<p>I am interested in majoring in Economics, and wondering if anyone has any opinions on the following colleges?</p>
<p>Wheaton College(MA), Drew University, and College of Wooster.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The Drew campus is SO PRETTY</p>
<p>...which doesn't really answer your question, but i thought i'd throw it out there :)</p>
<p>We visited all 3 schools, so I wil give you my superficial impressions. Wheaton used to be all women, went co-ed a few years back, so still is struggling a bit to bring men in. Not sure what the current ratios are. You can take classes at other top schools in the area (can't name them, look into this) and you benefit from being in the greater Boston area with all the colleges in the region.</p>
<p>Drew is a nice campus but it is hard to pick out anything that distinguishes it from several hundred other schools. Pretty convenient to get into New York City, so if a student is interested in taking advantage of NYC for entertainment or culture I would definitely consider it. If you have no interest in NYC not sure I would bother. </p>
<p>I thought Collge of Wooster was one of the most beautiful colleges we visited. (Weather was nice that day). Overall, I just recall being very favorably impressed, but the only specific I can give you is they have a big senior independent study project that they consider an important (and fairly unique) part of their curriculum.</p>
<p>Drew's connections to NYC + NJ industries and Wash DC semester could make it attractive for Economics. Wheaton let's you take some courses at Brown U. but it's not that geographically convenient. Wheaton kids seemed more in need of "support" and "encouragement" than Drew's. W. successful kids seemed to be late bloomers whom the college had helped to thrive. Drew kids seemed more to know what they wanted and how to find it at Drew--satisified but not "strivers".</p>
<p>One of the schools NJres couldn't name is Brown... however, if I remember correctly, you may only take classes there if a similar class isn't offered at Wheaton.</p>
<p>I visited Wheaton quite while ago, but here are a few things...</p>
<p>-Incredible duck pond
-Absolutely no nearby town... there is a "strip" probably two miles away, but no downtown area. Definitely not a nice college town.
-Very friendly students
-Located right between Boston and Providence
-Small, and heavy on the girls
-The dorm I visited was cramped, old, and uncomfortably hot... not sure if this is representative of all.</p>
<p>Overall I like Wheaton, but I'm glad I didn't end up there.</p>
<p>That's right about Brown, but as KC_lady said, it isn't as easy as it sounds. I talked to one student that did a class there because a language she wanted wasn't offered at Wheaton. I think Wheaton really is a school you have to visit before you go. I felt, along with my family, a clastrophobic feeling there, partly in knowing how difficult it is to leave. I recall a live journal entry where they were lamenting not having weekend bus service and how hard it was to get certain places. Some students are very happy in the "bubble", some aren't.</p>
<p>i think wooster. they have a good business program. i am also applying there.</p>
<p>I can only begin this thread by noting that I did attend Wheaton, so perhaps I am slightly biased but I will attempt to be as neutral as possible in my evaluation. Yes, Norton is not a great college town, not by any standard... but that fosters a true appreciation for your peers, as well as a strong sense of community. Providence and Boston arent "close" but Prov. is only a 20 minute trip and Boston is a half-hour. The school is constantly working out ways to get students to both areas for both social and academic purposes... at times its good, and at times it was bad. But GATRA is always available to take students to the T which is just as good. The upper campus dorms are indeed old and sometimes hot, but with their external beauty... I dont see that changing. I have often heard friends at Harvard, Brown, Colgate and many other schools with "older" dorms complain about the same problems... such is the nature. As for the previous post about the students at wheaton being in need of "support"... I'm at a loss... I am not even quite certain of what that post is implying for any of the colleges or students mentioned. Oh, and lastly, Wheaton partakes in the twelve college exchange with Wellesley, Dartmouth, Brown, Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Conn. College, Trinity, Vassar, Smith and Mount Holyoke.<br>
That having been said, I will address what I know about Wooster and Drew. Both are good schools, have at least decent athletics programs and both will enevitably get you where you want to go. I have only known one person who attended Drew... and they now currently attend Boston College as a transfer student. The only student I knew that attended Wooster became a great friend of mine at Wheaton after she left Wooster. She noted that Wooster was very heavy on the greek scene, and while she found herself having fun, perhaps it was a bit too much fun. I think that any of these three schools are great choices... the matter at hand is what is great for YOU. Visit, participate and ask questions... thats really all you can do. I wish you the best of luck in your search.</p>
<p>My comments were based on a Junior Information Day we attended at Wheaton. They had a panel of students who had distinguished themselves in some way--athletic achievement or winning a scholarship to go abroad or special internship, etc. Each student told his/ her story and the "plot" always seemed to be "I came here and didn't believe in myself and had many doubts but at Wheaton I realized what I could do and found great support from mentors, etc. "</p>
<p>In contrast to Bryn Mawr, for example, where the Information Day panel seemed to consist of more ambitious go-getters who came to the school wanting to be challenged and to follow up strong interests, with a greater air of self-confidence about themselves. But of course this is comparing 4 students with 4 other students, not the whole student body. It may say more about the organizers of the event than the students.</p>
<p>As for Drew, this was just a tour and walk about experience. Students we talked to seemed "satisfied" and busy but no one seemed thrilled. Pretty campus but somewhat lackluster atmosphere.</p>
<p>It's funny how each visit and experience can be so different. I've read a few posts here about Wheaton students trying to hard to impress the crowd at those things, but maybe that's what they are told to do. Our tour guide seemed programed to "gush" and after a while, my son tuned it out. I think you have to trust your gut sometimes, one school is a gem for some and not others. Even students, whom I like to talk to off the tour, vary greatly in opinion at the same school, and their moods can be so mercurial, it depends on the day. I like graduates the most because they have a more mature outlook on the school, in retrospect.
Also on a side note, my son thought the Drew kids seemed happy and friendly, no real complaints that you wouldn't get anywhere.</p>
<p>In addition to Wheaton, check out Clark University in Mass. It has a strong economics department but slightly less selective than Wheaton. For someone with lackluster grades, it would be a better bet, I think.</p>
@pyewacket I’m choosing between Drew and Wheaton. Sorry to bother you since it’s been like 10 years since you posted that, but just assuming nothing’s changed, what did you exactly mean by “in need of ‘support’ and ‘encouragement’”?
Thanks a lot @shubner22 that was super helpful! I hope you enjoyed yourself there! 
would also like to hear about both since they are both on my sons list as well