The idea to attend Wellesley came from Thomas Santamaria '10, a friend of Usman, who last winter suggested they both apply to the program. At the time, Usman said he did not know whether it was possible for a male student to attend an all female school.
"He said, 'Bro, let's apply to Wellesley,'" Usman said. "And I was like 'Wwhat, is that even possible?'"
Through Dartmouth's exchange program, Santamaria's idea was a possibility for them. The program allows students to spend a term at one of 12 colleges located throughout the Northeast. Men may live and take classes at Wellesley for a semester through the exchange program, but only women are able to enroll in the college as full-time students.
Usman said that the idea of trying something different and living close to Boston for a term were the main factors that led him to apply to the program.
During the application process, Usman and Santamaria received varied reactions from students and administrators at Dartmouth. According to Usman, one administrator at the College said the plan was impossible. It is uncommon for men to spend a term at Wellesley, although it has happened before, Jennifer Thomas-Starck, head of the exchange program at Wellesley, said. She recalled that a male student from Colby College attended Wellesley a few years ago.
"I didn't have a strong reaction [when I heard]," she said about Usman's decision to attend Wellesley. "I assumed that he knew what he was getting into."
Thomas-Starck added that Wellesley was happy to have Dartmouth students on campus as part of the program, as it in turn allows Wellesley students to attend Dartmouth.
Both Usman and Santamaria applied and were admitted to the program, but Santamaria decided not to participate due to scheduling conflicts. Usman said he felt compelled to attend and was curious, but not nervous or hesitant, about the experience.
A double major in government and geography, Usman spent the Fall term taking classes at both Wellesley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While he enjoyed his classes, Usman said that his learning experiences outside of the classroom proved just as insightful.
"The best part was the women that I met," he said. "With any experience, there are people you meet, and the women I met were very interesting, amazing, bright and intelligent. For that reason it made an extraordinary experience."
Usman, who was characterized as "outgoing and willing to engage in new experiences" by his friend Chris Green '10, said he did not face any major social challenges at Wellesley.
"I better understand the struggles of women in academia and the day-to-day struggles women deal with," Usman said. "As a male, I was not as aware of how a frat basement can sometimes be a confining, patriarchal space for women or how a male-dominated classroom can be intimidating. Now, I am more cognizant."
During his time at Wellesley, Usman interned at a clinic that aids women who suffer from substance abuse. Attending the women's college gave him a better understanding of the issues women face daily and thereby helped him better understand the female drug and alcohol abusers that he worked with, Usman said.
"What I realized is that the constant, positive support network for women at Wellesley is part of the solution and the description of what is lacking in lives of the women who were addicted," he said.
Usman, who is currently working on an independent research project about his Wellesley experience, admitted that Dartmouth has a more vibrant social scene than Wellesley. Despite this, he said he believes the experience was invaluable to his education.
"I am now better educated," he said. "While at Dartmouth, I want to educate myself in the best way possible. This experience has made me a better person and a better student."
