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🏫 Admission
Dates and Deadlines
Before you apply to Wellesley, you’ll need to choose one of the following decision plans. Your decision plan will determine when your application materials are due.
📅 Early Decision I - ED I is a binding plan for students who decide that Wellesley is their first choice. By submitting an application Early Decision, you commit to attending Wellesley should you be admitted. ED I applications are due by November 1.
📅 Early Decision II - ED II is a lot like ED I, just with a little more time. It's just as binding, but you have until January 1 to submit your application.
📅 Regular Decision - RD is for students who like Wellesley, but want to keep their options open. It's non-binding and has the latest application deadline - January 8.
You can find more information about dates and deadlines here.
Application Requirements
Once you choose a decision plan, it's time to start gathering your application materials. To apply, you'll need:
💻 The Application - You'll find Wellesley on both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Simply fill out the required fields, upload the required materials, and hit submit.
📝 The Personal Essay - This essay can address prompts on either the Common or Coalition applications or a prompt of your own choice. It should be 250 to 650 words and should give us a window into who you are as a person.
💌 The 'Why Wellesley' Essay - In 250-400 words, address the following question: ‘Generations of inspiring women have thrived in the Wellesley community. What are two aspects of this community that have inspired you to consider Wellesley—and, most importantly, why do these aspects in particular inspire you? (Hint: There are certainly more than 100 reasons to consider Wellesley, but choosing a few entries from The Wellesley 100 is a good place to start.)
🎓 High School Credentials - In addition to the application and essays, we require your high school transcripts, two letters of recommendation from teachers that know you well, and a school report completed by your college counselor.
You can find more information about application requirements (and more thorough instructions!) here.
Standardized Testing
Given that many high school students are still unable to sit for standardized tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wellesley has suspended its standardized testing requirement.
This means that submission of SAT or ACT scores will be optional for first-year applicants applying to the College for entry in the fall of 2022. If an applicant wishes to have their standardized test scores considered as one component of their application, we will consider the scores in a nuanced and contextual way alongside all other application credentials. If applicants choose not to submit standardized test scores, we will evaluate their application in a nuanced and contextual way without scores. Our holistic, committee-based application review process gives us the flexibility to evaluate each applicant’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments within individual context.
You can find more information about standardized testing here.
💸 Financial Aid
Simply put: We admit terrific people. Then we make Wellesley financially possible for them.
It’s Need Blind
Meaning, we don’t consider your financial situation when we review your application.
We Meet Your Need
Meaning, we calculate your financial need based on your family's financial situation and the cost of attending Wellesley. Then we meet that need 100%.
Little Loans
Meaning, if your family has limited assets and makes less than $100,000 a year, your financial aid package won’t include student loans. If your family makes more than $100,000 a year, your four-year loan total is capped at $15,200.