For admitted students:
Reply Deadline
- Wellesley’s traditional Regular Decision reply deadline is May 1. We have decided to maintain our May 1 reply deadline in order to respond to students on our wait list in a timely manner and to ensure that we have time to fully prepare all enrolling students for the start of fall semester. Of course, we recognize that some students may face unique challenges in responding to our offer of admission, given the circumstances of this year. If a student you are working with is in need of additional time, please encourage them to email [email protected] before May 1 to request an extension. Although we will not be able to grant all requests for extensions, we promise to thoughtfully consider any request.
- Academic departments at Wellesley will accept for credit the alternative evaluation methods offered by the agencies that administer the Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, and A-Level exams. The College will use the scores offered by these agencies in 2020 in the same way it would have used scores from traditional exams. As you continue to work with your students, please visit the Registrar’s Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Exams webpage for specific information about the AP, IB, and A-level scores accepted for credit at Wellesley.
- We want to assure students that their final transcript will be evaluated thoughtfully and within the context of their entire application and also current events. We recognize that some schools are issuing Pass/Fail marks on transcripts and others are finding other ways to translate previous grading scales. We want students to rest assured that we understand these decisions are beyond their control.
- Admitted first-year candidates may request to defer entrance to Wellesley for one year, although approval is not guaranteed. Admitted students must first submit their enrollment deposits by the reply deadline identified in their letter of admission and then may write to [email protected] to request to defer admission. Requests must be made in writing and no later than June 1. All students are eligible for medical deferrals at any point prior to enrollment.
Standardized Testing
- Given the fact that many high school students were, or will be, unable to sit for standardized tests this spring and summer, Wellesley has temporarily suspended its requirement that first-year applicants submit SAT or ACT scores. This means testing will be optional for first-year applicants applying to the College for entry in the fall of 2021. If an applicant wishes to have their standardized test scores considered as one component of their application, we will consider those scores in a nuanced and contextual way alongside all other application credentials. If students choose not to submit standardized test scores, we will evaluate their application in a nuanced and contextual way without test scores. Our holistic, committee-based application review process gives us the flexibility to evaluate each applicant’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments within individual context.
- We are suspending the Regular Decision with Early Evaluation option for first-year applicants to the College for entry in the fall of 2021, in light of the aforementioned change to our standardized testing requirement and an understanding that many secondary schools have changed coursework and grading for their students. We believe this will allow us to provide a more in-depth, equitable, and consistent application review process to all Regular Decision applicants, enabling us to review all Regular Decision applications synchronously and over a longer period of time.
- Since the Office of Admission will require more time to consider all Regular Decision applications, we have changed the Regular Decision deadline to January 8 (previously January 15) so that we can continue to thoughtfully review all Regular Decision applications and release admission decisions in a timely manner.
- As a reminder, Wellesley will no longer be offering on campus interviews to prospective students. If a student you are working with would like to complete an interview, they may request an interview with a trained alumnae volunteer starting later this summer. We will send a reminder to all students to let them know when the interview request form opens.
- We’re excited to announce that starting in early May we will be providing virtual information sessions twice per week with current students and admission counselors. When registration for information sessions is available, students will be able to book an information session online and we’ll email them so they’re the first to know. Students can also watch our previously recorded information session.
- If students want to explore campus at their leisure they can go on a campus tour with current students Malena ‘20 and Ilma ‘23 to get a sense of what our 500-acre campus has to offer.
- Forthcoming virtual visit opportunities include class lectures, virtual college fairs, and information sessions with our peer colleges and universities. We’ll be sure to email students details as those opportunities become available.
- As the College continues to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19, we regretfully cannot confirm the dates of our fall open campus program, Discover Wellesley Weekend. We will be sure to send you information as it becomes available and provide updates as we solidify our plan. This also means that the associated Travel Grant program application, intended to bring underrepresented students to campus, will remain closed until we can confirm the College’s plans and policies for visitors to campus for Fall 2020.