Voice!

When going on a college visit, talking to current students can give you as much information as the Office of Admissions. Searching through the campus on your own time can allow you explore different aspects of the campus and talk to current students. Don’t be shy!!! College students LOVE to talk about themselves and their school. So, ask away. They will probably be thrilled to reminisce about how they made their college decision.

THE BEST PLACES TO TALK TO STUDENTS AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY:

• The Usdan University Center - the new student center. (you can check out a live webcam of the Usdan here!)
• Foss Hill on a sunny day
• Outside Olin Library during students’ study breaks
• Pi Café
• WEShop

GREAT QUESTIONS TO ASK CURRENT STUDENTS:

• What is your favorite part about college? What would you change?
• What is the best class you took while here? Listen to how passionately they talk about their academic experience.
• What surprised you about the school when you got here? When you got to college what parts of student life, academia, or social life became more important than you originally thought they would be?
• What’s an average day like for you?

Enjoy your visit and just remember everyone was in your shoes once, too!

Emily Einhorn ‘08 and Jeff Wong ‘08
Senior Interviewers

A few weeks ago the Senior Interviewers (among others) were granted a tour of the yet-to-be-completed Usdan University Center, and boy do I have a treat for you: pictures!! One caveat: I took these almost three weeks ago (I know, I know, I should have gotten them up sooner), so everything could look entirely different. However, I’m sure that this will give you a good enough idea of what the space will look like once completed (use your imagination!). Shall we begin our virtual tour? Let’s.

We’ll start in the very basement of the building. This, obviously, is the main kitchen. Here is where all the [food] magic happens. Even though this may look like an unfinished Burger King, as Petra’s post about Bon Appetit explains, I’m sure that the food will be far superior.

The ceiling in the ballroom is simply fantastic! Actually, they refurbished the original ceiling. The wooden piece suspended below is there for acoustic reasons, and it also incorporates heating/AC vents.

Here we have the ballroom itself in all of its unfished glory. Since this picture was taken, they have installed the hardwood floor.

Students entered our previous large dining hall, MoConaughy Hall, by walking down into the room. They’ve kept this tradition alive in Usdan (just as the Argus reported) by installing a neato curved stariway connecting the lower and upper dining areas.

There is a really nice patio facing Andrus Field. The builder told us that they plan to put teak dining furniture here, so that students can dine outside.

It may not look like much right now, but this is actually the heart of the beast: the cafeteria, where students will have access to many of the dining options that I mentioned in my previous post about the center.

If you have visited campus, you may have seen these red rafters peeking through the Usdan windows. This room, which I believe is basically complete, will be both a dining room during the day and a multi-purpose space at night.

They really went all out for this building. Yes, these counter tops are marble.

I’ll leave you with this beautiful view of PAC, Olin Library, and Clark Hall!

Hope you’re as excited as I am,
Justin Holzwarth ‘08
Senior Interviewer

Welcome! My name is Justin and over these next few weeks I’m going to give you my own personal tour of Wesleyan. But don’t worry, the places and sights you have already seen (or are going to witness in the future) on the official Wesleyan admissions office tour will not be repeated in this series. Instead my focus will be on where the tour doesn’t take you. I’m going to run a two part series of special locations at Wes that I have come to know and love over the past couple of years. The first sequence is going to feature unique places on the Wesleyan campus; the second will highlight locations off campus (all within walking distance) that are frequently visited by the students here.

If you haven’t been on an official tour at Wesleyan, I would really suggest doing so. Although it may not be as exciting and interesting as mine, the tour will get you acquainted with the campus (and what a beautiful campus it is!). It would be in your best interest to come prepared: wear comfortable shoes, bring an umbrella in case of showers, and you might even want to grab your camera.

Stay Tuned!

Justin Mello ‘08
Senior Interviewer