Wheaton College

I got into Wheaton College, and was very excited b/c it’s a great Christian school. But when it came to my decision I didn't want to come here, but my parents made me come. I am from a large public high school, and while expecting to leave my high school experience to the best 4 years of my life, I found myself stuck in a reality of 4 years that isn’t even close to my best four years. Classes are very hard unless you get a select few teachers. It’s very cut throat, as most students were the top of their high school class. One of the things about this school that pisses me off the most is the fact that it’s so strict, and so boring. Girls and Guys aren't allowed on each others floors expect for 2 days a week from 7-10, which I find to be ridiculous. The relationship between Guys and Girls here as a result is very awkward and childish in my opinion. Also, yeah there is no drinking here unlike almost every other school in the nation, but the problem here is there nothing else to do to make up for the fact that you cant drink. So pretty much this school is one of the most boring schools in the world! That’s not even over exaggerating. Unless you enjoy watching movies in your room with either all guys or all girls every weekend. I am planning on transferring to another school, because the boredom here is eating me alive. I NEED A DRINK! Never craved alcohol until coming to Wheaton, b/c at least when you drink stupid things are fun. Very depressing school. Yeah-great academics, but no fun. So if you were to ask me if you should come or not I would say no, but hey you don’t have to believe me.

1st Year Male -- Class 2010

Perceived Campus Safety: A+, Social Life: F

Wheaton College was six miserable years of slavery for me. I think that the worst experience I had was the interaction with the professors. I found them, for the most part, to be arrogant and showy in their Godliness.

The ironic thing is that I went to Wheaton College with the goal of it strengthening my faith but by the time I graduated, I felt so unworthy as a human being that I seriously wondered whether heaven would be better without me there. I still wonder this at times.

I was especially amazed at the large size of most required classes as well as lower level classes in your major. There was no assistant instructor and usually 60+ students in a lecture hall setting. Most of these classes involved taking a multiple-choice test. I come from a public school background, and I found my education there to be much more cutting edge and engaging than most classes I attended at Wheaton College (not to mention much less costly!). Multiple-choice tests are geared towards those who take tests well, not necessarily towards those who really know the material.

Hopefully, no one was treated as rudely by the professors as I was because I have spent many years recovering from their insensitive comments, generally of the sort that I never expected a fellow believer to speak to one another. I petitioned to graduate and I really thought that I was stupid by the time I finished. I remember one professor saying, "I don't know how you got into this college." Needless to say, currently I am on the waitlist for a doctoral program in a very prestigious program. The current university that I attend (secular, mind you) has really helped me to heal my wounds. The professors here are wonderful - the type that I had expected the Wheaton College ones to be. I believe that I am going to be a stronger person as a result of the abuse I endured while at Wheaton College, but I can't help but wonder if that sort of trial was really necessary. I am still struggling with my Christianity - at this point I am more of a sideline Christian and very skeptical of large Christian bodies that the world deems as holy.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

This is a school where dancing was thought to be a sin for 100+ years, but then because of a recent breakthrough in exegesis (2004) it was discovered not to be sinful in the least. Here, christian devotion is measured by mandatory chapel attendance -- thrice weekly. Preachers entertain the student body with varying qualities of jokes -- many seem to come from e-mail forwards.

Campus housing costs plenty and is falling apart. This scholastic monastery considers co-ed interaction to be Godly only two hours during scheduled "open floors". Social interaction is ackward.

Opportunity for students that "lose faith" or become cynical is limited (financial aid, socially too).

"Diversity" on campus is joke material -- but campus advertisements are rich in token minorities.
There is an acceptance of a variety of manifestations of worship -- and students have a "worship without ceasing" mentality, following strictly the mandate of doing all "for Christ and his Kingdom." People here become more spiritual by having all they can eat at the cafeteria or hearty helpings of subsidized ice cream, playing pool at the new student center, or by building community -- playing counterstrike on the network.

Some of the Bible classes will weaken your faith. Sometimes I wondered if the professors actually believe the stuff they teach, because they paint it as "mythological" and "historical"

The professors are good, genuine and smart.
If you are from California or some place with similar weather, you will DESPISE the weather here. During 70% of the school year, everything looks dead around you.

Making out is a criminal offense in Wheaton, but because pretty much everything else in life (including making out) is sinful here, your only entertainment will be watching movies -- some pretty violent (Man on Fire -- one of my favorites) or sexual ones (Talk to Her, also a favorite -- hey at least it is cultural). NOTE: watching movies was forbidden in Wheaton at some point in the past.

4th Year Male -- Class 2005

Faculty Accessibility: A+, University Resource Use/ spending: F