West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC)

West Virginia Wesleyan College is a small, private liberal arts school with a career-oriented bent and "a religious undertone" located "among the hills" of "the great state of West Virginia." There are more than 40 majors on offer. There's also a somewhat unique May Term here (when students focus on just one course) and an abundance of scholarships. In addition, Wesleyan grads enjoy exceptionally high acceptance rates at medical schools, professional schools, and graduate schools. Students tell us that the academic atmosphere here is "encouraging and intimate." Classes are usually "small," "which is extremely helpful in difficult" courses. The faculty is "very accessible." "One of the things I love most about this college is that the professors are so willing to meet with you outside of class," raves a biology major. In the classroom, some professors are "lackadaisical" or "awful," but the vast majority are "interesting," "enthusiastic, and genuinely great." They are "knowledgeable in their subject and are willing to help you in any way." "They really want you to succeed in life."

"Our school runs the gamut of students," proclaims a junior. There is a "range from very poor to well-to-do" in this little "cluster of everyone." Ethnic minorities are reasonably represented given the location, and there are "a lot of international students, too." You have your "dedicated Christians." "You have your athletes, the sorority/fraternity people, the average ones, the theater group, the brainiacs, and the stuck-up people." Overall, students here are "motivated but down-to-earth" and in good physical shape. Many students play a sport or spend a lot of time outside. "The average student participates in Greek life and parties on the weekend" as well. Wesleyan is also a friendly environment. "Everyone knows everyone else," and people are "nice to nearly everyone." "Everywhere you go you feel like you're welcomed." At the same time, "there are many cliques, and people tend to stay in the same group they found freshmen year."

The idyllic campus here is "very peaceful." However, some of the dorms are "in need of serious remodeling." Also, while some students say "the food is fine," others disagree. "We have the same thing every other day, and most of it is tasteless," grumbles a famished junior. Community service is a fairly big deal, but intercollegiate athletics, theater, and frats and sororities are "the three main things around here." "The nightlife on the weekends is pretty decent," reports a senior. "The fraternity houses throw pretty great theme parties," and there is "a significant amount" of drinking and revelry. "Even if you aren't Greek, you party on the weekends at the fraternity houses." The tiny, "quaint" town of Buckhannon is "a great place to relax and de-stress" and there are a few popular bars but, otherwise, "there isn't much to do." "The geographic location of the campus lends itself to people who like to be outdoors," though. "It rains and snows a lot," but you can whitewater raft and rock climb to your heart's content, and there are "some great spots for snowboarding in the winter." Urban pursuits are considerably harder to find. "Clarksburg isn't too far away if you want a nice dinner or want to go shopping," and Morgantown—home to West Virginia University—offers the big state school vibe. That's about it, though. "People from out of state will definitely go into culture shock from the rural atmosphere," warns a senior.