Information for Prospective Students
Wesleyan offers you a unique and exciting educational journey that begins with you. We are here to help you start and continue that journey by answering all of your questions, welcoming you for a visit, guiding you through the application process, or whatever you may need.
What Makes Wesleyan Special
A Wesleyan education goes beyond just teachers and classes. We take a distinctive approach to education that involves you as a steward of your own needs, interests, and future. You will get involved in doing while you learn. You will make an impact on other students and the surrounding community, and they will make a lasting impact on you. It’s that and so much more.
Wesleyan Academics
Academics are the obvious backbone of your education. Wesleyan students are academic achievers who take their studies seriously. With 47 majors and 32 minors as well as the ability to deftly craft your own curriculum, Wesleyan gives you perfect balance between freedom and structure. You come away as a well-rounded and highly educated scholar with a life-long passion for learning.
Visit and Connect
We offer several in-person and virtual opportunities for you to discover what makes Wesleyan unique and connect with our community. Take a campus tour to see what life is like here. Check out an information session hosted by an admission dean and a current student. Join a student-led, students-only Real Talk event with a current senior. Whether you prefer one-on-one sessions or group events, in-person interaction or online connection, we have you covered.
Join us for a student-led, in-person or virtual tour around campus to learn more about our best-in-class facilities, residential buildings, and dining options.
Information sessions are hosted by a Wesleyan admission dean and a current student who will provide a candid inside look at the Wesleyan community both academically and socially, as well as offer information about admission and financial aid.
In-person information sessions are held Monday–Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
During the Fall, information sessions are also held on Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. On Saturdays, join us for an informal conversation and hour-long Q&A between an Admission Dean (as moderator), a current student, and a faculty or staff member. They are designed to offer an authentic inside look at the academic and social experiences at Wes. The Admission Dean will also briefly speak about Wesleyan’s application and financial aid processes.
Virtual information sessions are offered Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Real Talks are led by a dynamic pair of Admission Senior Interns (SIs), current seniors who will share their Wesleyan experience in and out of the classroom. These sessions are casual, student-only, Q&A style with no set agenda or formal presentation. Come join our SIs for an enjoyable conversation!
In-person Real Talks are held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. and Sundays from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. They are an excellent standalone opportunity, but also serve as a complement to either an information session or tour.
Virtual Real Talks are held Sundays at 7:00 p.m.
WesChats are online and are a wonderful way for high school seniors to explore Wesleyan and learn more about academics and student life in a relaxed, individual conversation with a current student.
WesChats are informal, 30-minute video calls with one of our student workers who will share some of their experiences at Wesleyan and answer your questions. These students can speak directly to your interests and describe campus culture and intellectual life. It is a terrific way to get a broad sense of student and residential life, academics, advising, research, faculty relationships, and the city of Middletown.
No evaluation or record of the conversation is part of the admission application.
WesChats are available during the Fall and Spring semesters only.
One of the best ways to gain insight into the intellectual community at the heart of the Wesleyan experience is to observe a class, and we invite prospective students to do just that.
Please keep the following in mind as you visit classes:
- Participation is an essential part of Wesleyan classes and the specific class you are attending is one session in an ongoing dialogue between professor and students. Comments from visitors may be relevant and insightful, but may also be inconsistent with the larger, semester-long context of the discussion.
- Please arrive five minutes before class starts and introduce yourself to the professor. Explain that you are a prospective student and would like to sit in on the class. Ask the professor if you may participate in class or if they would prefer that you simply observe. Occasionally, the class you have chosen to observe will not be available to visitors due to special circumstances such as examinations and field trips.
- Please stay for the entire class and wear a mask if unvaccinated and/or the Professor asks you to.
- Do two things Wesleyan students do every day: learn something new, and have your own perceptions and ideas challenged.
- Due to various special film projects we ask our visitors to call (860) 685-2220 in advance to request permission before visiting film classes.
- The usage of cell phones during classes is not permitted. You may be asked to leave the classroom if you use your phone while the class is in session.
- Unfortunately, due to the large volume of visitors expected, we can only extend this invitation to visiting students. No parents, please.
Arabic
- ARAB102.01 - Elementary Arabic II
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM, FISK209
- ARAB202.01 - Intermediate Arabic II
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:50 AM - 10:40 AM, FISK403
English
- ENGL225.01 - Transpacific Ecologies
- Monday, Wednesday: 2:50 PM - 4:10 PM, FISK305
- ENGL253.01 - Science and Literature
- Tuesday, Thursday: 2:50 PM - 4:10 PM, PAC003
- ENGL293.01 - Afro-Asian Intersections
- Monday, Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 12:10 PM, DWNY200
- ENGL368.01 - Faulkner
- Tuesday, Thursday: 1:20 PM - 2:40 PM, CRT285
German
- GRST102.01 - Elementary German
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:50 AM - 9:40 AM, FISK412
- GRST102.02 - Elementary German
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:50 AM - 10:40 AM, FISK412
- GRST212.01 - Speaking & Writing German
- Monday, Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM, B2B3 SOUTH
Hindi-Urdu
- GSAS202.01 - Intermediate Hindi-Urdu II
- Monday, Wednesday: 1:20 PM - 2:40 PM, FISK210
Italian
- ITAL102.01 - Elementary Italian II
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:50 AM - 9:40 AM, FISK414
- ITAL102.02 - Elementary Italian II
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:50 AM - 10:40 AM, FISK210
- ITAL112.01 - Intermediate Italian II
- Monday, Wednesday: 9:50 AM - 10:40 AM, FISK414
- ITAL112.02 - Intermediate Italian II
- Monday, Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM, FISK414
Russian
- RUSS102.01 - Elementary Russian II
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1:20 PM - 2:10 PM, FISK403
- Tuesday, Thursday: 8:50 AM - 9:40 AM, FISK403
- RUSS205.01 - The 19th-Century Russian Novel
- Monday, Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 12:10 PM, FISK302
Biology
- BIOL339.01 - Biology and MB&B Symposium II
- Wednesday: 12:10 PM - 1:20 PM, SHAN107
We offer multiple ways for students and families alike to learn about Wesleyan from our alumni:
Cardinal Conversations are 1:1 virtual meetings with our alumni. Our alumni volunteers span multiple graduation years, majors, and professions. Get your questions answered directly and hear unique insights from those who have walked the path before you. You can view their profiles and select particular alumni, or simply indicate your interests and we will match you!
Cardinal Meetups are in-person, small gatherings with alumni near you! They are held in coffee shops and other local venues. This is a great opportunity for those who are unable to visit campus but want to learn about Wesleyan in-person. These meetups provide a relaxed atmosphere for you to connect and explore what Wesleyan has to offer.
From Wes to the Workforce is a series of virtual events in which you can learn about the impressive career trajectories of our alumni! From filmmakers to physicians, see how Wesleyan launches students into their professional lives. Gain invaluable knowledge from a distinguished panel of alumni spanning various majors and graduation years. Learn how their Wesleyan education propelled them into successful careers.
WesExplore is a fully funded three-day, two-night campus visit designed for rising high school seniors from underserved communities. Whether you attend a Title 1 school, have never visited a college campus, or come from a limited-income background (including those who meet any of the criteria for a Common Application fee waiver), WesExplore offers you a unique chance to experience Wesleyan firsthand.
The intentionally designed and two-fold goals of the program are an extension of the University's Mission. They are to a) demystify the college application process and b) to offer students an opportunity to engage with the Wesleyan community in person.
WesExplore is a nondiscriminatory program open to receiving applications from students representing various backgrounds and identities. Eligible students should apply at the end of their junior year or the start of their senior year of high school and must live and attend school in the United States.
During your stay, you’ll connect with current students, explore campus life, learn about admissions and financial aid, and get a true sense of what it means to be a Cardinal. Plus, if you decide to apply to Wesleyan, your application fee will be waived!
We welcome students from all backgrounds who live and attend school in the United States. Travel, lodging, meals, and activities are fully covered; all you need to bring is your curiosity!
Application Process and Important Dates
The WesExplore application opens on June 2, 2025. Applicants should submit materials by the priority deadline of August 1, 2025, with a final deadline on August 8, 2025, at midnight EDT. Early applications are encouraged due to limited space.
To apply, students must prepare an unofficial transcript, a list of senior year courses, and a short essay. A resume may also be submitted if desired. Please note, the application must be completed in one sitting.
Admissions decisions will be communicated by August 15, 2025.
Travel Arrangements and Lodging
Wesleyan’s Office of Admission coordinates travel bookings, including train or plane tickets, and arranges car service between campus and transportation hubs. Travel expenses, excluding certain fees like checked bags, are covered.
Students living within approximately three hours’ driving distance may drive themselves and receive mileage reimbursement per federal guidelines.
Nearby transportation includes Bradley International Airport (BDL) and New Haven Union Station (NHV). Meals and snacks during the visit are provided, and lodging is with current Wesleyan student hosts in residence halls, with sleeping bags provided.
What to Expect During WesExplore
Participants will engage with current students and peers, explore classrooms and campus resources, and learn about admissions and financial aid. The program fosters genuine connections through student hosts from diverse backgrounds who are available to answer questions and share experiences.
Questions and Contact
If you have any questions, email us at wesexplore@wesleyan.edu.
You can send questions via text to one of our admission deans. Find each dean’s mobile number.
Making Education Affordable
In addition to financial aid offerings—for both undergraduate and graduate students— we offer affordability options like a Three-Year Option, loan, and payment plans for qualified students.
Get in Touch
Admission Office
860-685-3000 860-685-3000 • admission@wesleyan.edu