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Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:
College Prowler Take
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.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Wellesley is definitely more...
Wellesley is definitely more diverse in terms of backgrounds than I, the product of a public school in the state of South Carolina, have experienced before. In one respect, though, Wellesley regrettably fails to be quite so diverse as it should. There are so many liberal voices on campus that the dissenting conservatives are often drowned out and ignored, or (sometimes) unfairly ridiculed, for their beliefs. As on many college campuses, there is a lot of PC-ness, which can sometimes be stifling. |
Anonymous says:  |
It is diverse, numerically anyway,...
It is diverse, numerically anyway, but to be honest, if you walk into a dining hall at 6 p.m., you’ll notice it’s pretty self-segregated. Diversity is appreciated, but not embraced—at least by the student body. |
Anonymous says:  |
The campus is insanely...
The campus is insanely diverse—there are people from every culture and ethnicity and every corner of the globe. In many ways, diversity is Wellesley’s biggest strength, but it can be a double-edged sword because sometimes it feels like Wellesley just throws us all together without providing the support necessary for completely diverse cultures and religions to co-exist and get along. |
Anonymous says:  |
One of the main reasons I came to...
One of the main reasons I came to Wellesley was because of the diversity. I would estimate that it’s at least 50 percent minority. And I love it. |
Anonymous says:  |
Wellesley tries very hard to be...
Wellesley tries very hard to be diverse, which I know everyone appreciates. It still has a long way to go, though. |
FactsEconomic Status
Wellesley students run the gamut from high-society girls (even some royalty) to first-generation college students from low socioeconomic situations.
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.
Minority Clubs
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.
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.
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.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Jean Kim
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: English Jean has every Simon and Garfunkel song on her iTunes. Contributing Author Internship
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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 about the internship.
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