*****^_^*Spring is here~~~!!*^_^****
Congratulations to all of you who received some great news last week. LONG (but hopefully helpful) post to follow: be warned.
I remember last year on March 21st, I got up at 5:30am and refreshed the MyWellesley page for half an hour straight until I saw the letters “Congra—“. Getting ready for school after that was the biggest struggle, thinking that I was already “set” for college. What was the point of going to high school classes for the next two months if a great school like Wellesley already said they wanted me?
What I realized, though, in the following week or so was there was a lot more to do now that I’d gotten my decisions from the 7 schools I’d applied to. I still had to make a decision, make sure my family was onboard with it, and sort out financial aid.
Exploring Options
International students: google maps and college confidential are your best friends. Most colleges have campus tours as an option when you visit, but for some of us (international or not), flying or driving to a candidate college is NOT an option. I remember consulting my guidance counselor in high school back in December when I sent in my applications, asking him if I should start saving up to come to the states so I could see the schools in person once decision-time came rolling around. At the high school I went to, some students did decide to fly to different countries (usually the US) during our spring break or even take a few days off in April to visit schools they were considering. I knew from the start that financially, this was going to be very difficult for me and my family to do. My counselor, being the wise man he is, told me that students make decisions about college without seeing the campus in person all the time. What’s more important than seeing the school in real life is to study the schools thoroughly so that when I do end up going there, in real life, I’ll know that I’ve made the right decision based on the right criteria. So, I decided to that campus tours were not necessary (for me personally – if you do have the option to visit, go for it), and that I would delve further in to my search for the “perfect fit” school using my trusty laptop.
Wellesley Campus Map (college website version)
Wellesley Campus Map (google map version)
Decision to not go to New York
For me, it seemed like the final decision came down to location: did I want to be in New York, a familiarly hectic and lively place like my hometown Tokyo, or venture out into the unknown – Wellesley? The two schools that my decision came down to were similar in size, and were both excellent women’s colleges with fantastic liberal arts programs. So where did I want to be?
What it came down to was seclusion and safety:
Wellesley is just far enough from Boston that I’m not constantly out and about partying and not doing schoolwork, but close enough for when I want to get off campus and see friends who do go to school in the Boston area.
Safety is a huge thing at Wellesley. I hadn’t considered this until my friend who graduated from my high school and is now a junior at Wellesley pointed this out to me, but being able to walk around campus at night after studying late at the library (or just hanging out with friends at other dorms) isn’t a carefree ordeal on many college campuses. Wellesley is a beautiful, small, (sometimes too) quiet town. Campus police here are wonderful and dedicated to make our experience at the school a safe and enjoyable one. Now that I’ve spent nearly two semesters(o_O!?) at Wellesley, and have been to New York a couple times, I know the serene solitude available to me here is a virtue I would have missed had I gone to the city. The comfort I feel when I’m on campus is one I can’t explain in words – hopefully you’ll be able to experience it for yourself at the school you choose.
that being said – new york is awesome. and not that far from campus. I’ve already been to NYC twice this year and the 4 hour bus drive is inexpensive and so worth it. Convenience, solitude, focus, and city-life-excitement: “mix it all together and you know you got the best of both worlds (Wellesley)” – Hannah Montana
Financial Aid
That being said, money also was a factor in my decision making. I know now after going through the process that if I ever have any questions or doubts about my award, the Financial Aid officers are always willing to help. Time difference make phone calls a bit difficult, but shoot an email to the FinAid office at the schools you’re considering if you have questions. This was a whole new and unexplored area for me last year, and it was also overwhelming at times when it seems like you can’t ask people for help. Money is always a touchy subject, especially when it involves big decisions like college.
If you have a guidance counselor at your school, consult them.
If you want to talk to Wellesley’s admissions officers or financial aid services, contact them.
admission – phone: 781 283 2270 email: admission@wellesley.edu
financial aid- phone: 781 283 2360 email: sfs@wellesley.edu
Having non-english speaking parents could also make things a little stressful, too. If you want to avoid feeling overwhelmed, start exploring options, filling out forms and asking what is needed of you from the school early. Trust me, it’ll make things easier in the long run.
Getting Parents on-board with going abroad
Lastly, it’s important to remember that the decision you make is yours to make. That being said, do listen to you parents/guardians’ opinions and concerns.
For me, deciding to come to Wellesley was in the end a family decision because I wasn’t the only one being affected by this choice. Leaving Japan was a big deal, both for me and my mom, but in the end we both felt that it was a good next step in my life. Paying for a reputable school like Wellesley wasn’t going to be easy, but my parents saw it as a worthwhile investment for my education.
If you ever have any questions for me or any of the other bloggers, you are always welcome to comment below on our posts. We are here for you, and will do our best to answer any questions we can – because we all know how difficult the decision making process can be, and getting the insider’s perspective can really be helpful.
Happy Spring, enjoy the rest of the school year! It goes by faster than you’d think.
