Getting off-campus key
Written: Oct 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Regular on-campus activities
Cons: Men hard to come by, travel time-consuming
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| mlturner's Full Review: Wellesley College |
When I applied to Wellesley, my high school guidance counselor told me that my experience at a women's college would be much like that of a co-ed school. Boy was he off base, way off. That doesn't mean that I regret my decision, just that I wish I had been aware of the realities of a women's college before I got to campus.
In high school, I had friendships with both boys and girls. But my friendships with boys were actually closer than with the girls, perhaps because I enjoyed learning from their different perspective on life. So being thrust into a social situation at Wellesley where you have limited access to friendships with men was quite a challenge at first.
On the plus side, you do develop supportive, close friendships with your female dorm and classmates. Although there is some competitiveness, for the most part everyone works to help each other succeed academically.
On the minus side, making friends with guys requires time. Lots of it. Yes, you can take a bus into MIT and Harvard fairly easily, as well as to Babson and Brandeis, but that takes time and planning. And when you get there, you need a guide.
As a freshman, my dorm resident adviser offered to take us on a tour of MIT fraternities and introduce us to MIT students. That helped immensely in getting to know a handful of people and to learning how to navigate the Wellesley/MIT bus system. Attending the annual mixer was also helpful in getting to know Harvard and MIT students; some people became good friends or introduced me to other people who became good friends.
There are generally dorm parties each weekend at Wellesley, but be forewarned that students from other colleges may not feel like traveling to Wellesley to party. Again, it takes work.
Access to Boston is a big plus, with all of its museums, cross-registration at local schools, restaurants, and shopping. Although you can certainly find all you need in the village of Wellesley, Boston provides an added dimension you won't want to miss out on.
The first year at Wellesley is tough for some students, but by sophomore year most women love it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mlturner
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Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 4 members
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