<ol>
<li><p>EE isn’t set in stone, but your chances of turning a Likely into a rejection are pretty slim. Same for turning an Unlikely into an acceptance.</p></li>
<li><p>No Indian restaurants in Wellesley (sadly), but there are two Thai restaurants, a Chinese/Japanese place that delivers to campus, an Asian-American fusion restaurant, a bagel place, a cheese shop, two places for ice cream, some coffee shops, and a faux-diner where you can get burgers. (At least, I think the diner is still there … maybe it’s gone? The downtown area changes rapidly.) There are more options in Natick and Framingham, and there’s a bus that goes there on Saturdays. Obviously, the sky is the limit if you choose to go into Boston.</p></li>
<li><p>The student body is, perhaps, more vocally liberal, but there is a conservative presence on campus. There were more than a few conservative Republican students during my time, and they proudly stood up for what they believed.</p></li>
<li><p>Wellesley is more beautiful than the movie shows it. There is no ugly part of campus, and the grounds are impeccably maintained. The landscaping looks organic and natural, rather than orderly and contrived. The campus was originally designed by Frederick Olmsted, who also designed Central Park. So, yes, the campus is lovely from every perspective and vantage point.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t believe everything you read in Rolling Stone. The idea of Wellesley as partying hotbed of ethically questionable sexual escapades is laughable.</p></li>
<li><p>You can study abroad for either a semester or a year. If you go through one of the sponsored programs, you pay only your regular tuition to Wellesley. I spent a semester in Lancaster, England, and they also provided a generous food stipend (there are no dining halls there). That was several years ago, so you should talk to the study-abroad officer for more updated information. Regardless of the program, you’re responsible for getting there and back.</p></li>
<li><p>Heating is included in the room charges, but there’s no air conditioning. The first week or two of the fall semester is a little hot, but it isn’t that big of a deal. Most of the academic buildings are air conditioned, and you probably won’t be spending huge amounts of time in your room. Bring a fan.</p></li>
<li><p>The one (material) thing I needed at Wellesley was a good winter wardrobe and rain boots.</p></li>
<li><p>I loved Wellesley because it was a challenging, inspiring environment, but didn’t appreciate the entitlement complex that cropped up in discussions. “I pay $48,000 a year to go here, so the school ought to provide service X …” Sometimes there’s truth to the sentiment, but I fondly recall my first year, when a student claimed that her bill (then $30,000) meant that she shouldn’t have to deal with dogs or wild animals on campus. Ha.</p></li>
<li><p>You can get by quite cheaply, depending on the type of classes you take. Science textbooks are far more expensive than English books, for example, but you can still pick up used books online or from other students for reasonable prices. Food is included in the room/board bill, and there’s plenty of it. With a few exceptions, local restaurants aren’t expensive (under $10 for an entree) and many will deliver. The college subsidizes an hourly(ish) bus service into Cambridge every day of the week. Weekdays are free, and weekends are $2 each way. In general, I only worked 8-10 hours a week on campus and easily paid for expenses not included in the tuition bill.</p></li>
<li><p>Verizon seems to be the most reliable on campus.</p></li>
</ol>