Wellesley vs Northeastern?

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I have no direct experience, but by reputation people definitely like the housing component of their Honors program, particularly first year. I believe there is also some financial support for what they call Global Experiences.

It looks like they don’t have enough data to see that as very significant, but I would not be surprised by something like that. As great as Wellesley is for a women’s LAC (or LAC in general really), that is obviously still a sort of niche product, and some kids in the end are going to decide they prefer a research university instead.

My own S24 sort of went through that. He strongly considered some great LACs, but after admitted student days was just more comfortable with a university.

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Yes, but that’s not your match up. That’s the match up of random people.

They are vastly different schools. Different kids could pick.

Some won’t excel at a small school - it’s not their thing. Others can’t when there’s too many - they need small.

This is as simple as she needs to visit both and decide. All the outside influences are irrelevant.

Short of cost differences, that’s it.

Has she looked at the course flow of the majors she’s interested in?

NU has a single digit acceptance rate - so smart kids abound, Honors or otherwise.

If you go to the top right of what I linked and there’s a menu, the about and requirements - she can see if it fits. But she can also go to NU and not do Honors. I’d find the right campus. If that turns out to be NU, then she can decide Honors or not. I don’t see that you get “better” housing but rather live with the other kids. My Honors kid lived with all the Honors kids in a place that was not habitable. On the other hand, my son’s school promoted better housing (and it was). If this matters to you, ask NU to let you see the Honors dorm or ask to speak to an Honors student and you can ask - is the housing premium or is it just you live with others Honors kids but the housing is not superior.

Here’s the thing - there is no wrong answer here. But there is likely one better for her. Only she can tell - and you can visit them both, back to back - walk the surrounds, stop and talk to people on campus, ask her questions about co op coming and going, etc. Eat in the dining hall, etc. She can even make an appointment at each with a pre med advisor if that matters to her - or with the head of a club. For example, we met with Hillel on several campuses. My son, on the other hand, did some academic appointments (two profs and an advisor at one school).

I think she’ll find the answer by doing back to back visits. For my kid, it was very clear - wow, this is where I want to be - whereas after visiting back to back, others in consideration became - wow, it’s so big. Way too big.

Your student may have a similar experience - in comparison to the two she’s looking at.

So I’d remove all the outside, extra experiences - get her to each campus on a regular day - walk and talk!!! That’s the key - stopping kids and even adults and talking. And she’ll likely know!!

Good luck.

The John Martinson Honors Program – The John Martinson Honors Program at Northeastern University

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I had an advisee at Wellesley who reported back consistently - she took classes at Babson and MIT, got into Boston every weekend, attended a study away college and studied/interned in London after Sophomore year. Internship summer after junior year and externship in Boston spring senior year. In short… Not isolated at all.
To decrease the shock of being surrounded by high performing classmates and the related stress some students put themselves under, the first semester classes aren’t part of the GPA. There are grades (for students applying to med school the grades can then be presented if need be) but the student has a Pass for their class. Also, upperclass students know which classes require a lot of work: take recommendations seriously even if you want to try EVERYTHING :wink:; creating a balanced schedule is an important skill.

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Yes, I think I have been researching all this too much! I already know about the ‘shadow’ grading policy for the first semester.

We are thinking maybe it is a good idea to directly talk to some students.

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I think that is a GREAT idea.

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There is also a Wellesley bus that runs from Wellesley to Boston. I can’t recall how often, but it was more than once a day because students can take classes at MIT. They have to be able to get there and back.

I too would not consider Wellesley isolated. But it is certainly less urban than NE.

Completely share the view expressed up string that part of NE’s rise is due to very good marketing.

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Congrats, @ProudDad721

Lots of things are inflated at Northeastern :laughing:

Lots of mixing between Wellesley and MIT. And Harvard. And Babson. And lots of other schools. One of the benefits of schooling in Greater Boston.

Why?

Confident you’re right. They’re totally different places. Tough to imagine loving them both equally or feeling equally at home at both.

C’mon.

Is this one of the reasons your daughter applied, OP?

So is BC, but I would imagine your daughter would be ok there, OP. Similar neighborhoods, actually.

Please let us know how accepted student visit goes, OP. It will put her concerns about Wellesley to rest, I think. Which doesn’t mean she doesn’t fall in love with Huntington Avenue, but it should be clear. And thanks. I never thought I’d live long enough to see a Wellesley/Northeastern compare and contrast request :laughing:

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If Barnard was her first choice, I would go with Wellesley. Personally I would go with Wellesley anyway. I would not overthink this. The two schools are very different and visiting may resolve this question. I also would not make medical school admission the focus of the choice: that is 4+ years away.

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Agree with this but OP noted it was in part the location of Barnard vs it being an all-women’s LAC.

Visiting, of course, is the best thing and they are. It will remove the guessing.

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I can’t imagine most people considering Wellesley isolated. It is right beside a town that has a commuter rail train, and that is a close suburb to Boston. It has buses connecting to other colleges. In comparison to the ME or western MA LACs, it is VERY close to a LOT of things…

Obviously, the 2 schools are vastly different types of schools, but I think just as many “type As” at NEU as Wellesley, with all the business kids trying to get into finance and triangulating for co-ops and jobs or whatever, as Wellesley IMO with a lot of artsy philopshers too. I think there is some misogyny in this reputation, honestly. I think Wellesley has a much longer-term, high-end prestige factor by far than NEU… nobody south of NJ had heard of it before 1998 (a bit of hyperbole)..I actually think that shouldn’t factor in your decision in this case, but just disagreeing with others on that.. I also think now that NEU is mainly a 4-year school and a lot fewer are doing 5 years “real” co-op system, the co-op program seems more of a marketing thing than a true differentiator at this point. (Note, I know a LOT of NEU grads from the early 2000s who loved it the co-ops, and I honestly think it seems a lot different now).

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That is a farce. I won’t give too many details, but my kids’ naviances give SUCH a different story (as would most kids’ schools in rich towns/private schools) if they include all acceptances for kids with decent grades/scores…. Both my kids schools have WAY WAY higher rates. Won’t give details, but WAY higher than Wellesley.. They like full pay..a lot.

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Adding, my 27 likely will likely apply to Northeastern, I think it is a very good school, I wouldn’t dissuade people from going (if they can pay, etc) - the education from all I hear is excellent and know a lot of alums who RAVE, but they definitely play games with acceptance rates, and the co-op program isn’t the same as it was when it was more centered on 5 year program and more deep connections with LOCAL employers. There is pros/cons to it being more “famous” and international now in that regard.

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@ProudDad721 - are you visiting Wellesley for accepted students day?

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Most definitely. She is leaning Wellesley now and I think meeting the students there will help make up her mind.

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Wellesley is the one that got away for us! We looooved it there. The only reason it didn’t end up being my daughter’s first choice is because it doesn’t have an actual art school, “only” an art department. And that was her #1 criteria–art school, which is where she ED’d and where she is going. But I’m still misty enough about it that I wonder what my Wellesley Mom merch would have been! :rofl: We know many students at Wellesley and at Northeastern because we live close by and our school is a competitive feeder for top New England colleges/universities. Both are great schools. But I’m certain another poster here is entirely correct–Wellesley and Northeastern are not the same in terms of selectivity (for whatever that’s worth and honestly it may be worth nothing!), nor do they typically attract the same sort of student/personality. And that’s the important thing, I think, at least in terms of student happiness on a day to day basis. Very different communities & vibes. (Not in terms of “smarts” though–very smart kids are at both!) We rarely see local kids apply to both schools, and that’s because they know from proximity what both are like. I’m glad you are visiting. I hope it is fabulous!!

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I think your DD made the right choice. On many metrics, NEU does not feel like a real college – people go there to get the training and co-op they want, but honestly not much else.