Why Wes: Wesleyan’s tight-knit, collaborative learning environment is perfect for people like me, who want to be able to take advantage of all of Wesleyan’s plentiful opportunities without getting lost in the crowd. Wesleyan also offers numerous unique opportunities for FGLI students which helped me gain the confidence necessary for navigating college and academia as a whole. Lastly, the breadth of ideas and passions between all Wesleyan students helped assure me that attending a college close to my hometown did not mean that I would not be able to challenge my existing identity and develop as a person.

Why I love being a tour guide: Although I grew up only around 25 minutes away from campus, I never thought of myself at Wesleyan until I visited as an admitted student. My experiences during WesFest and my tour truly opened my eyes to Wesleyan’s vibrant community and limitless opportunities. I love being able to share my own experiences at Wes and all its quirks that I’ve grown to adore. Additionally, I want to ease the stress of my fellow FGLI students by sharing all the ways in which Wesleyan can support them throughout their journey.

Extracurriculars: ADLit Staff Writer, Upward Bound Tutor, Swim Lesson Instructor, Lifeguard, WesMaSS Social Committee Member

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Seeing everyone excited about the first snow despite finals week being right around the corner.

Favorite Movie: Barbie & the Diamond Castle

Favorite Song: There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths

Fun Fact: I met my first friend by chasing her around a playground at daycare.

Why Wes: After attending a very small school for High School I knew I wanted to find a place where the student body felt engaged and connected with one another. College felt so daunting as someone who hadn’t been in a grade larger than 40, however, after touring Wesleyan I immediately felt a sense of comfort and warmth. I could really sense how strong and meaningful the bonds amongst the community were. Aspects such as required housing all 4 years and the countless clubs and organizations proved to me just how interwoven everyone truly is on this campus.

Why I love being a tour guide: I was really impacted by the tour I took of Wesleyan my senior year and I hope to also provide prospective students and families with a memorable experience that they too feel impacted by.

Extracurriculars: Spectrum Board Member

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Common Moment during freshman orientation

Favorite Movie: Dazed and Confused

Favorite Song: Certainty - Big Thief

Fun Fact: Over the summer I camped out for 7 hours to see Phoebe Bridgers (Twice in a row!)

Why Wes? Before coming here, I was really intrigued by the “Keep Wes Weird” motto. After I while I realized that a place which can accept weirdness, that being something that is not the regular consensus, is exactly what I and people need since no one should be satisfied by the status quo and aspire for something different, weird, better.

Why I love being a tour guide: I hope people to have the great Wes experience I currently am having.

Extracurriculars: Staff writer at the Argus, club soccer and intramural soccer and basketball

Favorite Movie: Metropolitan by Whit Stillman

Favorite Song: Ease Yourself and Glide - Parsley Sound

Fun Fact: I can speak three languages

Why Wes: I love how curious the student body is. I was drawn to how friends talked about what they were learning in class, a cool article they read, or just about an idea that fascinated them. The open curriculum creates classes filled with students who are truly interested in the subject matter and feel excited to learn. It’s incredibly empowering to be in this environment and it pushes me to ask the harder questions and think more critically.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love showing off how awesome Wesleyan is and all the things I love about it!

Extracurriculars: Club soccer, ultimate frisbee, intramural softball, outing club, tutoring

Favorite Moment at Wes: The first day back from winter break last year there was a big snow storm and everyone went straight to Foss to sledding, ski, and have snowball fights.

Favorite Movie: The Silence of the Lambs

Favorite Song: Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits

Fun Fact: I took a gap year, took a one-way flight to Africa on my own, and lived there for half a year!

Why Wes: I love being in spaces with quirky, creative people who challenge me to expand my worldview. At Wes, I am not only able to pursue my educational passions but flourish in all aspects of life, thanks to the wonderful community around me.

Why I love being a tour guide: I chose Wesleyan because of a tour. I want to pass the favor along by helping students realize what they are looking for in the next phase of life.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Doula Project, Disorientation, United Student/Labor Action Coalition (USLAC)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Staying up late with friends to chat and eat homemade cookie dough

Favorite Movie: The Lord of the Rings

Favorite Song: 1950 by King Princess

Fun Fact: I gave a TEDx Talk on trans and intersex advocacy and feminism.

Why Wes? When looking at schools, I wanted the ability to explore lots of different subject areas and be able to really try new things. I knew that it was most likely not possible for me to try so many different things at a larger institution. After touring Wesleyan, I knew that it was the school for me because of how passionate all the students were and how excited they were about everything they were doing. Wesleyan looks very different due to the pandemic but it is still at its heart, the school that I chose and I am so happy to be at this school.

Why I love being a tour guide: My tour was such an important part of my admissions decision and really was the reason that I chose Wesleyan and I want to give that experience to more prospective students. I love meeting new people and sharing my experiences at Wesleyan and hope that my tour will help students decide if Wesleyan is the right choice for them.

Extracurriculars: Women’s Crew, SAAC, WesWIS, New Student Orientation Leader

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Placing national runner-up at the NCAA Rowing Championships in my junior year.

Favorite Song: Love & War in Your Twenties by Jordy Searcy

Fun Fact: I won a Roller Coaster Tycoon competition at a technology camp in middle school because I built my park then removed the entrance so that the people could not get out. I made the most money because they had to pay even though I had terrible reviews.

Why Wes: When looking at colleges, I could tell that any one of the places I’d be lucky enough to be accepted to had a rigorous and diverse academic program, tons of extracurricular activities, and wonderful facilities. But at Wes, I found interdisciplinary academic paths I didn’t see elsewhere and felt that I could pursue even my most disparate of interests simultaneously. I immediately felt a sense of belonging, of warmth, and of drive from Wes students all wanting to make a palpable impact on the world. I feel that every day I’m here—both in and out of the classroom, with both friends and professors—and I know I am growing into a better version of myself and finding my passions, my voice, and maybe even my purpose.

Why I love being a tour guide: I think that the tour is one of the most important aspects of the college application process, the time when students and families are able to get a true feel for a campus. I love being part of it—sharing personal anecdotes, connecting and conversing with people from around the country and the world. I hope that prospective students make informed decisions about this chapter of their lives, and I love sharing why Wes and its community were (and will always be) the place for me!

Extracurriculars: Captain of Wesleyan Women's Rugby Team, Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), Wesleyan Jewish Community (WJC), Student Board Member for Chabad at Wesleyan, Intramural Softball

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Picnicking on Andrus Field with friends on a warm fall day :)

Favorite Movie: Brokeback Mountain

Favorite Song: Best Thing I Never Had — Beyoncé

Fun Fact: I've watched open heart surgery from inside the OR

Why Wes: The reason I chose Wesleyan to spend my undergraduate years is actually because of a mutual friend. I met him and thought he was incredible. He would not stop talking about how much he loved his school and whilst in the trenches of my applications I was extremely curious as to where he attended. That was the first time I had ever registered Wesleyan as a possibility, after that I started doing my own research. I wasn’t able to do any in-person tours and so finding other avenues for research was integral to making the decision. I was able to speak with a few others about their experience at Wesleyan and I noticed how genuine everyone seemed in their responses. It never felt like they were trying to sell me on the school, but rather inform me of the benefits as well as the realistic preferences. I think a special thing about Wesleyan is that they value the students’ desire and choice to be at the school in a linear way to their acceptance at the school. That in conjunction with the diverse, oddly specific, class options taught by engaging and empathetic professors had me convinced that I belonged at Wesleyan. 

Extracurriculars: Working at Pi and as a Writing mentor for CPE, on the board for Spectrum, a participant in latin and Hip hop dance, and I have a radio show.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): My first dance performance was one of the best experiences I have had on this campus. The ability to have started something for the first time ever on campus and have it come to fruition was rewarding.

Favorite Movie: Totoro

Favorite Song: My current favorite artist is Jessie Reyez and I love her song Sola

Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I was on an episode of a Dog series with my dogs in Miami called Dogs 101

Why Wes? I actually picked Wes randomly from a list when applying to fly-in programs my senior year of
high school. Looking more into it, Wes really caught my attention. I was accepted to visit, and
that weekend changed everything for me. The students. The sense of community. The campus.
I loved everything about it. Until that point in time, I knew exactly where I was headed. My
passion is acting. I applied to BFA acting programs and went through the whole audition
process. When it came down to it, I was torn between Wes and a BFA school. I wanted to get an
education beyond acting, but I really wanted the strong training and focus that a BFA program
would give me. It became one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. In the end, it was
the support and love I got from Wes, before I was even a student, that solidified my decision.
They answered every email, every question. They connected me with other students and
faculty. They cheered me on and encouraged me, knowing there was a high chance I wouldn't
pick their school. The answer for my “Why Wes” is simple. The people. They made me feel at
home from 1,300 miles away, and that was what made all the difference for me.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love meeting new people and helping out any way I can. The students and support I felt waswhat made me decide to become a Cardinal, and I’m glad I get to do the same for people who are in the same boat.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Cheerleading, Rho Epsilon Pi, ENSEMBLE Theatre Collective, WesTHON Hospital Relations Co-Chair, and an intern for Wesleyan’s social media team.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): I spent this year virtual from home because of COVID, but my favorite memory so far has to be devising a show with E.T.C. this spring!

Favorite Series: I’m a die-hard One Tree Hill fan

Favorite Song: I could never pick one song, but anything country or musical theater

Fun Fact: If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be mac and cheese.

Why Wes: Wesleyan, a place full of the smartest, friendliest, and most passionate people I’ve ever met has been the perfect environment for me to become more independent, involved, and engrossed in work that really interests me.

Why I love being a tour guide: Being a tour guide reminds me of the parts of Wesleyan that I love and shows me that — even when I’m swamped with work — there’s always a community behind me and so many great things to enjoy on campus.

Extracurriculars: Student Budget Committee Chair; Wesleyan Student Assembly; Club Tennis Team; Club Hockey; Music all around campus!

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): WesDay last year: I woke up to the most beautiful day, played games all day with all my friends, went to Miller’s pond for a dip, and ended the day with great Indian food and then a movie.

Favorite Movie: A Few Good Men

Favorite Song: Blue World by Mac Miller

Fun Fact: I’ve played over 2,000 games of Crazy Eights with my roommates

Why Wes: When I toured the campus, I fell in love. I thought the community looked so lively and welcoming, and I could truly imagine myself happy here. Also, as an FGLI (first-generation, low-income) student, the transition from high school to college was daunting, and Wesleyan offered multiple programs to make coming to college less challenging.

Why I love being a tour guide: I enjoy being able to share my love of Wesleyan with other students. My tour guide helped me decide that I should ED to Wesleyan, and I would love to help students make their decision as well.

Extracurriculars: ASHA (Adolescence Sexual Health Awareness), coordinator for Wesleyan Period Coalition, FXT Dance Team, Wesleyan Science Education Club, Black Student Union, WesMASS (Wesleyan Math and Science Scholars)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Working with my students through Wesleyan Science Education Club and having my kids make projects and drawings for me!

Favorite Movie: Into the Spiderverse

Favorite Song: Jackie and Wilson by Hozier

Fun Fact: I am adopted and am one of 10 kids!

Why Wes? The people here are unparalleled. Very few schools have students who show up for each other like they do at Wes — we regularly overflow bleachers and sell out performances. It also inspires me how incredibly smart, creative, and successful everyone is in their unique endeavors. Wesleyan has been a great environment to grow in. 

Why I love being a tour guide: I love interacting with prospective students from all over the world, and sharing how my time at Wesleyan has shaped who I am. I aim to really connect with the people on my tours, and enjoy that I am effectively getting paid to talk to people! 

Extracurriculars: Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), Triple Major A Capella, and Spare Change the Band.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Performing in the WestCo Cafe with my band for the first time.

Favorite Movie: Captain Fantastic

Favorite Song: Like Real People Do by Hozier

Fun Fact: One of my life goals is to publish a recipe book!

Why Wes? What originally attracted me to Wesleyan was the mock trial team, knowing Wes' program could support me in my passion for courtroom advocacy. Other reasons for choosing Wes were to be near my sisters, who both moved back east for college, to receive a well-rounded education, meet open-minded people, and live a well-balanced life surrounded by diverse peers. 

Why I love being a tour guide: I love being a tour guide because I love Wes, having made my best friends and memories here. I am so lucky to share my experience with prospective students and family. 

Extracurriculars: Captain of cheer and mock trial team, member of the Wesleyan defense panel. 

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Leading my mock trial team to the Opening Round Championship Series of Collegiate Mock Trial. 

Favorite Movie: The Trial of the Chicago 7. 

Favorite Song: Pyramids by Frank Ocean. 

Fun Fact: I speak French and instruct Windsurfing.

Why Wes? I chose Wes because of the flexibility the open curriculum offers. I wanted college to be a time where I explore my personal interests as well as my academic interests. During my time at Wes, I have found a love for dance from taking an introductory course, and I plan on pursuing this passion by taking more courses in the future. I was able to explore different subjects because of the open curriculum, and this helped me decide my majors.

Why I love being a tour guide: I enjoy interacting with people from all around, and I like welcoming prospective students and families to Wes. I appreciate being able to talk about my personal experience at Wes being a first-generation, low-income student of color.

Extracurriculars: Traverse Square Tutoring, WesInterpreters, Latin American Student Organization (LASO), First-Generation Low-Income (FGLI) Advisory Board Member, Latin & Ballroom Dance Team

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Celebrating the end of Hispanic Heritage Month with Viernes Gigante

Favorite Movie: Coco

Favorite Song: Antes Que Se Acabe - Bad Bunny

Fun fact: I go to México every other year to visit family

Why Wes? I wanted to go to a school where students were eager to be involved in all facets of school life, and I hoped to join a community where faculty supports their students in all of their passions and aspirations. When I visited Wes, I could feel the excitement as students walked between their classes and when I talked to my tour guide about all of the unique traditions and events that happen every day. I am so happy that all the reasons that I chose Wes are still so prevalent even though I began my first year at college during the pandemic.

Why I love being a tour guide: College tours are so important for students to get a real feel of the school and to meet their future classmates. I love to be able to relate to prospective students' interests and passions and connect them to what I believe they will like the most about Wesleyan.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Jewish Community, Club Badminton, Wesleyan Science Education Club, Sunrise Middletown

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Watching Prometheus on Foss during Halloween

Favorite Movie: Tangled

Favorite Song: Big Yellow Taxi

Fun Fact: I was born without wisdom teeth!

Why Wes? The energy at Wes is incredible. Every day at Wes I wake up surrounded by students who have genuine interests in so many fascinating things that they approach with passion, not in a competitive, cut-throat way. In my college search, I wanted a place that allowed me to explore a lot of different interests without feeling constrained, something that the open-curriculum allows me to do. The people at Wes are genuine and there is a culture of social justice and wanting to work on the world to be the best it can be. The vibe of free-spirited openness is contagious and it’s a truly beautiful place to discover yourself and be the most authentic version of yourself.

Why I love being a tour guide: I know the college search can be really difficult and I was super unsure for most of mine. In the process I think I gained a lot of helpful insight that I can pass on to others. Colleges can start to blur together when looking at so many, but being able to talk about things that don’t fully show up on paper: like the special vibe and people at Wesleyan is special to me. I am lucky to be able to share my passion for Wes, a place that has changed my life profoundly, and I hope I can help show others a glimpse of how it might change theirs.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Foster Care Support Project

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Cheering on my friends at the Wes Burlesque performance!

Favorite Movies: Inside Out, The Truman Show

Favorite Song: Love On Top - Beyoncé

Fun Fact: I taught myself calligraphy and love hand lettering!

Why Wes: I always loved all subjects and areas of study and wanted to go to a school that encouraged academic exploration. Coming into college, I had no idea what I wanted to study so I wanted an open curriculum. Here I was able to take classes from all disciplines, starting as a government major and ending up as a computer science major. I also chose Wes because of the people. The people at Wesleyan are passionate, smart, and creative. Students will talk about their favorite class, political theory, or indie films for hours. Students are celebrated for being different and, as a result, we are able to learn from each other.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love meeting and talking with prospective students and their families. The tour helps to humanize the college process and, for me, it was a huge part of my decision process. I enjoy making meaningful connections to help students learn about Wes.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Mock Trial Team, WesBurlesque, Course Assistant/Peer Tutor

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Competing with the mock trial team at our regional tournament and spending the weekend in our team member's home!

Favorite Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy

Favorite Song: China Cat Sunflower

Fun Fact: I rewatched all the Marvel movies in chronological order over a span of five days.

Why Wes: I first toured Wesleyan in the seventh grade, when my sister was touring schools. I distinctly remember walking past the fishbowl in Exley and saying to myself that Wesleyan was the school for me. Fast forward to my senior year, and I'm sitting in my room, proud of myself for having finished all of my applications. My mom walked in and asked if I had done my Wesleyan application. I hadn't even added it to my list. Thankfully there were no supplements and I threw it on at the last minute. Now we're in April and I am doing a final tour of my last three schools, trying to decide. After my day at WesFest, I knew that Wesleyan was the school for me. I've loved my classes, my friends, and am so thankful for the life I am building here, and for the life that Wesleyan will help me build after I graduate. 

Why I love being a tour guide: I love to talk and get to know new people, so naturally I found a job where I could get paid for that. Although I haven't finished my freshman year yet, I'm so excited to have the opportunity to share my love for Wesleyan. 

Extracurriculars: I am a member of the Wesleyan Spirits, Wesleyan's lower voice (TTBB) acapella group 

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Sledding with my friends on Foss (getting back up the hill was not as fun)

Favorite Movie: 10 Things I Hate About You

Favorite Song: Ribs - Lorde

Fun Fact: Since 2019,  I've spent more time away from home than I have at home. 

Why Wes? In high school, I dreaded having to decide between academics and music for college because I didn’t think I’d be able to fully pursue both passions together. Wesleyan is unique because it lets me explore many interests at the same time and even learn how they connect to one another. The campus is filled with people who are creative, intellectual, and multi-faceted, and Wes has a community that welcomes and challenges me.

Why I love being a tour guide: My favorite part of college admissions was going on tours and getting a glimpse of the community at different schools. I know how stressful the overall process can be and I want to provide a positive and exciting experience for high school students visiting Wesleyan.

Extracurriculars: Orchestra, Wesleyan Democrats, Sound Co-op, working at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, Wesleyan Jewish Community, playing piano with my band, Second Stage pit orchestras

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Playing at Spring Fling with my band last year

Favorite Movie: Jesus Camp

Favorite Song: Station to Station - David Bowie

Fun Fact: I have a mannequin that lives in the basement of my dorm.

Why Wes? I love how passionate the people at Wesleyan are. The academic culture here is collaborative rather than competitive and I know that everyone around me wants to help me succeed. Wesleyan also provides amazing opportunities to the students here. There are always professors looking for students to work in their labs, be their TA’s, or help with outside research projects. Even as a freshman I made amazing connections with faculty which helped me set up a job for the following year.

Why I love being a tour guide: I am grateful that I ended up at a school that fit me so well, and want to help other people do the same.

Extracurriculars: I work at the Center for the Arts on community engagement projects. I am also a tutor for Upward Bound Math Science and Cross St Tutoring. I am involved with the theater community on campus and in the fall I will be a research fellow for the College of the Environment.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Eating by the river and watching the sunset with my friends

Favorite Movie: Real Genius

Favorite Song: It’s Alright by Mother Mother

Fun Fact: I used to work on a train at a railroad museum

Why Wes? Wesleyan is a place which provided a positive change in environment which I needed after high school, where I could feel challenged while still feeling at home and accepted.

Why I Love Being a Tour Guide: I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them, and I also get the opportunity to show them something which I am very passionate about and want others to enjoy.

Extracurriculars: Varsity Men’s Swimming & Diving

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Watching Wesleyan’s baseball team play on Sundays in the middle of campus with friends.

Favorite Movie: Coco and Moana

Favorite Song: No Scrubs by TLC

Fun Fact: I had never seen so many trees in one place until moving to Connecticut.

Why Wes: For me, a huge draw to Wesleyan was the mix of rigorous academics and the high emphasis on the creative arts. A lot of my time at Wesleyan has been spent working on various music and film projects with fellow students. This speaks so purely to the culture here-- people want to work together, to collaborate and combine their talents to explore new areas and create something unique and unforeseen. Not only do we create, but we pour ourselves and all our efforts into it, simply because we love what we do and giving projects all our efforts is inherent to who we are as Wesleyan students.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love sharing my personal experiences here at Wes with prospective students and families. As a high school student, I always found college tours to be helpful and insightful, so I’m grateful to be able to give that experience to others and share what I love about Wes.

Extracurriculars: Lead guitarist in student band, music mentor at Oddfellows Playhouse, producing student films, member of Wesleyan Jewish Community.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Performing with my band (with fellow tour guide Emma Bella Bass-Lawrence) at Spring Fling

Favorite Movie: Into the Wild

Fun Fact: I once biked from Seattle to San Francisco over a summer.

Why Wes: I went to a really small high school so I was looking for somewhere that had a smaller class size so I would be able to forge relationships and connections with my professors like I was able to at my highschool. Wesleyan’s open curriculum also drew my attention because it allowed for me to take classes that interest me. I also really appreciated the beauty of Wesleyan’s campus because a campus environment was something important to me when looking at places.

Why I love being a tour guide: I’ve loved going to Wesleyan and I really like having the opportunity to speak to others about my experiences so far in hopes of them sharing the same love I feel towards Wesleyan.

Extracurriculars: Music, ASL, and (hopefully) getting involved in Wesleyan’s Radio Show

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Going to my friends’ different band performances!

Favorite Movie: Ready or Not

Favorite Song: Doomsday by Lizzy McAlpine

Fun Fact: Every summer I make short films, and one of the ones I worked on was accepted into the Annapolis Film Festival.

Why Wes? I truly chose Wes for the people, the opportunities, and the passion. When I was looking at colleges, I knew I wanted a place where I could explore my wide variety of interests and maintain the passion I have for each and every one of them. Wesleyan provided me that opportunity through the open curriculum and overall sense of passion each member of the student body has. It was because of my tour that I was able to grasp the extent to which Wes students are eager to get to work, but also enjoy the process. The environment here is collaborative and invigorating, and I chose Wes to partake in that adventure and learn more about myself along the way.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love being a tour guide because it gives me the opportunity to share my story to prospective students, and hopefully be the person that excites them about coming to Wes, just as my tour guide did for me. My experience at Wesleyan has been really unique and I am always excited to share all the cool places to grab food, read a good book, write an essay, and just sit and chat with friends.

Extracurriculars: I am a coordinator for Cardinal Kids, an afterschool program in Middletown elementary schools. I am a course assistant for Italian 102. I am a teaching fellow with the National Education Equity Program teaching Introduction to Sociology to high school students. I was formally one of the prezcos (presidents) of West College, one of the community based living options on campus. I am involved in Greek Life on campus, serving as Treasurer, Alumni Chair, and Rush Chair for Psi Upsilon. 

Favorite moment at Wes: Literally the spring on Foss. Can’t speak more highly about the post class, lay in the sun, debrief energy that foss hill provides. 

Favorite Movie: Currently obsessed with Bottoms.

Favorite song: Supercut by Lorde

Fun fact: I ran a marathon in 3:05 hours

Why Wes? I chose Wesleyan because it was the only school that I felt like I could do it all! As a recruited athlete, I was afraid I was going to have to put arts on the back burner if I wanted to keep up socially or academically. Once I visited, I saw that Wesleyan students were all doing a variety of activities and were doing them passionately. Being at Wes, I have pursued my interests I developed in high school, but I have also been able to discover new things as well. With the open curriculum I have been able to take a class in every department that I wanted to try, leading me to pick subjects that I love. The curiosity, passion, and creativity that students have at Wes is unmatched. 

Why I love being a tour guide: I love being a tour guide because it lets me connect with people from all over and share my Welseyan experience. I remember how stressful the college process was, so I hope that I can give authentic insight on what it is like to be a student at Wesleyan. Wes has shaped me into the person I am today and I love being able to discuss what Wes has to offer! 

Extracurriculars: Women's Golf Team, Hysterics (stand up comedy), POC comedy, Government Major's Committee, GoKarting club, TERP choreographer 

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Sledding down Foss Hill and hanging out in the senior backyards

Favorite Movie: National Treasures

Favorite Song: Doo Wop - Ms. Lauryn Hill

Fun Fact: I am taking a wine tasting course here!

Why Wes: During my college search I had a pretty specific set of criteria. I wanted a small college/university where I didn't just feel like a number, a good film program to nurture my hobby, and opportunities to try new things and explore. Wesleyan simply checked all of those boxes. But even more than that, I was struck by the collaborative culture and friendly demeanor that I encountered at every turn. After my Dad and I visited various colleges around the northeast and the rest of the country during my Junior Spring, we ranked each on a 1-10 scale in a plethora of categories, including campus attractiveness, curriculum, size, culture. etc. I ranked Wesleyan highest in just about every category. It was clear there was no other place for me than Wes, and I applied Early Decision early in my Senior Fall. Somehow, Wesleyan exceeded my expectations and I developed new passions in addition to fostering my old ones. Due to the open curriculum, I'm now majoring in two departments that I had almost no experience with prior to my arrival at Wes.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love showing people around my school! I remember when I toured Wes as a prospective student with an enthusiastic, engaged guide. It made a huge difference for me in my college search and I love that I can now give back and show new prospective students why I love Wes.   

Extracurriculars: Ultimate Frisbee (I play for both the all-gender team and the men's team), Survivor: Wesleyan (our Wes version of CBS's reality show Survivor)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): I loved teaching a student forum to my fellow Wes students called The Social Psychology of Survivor. Seeing the students compete in challenges and endure tribal councils while learning all about the psychology underlying their actions was pretty magical.

Favorite Movie: The Truman Show

Favorite Song: Blu (Acoustic) by Jon Bellion

Fun Fact: I have been to 49 of the 50 U.S. states. Hawaii still eludes me.

Why Wes? I chose Wes because of the flexibility that allowed me to explore around with my academic interests during my freshman year when I was still uncertain about what I wanted to do. I am also surrounded by so many students who are passionate and excited to be at Wes which makes the environment feel like home.

Why I love being a tour guide: So that I can convey my enthusiasm about Wes to prospective students and help give them advice throughout the stressful college process

Extracurriculars: Club Tennis, Club Soccer, Resident Advisor, Student Involvement Office Assistant, South Asian Student Association, Teaching Assistant for Psychology classes, Ski Team

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): When it was snowing outside and the club soccer team decided to have a tournament on the turf field.  No one could run and everyone was freezing but it was a great team bonding experience.

Favorite Movie: Fight Club

Favorite Song: The Difference by Flume

Fun Fact: I'm a director of a summer camp

Why Wes? Throughout high school I participated and competed in many different STEM focus groups like Advanced Mathematics, Calculator, Accounting, Agricultural Sciences but was also very active in different areas such as Art, Music Theory and Sculpting. When I became a Questbridge National College match finalist and was in the process of ranking schools, Wesleyan’s open curriculum and late declaration was a huge huge pull factor because I am INCREDIBLY indecisive. I really looked forward for the opportunity of dipping my toes into different classes and branches knowing I wouldn’t have to fully commit until the spring of sophomore year!

Extracurriculars: Coordinator for the Foster Connection, American Sign Language TA, ASHA (adolescent sexual health awareness)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): My sophomore year I had the privilege to live in the Womanist Program house where I met and created some amazing friendships and connections. As a house, we were able to host events open to the Wes community as well as just private housemate events,  and these were always some of the loveliest moments where we were just able to bond! As an example we had a movie night, s’mores bonfire, and a Super Bowl Screening night (mainly to watch Rihanna’s halftime performance

Favorite Movie: Lilo and Stitch/ Pitch Perfect

Favorite Song: Where She Goes-Bad Bunny/ My Stupid Heart-Walk off the Earth/ When it Rains it Pours- Luke Combs

Fun Fact: I don’t have a favorite anything! So choosing answers for these couple of questions was TOUGH…which is why there are multiple answers!

Why Wes? I am someone with a lot of different interests. I came here very dedicated to doing STEM, however I wanted to make sure that I was able to do my other interests. It was incredibly important to me to be able to do Music, Film, and East Asian Studies, and still have room for stem. Within my first year I was able to completely shift and do Film and East Asian studies which I would have never been able to do at other schools! Wesleyan is very multi-curricular which I completely fell in love with going here!

Why I love being a tour guide: I am a very extroverted person, it's so fun to be able to explain to people why being at Wesleyan is a great fit for those who are struggling with knowing what they want to do in life. As well as that, as an internationshional student I was really able to find my community here, and I get to speak to other internationship students as a tour guide why the community here is so great!

Extracurriculars: Board Member at Wesleyan's Black Student Union Ujamaa, Member of Women of Color Collective, Member of Film Workshop

Favorite Movie: (I have like 15 but..) Avatar

Favorite Song: (I don't have one! But I've been listening to..) Diva Beyonce

Fun Fact: I almost lost a chunk of my toe!

Why Wes? I knew I wanted to go to a liberal arts school with an open curriculum where I could take any and all classes that interested me and with professors for whom teaching undergraduates was a priority, but a lot of schools fit this criteria. What set Wesleyan apart for me was the community here. My suspicion – which has since been proven right – was that Wesleyan is filled with so many interesting people who want to share and bond over the things that they’re passionate about.

Why I love being a tour guide: I absolutely love talking and answering questions about Wesleyan and my experience here. I want to be able to convey to others what a special place this is and help prospective students on their college journey!

Extracurriculars: WESU, Wesleyan Democratic Socialists, Argus, Star and Crescent, bassist in a student band!

Favorite Movie: Promising Young Woman

Favorite Song: Hard Feelings, Lorde

Fun Fact: I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 18...but now my most prized possession (aside from maybe my guitar) is my bike that I ride everywhere on campus.

Why Wes? I choose Wesleyan for a multitude of reasons, one being the academic flexibility that allows me to pursue the pre-medical track while also incorporating dance into my academic and extracurricular life here at Wes. I've also found the collaborative atmosphere around academics to be immensely beneficial, as it's allowed me to embrace the process of learning from mistakes. 

Why I love being a tour guide: Helping prospective students imagine their life here at Wes and what that could look like is really rewarding. Your tour guide can really solidify your opinion on a school, and being able to shape the way someone envisions their place on campus is a really unique experience. 

Extracurriculars: Precision Ensemble, FXT Hip Hop Collective, Wes Burlesque, Intramural Soccer (GO Goat Coven), TA for Psychology, Dance, and Chemistry Department 

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Performing my choreography at last year's spring dance concert.

Favorite Movie: Gone Girl

Favorite Song: Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

Fun Fact: I danced in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the coldest Thanksgiving in recorded history!

Why Wes? For me, there were two important factors for my college selection process: academics and community. For academics, my high school had a pretty competitive environment when it came to academics and I knew that that wasn’t the environment in which I learned best. Wesleyan was such a big change in that regard since everyone is so supportive and collaborative when it comes to schoolwork and studying for exams. For community, I was blown away by the number of extracurriculars that were available at Wesleyan and the wide range of classes and student groups that people were involved in, and that made me really excited to come and get involved with as many as I could.

Why I love being a tour guide: Being on a tour was when I realized Wesleyan was my dream school and I really hope I’ll be part of that moment for others.

Extracurriculars: I’m a coordinator for the Eco-Facilitator program in the Sustainability Office (a three-semester program to work on sustainability initiatives on campus), a paleobotany lab member, I do work for Wild Wes (an on-campus permaculture garden), and I’m a member of botany club and ecology club.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Definitely the silent disco. On the last night of my orientation, before all the other students moved in, we had a silent disco in the middle of Olin Library where we all had headphones with music and could change between stations to dance to what we wanted to. It felt like a perfect end to orientation and was a really memorable experience with my friends.

Favorite Movie: Mamma Mia!

Favorite Song: Changes constantly, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Kali Uchis recently

Fun Fact: I taught myself how to play the ukulele!

Why Wes: The more I discovered about Wesleyan, the more it felt like the right school for me. I would be remiss not to mention Wesleyan’s unique academic offerings the open curriculum has allowed me to pursue. Limited only by my imagination, I have found myself in an array of classes spanning from Economics to Japanese culture through food. Wes carefully fosters each student's interdisciplinary interests while challenging us to discover new fields. Ultimately, however, I chose Wesleyan because of its community. Every student on campus is replete with niche passions, and I constantly discover new hobbies through my friends. I have yet to meet a student who lacks authentic excitement for their field of study. When Wes is referred to as “diversity university,” it encapsulates every sense of the word. Wes was my top-choice university, and I am deeply grateful to say it has surpassed all my expectations. 

Why I love being a tour guide: Not everyone would thrive at Wesleyan. Being a tour guide helps prospective students envision themselves immersed in our community, and I can witness one decide on their future home. Being a tour guide is thus one small way I can positively impact students whose shoes I wore not long ago. 

Extracurriculars: Consulting Pathways, Forklift Project, Wesleyan Birders, Admission Intern, Teaching Apprentice, Eco-Facilitator

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Drinking hot apple cider at Pumpkin Fest

Favorite Movie: My favorite movie is Mary & Max, and my favorite book is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Favorite Song: Nothing Can Stop Us or Carnt Sleep by Saint Etienne (but if you like classical, I love Kinderszenen op.15: I. Von Fremden Ländern und Menschen by Robert Schumann).

Why Wes? I chose Wes because I loved how there was a great balance between athletics and academics. I also love how I can form a really meaningful relationship with my professors and TAs due to the small class sizes. I enjoy being able to explore new academic interests with the open curriculum and I'm able to discover new hobbies through the countless extracurricular activities.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love being a tour guide because I get to meet and chat with new people!

Extracurriculars: Varsity swim team, book club, Shakti, POC Swim Committee,

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Hanging out with my friends on Foss Hill and having a cute study picnic in the nice fall weather overlooking campus!

Favorite Movie: Dirty Dancing

Favorite Song: Who Says by Selena Gomez

Fun Fact: I can speak 4 languages!

Why Wes: When looking at colleges, not many schools offered a high-level dance program while being academically rigorous. Many were one or the other, or only allowed me to dance but not take academic classes. I saw at Wes that there would be no problem taking both dance and academic classes. I also discovered that I have many different academic interests and although I have these contrasting passions, I saw that Wes gave me an opportunity to explore them all without restraint and allowed me to dive deep into any subject I find interesting while also shaping my education in the way I best see fit.

Extracurriculars: Member of club rugby

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Silent disco during orientation was a blast. I loved meeting new friends and having a dance party in our fancy library.

Favorite Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Favorite Song: Neon (Live at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles - 2007) by John Mayer

Fun Fact: I ate a whole pizza in 20 minutes.

Why Wes? I knew I wanted to have great personal connections with my professors, engaging classes, and lots of performance opportunities in college. Wes turned out to give those and so many more opportunities.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love meeting people from around the world and sharing all the great things I've experienced so far!

Extracurriculars: Tour Guide Coordinator, drummer for several bands and original musicals, homework helper and music teacher for immigrant and refugee kids in New Haven, intramural softball.

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Questioning almost everything I thought I believed in my politics class. Or playing in an opening band for Sammy Rae & The Friends. Or watching a disgusting but fascinating movie as part of the Wes Film Series with friends. The list goes on.

Favorite Movie: Mean Girls

Favorite Song: "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus

Fun Fact: I play 7 instruments.

Why Wes: The emphasis on student activism as well as support from the community on student developed projects dedicated to mental health, reproductive rights, LGBTIA+ rights. Additionally, Wes has a tight knit community that tries to make sure that there is a safe space for each and every identity.

Why I love being a tour guide: I want to be a part of sharing my experience at Wes so that prospective students can see how accepting and welcoming this community is! Furthermore, I want to relate to other prospective students and show them our beautiful campus!

Extracurriculars: WesCF (Wesleyan Christian Fellowship) leader, boxing club, Argus Assistant Sports Editor, Spike Tape, Slender James and Slavei Acapella groups

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Drag Queen Bingo!

Favorite Movie: Karate Kid (1984)

Favorite Song: "Fear is Not My Future" by Maverick City

Fun Fact: I have the same birthday as John Cena!

Why Wes? I chose Wes because of the tight knit and supportive community. Coming from a relatively large high school I wanted a close community in addition to smaller class sizes and institutional support. Even though Wesleyan is around twice the size of my high school, I feel much more connected to all aspects of the community.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love sharing my favorite parts about Wesleyan with people who are interested in it, especially when I share something that they haven't heard before.

Extracurriculars: Wesleyan Student Assembly (student government), Wesleyan Jewish Community, and the Argus (newspaper)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Walks around campus when it's quiet during the morning.

Favorite Movie: Inception

Favorite Song: Sofia by Clairo

Fun Fact: I am studying Yiddish.

Why Wes: Simple, the Open Curriculum. While it is one of the defining characteristics of Wesleyan it creates so much more than flexibility in class selection. It allows me the opportunity to surround myself with like-minded multi-passioned people. Through the curriculum, I am encouraged to bridge and explore my academic passions while also being allotted the opportunity to try a variety of classes I am interested in. The creative and collaborative culture at Wes finds its way into every classroom no matter the subject. The open curriculum speaks to the overall culture and drive of the students here at Wes and I wanted to be surrounded by truly passion-driven peers.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love getting to share my Wes experience and the reason why I fell in love with the school while also connecting with prospective students and hearing about their interests.

Extracurriculars: ASHA (Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness), Spike Tape Theatre, Usdan Information Desk, Outing Club

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Every semester I am required to work two late-night shifts at one of my job here at Wes. Both times my friends have shown up to sit with me, bringing snacks and making the time fly by. The community at Wesleyan is truly special.

Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride

Favorite Song: Smoke Signals - Pheobe Bridgers

Fun Fact: I love to crochet!

Why Wes? I wanted to experience an education where I could pursue my interests while still exploring many different subjects. With these factors in mind as well as financial aid, Wesleyan was the exact place for me. Since I began my freshman year, I have been deeply involved on campus in ways that I will carry over into my life after college. From collaboration in my classes, clubs, sports, and work, I truly feel like I am part of something bigger.

Why I love being a tour guide: I love being a tour guide because I play an important role in prospective students deciding if Wesleyan is a place they can call home. 

Extracurriculars: Residential Advisor, Men’s Crew Team, Argus Copy Editor, Slavei A Capella, WesInterpreters, Intercut

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): WesDay, Residential Advisor training, Slavei concert

Favorite Movie: Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, Sunset Boulevard 

Favorite Song: Aute Cuture- Rosalía, Los Tontos- C. Tangana, Kiko Veneno

Fun Fact: My favorite place to be on campus is Exley Science Center even though I am in no way a STEM person.

 

Why Wes: Wesleyan has such a unique environment- people are so motivated and curious academically, which serves as a vehicle for social connection. Students are excited to be here, inclined to learn, and always open to meet new people and try new things. I love being in an environment that pushes me to be exactly who I am.

Why I love being a tour guide: When I was going through the college process, my tour guide had a huge influence on my decision to choose Wes and really sparked that gut feeling that I was meant to be here. To be able to give that feeling to other people and show them what life is like on this lovely campus is a such an incredible opportunity.

Extracurriculars: I am involved with Notably Sharp (a cappella), Triple Major (a cappella), Spike Tape (student-run theater), and I teach with the Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness Club (ASHA). I also do photography on campus and am involved with the Wesleyan Jewish Community!

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Sledding down Foss Hill using makeshift sleds on the first snow of the semester!

Favorite Movie: Matilda (the original)

Favorite Song: Anything by Joni Mitchell

Fun Fact: For 10 years I went to a summer camp for the arts that was also called Usdan!

Why Wes: By the time I applied to college I’d already seen both of my two older sisters go through the process: one ended up as a D1 athlete at a big UC, the other at a small liberal arts college in southern California. Their experiences made me sure of two things, 1. I wanted the best of both worlds (shoutout to Hannah Montannah) and 2. I had to leave California. Wesleyan did, and has continued, to fulfill those conditions fabulously.

Why I love being a tour guide: Beyond the website, I had no idea what Wesleyan had to offer when I applied from my covid-quarantine-bedroom… (not so shockingly) actually arriving on campus made me realize just how much I really love being here and I love having a designated outlet to share my excitement with others!

Extracurriculars: Spirituality & Sustainability Intern at the Resource Center, Varsity Swim & Dive Team, Club Waterpolo, Residential Advisor, WesUSE Bargaining Committee, Wesleyan Jewish Community, Outing Club

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Becoming friends with one of my now best friends by passing notes back and forth every class in our first year seminar (FYS) “Being Young and Jewish in America”

Favorite Movie: Love Actually

Favorite Song: Dancing in the Moonlight

Fun Fact: I can teach any able-bodied person how to do a cartwheel

Why Wes? I chose Wes because of the people! Everyone I’ve met here is passionate about their interests and excited to learn and connect with others. The Wesleyan community is kind, ambitious, creative, and fun!

Why I love being a tour guide: Before touring Wesleyan, I had considered taking a gap year, but after visiting, I couldn’t wait to start college! Being a tour guide is incredibly exciting because I can connect with prospective students and introduce them to such an incredible place- it lets me share my ever growing enthusiasm for the amazing opportunities, experiences, and community at Wesleyan!

Extracurriculars: Farming at Long Lane Farm, house manager of Open House (Wesleyan’s Queer affinity program house), ice skating at Wesleyan’s ice rink, Wesleyan Democratic Socialists (WesDS), Asian American Student Collective

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): continuing class discussions with friends!

Favorite Movie: the Harry Potter movie series

Favorite Song: I can’t decide- but something by ABBA!

Fun Fact: I almost didn’t take a tour at Wesleyan, but I’m extremely glad that I did!

Why Wes? A wonderful lack of academic or pre-professional stress mixed with the vibrant, bright, and witty student community that makes things happen.

Why I love being a tour guide: The pandemic prevented me from touring Wesleyan when I applied, but I feel like I get to see Wesleyan's campus in a genuinely new light each tour. Living and working in a place for so many months, the surroundings can begin to feel mundane, but during each tour the seems again full of possibility.

Extracurriculars: Outdoors Club Financial Manager, Standup Comedy Club Outreach Manager, Drummer in Student Bands, Chair of the Wesleyan Argus Editorial Board, Managing Editor of The John (Wesleyan's humor publication)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): One night on a time crunch, just after drumming in the pit orchestra for student-written musical "Bonar," an homage (or was it a paean?) to Wesleyan's own "Hamilton," I raced across campus with my drumsticks and jumped through a senior house's open living room window to play a concert with my rock band.

Favorite Movie: The Lunchbox

Fun Fact: I hold a Guinness World Record

Why Wes? Learning that students at Wesleyan were simultaneously dedicated to their academic studies while also exploring their creative sides in profound, learned ways was mind-blowing for me. The deeper I got into the college admissions process, the more and more I could only envision myself being a student at Wesleyan. Also, I quickly sensed that the community at Wesleyan was unlike that of any other college (or liberal arts school for that matter), as students were outgoing, inspired, passionate about everything to which they dedicated themselves, and eager to share their love for learning and creating with each other.

Why I love being a tour guide: Helping prospective students and their families understand why Wes might be the perfect match and why it's the coolest school in the world is a special responsibility but altogether an honor too. Also, being a tour guide helps me to get my steps in.

Extracurriculars: Argus, Second Stage, African Student Association (ASA)

Favorite Moment at Wes (so far): Anytime I'm outside and laughing with my friends (and Spring Fling was pretty great too).

Favorite Movie: My Cousin Vinny or anything by Sofia Coppola

Favorite Song: "Silver Springs" by Fleetwood Mac

Fun Fact: I really like scones.