<p>My ideal school atmosphere is that of UChicago's: extremely intellectually serious and quirky. I really like Wesleyan for its intimacy and openness, but I'm afraid it might be too laid back -- too many students who don't really care about their classes and would rather just get high or party than have a genuine talk about something that came up in class. I opt for activities such as the latter, and I abhor activities like the former.</p>
<p>Advice?</p>
<p>Wesleyan is very intellectual, believe me. Everyone takes his/her classes very seriously, and yesterday I even had an hour-long conversation with two lacrosse players about Franz Kafka.</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen (I’m still a senior in HS), Wes is pretty intellectual, but to be completely honest I don’t think it can compare to Uchicago when it comes to seriousness (not many schools can). I’m choosing to ED wes for the complete opposite reasons as you - people aren’t as serious as they are at other schools. A lot of people at Wes party; when I stayed overnight, you could hear tons of parties going on, but if that’s not your thing I’m fairly certain you could ignore it.</p>
<p>I didn’t get a party school vibe at all, but parties seem common. I can’t speak for Wesleyan because I’m a senior like nyctempo, but from what I’ve learned and observed on campus is that sort of intellectual quirky feel, it’s one of the main reasons why I’m applying to Wes. I can’t compare it to Uchicago though… but thats just my $.02</p>
<p>That’s so not true. There are parties on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and most people go out only two days a week. The workload is very intense; there is just no way people can ignore their homework. It’s more of a ‘work hard,play hard’ motto going on, and I would say that 90% of people work much harder than they party(but they still have fun).</p>
<p>I have been amazed at hard my son’s classes are, by which I mean the volume of work and the expectations. (whether that is a good thing to say or not, its true). Even more amazing to me is how much he is loving it all; he is so engaging by his profs and classmates that he is not minding the work. He is by nature an intellectual kiid and this atmosphere is sure firing up all the synapses. It is a very intellectually engaged student body.</p>
<p>And oh yeah, he does go to parties too.</p>
<p>I second Pickwick’s comments. I am a Wes alum whose son is a Wes sophomore and Wesleyan has and has had for as long as anyone can recall a very serious intellectual atmosphere. One of the primary reasons is the quality of its faculty. I think any prospective student or parent of one ought to spend some time browsing Wesleyan’s website to drill down to the faculty web pages. Most faculty have their own websites and there you can read about the books and articles they have published, the academic papers they have presented and their current research interests. Also, take a look at the range of lectures and academic conferences that take place at Wesleyan. </p>
<p>I know just a little about UChicago, having visited there for a few days two winters ago. I found the intellectual atmosphere there similar to Wesleyan’s but I don’t know any way to measure it or to compare the two in any precise way.</p>
<p>I will say, without qualification, is that Wesleyan is an ideal place to study for a young person who has serious intellectual interests.</p>
<p>Dunno, I always tell people who are also early decisioning to wesleyan that they really should visit, it’s the kind of atmosphere that you love or hate. Maybe I phrased it the wrong way; Wesleyan is definitely really intellectual, but it’s not “extremely intellectually serious” like you said about Uchicago. More quirky, like twang said.</p>
<p>I definitely agree that a campus visit is the way to go. Don’t just do a tour and info session, though. Go to audit a class or two, go to Usdan during lunch time and observe, talk to students and ask questions. If you have a serious interest also pre-schedule an interview on campus with admissions. We were able to eliminate a couple schools that way. And it made the choice of Wesleyan as ED1 an easy one in our case.</p>
<p>I agree that Wesleyan is highly intellectual and cares about its studies, but I don’t think “serious” is the right word in the UChicago sense. “Irreverent” seems like a better fit to me.</p>
<p>Thanks for such great responses, everyone.</p>
<p>Specifically, since I’m not really into partying and like small groups of people than large clusters (i.e., chatting over coffee or talking a walk with someone rather than, well, partying), would I fit in at Wesleyan? I like talking about “big ideas,” not about TV shows, what Sally did at John’s house last night, etc. Of course, I don’t always spend time talking about these things (I do have specific interests that I like talking about, like vegetarianism, computer programming, etc.), and I’m not pretentious, but I just can’t stand the mundane stuff – and I’m really not friendly with jocks / much of a sports person (that’s another important consideration!).</p>
<p>Specifically, yes! You will have these kinds of serious conversations not just with classmates, hallmates and random students you meet in Usdan (dining area) but also your professors. My son had lunch with his professor two weeks ago and had a wonderful conversation. Wesleyan is fairly unique, despite what other alums from other liberal arts colleges may say, in the degree to which ideas are taken seriously. It was this way 40 years ago there and continues to today.</p>
<p>Seriously consider visiting and talking to people on Foss or something before you commit; I feel like it’s way more important to visit schools with smaller class sizes cause there’s a chance that the social scene you’re looking for isn’t prominent.
The jock thing shouldn’t be a problem, and neither should finding people with similar interests as you, but I feel like the atmosphere you’re looking for is a little iffy at Wesleyan (basing it off your statement that an “ideal” environment" is UChicago). I’ve visited both and I can tell you that the experiences that I had at the two are pretty far off… I think Hanna hit the nail on the head with “intellectually irreverent vs serious.” But then again, maybe that’s just because the people I hung out with liked to party and such.</p>
<p>I do think that visiting Wesleyan is a good idea for anyone interested in the school. And sitting in on a couple classes will be very revealing–especially if it is a smallish seminar where there is a lot of dialogue in the class. My son ruled out Northwestern and Cornell as a result of that, loved what he experienced at Wesleyan and Hamilton, and wound up Wesleyan ED1. As far as Wesleyan being “intellectually irreverent” as opposed to “serious”–I think there is a bit of both at times, but by the time you get into your major in upper division classes, the irreverence had better be backed up by solid thinking. Being a dilettante or poseur ultimately does not wear well at Wesleyan, because you have to produce and think and work hard to defend your positions, or you will be exposed pretty quickly. It won’t just be your professors who will see it–it will be your classmates even more so. Typically students come to Wesleyan to get something done in those four years. That’s why so many go on to get Ph.D’s, as well as get into the best professional schools and internships. By the way, quite a few go on to Chicago after Wesleyan, and a good number of Wesleyan faculty are UChicago alumni.</p>
<p>nyctempo: I have actually visited and toured Wesleyan, though I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to speak to many of the students or sit in on any classes (I went over the summer, when it wasn’t booming with activity). </p>
<p>morganhil: That seems to make sense.</p>
<p>Maybe I should visit again before I have to submit my application…</p>
<p>My niece recently transferred from Emory which she found lacking in the serious/intellectual department. She is now very happy at Wesleyan.</p>
<p>I love Wes, but I do think ideas are taken seriously at many liberal arts colleges. Some are more into theory; some praxis, but to suggest that Wes is unique is silly.</p>
<p>mythmom: Are you implying something about Wesleyan, perhaps that it’s not as serious as other schools?</p>
<p>No, not at all. I definitely think it is. I was responding to the comment that no matter what other alums say, their school is not as intellectual as Wesleyan, and I don’t agree with that. I think it stands head and shoulders with any other elite liberal arts college or selective university.</p>
<p>I saw a wonderful piano recital there and was completely impressed with the school.</p>
<p>My kids attended other schools that were both incredibly rigorous and each was intellectual in its own way, even though one doesn’t have that reputation – it was.</p>
<p>However, I don’t rate either of them more highly than, nor do I rate it them less highly.</p>
<p>It’s a matter of fit. Different students appreciate different environments, but many have also thrived at their second and third choice schools too.</p>
<p>If you like Wes the most, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.</p>