From the Dean

Brainy U September 7, 2011 Michael Graca

The Daily Beast counts the 25 colleges with the smartest students and finds … you guessed it.

We hate to brag about how great Wheaton students are, but we appreciate when other people are doing it.

Case in point: The Daily Beast/Newsweek 2011 college rankings, which included a list of America's 25 Brainiac Schools.

In order to find “where brainiacs flock and flourish,” Newsweek/The Daily Beast measured the number of scholarships awarded at each institution in proportion to its student enrollment.

The list weighted students who have won the most competitive fellowships in academia. This includes Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, and Truman scholars as well as winners of the Fulbright award, which is the largest international exchange program based in the U.S.

Since 2000, Wheaton students have won 139 of these prestigious scholarships (not that we're counting).

In compiling the list, the two publications also considered other factors, such as the percent of freshman in the top 10 percent of their high school class, the percent of applicants admitted, and SAT scores for math and reading using data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Five Massachusetts colleges made it on to the list: Harvard, MIT, Williams, Wellesley and Wheaton.

Yeah, we love it.
A Wheaton Summer Forecast June 12, 2011 Gail Berson

It’s officially summer at Wheaton. The campus is abuzz with visitors and construction. Do you have your visit planned yet?

Read, clean, recharge – the compliment to hazy, hot and humid days here in New England! Now that we have bid adieu to the Class of 2011, my colleagues and I are toggling between continued conversations with the entering first year class and new relationships with prospective Wheaton students. Somehow, in between, we’ll take time to read a few great books that have been accumulating on the side (here’s one recommendation for you American history buffs: Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow), toss the detritus left behind from reading thousands of applications, and sneak off for a few weeks’ vacation before it all starts anew.

Although the Wheaton campus is in its summer mode and the majority of students are off on internships, working hard at summer jobs, traveling the globe, or doing research right here with faculty, the campus remains busy. Lower campus residence halls are getting a $4 million renovation, while work on the Mars Center for Science and Technology proceeds at an amazing clip! We officially take occupancy of the building in late July, and by the time pre-season athletes, peer advisors, and orientation assistants return to campus in mid-August, the building will be open for business! In the meantime, Wheaton tour guides continue to show their creativity and flexibility guiding visitors around the construction site. Come see for yourself!

This month, for the first time ever, Wheaton is hosting a series of summer orientations for entering students. Almost 75% of our incoming class will be here this month to kick off their Wheaton careers. The thrust of the new CORE program is academic: a chance to explore possible majors and careers, meet faculty, and take placement exams. By the end of a day and half, students will even register for fall semester classes. And of course, there’s more than a dash of good fun included in each session.

For those of you coming to the end of your sophomore and junior years in high school, college is around the proverbial corner. You are welcome to visit Wheaton at any time this summer as your start your college search. Click here for specific information about tours, information sessions and our summer“ Glimpse” programs, too. A summer visit is a good lead up to a fall open house where you can sample life at Wheaton in and out of the classroom.

I’ve still got a few weeks in the office before I head off to the beach. If you’ve got reading suggestions, send them along! There’s still room in my canvas tote. Enjoy your summer break. We hope to see you at Wheaton in the coming weeks.
Thoughts on the end of one cycle (almost), daffodils, and snowflakes: welcome to New England! March 31, 2011 Gail Berson

It’s spring. Sort of…but not quite. The Class of 2015 is taking shape while current Wheaton students begin the sprint to the end of the semester. Life is busy, and especially so in the Office of Admission!

They say if you wait just a day in New England, the weather changes! There is evidence of spring on campus as the sturdy green stems of daffodils and crocuses rear their heads from a winter’s sleep. But true to the saying, a dusting of snow is expected to blanket those first hearty signs of spring on none other than April Fool’s Day!

Not to worry! A little white stuff won’t slow down the pace of activity on the Wheaton campus. The Student Government Association (SGA) elections are around the corner. Campaigning is in full swing, and the black tops of the walkways are chalked with candidate appeals for votes. This weekend, the annual New Plays Festival takes place, drawing scores of students to watch and listen to the creativity demonstrated by their friends and peers. And almost every day, spring sportsfeature campus contests. The baseball team is coming on strong, with softball not far behind.

Wheaton seniors are beginning to haul in academic awards. Read about our most recent Watson Fellow, Jessica Emory, who will be exploring and learning from fiber artists around the world. Other students await word on their applications for Fulbrights and other national competitions. Still others look forward to graduate school and entering the world of work.

In our neck of the Wheaton woods, it is all about the Class of 2015. Students were notified of decisions on March 25, and already accepted students and families have been visiting the campus. Two special Open Houses for Accepted Students are planned for April 15 and 22. And while the admission team prepares a warm welcome for the newest members of the Wheaton community, we are simultaneously greeting high school juniors and their parents who have begun the college hunt. Check the Admission Office schedule for special junior visiting days. It is a busy season in the lobby of the Admission Office.

The best way to learn more about Wheaton is to visit. Plan a trip soon. In the next few weeks, the white wrapper covering the Mars Center for Science and Technology will be stripped away to reveal a beautiful new brick addition to the Wheaton campus. And, those daffodils and crocuses will soak up the warmth as thoughts turn to the end of the semester, and soon after, graduation. We hope to see you on campus soon.
A Wheaton winter wonderland January 29, 2011 Gail Berson

The Wheaton campus is never more beautiful than when covered in a cloak of newly fallen snow. Spring semester kicks off this week with a heady schedule of activities to complement another great selection of academic classes and programs.

A cold winter day, a mug of hot cocoa, and a stack of applicant files – what better way to describe the life of a Wheaton admissions counselor this season? While the Wheaton campus is beautifully buried in snow, those of us in the Admission Office are methodically making are way through almost 3600 applications from students throughout the US and around the world. We’ll emerge from hibernation in time to mail decision letters and check for signs of spring!

Wheaton students just returned for second semester – and to the rare “no school” day for a residential college! The latest blizzard to strike New England dumped another foot of snow, resulting in cancelled classes. So what did Wheaton students do with their unanticipated free time? Enjoy a classic snowball fight on Chapel Field! Others found their way to the “Dimple” for sledding, and a few brave souls may have waxed their cross country skis for some trekking through the Norton woods.

Classes are back on track today, and a steady stream of students is marching in and out of the Wallace Library, getting an early jump on research for papers and presentations. While seniors work on their theses, others are anxiously awaiting word on their Fulbright, Watson, and Truman applications. Remember: Wheaton ranks among the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the country when it comes to winning Fulbrights for advanced study and research. We’ve said bon voyage to members of the junior class who are studying abroad, and we are welcoming back Wheaton’s first participants in our Bhutan semester program. I can’t wait to hear their stories!

Spring semester always seem to go by in a flash. Winter sports like basketball, swimming and diving, and indoor track and field give way quickly to spring cousins: softball, baseball, and outdoor track events. Our scholar-athletes keep a busy schedule. And then there are the many performances in music and theatre, the senior art exhibition, and continued work on the Wheaton apple orchard. And somewhere in April, we’ll celebrate out 20^th Academic Festival, showcasing the wonderful achievements of our students across the curriculum.

But in the meantime, we admission folks will hunker down to keep reading the files of terrific students who have Wheaton in their sights. It is both an exhilarating and excruciating simultaneously. I promise those of you who are candidates that we will give each of your files the most serious consideration.

And for those sophomores and juniors getting an early jump on college choice, watch for information about Wheaton’s many open house programs this winter and spring.

Now, it’s time to return to that steaming mug of cocoa and another stack of files!
Giving thanks for things large and small December 15, 2010 Gail Berson

It’s countdown time! The end of first semester is at hand, and for high school seniors, college application deadlines loom. Take time to celebrate achievements and prepare to welcome 2011!

It’s a bright and seriously cold day in Norton, and the countdown is officially on until the last day of final exams. As the end of the semester rapidly approaches, students are balancing class assignments with a dazzling array of concerts, exhibits, and performances. Music student recitals, the jazz band, and the Wheaton Dance Company have all scheduled performances. So many choices, so little time! But a season to be glad for all that we enjoy.

For many Wheaton students, next semester will include new adventures. First year students are now fully immersed in Wheaton culture, looking ahead to new classes and internships. Sophomores will return early from January break for our annual “Saturday Sophomore Symposium,” a chance to explore career alternatives during and after college. Many juniors are heading off for spring study away programs. We simultaneously are preparing to welcome back those who studied abroad fall semester. If you’ve been following our first student group to attend Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan, they will soon be back on campus to share stories about their incredible experiences. And seniors are beginning to focus- with some ambivalence as they see the end of their college years on the horizon - on life “after Wheaton.”

For those of you who are seniors, it is also the college application season. Did you know that the majority of students applying through the Common Application do so on or at the deadline?! We hope that yours is almost done and soon to be on its way to Wheaton. We’ve completed our review of Early Decision 1 and mid-year students this week, but the bins of regular decision applicants are over-flowing. We promise to use our holiday break to renew, refresh, and recharge so that the reading season is productive. You can give thanks that you are almost at the end of this process!

To all, no matter your holiday of choice, our sincere wishes for a celebratory season and best wishes for the New Year. We promise that at this time next year, the college application process will be but a faint memory, as will your first round of college finals!
Seasonal adjustments October 4, 2010 Gail Berson

Fall semester is in full swing at Wheaton! Visit campus and experience it all first-hand.

How did it get to be October? Recruitment for the Class of 2015 is in full swing, and as I write this tonight I’m just 48 hours away from flying to Istanbul to visit schools and alumni. My admission colleagues are travelling in San Francisco, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Quito and many other cities across the country and around the world. If we’re near you, be sure to see us at your school or request an interview!

What’s new at Wheaton? I am amazed weekly to watch the progress on the new Mars Center for Science and Technology. The steel frame is up, and now the race is on to finish enough exterior work to begin the interior during the winter.

And speaking of seasons….after a return to summer last week, the temperature has dropped to a more seasonable 60 degrees. In fact, tonight, it’s really quite cool outside. I’ve witnessed the annual student ritual of switching from flip-flops to boots in the space of a few days!

Classes, activities, athletics – the semester is in full swing. One of my favorite new events this fall is our weekly Friday farmer’s market. Great organic produce and fruit from several local farms are featured, and Wheaton students, staff, and faculty are the beneficiaries of our own locavore movement.

Come see it all for yourself! Our first fall visiting day is scheduled for Saturday, October 16. Register now to enjoy a Wheaton sampler including tours, classes, time to talk with faculty and information sessions. Stay for the afternoon and take in a athletic contest, too.

Keep checking our website to learn more about Wheaton students and their accomplishments in and out of class. I’ll look forward to writing again soon!
Life in the fast lane! August 19, 2010 Gail Berson

Summer is coming to a close. College choices loom. Can your visit to Wheaton be far behind?

I know it's time to lament the end of summer, but I'm resisting. After all, summer doesn't officially end until September 21. The weather has been gorgeous, and the Wheaton campus is resplendent with greenery and late summer blooms. The pace of activity, however, forecasts the coming change of seasons. Prospective students and parents fill our lobby daily as they visit for campus tours and interviews. And this week, fall season athletes and student orientation coordinators have returned from summer break to prepare for opening day. The countdown is on until Saturday, August 28 when we welcome the amazing Class of 2014!

While I was away for several weeks this summer, the Mars Center for Science and Technology, Wheaton's new $42 million project, took form. The last piece of steel will be raised next week, and this amazing new facility is on track to open a year from now. The addition of a crane to our skyline is very exciting! This week alone, more than 200 workers are on campus, many of whom are completing $2.5 million of work in existing and new residence halls. It's been a busy summer in Norton!

My colleagues and I are toggling between looking forward to seeing our new students and preparing to hit the road for next year's freshman class. We are busy making school appointments, booking flights and hotels, and, of course, sending you messages about when and where we hope to see you this fall. Whether or not our travels include your home town, visit us! Click here for information about special fall visiting days.

School will start again soon for you and for us! Begin to think about starting your Wheaton application on the Common Application website. If you're not yet in our database, contact us. We're good at staying in touch with prospective students throughout the college process. Questions? Holler (or email)!

Enjoy these last summer days. They won't come again for another year! I'll be in touch again soon.
Between classes June 8, 2010 Gail Berson

Bidding farewell to the Class of 2010 and preparing for the Class of 2014.

Summer at last! How do I know? Well, parking spaces are easier to find and the Wheaton campus is lush and green – except for one very large, excavated area on the southern perimeter of the campus where our new Mars Center for Science and Technology is quickly rising! In a mere few weeks, walls are visible, and it’s now possible to imagine how this new educational facility will transform Wheaton when it opens in the fall of 2011.

As we bid farewell to the Class of 2010, their graduation ceremony on May 22 remains memorable. (You’ll see why when you click here to watch a wonderfully entertaining snippet between Commencement speaker Ann Curry and Jimmy Fallon just 72 hours after her speech at Wheaton!). But there is little time to reminisce. Now, it’s on to the Class of 2014 and preparing for their arrival later this summer. In the meantime, significant residence hall renovations are beginning on the lower campus, and we are expanding housing stock across campus. Wheaton expects to grow its population by approximately 130 students over the next four years, and we are in the early planning phase to add new residence facilities.

A few Wheaton seniors missed Commencement – and for good reason! The baseball team went on to the NCAA regional finals for ninth time in 11 seasons. And, just this past weekend, the men’s track and field team earned two national titles and placed 5th nationally, an amazing achievement. If you are a prospective student, you can be assured that Wheaton’s Division 3 program will offer you the highest quality of competition.

Throughout the summer, the Office of Admission will greet hundreds of visitors, and we hope you will be among them. It’s an annual ritual for families on the college circuit, and we’ll do our best to share with you all of the features that make Wheaton a top college destination. Check out our summer Glimpse days, a chance to learn more about Wheaton in a condensed visit. You can register online or call us to make a reservation. Sign up for a tour or information session. And remember: tours are available on Saturdays at 11am throughout July and early August.

I’ll write periodically throughout the summer with updates on life at Wheaton. Keep visiting the Admission home page for updates, and we hope to meet you on campus over the next several months. Have a great summer!