More than a year ago I chose to go to West Virginia Wesleyan College and it was the best choice I had made at that point in my life. Often, when people are picking a school, Wesleyan is left off their lists because they think it's too expensive, or because they just don't consider it! This is a list of reasons why you should consider it!
1. The campus is great.
Watch this video of a sky view in the summer to see how beautiful campus is. The campus is also pretty small, everything is within 15 minutes if not much less, which is super nice when you have an 8 a.m. class and plan on getting up at 7:50.
2. The faculty is amazing.
The faculty/student ratio is 1/13 at Wesleyan and very rarely have I heard stories about or experienced bad professors. Wesleyan professors find an amazing balance between challenging, fun, and rewarding that results in you not only learning, but growing as a person!
3. The staff is helpful.
When I talk to people from other (especially big) colleges, one of their biggest complaints always seems to be how unhelpful/slow the staff is at their college. But, at Wesleyan, you can expect friendly, helpful faces to greet you all around campus - whether it's Alice in the library, Evelyn in the dining hall, Jill in the Student Success Center, or Cindy in the Student Life Office.
4. It's central but cut off.
One of the reasons I picked Wesleyan is because it's pretty close to a lot of big cities. You're two hours from Charleston, Morgantown, and Pittsburgh and only another two will get you to DC! But, at the same, you're cut off from these cities enough that you're not going to get the same amount of crime or distractions you'd get if you were going to college in them.
5. It's, arguably, the best private college in West Virginia.
Now, obviously, I'm not exactly unbiased about this. But, let me tell you what some unbiased people have said. In 2013, WVWC was put in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges: “Great Schools at Great Prices” category. The college is one of four colleges and universities in West Virginia to be listed as a College of Distinction and has been named a Best Southeastern College in The Princeton Review for 11 consecutive years.
6. You get the best bang for your buck.
At Wesleyan, more than 90 percent of the student body receives some form of financial aid, and the average out-of-pocket cost to attend is $7,500. That's not a lot higher than the estimated average of $4,931 at WVU! Obviously paying for college is always on the top of everyone's mind when they pick a college, but Wesleyan is pretty low cost considering how great of a college it is. Use this price calculator to figure out what the price will be to you!
6. It provides great support to its students!
Here at Wesleyan, we take care of our own. Let's start with the Learning Center: it was ranked second in the nation in 2012 because it provided such exemplary help for students who need help learning! Maybe you don't need that much help, but you're concerned about individual assignments? Well then go to any of the many free tutors that are available to help with almost every subject! Is it your writing you're concerned about? Then the writing center - where students are hired to critique and guide those who need help with writing - is your one stop shop! Maybe you're just not sure how this whole college thing is gonna work out because you're the first in your family to go and high school didn't go so hot for you? Then the Student Success Center, which just opened recently, has got you covered! They've had fantastic results with students and I'm sure they're going to continue their excellence! Maybe you're getting super stressed and you need an ear to listen to or a shoulder to cry on? Then the Counseling Center will help you out and put all your worries at ease.
7. Student life is active.
When people ask me questions about Wesleyan, they're almost always about whether there's anything to do or not. Well, there might not be as many things to do as there are at WVU, but we do just fine with what we got. Eight Greek organizations, intramural sports, active Young Dems and College Republicans, countless student organizations, and a productive Student Senate. All of this doesn't mention Bobcat Entertainment, which brings awesome performers to campus almost every month, shows free recently released movies on campus, and has amazing prizes at many of their events!
8. It opens doors.
I know, personally, that whatever career I get in my life can all be traced back to Wesleyan and the guidance that I got from Professors Bailey, Rupp, and Saunders. The personal style of teaching that Wesleyan can provide because of the professor/student ratio means that you make real connections while you're here. Don't believe me? Believe this: 15 students have been named international scholarship winners (including 11 Fulbright Scholars) during the past six years.
