transgender

For the first time in its 147-year history, Wellesley College is opening its gates to women who've publicly come out as transgender. And for one student, it’s been a long process to get there.

Two years ago, Wellesley announced it would consider any applicant who "identifies as a woman," opening the way for two transgender students in this year's incoming class.

For the first time, one of this country's top-ranked women's colleges will accept transgender women students. Wellesley College will consider applications from any candidate who "identifies as a woman."

Simmons College in Boston is the third U.S. women’s college – and the second in Massachusetts - to officially accept applications from transgender students. 

Simmons has long admitted gender nonconforming students, but is now formalizing its admissions policy and accepting students born female, regardless of their current gender identity, as well as those who were born male and now identify as female.

This fall, Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts became the second all women's college in the U.S. to begin accepting applications from transgender students. The announcement was received positively on the South Hadley campus, but it's also raising questions about Mount Holyoke's identity as the oldest women's college in the country.