Some recent advances in dielectric continuum models for static and dynamic aspects of molecular solvation are discussed, and connections with molecular-level solvent models are noted. The traditional Born-Onsager-Kirkwood (BKO) model is compared to a more flexible model (the so-called frequency-resolved cavity model (FRCM)) which assigns distinct inner and outer solute cavities in accommodating, respectively, the inertialess (optical) and inertial solvent response. Sample calculations of solvent reorganization energy(&lgr;s)are presented for various thermal and optical electron transfer (ET) processes, based on self-consistent reaction field models using molecular orbital (MO) or configuration interaction (CI) solvent wave functions. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.