Happy April everyone! Today concludes Wellesley’s first week of online classes/remote learning. I’d say it was a success, and I’m slowly getting back into the swing of the semester. I can’t even begin to say how much I miss my friends, professors, and campus, but I’ll take Zoom classes over nothing any day.
Anyway, I’m back again this week, to finish sharing 20 wonderful things about Wellesley, especially for the admitted class of 2024!! For the first half, make sure to check my previous post here.
10 (more!) reasons to get excited for next year at Wellesley
- First on this list has to be the incredible alumnae network. Dubbed “The Most Powerful Women’s Network in the World”, Wellesley alums are nothing short of brilliant. Once at Wellesley, you’ll have access to the Hive (A website sort of like LinkedIn, except only for Wellesley students, alums, and faculty). You can find mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities through the various search options. The alums I’ve reached out to have always been so eager to chat about their career journeys and given me amazing advice. I’ve “met” them through Skype, phone call, and even in person.
- The Multifaith Center (MFC). Located in the basement of Houghton Chapel in the center of campus, the MFC is a warm and welcoming place to any student. It’s a “global center of learning and discovery for all people; a place for prayer, meditation, study, worship, and education”. During my sophomore spring, every Wednesday evening, I trekked to the MFC to attend weekly meditation with the Buddhist Chaplain (who is so sweet). When I find myself there, I’m instantly calm and forget about anything bothering me.
- Study Abroad! Oh my goodness. I can probably talk about my study abroad experience at the University of Cambridge for forever. My previous blog posts highlight my experience there, so if you’re interested, definitely check them out! All in all, it was an unforgettable experience, and I wouldn’t have been able to go without Wellesley. Take a look at the Office of International Study (OIS) homepage here to discover all the global opportunities available to you as a student!
- Civic Engagement: I briefly mentioned this last time as under Career Education, but it’s worth highlighting again here. If you’re interested in public service, as a Wellesley student, you have so many volunteer programs to choose from! Take a look here to learn more. During my first year, I volunteered at Framingham Public Schools, and it was such a great experience. Wellesley also has joint volunteer programs with Harvard and MIT, like Chinatown Afterschool and Upward Bound.
- Lulu in the mornings! This one is oddly specific. I spent a lot of time during the spring semester in Lulu (our campus center, open 24/7) because I lived in Beebe, the closest dorm to it. During dinnertime, Lulu is packed, and it can be super hard to find a table. But in the mornings, it’s the opposite. Quiet, peaceful, and (a lot of the time) sunny. The big windows in the dining hall face east, and it’s so wonderful to grab a bowl of oatmeal and granola and bask in the sun. Again, oddly specific, but it’s the little things, right?
- Wellesley is a place where learning outside the classroom is taken quite literally. When I took an art history class, we took a trip to NYC (the Met Museum and MoMA!) to see the art we were learning about in the flesh. Certain classes in other departments such as Biology and Geosciences also take trips – including to the Cayman Islands! Another great option is Wintersession – Wellesley faculty run short term courses in January, before spring semester starts. These courses take place all over the world. And from what I’ve heard, they are amazing.
- All the funded internships through Wellesley Career Education. Just take a look at this page. Opportunities all over the world await you!
- Fact: Wellesley is in New England. New England is known for its cold weather, yes. But don’t forget all that comes with it: the change of seasons! I’ve lived in San Diego all of my life, a place that has basically the same temperature year round. When I came to Wellesley, I experienced my first New England fall (complete with apple picking), winter and snowfall (I did indeed build a snowman), and spring (the flowers!). Nothing compares to autumn at Wellesley, and I’m still in awe every time I experience one. Take a look here for pictures.
- The Tanner and Ruhlman Conference. These two days during the year are great fun. You listen to your peers speak brilliantly about their internship, study abroad, and research experiences. I presented at Tanner about my summer internship my sophomore year, and I left feeling incredibly inspired and supported by the Wellesley community.
- MarMon (Marathon Monday)! In brevity, Wellesley is the halfway point for the Boston marathon. We get the day off to cheer on runners. Trust me when I say it’s great fun.
- Residential Life. Okay so this is technically over the 20 that I had originally thought of, but it’s worth mentioning. Res Life at Wellesley is a great experience. All of the dorms have their own unique charms and aim to foster inclusivity and community within the residents that live there. Attend a House Council, Community Engagement hosted by an RA, or a weekly tea to get to know your dorm (and its residents!) better!
Well, there you have it! I definitely did not mention everything (there are so many special things about this school), but I hope this list gives a glimpse of what being a student at Wellesley is like. Let me know if you have any questions, and see you next week!
Best,
Shreya