Wheaton College-Norton Top Questions

Describe the students at your school.

Kate

Most Wheaton students are focused on their academics but involved in the community through clubs or sports.

Jessica

Their interests are diverse , but they are all interesting and friendly people.

Dahjanay

My classmates are smart and friendly.

Emily

My classmates are creative thinkers who look at assignmets at many different angles to consider the best way to approach the assignment.

Carrie

While lacking in diversity, Wheaton's general student body is open to all people regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation. There are a variety of on-campus activities with the purpose of educating students about lifestyles and cultures other than their own. These range from belly-dancing classes, to an active LGBT society, to various religious ceremonies. Students at Wheaton are focused mainly on the impact their actions will have on the world, and not how much they'll get paid to do them. Most students at Wheaton are from New England, but there is a sizable crowd of west coast, mid-west, and international students.

Kayla

There are groups for everything ranging from religions to LGBT to global issues. There are many different types of people on campus, though I must say it took me some time to feel comfortable. I did not go to a private high school or have the same opportunities many of my schoolmates did, but eventually I found friends who were down-to-earth. It's hard for anyone to start living at college, but if you keep trying, you'll really end up liking it. Most students are from New England, but I have met people from the West coast and I am friends with people from other countries. It is a diverse school with many types of people- just like any college is.

Melissa

Students at Wheaton are a diverse and interesting group. I think that no person would really feel out of place at Wheaton, unless they never open their mouth. People are always willing to talk with someone new and make them feel welcome. Students are very active in a great variety of clubs and groups. Singing is strong on campus, as well as sports (no football though!). Different types of students are brought together through classes and continue to interact long after the class, and semester end. There's no sense that once you've made your friends in your first year, that those are the only people that you'll know, or hang out with at Wheaton.

Courtney

Very welcoming. I'd have to say more left wing though for sure. Lots of different groups of people. Sports also have a strong presence, or so I think...but I'm an athlete.

Meaghan

I feel like Wheaton is very open to people of other nationalities, races, and sexual orientation. There have been a few discriminatory acts against some people but for the most part, I think the school is very open to differences. I think the only person that would feel out of place at Wheaton would be someone who did not go out and meet people and be active in the college community. As long as you apply yourself, there will be people that you can conncet with, which will make living at Wheaton a better experience. Most students choose to wear whatever their feel like on tha day. People go to class in sweats, designer outfits, pajamas, jeans; I've even seen a girl wearing a tutu over tights. You really do not have to worry about how your dressed when out and about because it seems like there's always someone dressed more outrageously than you. I don't think Wheaton has separate group tables; people sit with their friends, whether they be geeks, athletes, partiers, teachers' pets or just best friends. Most students that go there are from New England and from New York. There are people from the West Coast, the middle of the USA, and from other countries, although not in as large a population as from the Northeast. i feel that many people that attend Wheaton are financially well-off and are more liberal than conservative.

Jim

Small amount of diversity, largely white. Basic high school cliques still remain however people are generally more willing to intermingle due to it being such a small school.

Alex

As most college students are, Wheaton students are primarily democratic and come from middle-class backgrounds. Contrast to stereotypes that might have rang true from Wheaton's earlier days as an all-girls school, Wheaton students are not preppy and are more diverse and "creative". Wheaton feels more like a high school, with the same "cliques" sticking together. During my sophomore year Wheaton tried to have the sophomore class "connect"-we connected and became friends for the duration of the program and many of the people I met I have not seen since. Cliques are formed early on during freshman year, and these cliques depend on where you live on campus and your activities.

Jordan

In general, Wheaton students are liberal and highly involved on campus and beyond. Most come from wealthy families... especially apparent to those who do not. However, everyone is very friendly towards each other and groups mix easily. It's an odd mix of those who dress up for class and those who roll out of bed and go in their sweats.

Rob

The students at Wheaton a very diverse, and the thing I like most about the student body is that there is much interaction between different types of students. Belonging to a certain race, class, or background does not preclude socialization with any other demographic at Wheaton. At a typical Wheaton party, you will see people from every social group, and the students do not tend to associate themselves only with tight cliques. Almost everyone you meet at Wheaton is very friendly and outgoing. I don't think that any student would feel out of place at Wheaton because generally, Wheaton students are very accepting. A surprising number of students are from California, and most are from out of state.

Jesse

Wheaton College has a very diverse and dynamic student body. For a small private liberal arts college, Wheaton, through financial aid (among other methods), has invested in making it possible for a variety of students from a broad spectrum of students from a range of social-economic and racial classes. Also, there is an overall feeling of support for the LGBTAQ community and various religious groups. All in all, there are many different types of students who all interact very well and provide an interesting dynamic to the Wheaton community.

Charlie

Minorities tend to stick together. A huge reason for this are the minority houses.

Rosemary

Diverse for a New England Liberal Arts Schools. I personally float between groups of people and have many different types of friends. The student body overall could work on that though.

Emma

The campus is not particularly racially diverse. However, the campus does have various racial, religious and LGBT groups on campus. The student body is great about setting up events to raise awareness about different religions and cultures.

Jenna

The student body at Wheaton is very relaxed. Everyone interacts with each other, but it really depends on how much you put yourself out there.

Alisa

There are alot of athletes and alot of artsy people. Very outspoken student life. A variety of students attend Wheaton so you see all walks of life around campus. Most students are from MA or New England states. A lot of former private school students attend Wheaton.

Evelyn

I have met some great people here at Wheaton. The diversity of the student body leaves something to be desired. Discrepancies are twofold with the male to female ratio at about 40:60 and the ethnic diversity is "growing" (Pres Crutcher's words not mine) but is still terribly small.

Tess

There are many great student groups at Wheaton that everyone can find an interest in and if you can't find a group you want, then it's very easy to start one. Wheaton is largely made up of upper class to upper-middle class people, mostly white, but the school tries to diversify. However, I feel that often the students of color hang out together on their own apart from the white kids and it almost seems like the two races can be said to be segregated by choice. Students mostly wear comfortable clothes to class such as sweat pants, pjs, or jeans and a sweatshirt. Some do wear regular clothes though, that's not odd either. Most Wheaton students are from Massachusetts, but there are also a lot from Connecticut, New York, and California; really a wide variety in a sense.

Claire

Wheaton might be a little too focused on racial, religious, and LGBT issues. I love that they make these issues prominent but the groups almost alienate themselves from the rest of the populations.

Emma

theres an eclectic mix of students at wheaton.. there really arent definitive 'groups' except the sports teams, who all have other friends outside the teams also. i dont think any student would feel out of place at wheaton.

Scott

Wheaton, like several small liberal arts schools in New England, is predominately Caucasian. However there have been several methods to improve diversity over the last few years. Concerning sexualities, Wheaton does have an encouraging community and many students attend the frequent safe zone training sessions, where people learn how to kindly aid friends' sexual preferences and enable them to better understand the difficulties of "coming out". Though it has been two decades since it was a women's college, Wheaton has a significantly higher female population of 60 to 40, though sometimes it feels like more.

Eileen

Wheaton is very interested in community service, there are a few religious people on campus but Wheaton makes accomodations for everyone. During Passover, alternate kosher food was offered. LGBT rights are a big deal, and there are many clubs and activities to raise awareness. Many students interact together outside of the classroom, adn friendships aren't usually formed based on class/race/major/etc.

Kendall

Mostly it is a liberal campus, although there is a Wheaton College Conservatives group. Probably 98{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the campus is liberal, including the professors, and once in a while they will slip it in in their discussions. Good luck if you are a conservative and you want to make headway, no one will really listen to you. Which is fine in my standards. Cliques are a big thing that's hard because sometimes Wheaton reminds me of a high school. If you want a big school that you can meet someone new everyday do not come to Wheaton. A lot of drinking happens because the town is really boring and there is nothing to do. Food is not bad, I have had worse, but there is always something to complain about. Breakfast, I will say however, is amazing.

Alex

There's a little bit of everything, anyone could find someone with similar interests to hang out with.

Alex

pretty diverse population, many say its mostly white rich kids, but wheaton tries to get kids from it seems like every country. athletes tend to hang out with athletes, african american students tend to hang out w/ african american students, dance groups hang with dance groups, but still the school all interacts together in classes and school wide activities. some kids get dressed up for class, but on the whole very casual. seems like a pretty politically active/aware group, mostly democratic/liberal kids. there are very well off students financially, but there are many students who have full rides, or at least some financial help at wheaton. many new englander students, but kids from all over, also a big portion from california

Kate

While the campus itself should be more diverse, we also have a good amount of acceptance here. Although there was a hate crime my freshmen year - the campus has only become more sensitive because of that. Most students wear sweatpants and uggs to class; if you dress up more, you may be out of place, although I usually didn't care what people thought and by senior year I was dressing more professionally. Different students interact, but there is always separation. Most students are from the northeast and a lot of students have a good amount of family money. Students are generally pretty politically aware and active. Most are liberal, republicans stand out.

Ian

There is a strong emphasis on racial integration and diversity at Wheaton. The administration makes a conscious effort to recruit students of various ethnicities but a main problem lies in that there are "houses of color"; that is, a men's house and a women's house in which only people of color are permitted to live. There is an underlying sentiment that this is partially responsible for the lack of mingling that takes place between students of differing ethnicities.

Chelsea

Wheaton is a very liberal school in general. There are groups and clubs that cater to almost anyone's interest whether it be religion, race, socioeconomic, etc. There really aren't any cliques at school and everyone really knows the majority of the community, both administrators and students, but tend to stick with either their sports teams, or racial groups.

Emily

Many Wheaton students are from New England. Many are left-leaning. Many are wealthy, and many went to private school. Many are white. Many are interested in a classic liberal arts education. But for each of these groups, there are alternate pockets on campus: for example, the Wheaton Investment Association caters to those interested in business and finance; we have an active Latino Students Association, a healthy Alliance, and a great new step team; I have friends from as far-flung locales as California, Texas, and England.

Ryan

Mostly white middle class America, but diversity is one of the goals of the administration. The students are typically from New England, but there is a nice chunk of students who hail from the west coast, inner cities, and other countries. I have never been in a class with only white Americans, and I feel like more minority organizations are popping up all the time, LGBT included. A student that would feel out of place here is one who wasn't accepting of new or different things. Wheaton is a safe place to express yourself for the most part, and I like that.

Katie

A few of my friends say Wheaton isn't diverse, but I couldn't disagree more. I've never met so many gay, bi, and trans people in my life. Wheaton doesn't attract enough kids who are proud to be Christian, or if they do exist, they don't seem to feel comfortable expressing themselves. It's always struck me that there are too many anti-religious/anti-faith kids at Wheaton, and I wish I could change that slant. Any Mainline/Northeastern Protestant or Catholic kid might feel out of place if they wanted to express their faith comfortably, in class or in social situations. There's not really a pattern for what kids where to class. Athletes might be more inclined to wear their uniforms to class, but other than that, some kids might dress in a nice polo and slacks, while others are fine in a skirt and t-shirt. Different kids do interact, I find. Clique-y is the last word I would ever use to describe Wheaton. Somewhat more kids come from somewhere in the Northeast, but every year we've gotten more competitive than the previous year. I have friends who are from Alaska, Virginia, California, Maryland, DC, and many international kids. I've got some from Mass, but they are by NO MEANS WHATSOEVER a big group. Students may support causes, and those causes tend to be liberal ones, but this isn't the same as being politically active. The College Democrats aren't super active, and College Conservatives are small but active in their own way. Although virtually the entire campus supports Obama. We think about our post-graduate lives, but it's rare that I ever hear friends talk about jobs freely.

Ian

Students are Left, very PC and the campus is becoming more diverse.