In a much-needed change of topic from all those rankings, let’s see what we have to look forward to on campus.
Here’s an overview:
UPDATED dining information from WSA Dining Committee Chair Zach Malter ‘13.
For a long list you might not want to bother with, click to Read More
With all this talk about rankings and all the fire that for-profit schools have come under recently, Gawker decided to try and rank the ‘real’ colleges whose students have amassed the most debt. They took total debt, which made bigger schools come out on top, giving NYU a not-so-surprising win.
But what about Wesleyan? What about debt per student, which is probably a better measure in the first place? We’ve always know that Wesleyan is an expensive place to go to, with one of the highest tuitions and comprehensive costs in the nation, but let’s take a look at the debt burden it places on the students. The “Median Federal Debt for Those Entering Repayment” for Wesleyan was $11,384.
Yes, Wesleyan’s $11,384 median looks meager compared to NYU’s behemoth of $28,649 (which isn’t even the highest). But what about comparable institutions? Our Little Three ‘frenemies’ Williams and Amherst have nearly identical medians at about $7,700 (are they even distinguishable schools anymore?), over $3,500 less than us. Nearby Connecticut College, however, has a similar if higher load. Vassar, who we seem to be compared to a lot, is also essentially similar to us in Median Federal Debt. Our “Estimated Repayment Rate” is lower than any of our peers though.
The source information comes from the US Department of Education’s ED.gov, which has other useful information. Click here for the relevant statistics directly from them. Click here for Gawker’s Top Ten Universities for Student Debt.
Sorry for the awfully Argus-y post.
They keep on comin’. In the past couple of weeks, we’ve been flooded with college rankings coming out. They mean so little yet so much. The Princeton Review and Forbes might have their rankings, but the most popular ones, from the U.S. News and World Report have arrived.
We come in 12th, tied with Vassar, in the Liberal Arts Rankings. The U.S. News & World Report rankings reflect more recent admissions statistics than Forbes used, such as our acceptance rate being 22% (that’s us 2013). We ranked #13 last year in the 2010 rankings, going up a spot this year. Read the page about Wesleyan there to see what they made of us and our several “sororities on campus.” It’s quite a unique portrayal of student life at Wesleyan.
On the list of Best Values for Liberal Arts Colleges we ranked #20, with almost 15% more students at #1 value Amherst receiving need-based aid. The average discount from total cost at Amherst was also almost 15% higher than at Wes. Read More
As much as it pains me to do a rankings post, it’s the summer and well, rankings are rankings. Forbes has released its own top Colleges and Universities list. Williams, Princeton, and Amherst make up the top three, and Wesleyan falls in line at #15, right between Haverford and Whitman College. Forbes describes the idea behind its rankings as:
To our way of thinking, a good college is one that meets student needs. While other college rankings are based in large part on school reputation as evaluated by college administrators, we focus on factors that directly concern incoming students: Will my courses be interesting? Is it likely I will graduate in four years? Will I incur a ton of debt getting my degree? And once I get out of school, will I get a good job?
As always, the rankings seem fairly controversial (Cornell is at #70, John Hopkins is at #88, and NYU is all the way down at #173). To see the full list, click here; the full methodology is here.
Enjoy another way to re-live that college search process and feel good about your decision (or if it wasn’t your decision – feel good that Brown was 30 spots behind at #45). Or, you know, just ignore it all (Forbes is mainstream after all). Enjoy your last month of summer (sorry alums!).
[edit:crash]
Because they are the standards by which everyone should choose their college, here is how we ranked in the 2011 edition of the Princeton Review Best Colleges:
Now, here are our rankings from last year:
We essentially did worse in every category we were ranked in last year. The only improvement comes in “Best College Theater,” where we squeezed in this year after not being ranked at all among the top 20 last year.
To be honest, the Princeton Review is insulting us. They’re calling us mainstream. Read More
Because bashing last year’s ill-fated “Are You Wesleyan?” website overhaul honestly never gets old, Lunchbox Sketch Comedy presents its own own hilarious take on the infamous question. Enjoy:
A new week at Wesleying typically means a new issue for Wes students to get angry about, and the summer’s no exception. The Tour de Franzia debacle blew over and Mytheos’s trademark vitriol lost its edge, but Vice President of Student Affairs Mike Whaley flies to the rescue with an all-campus email announcing an amendment to Wesleyan’s AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) Policy: a ban on misuse of prescription drugs and, more controversially, a ban on open containers of alcohol on University property:
Wesleyan policy also will prohibit open containers of alcohol on University property beginning this fall. This change brings our policy more in line with our peers, and should help us address problems associated with transient public drinking, clarify expectations for alcohol use on University property, and resolve discrepancies between University policy and existing City ordinances. The new policy will not prevent students of legal age from responsibly consuming alcohol in their residences (or in the backyards of senior houses); nor will it apply to registered events, such as University-sponsored activities, approved student parties, Spring Fling, etc. At the suggestion of some of the student leaders with whom I’ve consulted, members of the Wesleyan community who are of legal age will be permitted to responsibly consume alcohol on Foss Hill during daylight hours.
Previously, public consumption of alcohol by students of legal age was only banned in Usdan, academic buildings, and within 15 feet of a sidewalk or street. The possibility of an open container policy was discussed in an April 16 Argus article, wherein current WSA President-Elect and then Chair of the Policy and Accountability Committee Micah Feiring ‘11 stated his firm opposition to the proposal:
Ben Somberg ‘05 sends in video proof of President Roth getting crunk at Saturday’s tent party. I guess this is incentive to come to your five-year Wes reunion?
Seniors graduated today and will, without question, be missed. Congratulations to all 706 of you! Here’s some coverage of the ceremony courtesy of The Wesleyan Connection:
President Roth poses with honorary degree recipients Richard Winslow ‘40, John Hickenlooper ‘74, Joshua Boger ‘73, P’06, P’09, Stanley Cavell, and Ruth Simmons:
Today is Spring Fling. It’s also, as you’re aware—and as a February Wespeak made abundantly clear—the first anniversary of the murder of Johanna Justin-Jinich ’10.
At 1:00 pm there will be a memorial ringing of the bells, followed by a moment of silence and remembrance. At the Memorial Chapel, this will be followed by reflections from friends of Johanna. Russel House will be open throughout the afternoon for those who wish to gather, share, and support one another.
After the jump you’ll find some words from President Roth on the occasion, as related in an all-campus email last week:
(THIS JUST IN: Roth announces MoCon’s death sentence on the one day of the year students are too blazed, err, distracted to notice. Sly bastard.)
It was easy to hold out idealistic hope for MoCon’s survival last month when Roth acknowledged widespread alumni concerns by postponing demolition and promising to review options—again—for possible alternative uses of the condemned dining hall.
Alas, it’s not to be. Despite the impassioned pleas of Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner ‘87 and a billion other very angry alumni (including McConaughy grandson Jim McConaughy ‘68), despite the touching Wesleying retrospectives, despite the Argus list of potential MoCon uses (personal favorite: “create a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit”), despite the 1,589 members of a “Save MoCon” Facebook Group, and despite the spontaneous MoCon flash party, Roth has concluded, finally, that Mococalypse Now! is the only viable option:
In order to keep McConaughy as an active part of campus we either have to invent a need that the current structure could meet, or we have to re-build the dining hall as something else in order to “preserve it.” Dividing up its great open space for some specific purpose that is antithetical to its design doesn’t really keep MoCon, nor does replacing all its essential components for use as an outdoor pavillion. And the expense would be staggering… millions over the next few years.
WesFest, woo! WesFestivities start tomorrow—despite the ominous forecast—and campus is already swarming with prefrosh. Here’s the official calendar, including an Admissions-recognized(!) Ze-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Day on Saturday:
Also, consider this a formal Wesleying welcome to all prefrosh! Here’s some prime advice from Sheek’s ‘09 WesFest post, because I can’t say it any better myself:
Prefrosh Wesfest attendees, keep in mind that while the official schedule has plenty of worthwhile/interesting events on it that you might want to attend (and should), some of your favorite parts of Wesfest will likely not be anything officially listed.
Happy Birthday!
Our distinguished president, professor, and alumnus may be turning 53 today, but he doesn’t look a day past 30:
Here’s a brief collection of links pertinent to the study and celebration of all things Roth:
From the Senior Committee:
With Spring in the air, our Graduation is a few weeks away. We have all heard and contributed to the Senior Gift. With a generous gift from the Alums of 2001 we will be able to constitute a Class of 2010 Scholarship to be awarded to an incoming freshman.
This Friday, the Tuition Transition Day, gives us the opportunity to thank our parents and the generous alumni who provide financial support for every student at Wesleyan. Come find the Senior Class Officers and the Senior Gift Managers in Usdan between 12 to 2 on Friday. Learn more about the Class of 2010 Scholarship and pick up your free class t-shirts.
: too hippie for the website?
: but, what do you want? It's the calendar section, fwiw.
: The future is not what it used to be. WTF?!
: Accepting Points
: http://congratulations.whoismgmt.com/
: Is williams a "new" ivy? Wes only 8th Most Political College?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/the-new-ivies-10-schools-_n_692223.html#s128862 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/28/the-most-political-colleg_n_697826.html#s129203
