Wellesley or Washington and Lee

ringer05
Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:17:51 +0000

I know nothing about Washington and Lee, but Wellesley’s econ department is exceptional. It’s one of the largest majors on campus, based on the number of students in the program, and the array of courses is excellent. If you have any interest in I-banking, numerous reputable firms come to campus in search of students for internships and employment. About thirteen years ago, the New York Times ran an article called, [How to Succeed? Go to Wellesley.](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E5D81F39F93AA15753C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all) It’s obviously dated–most of the faculty mentioned in the article have retired–but the department maintains its reputation, popularity, and standards of excellence.

Assuming, for a moment, that all other factors are equal, do weigh the impact of financial aid. A free ride in undergrad can leave you with many more post-college options. If this isn’t as much of an issue for you (especially since Wellesley’s loan caps prevent you from acquiring a crippling amount of debt during your undergraduate years), then carefully consider factors beyond your intended major. What are your other interests? How do Wellesley and W&L each support them? Is it important for you to be close to home?

I wish you all the best with your decision.