A World in a Bubble

Introduction
Wellesley is an amazing place, but it isn't for everyone. Its most frequently-cited faults are that it is located in a small town outside of Boston and has an all-female student body, but critics often neglect to realize that these two facts are its greatest assets as well. Because Wellesley isn't in the middle of the crowded Boston center, the campus is spread-out and beautiful, with neo-Gothic style architecture and even its own lake. For students looking for a campus where they can ride their bikes, walk, and generally be outdoors, Wellesley is perfect. As to its all-female population, it is true that Wellesley women have to work a bit harder for male interaction- usually lackluster given the offerings of nearby Babson College, MIT, and Harvard- the flipside is a sense of sisterhood, no matter how cheesy it sounds, that lasts throughout their lives. In my first classes, I was amazed to hear the insightful comments of the women around me, and I wondered how many of them had silenced themselves before due to the social pressures inherent in a co-ed classroom. Having met generations of Wellesley women, I have been assured by all that the relationships formed at Wellesley are deep and lasting in a way that few are. Other major assets are an extremely dedicated faculty, a student body with an interest in the outside world, and the most ethnic diversity of any college on the east coast. Is Wellesley for every college-bound woman? Certainly not, but for those women who can see the value of what it offers over what it cannot, it can be an amazing place to spend the formative years of college. The list of notable Wellesley graduates- Hilary Clinton, Madeline Albright, architect Pam Melroy, NPR anchor Linda Wertheimer, Madame Chang-Kai Shek, Nora Ephron, Lynn Sherr, to name only a few- does not lie, and the benefit derived from being a graduate of Wellesley and part of the "Wellesley network" is second only the the benefit of spending four years there.

Campus Life and Social Life
The social life at Wellesley is not immediately ready in the way that it might be at other schools. Students make their own social lives. Some make friends in MIT and Harvard frats and take the hourly bus to Boston every weekend. Others are active in sports, both varsity level and intermural. There are always parties at Wellesley, though first-year students expecting a great deal of male presence at the parties will certainly be disappointed. Some students spend their off-time studying, though others do community service projects. The on-campus pub plays host to frequent folk concerts and a weekly student-run comedy show. The four on-campus societies throw frequent parties, and the many organizations on campus saturate the schedule with museum exhibitions, theater performances, cultural shows, holiday celebrations, and lectures. Wellesley is what you make of it- and that can be positive or negative. Advertisement
Academics
The professors at Wellesley are uncommonly dedicated to their students, aided by the fact that there are no graduate students at Wellesley and, thus, no distractions for its faculty. Wellesley has always had a strong reputation in the sciences and in the humanities. Certain departments are lacking: a recent student campaign for more offerings in East Asian, South Asian, Latin, and Africana studies has brought the beginnings of very slow change, but these departments still lack the funding for truly diverse course offerings. There are no TA's, and the workload is what you make of it. The often-cited "Wendy Wellesley," the ridiculed "perfect Wellesley archtype," studies non-stop and freaks out if she gets an A-. While those women do exist, most of the students are reasonable and, although any college student can be overwhelmed at times, the workload is not insurmountable.

Student Body
Students at Wellesley are from all around the globe, literally. The vast majority are politically and socially liberal, though Republicans can be a vocal minority. The student body is among the most ethnically diverse in the country. The typical Wellesley woman is opinonated and aware of the world. There is a high gay population among students, but, contrary to popular belief, not everyone who goes to Wellesley is gay or becomes gay. One unique program at Wellesley is the Davis Scholars Program, which grants scholarships to non-traditionally aged women who wish to receive a college degree.

In Closing...
If you are so inclined, I would recommend giving Wellesley a second-look and trying to see past the negatives always cited first. I have enjoyed my time here immensely, and I know that my life will be shaped by the experience of being in this unique place. Although there were times when I wished for a party with boys just down the hall or a city outside my door, I wouldn't trade those things for any part of my experience in the end.