Yes, dorms are old but maintained.

Rankings based on departments, preference for LACs.

Yes. You have to share rooms until your 3rd year.

Academic rigor and quality of professors.

My sister-in-law is an alumni and has always told me good things about it. I was unsure in what I wanted to do coming out of high school and knew I wanted a liberal arts school, which Wellesley does excellently. It is a great (and non-research focused, which I wanted) school close to a major city, which was a big plus. It also provided generous financial aid.