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Wellesley College
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Wellesley College - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Diversity

A
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 6%
Asian American 25%
Hispanic 7%
International 0%
Native American 1%
White 43%
Unknown 19%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 88%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Foreign countries
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 3%
18-19: 49%
20-21: 42%
22-24: 5%
25+: 2%
Female Faculty 59%
Male Faculty 41%
Faculty Diversity African American: 5%
Asian American: 11%
Hispanic: 4%
International: 4%
Native American: 0%
White: 76%
Unknown: 2%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Compared to other private colleges and universities, Wellesley is doing great in terms of diversity, but according to actual population sizes, Wellesley is not very diverse at all. Yet, because the school puts such a premium on racial and religious diversity, minority groups have quite a high on-campus profile, though perhaps not as high as they would like. Some students worry that the desire not to offend anyone keeps frank discussions from taking place, and that cliques form, further preventing students from educating one another. Meanwhile, the administration constantly reminds students and anyone else who will listen that Wellesley is as diverse as can be.

It is true, however, that whatever their background, students tend to be liberal, resulting in polarization between the liberal majority and those at other points on the spectrum. Aside from politics, however, Wellesley attracts women from a variety of backgrounds, and the administration’s staunch pro-affirmative action stance likely portends even greater diversity in the future.

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Wellesley Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Wellesley College

caylaaa32

'15

Pre-Medicine Studies

5.0
A+

VERY DIVERSE

EXTREMELY DIVERSE. I've met people from every corner of the globe in my first four months!

Dec 28, 2011

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Diversity at Wellesley College

fuujin

'12

Economics

3.8
B+

Lots of Everyone

Wellesley is fairly diverse in terms of ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, religion, and national origin. It is probably quite diverse in terms of economic background, but a lot of students are clearly well-to-do. Most students here are liberal. Conservatives really stand out.

Dec 14, 2011

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Diversity at Wellesley College

mwk21

'11

Political Science and Government

5.0
A+

The School's Need-Blind Admissions Policy Creates a Diverse, Vibrant Community

The school makes it so anyone, from any background, who wants to attend Wellesley can afford to do so. This creates interesting discussions in classes, dorms and around the dinner table.

Dec 14, 2011

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Page 1 of 7

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

Wellesley is extremely tolerant; many straight students graduate as self-proclaimed “cultural gays.” Dyke Ball is a Wellesley institution, and National Coming Out Day is practically a holiday, where a large portion of the school community—including students, faculty, and staff—share their support for the gay community.

Political Activity

Students tend to be very liberal, so much so that conservatives report that they often feel oppressed. Conservative views do tend to be shot down rather quickly in class, an interesting phenomenon in a community that prides itself on its open-mindedness. Nevertheless, the majority of students have similar views on topics such as women’s rights and social responsibility.

Economic Status

Wellesley students run the gamut from high-society girls (even some royalty) to first-generation college students from low socioeconomic situations.

Most Common Religions

Wellesley has a very diverse mix of the religious, the spiritual, and the agnostic. Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, and Pagan groups are very active.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There are a large number of minority clubs, including religious, cultural, and racial groups. Ethos and Mezcla have large memberships, and many performance groups (such as Yanvalou, an Afro-Haitian dance group) are inspired by minority cultures.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Wellesley

Name: Jean Kim

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Major: English

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