Calling All Posers! Calling All Posers!

Introduction
The best advice I could give to a high school student is if you're a minority from the inner city, from a poor background, then definitely apply to Wheaton. This school loves to fund poor, inner city minorities through its "Possy System". The students basically get a free ride. Also, if you have extremely low SAT scores and are looking to apply to a good liberal arts school, with reputable academics and programs, please apply. I say this because Wheaton doesn't take SAT scores into consideration. I chose this school because I wanted options, hence the liberal arts, I also wasn't happy with my SAT scores. Also, it's a farely small school, approximately 1500 students, and it's pretty close to my home. I wanted to be far enough away from home, but I still wanted it to be accessible. Although Im pretty happy here, I would advise "Social Butterfly's" or extreme partiers not to apply.

Campus Life and Social Life
I would say the best aspect of this campus is that it accomodates "the lazy." Everything is so close and very accessible. It's approximately a seven minute walk across the entire campus, and about a mile around. So if you're a runner, it's a great loop! HAHA.. Plus it's divided into a upper and lower campus, with dinning halls at each end. Essentially, one never has to travel far to get a bite to eat. Anways, I've strayed from the question....Ultimately if you're looking for a good time on the Wheaton campus I would advise you to hit up parties hosted by the baseball or basketball team. Since it was an all girls school at one point, there aren't a lot of guys on campus, so these teams have, inevitably, conjured up a significant amount of "groupies." Also, if your visiting on a Thursday night, you have to stop by, the ever so popular, Sporties. It's where everyone goes on Thursday nights to drink, hangout or fight with Norton Townies, and listening to extremely loud music. Although I have advised you to hit up these parties, mainly occuring on Saturday and Sunday, they usually get broken up around 11:30ish by our campus police. I have to admit, its not such a bummer having to leave a sardine-packed house, with a half tapped keg upon arrival, with big meat head guys and girls that think they're "God's Gift"...Why do I attend these parties, you may wonder? Well, it's my fifteen minutes of loud music, crowded rooms, and spilt beer or a semi-comfortable seat in the lounge, watching re-runs of Law and Order. I specify "lounge area" because our rooms aren't equipped with cable. Yeah, I pay $42,000/year to go to a school that doesn't even provide cable in our dorm rooms! So I'd say if you're a baseball or basketball groupie these parties are for you..otherwise you could use our GATRA transportation system to take you into Boston or Providence. May I add, it's free! Probably they only perk to going here. Advertisement
Academics
I know for the past three years in a row Wheaton College has produced three Rhodes Scholars, which are outstanding, academic students who receive a very prestigious academic award. It grants students a large sum of money to help them persue their area of interest. I also know that Wheaton has been rated among the top ten schools for academic excellence by USA Today Magazine. But I can understand how this information may be meaningless to some high school students, so let my cut to the chase. Based on my knowledge I know that the Pre-Med program/ Science department is extremely challenging, with a large workload. Hence the reason my roommate has no life...but that's besides the point. I also know that any English majors, Sociology majors, or Anthropology majors include numerous amounts of reading and writing intensive courses. Although, if you're looking for an upstanding name on your degree, but want to "just get by," then a Religion or Music major from Wheaton is your ticket. I know that the courses are extremely easy, some would say "a joke," and the professors are all very flighty and easy going. I also say that about the language department (strictly on the personality of the professors; the major is pretty taxing).

Student Body
I would divide my school into two categories; the "tree huggers" and the "jocks." Both of whom are very, very wealthy. Might I add that Will Gibson, Mel Gibson's son, goes to our school. (Yeah the actor!) Anways, like I said, your typical student is of two types. One, their dressed to the nine, wearing their Dior sunglasses, Gucci hat, Louis Vouiton purse and coach pumps or two, their in a scrubby flannel, baggy khaki's with burks. It's two very different extremes, with a common denominator of $$$. Most of the students at Wheaton are from NY, Maine, Mass and California. See! Two extremes! And let me tell you, this is the most outspoken, "I've got an opinion about EVERYTHING!" kinda school. There are speakouts and demonstrations about saving the environment to disrespecting the US flag to Homosexuality to dining services to Honor Codes..you name it, we've done it! The list could go on and on! Honestly, to me, it seems like no one is ever happy. Every group, alliance or committee is ALWAYS COMPLAINING about something; or students are always saying "I can't wait to get outta here!". Ironically enough, the people that have said that in the past either work on campus now or show up randomly to school events. I feel like everyone is so fake! Like they're just going along with the crowd, hence the name of my review. I wish I had better things to say about my, soon to be, future establishment, but I guess I just haven't felt that rush of fulfillment that "they" claimed would happen. I know its a good school for my academic fulfillment, but the student body is nostalgic of high school. It just doesn't have that REAL, unique, sense of mentality.

In Closing...
I would like to say that I'm happy with this school, with choice I've made, but I would be lying. I feel like I settled. Not academically, but personally. This is a safe school, meaning there's a lot of room for error and indecision. This could be a good thing, in the sense that you always have options, but bad in the way that it lacks promotion of direction. No doubt I'm challenged here, but I know that there's always a way to just "get by." Since education is truly a necessity within today's society it's imperitive that you find something that suits you. If I could give any words of advice, if would be this; you create opportunities with every decision you make, so be passionate and patient with every choice you're privileged with.