Name: 332. Wellesley College - Rebecca Simons - Director of Admission
Uploaded: 2025-09-22T05:36:44+00:00
Description: 🎙️ In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast (The CAPP), host John Durante welcomes Rebecca Simons, Director of Admission at Wellesley College, to u…

🎙️ In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast (The CAPP), host John Durante welcomes Rebecca Simons, Director of Admission at Wellesley College, to unpack the application process and what makes a Wellesley education truly transformative.

Whether you're wondering how test-optional policies are handled, what really matters in the essay, or how financial aid works at one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, this conversation is a must-listen for any student considering a women’s college—or any college, really.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• 📌 Wellesley’s holistic approach to evaluating applications: no GPA recalculations, no unfair comparisons.
• 📝 What makes an essay resonate—and what doesn’t.
• 🧑‍🏫 What teachers' recommendations reveal beyond your transcript.
• 📚 How course rigor is considered in the context of your high school.
• 🧭 Why Wellesley transitioned from the "Wellesley 100" to a new, reflective supplemental essay prompt.
• 📉 Wellesley’s test-optional philosophy—and when it’s best to submit scores.
• 💰 What you need to know about need-based aid (and why Wellesley offers no merit scholarships—proudly).
• 🌍 How institutional priorities like diversity, major interest, and geography influence admissions.
• 💬 The power of a women’s college experience—from leadership to confidence-building.
• 💡 Rebecca’s top 3 tips for families navigating the college process (including the underrated power of setting boundaries and using the MyIntuition calculator).
🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Wellesley College Admissions (https://www.wellesley.edu/admission)
• MyIntuition Net Price Calculator (https://myintuition.org/)
👂 Why Listen:

This episode goes beyond application mechanics and into what really matters: finding the right fit and making empowered choices. If you're even considering applying to a selective liberal arts college, Rebecca's advice will ground and guide you.
🔁 Follow + Share:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen! And don’t forget to share with a student or family navigating the college process. 🎓✨