Dana and Devika, I definitely understand the concept of free press (thanks for the memo though). I am sorry if I have offended anyone in my responses to this article, I just feel that Women's Colleges have had a bad rap in the past few years and the more bad press we get the worse off we are. (Check out the April issue of GQ Magazine and you will understand why I may be a little defensive) I am in no way saying that Bethany should choose Wellesley if that is not the place for her. I looked at Wellesley myself and 4 other women's colleges and found that none of them were the right place for me except Smith. I also looked at 9 co-educational institutions ranging from large universities to colleges under 1,000 students. I fully understand the purpose of the article and I dont doubt Bethany's obvious intelligence, why else would she be looking at such prestigious institutions? I simply think that it was not articulated in the best way. The competetive atmosphere which she speaks of is definitely found at Wellesley, but is that not found at Harvard or Pamona or Swarthmore (all co-educational institutions). If you are going to be a part of a prestigious institution, workplace, etc. you will find competition - what is important is how you deal with it. Do you buy into it and compare yourself to everyone around you or do you focus on improving your own intelligence based on your own academic goals? Additionally, ever looked at the suicide rates at MIT or RPI? The article written on suicide at Wellesly should be accompanied by others describing not only the suicide rates at prestigious institutions but in general in the youth population as it is currently rising. I do not blame Bethany for her college decision, I think she sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders, I simply blame her sources and her use of them.