Babson College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Wellesley is not exactly a college town but Boston is. The local atmosphere revolves around pastry shops, some decent restaurants, very expensive retail clothes stores, and a few movie theaters. With such slim pickings of things to do, most students tend to stay on campus or travel into the neighboring towns and into Boston, of course. Framingham and Natick are popular student destinations, where you’ll often spot a group of Babsonians in the Natick Mall. This being said, the small suburb is also just miles outside one of the largest college-populated cities in the nation. There are more than 40 colleges in and around Boston, making it a “must-see” destination for all students, tourists, parents, and even locals. The 20 minutes that it takes to drive into the city is much worth your time. Plenty of interesting activities ranging from watching a Red Sox game to attending a famous Boston Ballet performance will appease anyone who’s willing to have a good time.

If you have car access, there are plenty of interesting things to be seen and done. The problem is that with the intense Babson curriculum, some students seldom find time and accommodations for traveling outside of Wellesley, which is why you’ll hear people say they feel stuck in the Wellesley bubble and complain about the lack of entertainment in the area. They say that this problem can be easily fixed by moving the entire campus into Boston. And once students get a taste of Boston and the many cultural and local activities that it has to offer, they don’t want to leave. It is fortunate that Babson is so close to a city full of history and culture and not somewhere in the middle of the country—Babson students just need to realize that and take advantage of their surroundings at least once in a while.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The city is really small, and... The city is really small, and there is not much to do. At Wellesley College, there is only one other college where people can get off campus and meet other students at a party or a dance. Wellesley College is an all-girls college, and therefore, many guys tend to go there on the weekends, and sometimes, even during the week. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The surrounding area—including... The surrounding area—including Wellesley—is considered to be ‘dry,’ because alcohol is prohibited from being sold in restaurants, shops, or any other places except liquor stores. We are fortunate that our school provides us with our own pub, the only one in the surrounding area. So, many students hang out there on Thursdays and go into Boston on the weekends, for the most part, because the local atmosphere in Wellesley is very quiet and limited to restaurants, coffeeshops, and sandwich stores. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Wellesley is a very upscale... Wellesley is a very upscale suburb. Downtown consists of pretty nice restaurants, retail stores, and specialty shops. Wellesley College and Olin College are there, too, so there are plenty of college students to hang out with and make friends. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Wellesley is a very small town, so... Wellesley is a very small town, so I prefer to travel into Boston if I want to get away from the college atmosphere here. There is much more to do in the city. The clubbing and the bar scenes are great, and it’s only 15 minutes away. I remember walking around Wellesley a couple of times: once to get a haircut and once to stop by a convenience shop to get some nail polish remover. I also visit the Stop & Shop once in a while on the weekends, but I eat on campus, so I don’t have to go there too often. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Wellesley is not a very... Wellesley is not a very interesting town for college students, but with all the other close colleges and Boston, it is not hard to find something to do. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Wellesley:
• Wellesley, although a residential community, is also an employment center, with several attractive parks located primarily on its eastern border.
• The town is also a college community, having within its boundaries Babson College, Olin College, and Massachusetts Bay Community College.
• The Chinese restaurants in Wellesley allow customers to bring their own alcohol, because Wellesley is a “dry town.”
• Mona Lisa Smile, starring Julia Roberts, was filmed at nearby Wellesley College in 2003.
• Wellesley is one of the country’s richest suburbs.

Famous People from Wellesley:
Roger Ward Babson
Alexander Graham Bell
Nick Burns
Gino Cappelletti
Jane Curtin
Dom DiMaggio
Curt Gowdy
Margaret Heckler
Horatio Honeywell
Byron Lichtenberg
William Morton
Dr. Joseph Murray
Greg Myers
Sylvia Plath

Local Slang:
Cah – Another word for car.
Packie – Place where you’ll buy your beer.
Packie Run – What you do when you buy that beer.
Wicked – Cool, awesome, sweet.
Yuh – Yes; opposite of “naw” or “nah."

Write for Us!

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >