Admission of First-Year Students
Although Wheaton does not prescribe rigid entrance requirements, the college strongly recommends the following high school curriculum: four years of English with emphasis on composition skills, three or four years of mathematics, three or four years of a foreign language, three years of social studies, and three years of laboratory science and several academic electives. Honors-level, advanced placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses as well as substantive courses in the visual and performing arts add further strength to an applicant’s record. These guidelines are not requirements, however; each student’s program is viewed in light of the opportunities open to him or her. Academic achievement, challenge of the curriculum, evaluations by teachers and counselors, and writing skills are all used to determine the quality of a candidate’s record.
The submission of SAT or other standardized test results is optional. Applicants who wish their scores to be considered should arrange for official score reports to be sent from the appropriate testing agency (the College Board and/or ACT) directly to the Wheaton Admission Office. Reports must be received no later than the application deadline for the corresponding decision plan. Unofficial test scores (i.e., those reported on high school transcripts) will not be considered. Non-native English speakers must submit the results of the Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or English Language Placement Test (ELPT) exams.
Because of the college’s commitment to evaluating all applicants as individuals, the Admission Office encourages students to submit any additional material that may illuminate their particular talents and interests. Though not required, such submissions may include: slides of original artwork, samples of creative writing and audiotapes or videotapes. Once received in the Admission Office, these items will not be returned. Therefore, students should make all necessary copies prior to including them with their application materials. Please note that CDs and computer disks will not be reviewed by the Art Department. Studio art faculty will review only slide and print portfolios.
All admission offers are contingent upon completion of all secondary school requirements in good standing (i.e., graduation or its equivalent).
Interviews. Students who apply to Wheaton are strongly encouraged to have a personal interview with a member of the admission staff prior to the application deadline. On-campus interviews for current-year applicants are available by appointment between April 1 and January 15. If you are unable to schedule a visit to the campus, the Office of Admission will, upon request, attempt to arrange an interview with a member of the Alumni and Parent Admission Committee (APAC) near your home or school.
Please contact the Office of Admission well in advance to schedule an on-campus or APAC interview. We recommend that you make your arrangements by calling the office toll free at 800-394-6003 (or 508-285-8251 outside the United States) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Appointments for overseas students may be scheduled by e-mailing the Office of Admission at admission@wheatoncollege.edu.
Applying. Wheaton uses the Common Application as its only application (with supplementary submissions). Students may obtain all necessary forms and instructions directly from the Wheaton Admission Office Website, from the Common Application Website, or from most high school counseling offices. Applications must be submitted with the required application fee of $55 by January 15 of the student’s senior year. Applicants will be notified of admission committee decisions by early April. Because Wheaton subscribes to the Candidates’ Reply Date, admitted students wishing to enroll must do so by May 1 with a non-refundable deposit of $300.