The Wellesley Effect

"The Wellesley Effect means knowing that I am not alone in this journey through life. The Wellesley Effect is knowing that there are other women of all ages and backgrounds from around the world who care for me and want me to succeed. Some, I have known since I was 18. But most are women that I do not know. Our sole bond is Wellesley," wrote Variny Yim, Wellesley class of of 1990. Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts which is 12 miles west of Boston. It is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college for women. Wellesley was founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant and the first students arrived in 1875.

In 2014, Wellesley had an acceptance rate of 28%. There are currently 2,344 students enrolled at Wellesley with the option of 56 different departmental and interdepartmental majors. Eighty-one percent of students graduate within four years. The average Wellesley class size is 17 to 20 students, a 7:1 student-faculty ratio.

Sixty percent of Wellesley Students receive financial aid, the average package being over $45,000. The 2015-16 school year tuition is $46,550 and the total comprehensive fee is $61,340. There are also more than 150 student organizations, 14 varsity teams, plus club teams and recreational activities. 

Wellesley's campus spreads across 500 acres. The large campus contains residence halls, libraries, classrooms and laboratories, studios, cinema and theaters, Cafés and dining halls, art galleries, offices, a golf course, and more. There are 21 residence halls vary in size from 40 to 285 students. Students from all four classes live in most residence halls, which all have professional resident directors and student residential staff.

Wellesley's mission is "to provide an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world." The women who graduate from this school truly do make a difference. Some famous alumni include  Madame Chiang Kai-Shek 1917, Hillary Rodham Clinton 1969, and Diane Sawyer 1967. Wellesley is a great point of interest for me as it holds a great focus on sending out thousands of women who will truly make a difference into the world.