Reviews

Around campus, there is a general environment of smart, open-minded individuals who are, by a large margin, happy to be at Wesleyan. The free exchange of ideas is valued greatly by students and professors alike. The professors are very engaging and, while the coursework may be challenging, the general campus consensus is that the work is well worth the effort.

At Wesleyan, freedom and individuality are valued. This is reflected in the open curriculum and the wide variety of events on campus. The biggest tip for prospective students is to visit campus and even to visit a class. I’ve never seen a professor deny a high schooler of sitting in on a course, and it will give you a good idea of what that class is like. Be wary, though, of generalizing a single class to the entire university as a whole. The more classes that you visit and the more people who you talk to, the better informed that you will be about Wesleyan.

Like anywhere, the difficulty of the coursework is highly dependent upon where your interests lie and what classes that you choose to take. There is much freedom in scheduling courses, and, outside of your major, there are no strictly defined requirements. It isn't high school, any more, though. If a course seems to require a lot of reading, then you need to plan accordingly for a higher level of work. On the other hand, if you're excited about reading and absorbing information in that way, then you might find the more scientific classes to be more rigorous, because there is often a weekly problem set on top of other work.

The university tries to be very accommodating of any housing concerns that the students might have. As freshmen, the majority of my friends have been given single rooms, which I have come to learn is very rare among even upperclassmen at other institutions. At the same time, though, there are many freshmen in forced triples due to this year's class size. As an apology to these individuals, Wesleyan does give them a small sum of money back on their housing costs.
In the dorms themselves, much depends on where you are on campus and within the building. Overall, no one that I have talked to about their housing experience has had any large gripes with their dorm or floor. Wesleyan would receive three stars here because of their underestimation of the size of this year's freshman class, but their saving grace is, as stated, the commitment to allowing the option of singles to freshmen.

The food on campus is good, but it does get rather repetitive. There are two dining halls, both of which accept meal tickets and points. One, Usdan, is buffet style, but often has very similar options from night to night. The other dining hall is Summerfields. It has a set menu, and the food is very good, but again it tends to get old. The other major place to dine is WesWings, the restaurant on campus that only takes points. Its name is a bit deceptive. WesWings does have a variety of wings, but it's also a real restaurant with a spectrum of options. All dining areas on campus offer vegetarian- and vegan-friendly meal options, as well as any other food allergy or preference that students might have.

The university sends out a weekly email detailing all of the on-campus events going on in that particular week. The majority are often sporting events of one form or another, but there are also many productions, open mic nights, and other alternative things to do for fun. On the weekends, of course, there is partying to some extent, but it's in no way forced upon students if they don't wish to participate.

Wesleyan University is, admittedly, outrageously expensive without scholarships or other aid. It's difficult to justify going to a university for upwards of $50,000 a year. However, the financial aid office is excellent at working with students and parents to help the students continue to attend Wes. If you're able to get even some of the price of attendance reduced, or are able to pay in full, I would say that Wesleyan is well-worth the money. In my college search, Wesleyan stood out as very unique in terms of atmosphere and student body. It has strong majors across the board, from the sciences to theater and the arts, and is well-respected by employers.

Somewhere special that not many people know about is the top floor of the Allbritton Center. If you go in the back of the building to the top, you can go outside and get a beautiful view of Middletown and of part of campus. There are a lot of really comfortable spots in Allbritton, the Science Library, the lounges in Exley, and around campus to get work done with very little disturbance. Most people are very respectful of others doing work.

Wesleyan can be great for anyone who doesn't mind being challenged academically and intellectually. The college is renowned for a strong liberal attitude, but this doesn't mean that there isn't a conservative presence on campus. There are students of all backgrounds and opinions on campus at any given time. Prospective students who enjoy an open atmosphere centered around acceptance of others will thrive at Wesleyan University.

Every spring and fall, there is a club fair where all of the clubs on campus come out onto the field at the same time and are all happy to tell you about their clubs. The majority of the tables have candy, too, so it's strongly advised that new students attend. At the club fair, you can sign up for as many of the countless clubs that you'd like to participate in, and you get to be on their e-mail list for future events. Clubs on campus are anywhere from very time-consuimg to nearly commitment-less, depending mainly on personal preference and time.

Greek life is concentrated on High Street in a row of nice houses opposite the main campus administrative buildings. It isn't extremely prevalent, but it does exist for those students who would like to participate in it.

I, personally, have never felt unsafe on campus. Public Safety is around and, from what I've heard, they're quick to respond if anything does happen. Students often walk around campus late at night without much hesitance.

Based on my experiences from being on campus, and interacting with students and faculty I could just feel myself absorbing knowledge left and right! Wesleyan's philosophy is all about learning for learning's sake, not just because it's something that you have to do while in college. Since you're spending more than $50,000 a year don't you think you should be able to do what you want with your college education?! With it's open curriculum and open arms for student innovation, Wesleyan is the perfect place to spend the best four years of your life.

Students are accepting, the faculty want you do succeed and the campus feels like home!

Wes is on the expensive side, but it's totally worth it! I've met a ton of my future classmates that are even choosing Wes over Yale, Brown and Colombia if that means anything. If you want a more personal undergraduate experience with a ton of active alumni to help you through your future then Wesleyan is the place for you.

Do well in school, participate in activities that you're passionate about and show the Wes admissions staff that you're perfect for Wesleyan through your essays and you're good to go!

Creative, intellectual, bright, innovative, unique

Wesleyan is political. Wesleyan is quirky. Wesleyan is a welcoming environment that embraces individuality.

Make it a point to befriend athletes and hipsters. Be your own bridge between the sometimes daunting social divide.

Ask for help, don't be ashamed. Wesleyan's intense academic environment is difficult to navigate if you don't reach out for a helping hand when need be.

Be flexible with your roommate. Understand each other's expectations before the year starts.

Be sure to budget your points and meals in order to avoid a dry spell at the end of the semester when you find yourself starving and empty- handed.

Wesleyan has so many opportunities to get involved in new activities. Take risks: try out for a play. Be supportive: watch a community sporting event. Express your self: enroll in an art class. There is so much to do so long as you are proactive during your time here.

There is a wide range of extracurricular and academic activities for people interested in all things (and if there isn't, you can create a group or petition for the creation of a course in your area of interest). It's pretty expensive, which would be daunting if not for the extremely generous financial aid. There are also many work-study opportunities for those who need it.

If you can, visit the school and get a feel for it. It's really the best way to figure out if it's right for you.

Wes is extremely challenging, academically, but for those who work hard and do what they can to keep up (meet with your dean, talk to your professor during office hours, seek help from a tutor), it's not impossible.

I really loved living in the dorms. There are a lot of different types of dorms, but the freshman and seniors arguably get the best housing. Even bad housing at Wes (for non-freshman) is still a sizeable guaranteed single room with access to a kitchen, laundry, and a common room.

If you only go to one dining hall, the food options will inevitably get boring after a while. There are two dining halls (Usdan and Summerfields) and other dining options (such as Pi Cafe, Star & Crescent, Red & Black Cafe, and Weshop). At Summerfields, the food selection is constant throughout the year. At Usdan, there are different foods on different days, with a Kosher and Vegan section (along with other sections that rotate and will be available on different days), and there is Brunch on the weekends. The other places have mostly ready-to-go meals, like sandwiches and sushi, except at Weshop, which is a mini grocery store on campus.

If socializing is your thing, there are a lot of parties, formals, a couple of frats and sororities, music events, student groups, and more to engage in. If you're into sports, you can join one of the official teams or just play a sport for fun, like club volleyball. For those into the arts, there is the Center for the Arts (CFA), which hosts a lot of performances throughout the year. Some are free and some are offered at extremely reduced prices for Wes students. There are music, dance, and art classes available as well.

Not so huge on campus (not being in a sorority or a frat won't kill your social life), but if you're really interested, there are some open for you to join.

A school that gave me the opportunity to receive a top-level education despite not having the financial resources to pay for tuition and all related costs. The school is giving me the chance to chase after my dream, and I plan to utilize their investment in my potential to better myself academically and in all other parts of my life. I have nothing but gratitude for everything they've done for me.

Take full advantage of the diversity present in the student body, as so many of the students are from different backgrounds and have much to offer you. They are all just as enthusiastic as you are to learn and discover their own individually unique identities. Just be yourself and let others become a part of your college experience.

The course load is based on your personal choices; however, each class is demanding in many aspects i.e. time, mental capacity, etc. It's sometimes difficult to balance all of the work you have for each of your classes, but it's part of what makes Wesleyan such a great school. It allows you to find your own balance, and with all the resources available, it isn't necessary for you to discover all of this on your own. You can consult with other upperclassmen and others who have gone through similar situations or your academic advisors who can also help you make wise decisions. The only downside to this is there are numerous courses that you may be interested in, so it seems time is the only lacking resource.

Dorm life is incredible, again due to the huge diversity present in the student body. It's what you make of it. The more interest you show in making meaningful relationships and the more time you share with your peers, the more you can understand how to balance all the various aspects of college life while also enjoying yourself. Because the Wesleyan community isn't as large as some other colleges and the surrounding neighborhoods don't necessarily have a lot to offer, so many events occur on a weekly basis right on campus. Again, time is the only resource that students seem to lack.

There are many food options available for all types of taste buds including vegans, vegetarians, meat lovers, etc. The meal plan is required, but it is very convenient given that there aren't many other options unless you have a car. Even so, there are enough options available for everyone that you shouldn't have to go off campus for food.

Way too much. You'll enjoy it. Come to WesFest for a small taste of the fun we experience as students each and every day.

Wesleyan is all-in-all a great university. It is small enough so that students have the opportunity to really connect with their professors and each other, yet large enough that you always have the opportunity to meet someone new, which is great because one of the best parts about Wesleyan is the student body. The student body here is much more diverse than most colleges which for me was extremely enriching.

This school has much appeal; it is academically prestigious, nationally known, and truly quite fun. When you arrive you will be surrounded by brilliant minds. I urge you to feed off this brilliance and take advantage of all the benefits this school offers.

Any great school is going to be difficult. However the professors here make themselves very available to students both in and out of class. Students here have so many avenues of learning and we generally seem to step up to the challenge.

There's not much that needs to be said about dorm life besides that it's awesome. The dorms themselves are all-in-all average. You have everything you need (spacious rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc.), but the people in the dorms make them so much fun.

I can't complain about the food here. It's actually kind of good. And there are quite a few places to eat so you never really get tired of the same thing. Also we were voted the most vegan friendly of the small campuses in the nation, a spot that I definitely feel we earned. The vegan options here are quite numerous, and, although I've never tried them, I guess they're also tasty.

There are parties every weekend. What more do you want? Although if you're looking for more wholesome fun you could stop by the Freeman Athletic Center to workout, shoot some hoops, swim, or play whatever sport. We also have a university center with pool tables, Foosball, TVs, and videogames. You don't have to go all the way to the university center to watch TV though as there are some in every dorm lounge. Also there's quite a bit to do in town. You could catch a movie (that is if you aren't a fan of the movies they show on campus every Wednesday-Saturday), go skating, eat out, or a myriad of other interesting things. Basically there's a lot of fun stuff to do here at Wes.

Let's face it, this school is expensive. Studying for a year here will set you back about 55 grand, but at least in my case they were very generous with scholarships, and even though I still ended up paying $4000 this year I definitely feel like it's worth it.

The only unusual tradition that comes to mind is the Wesleyan spirit of protest. Students here fight for every cause known to man from the fair treatment of animals to the importance of need-blind admissions.

Liberal; fun; politically minded; quirky; opinionated; and just about anybody

We have TONS of them. You will definitely find at least one that you like.

We have a few frats and sororities but Greek life isn't as heavy here as it may be at other, bigger universities.

Recently there have been reports of violence from the townies but it's a pretty safe place to go to school.

Wonderful University that allows any student to explore many aspects one would want to seek in a college experience.

Apply! It's really a great University. Research, Visit, Apply! ha ha It's that easy.

The workload does get large fairly quickly but it's all about time management and scheduling. If you can sit out 3 hours a day to study you will be fine.

Each dorm building has it's own character I believe. Despite some being newer than the others, the dorms are still pretty nice compared to other Universities.

The food is awesome! There are a lot of cafes you can stop by if you just want a quick snack, but if you have time to sit down and eat there is the main dining hall which is a buffet. There is a wide range of food and there is also a lot of healthy food.

There is a ton of things to do for fun. Although it is a D3 school in sports there are a ton of sports you can play and club teams you can join if you do not want to commit a lot of time to a varsity sport. There are also events always going on from film series to random poetry jams. There is always something going on and it is well advertised around campus.

Ummmm it is on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but it is a good school to attend if you can afford it. It is 100% need met so you will be assisted financially to a great extent which is really nice. Overall the education you receive here is by far superior to other universities.

Well I am a freshman so I am still figuring out all the traditions of the campus but there are always weird and quirky little traditions going on. There always different 1 day shops opened outside of the dining hall that sells prints to

Suprisingly there isn't one type of student that would fit in here. If you are different per say, you will fit in just well. If you're wondering what I mean by different, you're going to be wondering for a while. It is up to your definition. Everyone fits in from the hipsters to jocks. The campus is very welcoming and friendly.

Like I said before there are a lot of clubs you can join. There a lot of sport club teams and a ton of other styled clubs.

Greek life surprisingly does exist but it isn't as big as most schools. The big difference from ours compared to other schools is that you don't have to be part of the frat to join in on the parties. There are always themed of concerts going on at the frat houses and everyone who is a student is allowed to attend.

The campus safety is pretty good. It is an open campus so there is always Public Safety officers driving around. They do a pretty good job in keeping the campus safe.

Lively, liberal, and unique community. Amazingly knowledgable professors and academic freedom. Big on the arts, but kind of a bubble community.

Know the type of campus you're getting yourself into and if it would truly be a good fit. Definitely visit.

Courses are challenging, but great professors (I do recommend consulting rmp) make them engaging and worth the effort.

Best college dining hall food you will ever find.

See a concert, music performance, go to a society party (they're very open, anyone with an ID is let in), chill with friends, explore Middletown, see a free movie screening

Exorbitant cost, but you're getting a top knotch education

-Independent
-Free spirited
-Liberal
-Socially aware
-Love to learn

There's a club for everyone.

Not a huge presence; frats and societies throw amazing parties and concerts though.

Liberal, creative. A place where freedom of expression is EXPECTED. If you don't like to live outside the box, don't even apply.

Solid grades and test scores (this is a little ivy!)
Extracurriculars that show who you are

In any given class, there is an air of excitement and purpose. Wesleyan has an open curriculum, meaning that if you're in a class you're there because you want to be there. Did I mention its a little ivy?

Wesleyan has a lot of diverse and cool living options. There are a multitude of living communities that are volunteer or major-oriented.

VERY Vegetarian friendly

Middletown CT is a bit dumpy, but there are a lot of clubs and fun things to do at Wesleyan itself.

Once a year Wesleyan students have a silent on campus dance. Everyone makes their own playlists, puts on their headphones, and jams out at the same time.

Creative, individualistic, artsy, brainy

Wesleyan University is a great university that allows self-growth. There are frequent parties and events to make up for a small-town located school. The diverse student body and great Wesleyan faculty make Wesleyan a truly unique and great experience.

Don't worry about making friends; there are so many different groups at Wes that you will find your group relatively quickly in the school year.

If you don't procrastinate, the rigor isn't too bad. The work is reading-heavy in almost all classes with the exception of math.

I live in the Butterfields dorm and it's very much like a community. Much of the dorms at Wes are very tight-knit and that's usually where a lot of friendships are started.

The food is great, but the food can be a bit repetitive. I recommend ordering take-out or delivery from town from time to time.

There are events every weekend so there's always something to do, whether or not you're a partier or not.

Wesleyan's tuition is a bit steep, one of the most expensive in the country. But, filling out financial aid can lessen the load. It's a great experience if you can afford it or don't mind taking out loans or looking for scholarships.

WesFest occurs in April. It's a huge good-time event that occurs for prefrosh that want to visit and meet some members of the class. Some of the best parties and concerts occur at WesFest!

We have a club fair once every semester. There are so many clubs and activities for all types of people.

Wesleyan has a couple of fraternities but no one really pledges a sorority. The Greek fraternity houses host a lot of parties but Greek Life is not a prominent aspect of Wesleyan life.

Public Safety patrols the campus at night and there are Emergency stations located around campus.