Wheaton College (WC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Located on a beautiful campus a short distance from Chicago, Wheaton College is a Christian liberal arts college that seeks to relate Christian principals and beliefs to modern society. The curriculum is designed to combine learning and faith in order to lend a biblical perspective to studies in order to perpetuate the belief in God and Christ in the world.

The school has an active athletics program. The Thunder have several varsity sports and are extremely competitive in their division. There are also club sports available for students who cannot or do not want to participate at the varsity level. There is also an active campus life at Wheaton, including life in the residence halls and the opportunity for students to participate in numerous academic, religious and social student organizations. Students attending Wheaton get a well-rounded, Christian education in an environment that promotes leadership, friendship and scholarship.

Information Summary

Ranks 3rd in Illinois and 80th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	95.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$49,300
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	32 / 1420
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	12 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	92% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	2,944

Academics

Undergraduate Studies

Wheaton College offers over forty undergraduate minors and nearly twenty graduate degrees and certificates in a variety of different subjects. There are only two undergraduate schools at the college and they are the College of Arts and Sciences and The Conservatory of Music. Students seeking to obtain degrees may choose from such mainstream subjects as English, phsychology, physics, biology or political science, but the school offers unusual classes that are not so easily found at other places. These subjects include the study of ancient languages, anthropology, and the environment. There are also Christian-based degrees in such areas as Biblical Archaeology and Biblical and Theological Studies. Wheaton College offers students the chance to earn specialized certificates in such sectors as gender studies, pre-law, youth ministries and military science while they are earning their undergraduate degrees.

The Conservatory of Music offers six different music degrees and and trains students in four different areas of music including composition, teaching, scholarship and performance. All of the ensembles and overseas study programs are available to every Wheaton student and not just those enrolled in the Conservatory.

Students who wish to earn a degree in less traditional manners may choose to do so by participating in the Overseas Program or the Remote Program. The college strives to provide many and varied study-abroad type programs and depending upon the student’s choice, the studies may be focused or interdisciplinary. An example of a focused program is the study in English literature that allows a student to study in England for during an eight-week summer course. There are also interdisciplinary studies such as the interdisciplinary Asian studies program that focuses on an array of topics including history, religion and philosophy. Students participating in this program may take part in field trips to such places as Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong. There are several other diverse programs that students may take advantage of during their educational career at Wheaton.

Graduate Programs

Wheaton College offers doctoral degrees in Biblical and Theological Studies and Clinical Psychology. Master’s degrees may be earned in nearly twenty areas including Biblical Archaeology, Clinical Psychology, Theology and several different areas of teaching.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate students will apply to either the College of Arts and Sciences of to the Conservatory of Music. Both have very similar admissions requirements, but the Conservatory requires a couple of different documents. Both schools accept applications in two separate periods, with all students starting in the fall semester.

Students that choose to apply in the Early Action period must submit their application and all required documentation by November 1 of their senior year and will have a decision by December 31. Students applying in the Regular Action period must have their completed application packet submitted by January 10 and decisions begin being sent April 1. Transfer students must have their application packets submitted by October 1 and will have a decision as early as November 1.

Applicants to both schools will need to complete the application either online or by downloading the PDF version and mailing it to the school. The application fee may be submitted via check, e-check, money order or online credit card payment. It should be noted that payment by e-check will delay the application by six business days. Official high school transcripts with class rank, if available, SAT or ACT scores and the High School Report available via the school website are also required.

Other documentation required by both schools include an academic recommendation from a core teacher as well as a Pastor’s Recommendation. This may be completed by the applicant’s pastor, youth pastor, former pastor, Bible study leader or other church official. Prospective art majors are encouraged to submit a portfolio as well.

Application Requirements for the Conservatory of Music are a bit different. Students applying for Early Action must apply by November 1 and audition by December 5. Regular Action applicants have to apply by January 10 and audition by February 27. In addition to the above stated requirements and the audition, prospective students will also need to submit a Music Information Profile and two Music Recommendations, one of which must come from a private lesson instructor.

Graduate Admissions

Each graduate school has separate requirements, so prospective students need to educate themselves on the requirements of the school that they wish to enter. Some things that are required across the board are an application and fee, personal references, pastoral recommendation, graduate school preparedness testing and a resume.

Financial Aid

Wheaton College offers financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants and federally-subsidized loans. Students should begin the process of applying for aid by completing the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) that is available starting in January every year. Applicants should be aware that financial information for both the student and family will be required when completing the form and should have this information readily available when starting the application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2572nd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Illinois.

Athletics

The Wheaton Thunder are an NCAA athletic club that offers a variety of varsity sports including men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track and field. Men also have the option to participate in baseball, football and wrestling while women may additionally choose from water polo, softball and volleyball.

There are also several club sports offered for students to participate in including crew, hockey, lacrosse and soccer. Wheaton provides club sports as a way for students to participate in managed and funded sports at an intercollegiate level but below the level of competition and dedication required by varsity sports.

Bibliography

Wheaton College. Wheaton College. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.

Wheaton Thunder. Wheaton College Athletics. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.

“Wheaton College.” The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.

City of Wheaton Illinois. The City of Wheaton [Illinois]. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.

Wheaton College