<p>Just reviewed this thread and have to agree with Ephman’s comment about johnwesley’s “tortured logic.” The change in financial aid policy is unfortunate. I hope it lasts as short a time as possible, for the sake of applying students and the school’s image. I enjoyed Wesleyan immensely as a student, as much for the lightheartedness of my classmates as anything. An embarrassing disclosure: I was more preoccupied than anyone I knew at Wesleyan about rankings, etc., checking SAT scores and other admissions numbers from year to year. I also checked my class rank every semester–could never break 6! None of my friends even knew you could get that information from the registrar. They were bemused by my behavior, which seemed to the more in keeping with a Johns Hopkins pre-med than a Wesleyan…well, pre-med. If Wesleyan today remains anything like it was when I attended (grad '97, transferred from Bowdoin), prospective applicants should know that Wesleyan people do not have the kind of bizarre, cultlike obsession with their school’s reputation that johnwesley and I (to a lesser degree, I hope) have. Frankly I don’t understand why anyone would haunt these boards after leaving college. I don’t even know why I’m here, but having noticed the way in which johnwesley has positioned himself as a spokesman for the school and an intrusive panopticon-like presence over all the LAC boards, I felt the need to speak up. Although doubtless helpful during the admissions process, this site seems to be a magnet for people who fetishize prestige, perhaps as a way of shoring up ego deficits or basking in the reflected glow of their college’s reputation. Whatever the case, it ain’t healthy and couldn’t be further from the wholehearted engagement with life that Wesleyan encourages. I know it’s not my place to write this, but maybe you should consider retiring from these forums, johnwesley. I, for one, will not be posting again. You can do it…Just. Let. Go.</p>
<p>Wesleyan97 will soon be reappearing with the same writing voice under the new username “maskedbandito.”</p>
<p>Looking forward to it!</p>
<p>In defense of JohnWesley, and as an alumnus of Wesleyan and the dad of a current sophomore, I find his posts to be very well-informed and I find that prospective students find them be be very useful. I don’t know where this poster gets that alums who post here have some kind of ego deficit. Au contraire, we love Wesleyan and we are its ambassadors all over the planet. The Wes Alumni Office encourages us to spread the good news about Wesleyan and that is certainly what he and I do. We know, and you ought to know, that President Michael Roth --also a Wes alum–constantly emphasizes that whether alums or current students, we compose a world-wide Wesleyan community. I wear my Wes tee shirts and sweat shirts everywhere and I have met so many wonderful people who are not just fellow alums, but also their parents, spouses, siblings and friends. I never knew nor bothered what my class rank was when I was a student back there in the early 70’s but I was stunned when I got a note in my mailbox that I was nominated for Highest Honors (I wound up with High Honors). I think most Wesleyan students today have a similar lack of obsession with their grades and are more or less laser focused on what they are studying. Like JohnWesley, I suspect, the experience I had at Wesleyan transformed my life and it has been a source of strength and even wisdom for over 40 years.</p>
<p>As for HockeyKid, I’d venture: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford</p>
<p>As in he’s at none of the above.</p>
<p>Lol why am i involved here?</p>
<p>Columbia
xyz</p>
<p>OMG, I’ve hit the mother lode of NESCAC threads!!! The only thing missing is a rendition of “Midd Kid”: [MIDD</a> KID (Official Music Video) - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZzCHcMKyDc]MIDD”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZzCHcMKyDc)</p>
<p>Seriously, Wesleyan people, you should demand this be thumbnailed (or whatever you call it) to the top of your CC forum. I haven’t read the whole thing, but as far as I’m concerned it can all be summed up by this quote from John Wesley way back at post#2:
</p>
<p>Considering, What Has Happened To Amherst these past few weeks, I would say he has been largely vindicated: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/1404384-rapes-hushed-up-administration-amherst.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/1404384-rapes-hushed-up-administration-amherst.html</a></p>
<p>To the OP, I’m not sure what would bring a Columbia freshmen to obsess about a college one tenth the size of his (or her) home college, but I suppose it is a kind of compliment to Wesleyan. It really is like comparing apples to oranges.</p>
<p>Current sophomore at Sacred Heart University on academic scholarship. Just got accepted to Wesleyan as a transfer for the spring, but will not be receiving any aid. I’m a bio/chem double on the pre-med track. Is it worth the switch? I’m not unhappy at my school, but I do feel that it may be looked down upon among peer institutions and medical schools. Any input would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m not sure of the precise numbers here (johnwesley would know, but he’s kinda disappeared from this board, unfortunately), though I believe 80-100% of Wesleyan grads applying to med school (depending on the year) get accepted. I know it’s an extremely high percentage, even among Wesleyan’s peer schools.</p>
<p>My understanding is that sciences at Wes are extremely strong, number one among LACs in research dollars, more than twice as much money devoted to science research as the next LAC in line. With grad programs in several scientific fields, Wes offers undergrads unparalleled opportunities to do research, giving a boost to med school apps.</p>
<p>Anyone know if there is a limit on the number of recommendation letters that you can submit with the UG application? The FAQ talks about 2 teacher recommendations, one from a math/science teacher and one from english/SS teacher. However, if one is applying to dance or has substantial research experience (NIH SIP), will the school like to see additional letters? If so how to submit?</p>
<p>This is a late post, but as someone who just recently sent a binding ED II application to Wes, I feel I have something to say.</p>
<p>I have to admit, Wes is not the prettiest campus, or the most selective, or as well-known for rigorous super-star academia. But Wes has something else. PEOPLE. The reason I chose Wes for ED was that, in my research and in talking with current students, they all said THE SAME THING. The best part about Wes was the people. They are interesting, accepting, smart, dynamic, blah blah blah, just great stuff. I guess I am a bit of a romantic, but I think who you experience college with is just as important as the academic experience itself.</p>
<p>Now granted, I’m not saying that at Amherst, Williams, Dartmouth, etc. there are only preppy bros (I actually applied to Amherst, I love this school too), but Wes just seemed so much more interesting. It’s also bigger than those small LACs. You get the academics, small classes, opportunities, etc. but with a university feel. </p>
<p>I guess you could find a flaw in any school (Greek life at Dartmouth, competitive “pre-med” attitudes), but I think Wes’ flaw of being a little rebellious and a little less clean-cut is not too shabby.</p>
<p>I go to Wesleyan right now. The people there are different, albeit very, very politically correct.</p>
<p>If you’re out of line with the (liberal) agenda, you’re immediately shouted out of the room. And I say liberal in a non-condescending way…</p>
<p>I am an alum and my son is a sophomore. I would want to know which specific situations you have observed where people are “shouted down”. He has never seen this before. I have watched several videos of school discussions–no shouting–so I would like to hear specifics.</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6410LVW using CC</p>
<p>Maybe your son wasn’t shouted down because maybe he never said something that went against the grain. Lots of colleges are super PC. Wouldn’t be surprised if Wesleyan was, too, and I have read that this is the case as well.</p>
<p>I’ll give an anecdotal example during Res-Life Training. “Minimum wage causes some unemployment in non-monopsonistic markets.” <em>(An economic argument…)</em>
Response?
“Well, we all know that the minimum wage raises the standard of living and forces employers to pay a decent wage to employees… (etc.) Maybe if you weren’t close-minded you would understand that.”
I can give dozens more. Although I wasn’t exactly “shouted out,” there was a condescending demeanor to that remark.</p>
<p>“Well, we all know that the minimum wage raises the standard of living and forces employers to pay a decent wage to employees…” Yeah that’s true, do you have an issue with that statement? </p>
<p>Wesleyan seems to me like a very liberal school and if you are conservative, you might not fit in. Same goes for dozens of other liberal arts schools. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I would feel very uncomfortable in a super conservative or religious school but there’s nothing about their philosophy that is “bad”. It’s just not for me (and lots of others).</p>
<p>Actually my son has numerous friends who are either part of the Wes Republican club, are athletes, members of DKE etc who are conservatives and he doesn’t know what you are referring to. Wesleyan is often slammed by far right groups who dislike most of the liberal liberal arts colleges. Without specific cases. your comments remind me of so many critics of years ago. The fact is that political and religious conservatives, have their own groups just as the more progressive groups do.</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6410LVW using CC</p>
<p>Also when I attended Wes forty years ago, there were two students who are now well known conservative fund raisers who called those of us who supported withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam, “communist dupes”. That kind of comment which was given ample publicity by the Wesleyan Argus, didn’t make Wesleyan a right wing outpost. Today there are students who are conservative activists who organize protests against affirmative action. Last year one of the speakers at Wesleyan was Antonin Scalia.</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6410LVW using CC</p>
<p>Check the website and see if there are any inklings of conservatism on campus. Besides the religious group, WesCF, there are none. And even that group has come recently under fire for dissenting on the issue of marriage.</p>