Transfer TO wesleyan!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wesleyan University
1

<p>I'm currently a freshman at a reputable liberal arts school in upstate New York. Unfortunately for me, however, I'm starting to hate this place. There is absolutely nothing to do besides binge drink and go to sketchy frats. The people here are nice on the surface, but there's not that much underneath besides a desire to drink and become friends with people who can supply alcohol. There are pockets of people who I find to be actually interesting, good people, but I feel like the rest of the time I'm trying to mold myself into something I'm not.</p>

<p>I'd like to drink, but I don't want to be isolated in the sub-free dorms playing monopoly and watching movies for the rest of my life. I want an enlightening college experience, and even though the academics here are great and the professors are wonderful, the only thing I've learned how to do is drink and hook up with creepers. I need something in between the two extremes. Is that what Wesleyan provides? I'm thinking about applying for transfer to Wesleyan for the fall 2009, but I'm not sure if it's the right fit. Also, I have a great financial aid package here and I don't think that my dad would go for anything less. </p>

<p>I guess I'm just searching for some advice here. What I'm searching for is a place with excellent academics, and genuinely interesting and friendly people who can have crazy fun without constantly imbibing. I've always been a little on the weird side - definitely not like the typical prep-school whitebreads that can be found here, so I feel a bit ostracized. Does anyone who goes to wesleyan think that it could be a good fit for me? I'm a bit disillusioned by the whole institution of college at the moment, and any bit of advice would surely help. thanks!</p>

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<p>no replies?!? I just need to know if that would be a legit reason to transfer. My brother who is a junior in college basically told me that that's just how college is (with all the drinking and alcoholism) but he lives in a city so he doesn't understand that there are literally NO other options. Is that how Wesleyan is?!</p>

<p>I will be happy with any feedback!</p>

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<p>I'm waiting for replies right along with you--</p>

<p>I'm a highschool senior who loves the relaxed academic atmosphere of Wes, but I'm wary of the possible party people that might come along with that. I'd prefer less alcohol/drugs, and more board games/movie nights/political activism/going to plays/baking cookies/hanging out.
(If you end up going to Wesleyan, let me know so we can do these things together hahah).</p>

<p>From what others have been telling me, (check out my thread here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wesleyan-university/586135-does-everyone-wes-party.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wesleyan-university/586135-does-everyone-wes-party.html&lt;/a> where I got some informative replies), there are people who party and people who don't and most people do both, but there's no shortage of non-wild things to do. Going to Wesleying.blogspot.com gives you a pretty good sense of the variety of social activities available.</p>

<p>There are schools with even less of a party scene than Wesleyan though (try Swarthmore), but they come with a painfully intense academic atmosphere, it seems to me.</p>

<p>The most black-and-white answer I can give (as someone who doesn't go to Wes but has literally done hundreds of hours of research online) is that there are definitely things to do besides go to sketchy alcohol-drenched parties. How many people choose to DO these non-alcoholic things is another matter. (As I said, it seems like most people party one weekend and do something else the next).</p>

<p>Hope that helps!!
I'll continue to re-visit this thread for answers hourly :P</p>

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<p>I'm sitting here with my daughter who is a Wes freshperson, home on fall break, and I read your questions to her. Your list of things that you are hoping for in college seem to correspond 100% to hers, and she is supremely happy at Wes. </p>

<p>One of the most important things that my daughter says is that there is not a big divide between partiers/drinkers and non-partiers/non-drinkers. The kids at Wes are really BUSY with lots of things - and for some of them, that includes the big loud parties and others not. There are lots of performances, lectures, dances, movies, etc to choose from and plenty of time for her in big groups playing games, staying up all night talking, etc. She hasn't baked cookies yet, but they've talked about it. </p>

<p>I say don't settle for a college culture that you find alienating and unfulfilling - you CAN get an intellectually satisfying academic experience and lots of interesting (rather than stultifying) fun with interesting people at the same time. I say this as a former faculty member from a school that sounds a lot like what you are describing. The students there who were serious about their school work often felt alienated by the frat-dominated social scene, even though their classes were great. There are some frats at Wes, but they don't dominate and even they are not mostly your sterotypical Animal-House-type scene, though you can find that if you're looking.</p>

<p>I'm handing the computer over to my D now:</p>

<p>Hi! I was worried about all the same things you were before coming to college. I know I've only been here about two months, but so far I've had an amazing time at wes and have found all the things that it sounds like you two are looking for, as well as met lots of interesting, creative, fun, and intelligent people. Some of my friends (not all by any means, though), do smoke or drink on occasion, but they've never taken issue with the rest of our choice not to do so, and they don't consider alchohol and drugs to be a major source of fun or entertainment. So far I've had a pretty good balance of academic and social life, and I've managed to stay up until all hours of the night (and morning) playing games, watching movies, going to shows, exploring middletown, dancing, talking to people, engaging in general (non-chemical-induced) stupidity, and going to parties and events that were outside the let's-all-get-really-drunk-and-not-remember-it-in-the-morning college norm. I'm sure it's possible to have the typical party scene experience at wes, if you go looking for it, and equally so to spend all your time holed up in your room studying. But there are definitely plenty of other options here.</p>

<p>Have a good college search and I hope you consider Wesleyan!</p>

5

<p>It sounds like you would be a great fit for Wes. There is TONS to do if you don't want to drink/only want to drink casually, instead of getting sh**faced every weekend. In fact, at least in my experiance, most people don't get THAT drunk all the time. And there are only like, two kind-of-sketchy frats (and a couple not-so-sketchy ones), and many people go to them rarely or not at all. </p>

<p>For example, a typical weekend for me might look like:</p>

<p>Thursday: Watch Firefly with friends after finishing my homework (I have Friday class)</p>

<p>Friday: Go to class and cardio-kickboxing most of the day. Order Chinese and play Settlers of Catan, then hang around (maybe drinking casually, maybe not) with some friends until 2, go to the diner (I love late night diner runs).</p>

<p>Saterday: Do homework + hang out in the afternoon. Go to a play or movie early evening. Go to a bigger party at a friend's apartment (where people are drinking, though most not out of control, where I know most of the people, and there is dancing. It is certainly possible to have fun without drinking).</p>

<p>Anyway, that's just me. As momindeed's D says, there is NO pressure to drink/do drugs, or to do more than you're comfortable with.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the insight, that sound similar to what I've heard :)
I'm not sure whether to take it as a good thing or a bad thing that everyone basically does the loud party scene AND the more tame social scene... I guess it's good, but I can't exclusively hang out with people the nights they don't party.</p>

<p>One more question (sorry): How are the relationships between students and professors? Do you know each other as friends in addition to professors? Do you discuss things outside of class? Are students ever invited to professors homes or to have dinner with professors?</p>

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<p>Just a clarification - I don't think it's true that "everyone basically does the loud party scene AND the more tame social scene" - or at least that's not what I meant when I wrote that there's not a big divide. As far as I can tell, lots of kids take a pass on the party scene completely - or only sample it - but they still have friends who do party and they have lots of things in common with them. But you won't be alone looking for something to do just because there's a big party going on on campus. I'll let my daughter weigh in later.</p>

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<p>I've been invited 4 times to a professor's house for either lunch or dinner... I think that says it all. You can get as close as you want with professors here- either a friendly hello as you pass by them on campus, or as close as stopping in their office hours after you no longer have a class with them just to chat. you decide, and take the initiative either way</p>

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<p>I am also applying to transfer to Wesleyan (from Barnard, so my problems have been very different from yours) and this is all really helpful. Thanks so much to everybody who has responded.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
As far as I can tell, lots of kids take a pass on the party scene completely - or only sample it - but they still have friends who do party and they have lots of things in common with them.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yep, this is exactly right. I, for example, have stopped doing the Psi U/Eclectic party thing for the most part, while plenty of my friend still go (or at least did last year). But I always had some friends who a) don't like parties at all or b) weren't up for a party that night, and we find other things to do. At least in my experience, you will find a diversity of people wanting to party and not (any given weekend and in general) within friend groups: as momindeed suggests, people make friends based on how well they get along, not whether or not they party on the weekends. </p>

<p>I agree with smartalic abotu realtionships to Profs. If you put in even a little effort (going to office hours, making sure to take small classes) it is very easy to get very close to profs.</p>

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<p>Really, thank you all for responding. Wesleyan truly sounds like the perfect place. Your posts were exactly what I needed (okay, wanted) to hear. I am without a doubt sending in an application for transfer here. Now all I have to worry about is getting in haha. </p>

<p>and flying_pig319, if we both get in I say we bake cookies for the whole office of admissions : ) </p>

<p>also, how is financial aid at Wes? I have a great package right now and unfortunately that would be another obstacle to my attending Wesleyan.</p>

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<p>Ah, this is all such good news, thanks. </p>

<p>Hahah sounds good, Yellowbrickroad!!</p>

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<p>i am a transfer at wes and for the few months I've been here, it's great. Everyone's responses sound accurate so far. </p>

<p>as for the financial aid...they meet 100% of need even for transfers, which not all schools do. I have a great financial aid package very similar to my last school. In fact, I got less loans but my contribution was expected to be the same so I guess it's less expensive now that I think about it. </p>

<p>If you guys have any specific questions about being a transfer or admissions stuff feel free to send me a message and I'll try to answer as best I can.</p>