Can anyone speak to the strength of the philosophy department at Wesleyan. How does it compare to other top liberal arts colleges or a school like Brown? Does it place students in strong phd programs?
Also, as a side note, I’ve read some posts here that suggest Wesleyan’s alternative culture is increasingly less prominent on campus. Does Wesleyan still stand out as a haven of counterculture among top liberal arts colleges or has it become more mainstream?
I don’t have a kid there, but through athletic recruiting I’ve had two close looks, including this year. I’ve also had an athlete at Middlebury, so I’ve traveled to Wesleyan for games.
Of the, say, 15 or more times I’ve stepped foot on that campus, I have not perceived the counterculture you speak of. When I think of counterculture, I think of Portland Oregon, particularly the downtown area. I also not coincidentally think of Reed College. I think of people trying very, very hard to be very different and challenge the status quo to the point of shock. Big bolted ears, piercings everywhere, anything but one’s natural hair color, etc. I don’t see this as a prominent thing at Wesleyan.
If, by counterculture, you mean an activist student body that challenges the administration and any and all other authority structures with which they interact, then, yes, Wes kids are, by and large, not a quiet and easy going bunch.
One thing in particular I do notice about Wesleyan that sets it apart from many, though not all, of the other elite LACs is that it is incredibly diverse racially and ethnically. Much more so in my experience than Middlebury. It also seems like a place where the 'bro culture just doesn’t fit in, which is funny given that Wes is so late in tubing its frats.
I don’t think Wesleyan is mainstream, but I don’t think it’s as crazy as everyone makes it out to be.
I think “Keep Wes Weird” is still their mantra, and it fits. But extreme counter-culture … nah. Not from what I can tell.
Thanks for the response MiddleburyDad2.
I’ve been reading up on how the “Keep Wes Weird” slogan came about in response to a perceived cultural shift. I haven’t seen any updates within a few years, so I’m wondering: Is Wesleyan still “weird?”
I’m approaching a decision on whether or not to apply ED, and just want to be sure that the descriptions that drew me to the school in the first place still apply.