We have students and their families joining us today who have traveled from Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut. The state of New York is well-represented with visitors from Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and New York City.
We have students planning to become attorneys, doctors, veterinarians, psychologists, sociologists, teachers, environmental scientists, musicians, writers, and journalists. What a very distinguished group we would have if we could all meet again 10 years from now!
You have many exciting opportunities, adventures, and the world
of the 21st century ahead of you. You know that in order to reach
your dreams, an education of the highest quality is essential.
Your attendance at this event shows that you are taking your college
education seriously by gathering all the information you can.
America offers a wealth of educational options, and careful research
is necessary to make the right choice for you.
Some of you here today have already made the decision to attend Wells. As an alumna as well as the college's president, I welcome you as the newest generation of Wells women. You are now part of a network of lifelong support in careers and friendships. Some of you are still exploring your options.
I know all of you have been involved in the ritual of the college search - a common experience that talented students share everywhere. It is a rite of passage that is at the same time scary and exhilarating.
It is important for you to get the programs you want in an environment that will help you flourish. If you are unsure about which programs to pursue, which is very typical, a liberal arts college can provide time and space to explore a variety of subjects. You are able to examine a wide variety of academic options before selecting a major.
My advice to you is: As you encounter new ideas, test them. When you find new things you're interested in, try them. Don't fear either success or failure. When you have discovered what interests you and what brings out your talents, immerse yourself in it.
One of Wells' distinctive features is that we are a single-sex
institution. Women's colleges today provide thousands of students
with an educational environment that meets their needs. This experience
could not be duplicated in a coed setting. While women's colleges
were a radical idea in the 19th century they are still, surprisingly,
a radical notion today. The common wisdom of 150 years ago still
resonates in society: They are simply not necessary.
And women's colleges keep offering a superior education and producing graduates who change the world. Consider these facts drawn from education research. Students who attend women's colleges:
And while there are only 79 women's colleges in the United States, women's colleges get consistently high ratings. Wells has been rated the #2 best value in national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report and #1 by Money magazine for the percentage of our students who attend graduate or professional school after graduation.
Clearly, coed is the second best option for women in higher education. I hope you test that idea as you learn about Wells today.
By carefully exploring all our system has to offer, a student can find the right educational environment for him or for her, an environment that offers a balance of challenge and support in and out of the classroom. When a woman enrolls at Wells, or any other women's college, she joins a nurturing and supportive community. Women come first in the classroom, in student organizations, and on the athletic field. They are provided with time, space, and academic opportunities to define themselves and to grow.
I think many of you here today think Wells might be a good environment for you, and I hope I've helped you learn a little more about our distinctiveness. Welcome to Wells.
Delivered at the Why Wells? program for accepted students and their families in Macmillan Hall's Art Exhibit Room on Saturday, April 18, 1998.
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