What’s your education background before college?
I completed my O’Levels from Sunbeams, in English, Bengali, Mathematics, Pure Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics and Accounting. I gave the IB in Mahindra United World College of India.
What steps did you take to do your IB at MUWCI?
I asked my sister and two other cousins about their experience in MUWCI. I looked through their website and asked my teachers about it. The campus was a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas between the 200 students who came from different parts of the world and I wanted to join them.
What are the requirements to apply to MUWCI?
I had to send my school transcripts, recommendations, and general information to the National Committee in Bangladesh. Then there was a written exam followed by an interview. The tests included three sections: English Language, Bangla Language, and Mathematics.
What led you to Wellesley College?
I found Wellesley College researching colleges. I wanted to study in the US, so I limited my search. Wellesley College was one of the top five liberal arts colleges in the USA.
Tell us about the application process?
I applied through the Common Application to eight colleges in the USA and Wellesley College was one of them. For the common application, I needed my transcripts, recommendations from teachers, general information about parents, family, academics, extra-curricular activities, standardised test scores, and an essay. Then depending on the colleges, there might be supplement essays to write.
Wellesley College required a supplement essay. I took the SATs and SAT subject tests for the standardised test requirements. Applicants could sign up for an alum in the nearest location up for an optional interview session. However, I did not sign up for that interview.
What did you have to do next when your application was accepted?
I had to accept my offer by May 1. After that we had to fill in roommate forms, medical forms and give a math placement test online. We could sign up for placement tests for other subjects. These placement tests happened in the first week of orientation. The subjects I sat for were Spanish and Chemistry.
Did you apply for financial aid as well? What was their response for that?
I did. Students can receive need-based financial aid, which means that the aid amount differs depending on how much income your family/guardian earns. I was also eligible for the Davis UWC scholarship offered to students from UWC for certain US schools.
What did you have to provide in order to be eligible for financial aid/scholarship. What paper works were needed for the process?
Bank and income statements, information about property/assets, a CSS profile, which gave an idea of the financial status of my family to the college.
Can you give us an idea about the fees and expenses that entails this school?
The tuition and costs for the upcoming academic year 2013-14 is $57,042 excluding personal costs, travel and books.
Every year there is an increment in the cost. However that does not affect how much my family has to pay since my aid increases accordingly.
What are some courses offered and what did you opt for ?
Wellesley offers courses in more than 40 different departments. So far I have taken courses in the following departments: Computer Science, Chemistry, Economics, History, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Psychology, Spanish, Writing.
In order to get the bachelors degree in this liberal arts college, a student is supposed to complete 32 units. Each class is usually one unit. There are different distribution requirements, which need to be fulfilled together with the courses that are taken for the major.
Tell us a little about your dorm life, how you adjusted, and the process of applying for a dorm seat?
The first year of my life here was not as pleasant as I would have wanted it to be. I had to adjust to the different educations system, different ways in which people led their lives in a new place. It was a different culture that I had to get adjusted to. I think sophomore year made up for all the struggles that I had to face in my first year. In my sophomore year of college, I felt more comfortable in this foreign atmosphere since I knew more people, was used to the academic system and had more idea of the culture around me.