Wesleyan University is a small, private, liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut. A liberal arts school not named after the town it’s in? Unheard of. Wesleyan started out as a men’s college, tried to admit women for a bit in the late 1800s (the “Wesleyan Experiment), then suspended that program in 1912 for sexist reasons (“losing their masculine edge”), but finally became co-ed in 1970.

Wesleyan is a competitive school to get into, with an acceptance rate of about 14% for first-year students. That rigor translates to transfers too, with only 95 of the 473 applicants who applied last cycle gaining admission. 20%! That competitiveness means you need to have a solid transfer application, and that starts day 1 of college. Keep reading for our guide on how to have a competitive transfer application to Wesleyan.

Wesleyan’s Requirements

Here are their eligibility requirements:

Have a high school diploma (or its equivalent)
Have studied full-time at another institution
Completed at least one full year of undergraduate coursework (a minimum of 6 Wesleyan credits) but not more than two full years (a maximum of 16 Wesleyan credits) by the time they matriculate.
Be entering as a 1st semester sophomore, 2nd semester sophomore, or 1st semester junior, based on total number of credits

They’re only open for fall transfers, which is fairly common for colleges across the board.

Here are their application requirements:

Transfer Common App
Essays (more on that later)
Two faculty recommendations (can be professor or TA)
School/College report
Midterm report
Official Transcripts (college + high school)

Optional requirements:

Test scores
Interview (Note here that they are “no longer part of the transfer application process,” but “a member of our admission team may reach out if questions arise.” Weird.

More on their requirements and process for transfer applicants here.

Pick the Right Classes

If you’re applying to Wesleyan as a history major, you should take classes that suggest that you’re actually interested in that topic. Duh. And if you like American history, don’t just take ancient Greek history classes, because that doesn’t really prove your interest either.

And word to the wise, don't forget about those prereqs. They're not just for racking up credits for Wesleyan later on, but help serve as a safety net in case your transfer bids don’t go your way.

Get Really Good Grades

Wesleyan is competitive, and it has a really academic vibe to it, so getting good grades is kind of the bare minimum here. Again, we say: duh. The best way to prove to a college that you’re good at college is by being good at college.

Now, to help you nail those grades, here's a little advice: skip the classes that gave you a hard time in high school. Why add unnecessary stress? Your GPA doesn't need that hit, and we're pretty sure there are other math or science options that won't give you stress hives. Make sure to hit up all your office hours. Those connections with your professors not only keep your grades in check but also come in clutch when it's recommendation letter time.

Develop Your Niche

You gotta show that you're genuinely into your declared major. If you're aiming for history and you've got zilch in terms of extracurriculars, Wesleyan won't be convinced. Here's a (not exhaustive) list of stuff you can pursue to back up your stated passion:

Researching with a professor
Joining (or starting) clubs
Writing for an on-campus publication
Getting an internship
Getting a paying job
Volunteering (in something related to your major)

And just to be crystal clear, this isn't about simply beefing up your resume. It's about giving Wesleyan real evidence you've actually delved into your interests and have a clear sense of your path. This also helps you build a community at your current school – a solid backup if your transfer dreams don't quite pan out.

Write Good Essays

Wesleyan has one question:

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. You can type directly into the box, or you can paste text from another source. (Min: 250 Words / Max: 650 Words)

The classic transfer essay! Most schools toss some version of this at you.

Tell them why you're eyeing the exit at your current school – and we get it, there might be some heavy, non-academic, tough stuff going on, but let's stick to the academic side for this essay. If there's some rough stuff affecting your grades, don't hesitate to reach out; we're sorry you're dealing with that. It could be smart to throw that info into the Additional Information section on the main Common App. When you're laying out your academic reasons for leaving, please don’t bash your current school!