Applying to Wesleyan

Transfer Students

Transfers have added a great deal to the life and character of Wesleyan over time. They appreciate their new college in a way only transfers can because of their previous experience with college life. They are helped and encouraged to make a rapid transition out of “transfer” status and into all the privileges and responsibilities that come with being a Wesleyan student.

Wesleyan enrolls approximately 60 transfer students each fall. We do not accept transfer students to begin in the spring semester. Wesleyan transfer students come from other four year colleges and universities, as well as two year colleges, and transfer in as sophomores and juniors.

We have a special interest in Connecticut Community-Technical College (CCC) adult students. The Etherington Scholars Program, a scholarship program named for Wesleyan’s former president Edwin Etherington, attracts some of the top graduates of these two-year state colleges and helps them prepare for a productive future in Connecticut. All CCC transfer applicants are considered for the Etherington Scholarship on the basis of financial need. You need not use a separate form in order to apply for this scholarship.

  • Do you offer special information sessions for transfers?
    • Yes, at our November open house. For 2009 the date is November 11 at 2:00 p.m.
  • How do I know if I should apply to Wesleyan as a transfer student or a first year student?
    • An applicant is considered a transfer student at Wesleyan if they have completed at least one full-time year of college and the equivalent of at least six Wesleyan credits by the time they matriculate at Wesleyan. One Wesleyan credit is considered equivalent to four semester hours or six quarter hours. Students who have taken college courses through a high school or part-time only will normally be considered first-year applicants. Applicants, including international students, may not discount academic credits in order to qualify as first-year applicants. Wesleyan does not grant a second bachelor’s degree.
  • How do I apply for transfer to Wesleyan?
  • What is the application deadline for transfer students?
    • Transfer applications are due March 15, with a notification date of May 15.  Wesleyan notifies all applicants electronically for all admission programs.  Instructions on how to view your online decision letter will be sent via e-mail prior to the notification date.  Related materials will be mailed to students who are admitted, deferred or waitlisted.   For those students whose application is denied, decisions will be available online only.
  • Can I begin as a transfer student mid-year?
    • There is no mid-year transfer admission program; new students can begin only in the fall semester.
  • Can I apply to Wesleyan as a transfer if I previously applied for admission as a first-year?
    • Reapplicants (i.e. students who have applied to Wesleyan but never matriculated) must submit a new application but use the same Wesleyan identification number. We may still have your test scores from your previous application on our database. You may email Karen O’Leary at kmoleary@wesleyan.edu or call (860) 685-2987 to confirm we have scores.
  • Does Wesleyan accept part-time students?
    • Wesleyan does not have a part-time option for undergraduate students. Matriculants are expected to take at least four courses per semester.
  • How do I know if my credits from my previous school will transfer to Wesleyan?
    • We provide a credit review with the offer of admission, but generally coursework will be creditable and will help to determine transfer admission eligibility if: the course was taken on a college campus (not a college-level course taken at high school), the course is similar to a course offered by a Wesleyan department or is from a department or program that Wesleyan has, the course is at the college level (e.g. algebra would not count), a grade of C- (B- for a summer course) or better was earned.
  • Would my AP or IB credits count?
    • Students can use a maximum of two AP or IB credits toward the Wesleyan degree. See the relevant section of the graduation requirements section of the Registrar’s page.
  • Are transfer students required to live on campus?
    • All Wesleyan students are expected to live in university-owned housing. Special permission is required for students who seek to live off campus.
  • How many transfer applications does Wesleyan receive?
    • Wesleyan typically receives over 600 transfer applications each year.
  • How many transfer students are admitted to Wesleyan?
    • In 2009, 125 students were admitted to Wesleyan through the transfer process, with approximately 60 attending this fall.
  • Do I need to send my high school transcript as well as my college transcript?
    • Yes. Transcripts from high school and each college attended are essential. If possible, please have them sent “to the attention of Karen O’Leary” at the Wesleyan Admission Office address and request them early in the application process, as they can take a long time to arrive. Transcripts should be sent directly from high schools and colleges.
  • Does Wesleyan require standardized testing for transfer students?
    • Yes. SAT Verbal and Math Tests (or the new SAT I) or ACT (American College Test) scores are required of all transfer applicants. Scores of tests taken in high school are accepted, as are scores of new tests. Subject tests (or the new SAT II) are NOT required for transfers. Scores recorded on the high school transcript are acceptable, but official reports are best. Non-traditional applicants, including those over 24, often have questions about these tests. While we do require them, the college record is more central to our decision in these cases.
  • What do I do if I don’t know my professors or my dean well enough to ask for recommendations?
    • Instructor Evaluations are from college teachers of academic courses. Applicants from larger schools, especially first year students, may find this a problem. We have read very good evaluations from graduate Teaching Assistants as well as from faculty with whom the applicant has spoken about the reasons for transfer. The College Official’s Report presents a similar problem, in that the dean may not know the student. Some larger schools have a policy to attach a form letter to the report. Wesleyan accepts these form letters without prejudice against the applicant.
  • Can I send Teacher Evaluations from high school?
    • Yes, you can. However these are in addition to the College Instructor Evaluations and not a replacement.
  • Are there interviews available for transfer students?
    • Campus interviews are required for applicants attending a Connecticut Community College and for those who are already taking classes at Wesleyan. Campus interviews are also required for those students who have interrupted their schooling for a year or more. Please contact the Office of Admission at (860) 685-3000 as soon as possible to schedule an on-campus interview as appointments are limited.
    • Personal interviews are helpful to both the applicant and the admission committee. Many students will interview before deciding to apply. Interviews are available in your area with alumni interviewers or on campus with an admission dean.
      You may schedule an alumni interview on our website by clicking here. You will need a Wesleyan ID number to do so.
  • Is financial aid available for transfer students?
    • Yes. For each student who is selected for admission, Wesleyan is committed to providing the full amount of financial aid he or she is qualified to receive based on our determination of financial need. The commitment to meet a student’s full need extends to every year of enrollment.
      Financial aid for foreign transfer students is not available. Applications from non-U.S. citizens or nonpermanent residents requesting financial aid will not be considered. Foreign students NOT requesting financial aid should submit documentation verifying sufficient personal resources or outside scholarships to meet the expense of your Wesleyan education. Please use the “International Student Certification of Finances” form and submit the completed form with your application.
  • Is there a supplement to the Transfer application?
  • Does Wesleyan offer special consideration for Military Veterans?
  • Does Wesleyan take into account financial need when evaluating transfer applications?
    • Yes. Wesleyan is need-aware for transfer admissions, meaning that a student’s ability to pay will be taken into account for some portion of transfer admission decisions.
  • How do I check on my application after I apply?
    • You can check your application materials at Wescheck. You will need your Wesleyan Identification number.