Wesleyan University Top Questions

Stereotypes break down at Wesleyan. Though one might claim to be completely open-minded, it takes exposure to develop real tolerance. That's the best thing about Wesleyan-- the mindset (which to others may seem forced, silly, and somewhat pretentious) does create an opportunity to explore different experiences from the inside. The mindset is all about trying anything new, just for the sake of trying. Since everybody is on the same page, there is an atmosphere of liberation-- sexually, creatively, personally; Wesleyan provides a unique environment to self-search and really figure out who you are.

Wesleyan has just the perfect number of students--there's a strong sense of community with a small and intimate campus, but you're still meeting new people until the day you graduate. The administration really listens to the student body. Students have a major say on what happens on all levels of the institution. Right now there is a group called SEWI (Students for Ending the War in Iraq) which is currently in negotiations with the Board of Trustees to have them divest from weapons contractors. Additionally, groups like EON (Environmental Organization Network) have a large voice in environmental sustainability issues in student housing, food plans, and more. In general, different groups on campus treat each other with the utmost respect, and when one group is being screwed over, you'll usually hear about it.

Wesleyan is a wonderfully eclectic place. My Dad used to call it the blue-jeaned black sheep of the Little Three (the other two being Williams and Amherst) back when he was in college, and I think that maybe the broadest thing you can say about Wes is that while it and its student body are kind of grungy in many respects, we wouldn't have it any other way. I guess that what I'm getting at is that in spite of the fact that Wesleyan has rarely (if ever) been known for its athletics, the student body has an enormous amount of school pride. Most of the campus knows our fight song by heart, and we pull it out for just about every occasion, regardless of whether or not there's an actual sport involved. There's also a sort of lore surrounding our school that each new student is initiated into, from the Douglas Cannon (which students used to steal and take with them around the world, sending "ransom" pictures back to the administration) to the bizarre stuffed buffalo on the fourth floor of the science tower. Wesleyan's not a big place, and Middletown certainly isn't anything to write home about, but we love our school and its many eccentricities (and even shortcomings) fiercely.

not worth your time. nothing to do in middletown. administration is bullshit but the deans are cool. wesleyan sucks. there is nothing unique about it- its a rich white liberal arts college a dime a dozen. if u think its a top tier school try transferring your wesleyan credits somewhere and see how far you get. try name dropping it and see how many people think it is wellesley. NOT WORTH YOUR TIME OR MONEY.

wesleyan's really good academically, has a lively student culture.

Wesleyan is a place where, no matter what you like to do, you can find someone to do it with you. Sniff cocaine off the toilet seats? Sure! Compare and contrast minor characters in obscure Russian novels? No problem. I don't like cocaine or Russian novels, but I have friends who are into each. Because of the diversity of interests here and the degree to which they interact, I've personally found people to be less judgmental and I really feel free to experiment and learn. The atmosphere of openness and intellectual discussion is probably one of my favorite things about the place.

To me, the best thing about Wesleyan has always been the people. What I find amazing about Wesleyan is how difficult it is to categorize people. The frat guys are artists, the economists are lesbians, nothing seems to fit the mold. If there's a problem with that, it's that sometimes people get really wound up in not making stereotypes, to the point of getting angry if you ever refer to more than one person as a group (i.e. "the international students," or "the queer students"). It's a small enough place that it seems someone I know is involved in every performance, symposium, or charity drive on campus. Very strong community feeling, which is not to be confused with "school spirit." We have school spirit, but it revolves more around our progressive ideals than it does around the football team. Not a pretty town or a pretty school, but a place to go if you want to be somewhere that's a bit different from anywhere else.

The school is definitely a little bit too small. The best thing is that there are definitely a wide variety of people at Wesleyan, although most of them are white hipsters. But, you can definitely find people with similar interests to you. I like Middletown a lot but it's hard to get to the airport/train station -- there's no public transportation and the school doesn't provide shuttles. The administration has some wonderful people in it. For the most part, though, those high up act as though they have the student's best interests in mind when they really just want more money for the school.

Wesleyan is a school that is good for anyone. It's academically challenging, but Wes students like to party a lot. The size is perfect and makes for great campus unity. Everyone at Wesleyan loves the place. People don't talk about it all the time, but it comes up every now and then that Wesleyan is the only place that Wes students would want to be. Middletown has some good restaurants, and that's about it, but I rarely feel the need to leave campus because it's where everyone is. The one thing I would change about Wesleyan is the location. I would move the school to a warm climate. The weather in the winter is the only downfall, although the campus can be really nice covered in snow.

It's a wonderful place, full of some of the warmest, most welcoming, and most amazing people you will ever meet.