Wellesley or Amherst?

Emily814 · 05-11-2008, 02:42 PM

I just got off the waitlist at amherst college--any advice on where i should go?

BunsenBurner · 05-12-2008, 02:14 AM

Emily, these are both wonderful schools. You can't go wrong with either of them. Unfortunately, without knowing the details of your situation it is hard to give advice. Just follow your heart and your head. You have to weigh all of the factors: fin. aid, majors offered, if you've already made firends at the school, etc. Good luck to you!

WendyMouse · 05-12-2008, 10:26 AM

Yeah, aside from not knowing anything about Amherst, all I can tell you is that it has a higher USNWR ranking, , it is an LAC, it is located in western Mass, and is part of the five college consortium. Things, I am sure that you already know. Since I have no clue why you would want to go to either Wellesley or Amherst, I can't help.

tetrisfan · 05-12-2008, 10:32 AM

Amherst is co-ed, is part of a consortium, has an open curriculum, leans towards the athletic side and may be fractionally more prestigious.

Don't know too much about W, but if those above characteristics appeal to you, go for it.

Emily814 · 05-12-2008, 05:57 PM

i have basically the same finaid from both (excellent aid, btw). i want to major in either econ or pre-med. how are internships or job-placements at these schools? and if i went pre-med, which one has been graduate school stats? i also really want to study abroad...any major differences there?

WendyMouse · 05-12-2008, 11:32 PM

Well, the Econ department at Wellelsey is huge and well respected, but I have zero personal experience with it. People seem to get jobs or internships at investment banks and the like.

I have no premed stats for you either. Premeds at Wellesley are stressed/worried about grades, but I believe that is the universal state of the premed creature. My closest premed friend isn't applying to med school until after graduation, and she's doing a master's program that is more related to her major first. She also hopes to apply to schools in her home state.

A bunch of juniors study abroad at Wellelsey (I did not), less than half the class, but a substantial amount. I know people who have studied in Japan, Aix (France), Cordoba (Spain), Puebla (Mexico), Scotland, Italy, Oxford, London, Canada, Australia/New Zealand.
If you want to study abroad in a country that doesn't speak English, Wellelsey generally requires a certain level of language preparation. A lot of European programs are designed for language students, because you are supposed to take courses in the foreign language. You can do Wellelsey or non Wellesley programs, but in the latter case you need to do some paperwork about getting credit for types of classes. I know of people who have had their proposals shot down for one reason or another.

Some of the Wintersession courses also go to exotic places, like India, Jamaica, Vienna, Morocco and Georgia. There is also a Wintersession in Moscow, but I don't know why anyone in their right mind would want to go to Russia in January.

BunsenBurner · 05-13-2008, 12:21 AM

WendyMouse, it takes a special kind of person to enjoy Moscow in winter. However, Russians celebrate their Christmas in January, followed by the so-called "old" New Year. Yeah, lots of fun and festivities, so I guess it might be worth braving the cold

As far as your friend not going to med. school right after graduation, I think it is getting to be the norm, not an exception. According to a person familiar with the UW Medical School, nowadays med. schools prefer that their applicants have some research and/or medicine-related work and volunteer experience.

lmpw · 05-16-2008, 04:34 AM

My daughter goes to Amherst and loves it. It is extremely diverse and I've not met one person there who doesn't like it. My daughter is from southern California. It has great faculty who spends a lot of time with the students. Economics is very strong at Amherst. Have you visited both campuses? Of course, you need to decide whether you'd like a single-sex versus coed experience. Wellesley is beautiful and also an outstanding institution. You have two wonderful choices.

onomatopoeia! · 05-20-2008, 11:38 AM

I have a very good friend who is currently attending Amherst. He absolutely loves it. His older sister turned down Harvard to go there for her undergrad work... she took a year off after graduating to volunteer for VISTA, and was recently accepted to Harvard Law, where she will be attending next fall.
So, I'd say Amherst is an EXCELLENT school (obviously)... it is rated as the top liberal arts college... in the nation.
On the other hand, Wellesley is not far behind on the list... and I personally am beyond thrilled to say I will be attending Wellesley in the fall! =D I find it to be a magical place, though I'm not looking into anything related to your possible majors, so it may be the place for me... but not for you.
I think it may come down to the co-ed issue... or just how you feel on campus in general. Have you visited both schools? Was Amherst your first choice at the beginning of your college process?

Congratulations on both schools, and I wish you the best of luck with your decision!