. When I first visited Wellesley it felt right, and I really wanted to go there. But by the end of the process I had convinced myself to take a step back from that feeling, and consider the other options. I was really worried about college, and ended up picking a different school because I had friends and relatives who had gone there and so it seemed like less of a scary unknown. It ended up being completely the wrong school, and so I transferred to Wellesley. I wish I had made the decision based on my initial gut feeling that Wellesley was the right school so that I could have spent all four years there. As for making the most of the college experience - don't be afraid to try new things. Take classes in subjects you've never heard of, join new clubs, play new sports. This is the time to find out what else is out there beyond your previous experience.

To a future college student: I'd say to really think about the kind of person/student you are. You want a campus that fulfills your needs, socially, physically, emotionally, etc. You want a campus that has people who are similar to you, in terms of ambitions and social scenes, but also enough diversity to learn about other interests and people. You want a college that will help you find yourself as well as what you want to do with the rest of your life and help you reach your goals. The kind of person you are and the kind of person you may want to become makes a difference as well, if you are introveted, but would like to get more involved, maybe seek a smaller school that has more personal attention and encouragement for each student, etc. Good luck, and you'll be fine!

Look for a college that fits your personal qualities and you academic expectations. Always visit the campus before accepting.

I would tell students to spend 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of their time on academics and the other 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on social activities and extracurricular. If you overspend on one or the other, you will either sacrifice crucial self growth/networking/relationship building or you will sacrifice your GPA. Spend a night at each school you want to go to. Talk to MANY students of all majors and years. Everyone's college experience is unique so you need as many perspectives as you can to achieve a full understanding of the school.

To parents: The college experience and life after college has nothing to do with the name of the school. Everything rests on what the student makes of his or her time in school. Let your child (apply to and) choose the school that will let him or her thrive - psychologically, socially, and intellectually. To students: Choose the school that will give you options. What you want to do with your life right now could be and probably will be entirely different than what you will want in two years, or even a semester. Even though it makes it hard to figure out what you want to major in, having flexibility and being open to new fields of study will enrich your academic experience. So choose the place that will let you play around with your studies. Take classes that oppose each other in doctrine, practice, or theory. It will make your mind work and expand, and you will feel intellectually stimulated/fulfilled. When it comes down to it, college is about your growth as a person and as a student. Pick the most fertile place and the place that will tend to you. Most importantly, seek happiness.

Trust yourself. You know what the right school for you is. Don't think about where you want to go the most, think about where you'll regret most not going.

I think students should keep their options open when apply to college. They should not restrict themselves to a location or a type of school if they have interests in others. Every family does have financial concerns, so it is difficult to follow your heart and select the best fit or dream school, but sometimes you have to think about which decision would be the best in the long run. Once you are at college, you should definitely make an effort to create new friendships because those you meet at the beginning are most likely to be the friends you will have throughout your years, so make use of the early years. Join what your interested and don't overwhelm yourself with commitments.

Before making a final decision, the following should be considered: tuition and financial aid, location, climate, social network, campus housing, meals (quality, affordability, availability), religious customs, sports and extracurricular activities, transportation, facilities, demographics, job availability, professors (availability, teaching ability, status of reknown), alumni network, and of course, the quality of education. Although some of these aspects seem trivial, these will all come to be of importance during the student's time at school. Remember: it will be his home for four of his most important years in terms of character and educational development. Where he chooses to attend college will very much affect who he becomes. The absolute best advice is to visit: sign up for a tour, find a host(ess) for some insider tips and a night's stay in a dorm, sneak into several lectures, and wander the campus and poke into its nooks and crannies. Visit the dining halls for a sampling of the daily fares, curl up with a book at the library, attend a sporting event or concert, and stop by the trendy cafe on the corner. Make an appointment with the dean to discuss the future. Photos and words just do not suffice.

Do not select a school based upon rankings, but rather one for personal growth in addition to academic growth. In relation to personal growth, I mean a school that will challenge your personal beliefs, identity, ethnicity, and etc

I knew Wellesley was the right school for me from a gut feeling. I have never regretted the decision, but every student needs to find the school that is right for them (cause I am positive there is one). Ask questions and if people aren't sure of the answer ask again. Once at school, ask for help when you need it and help others when they struggle. Help form a community and don't forget to help your community. Volunteer, reading to children, etc. And if you don't like your school transfer. There is no reason to be unhappy.