Wesleyan University is an elite liberal arts school located in Middletown, Connecticut about 2 hours from either New York or Boston. For a small school of approximately 3,000 undergraduates, the 316-acre scenic campus rivals that of larger schools, with Foss Hill being the place to be on sunny days. Downtown Main Street is just 3 blocks from campus with a surprisingly diverse assortment of restaurants for a small town. Wes students pride themselves on being true individuals and thrive as part of a creative, communicative and energetic community.
Visitor Information: The Office of Admission is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (summer hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). All events begin at the Stewart M. Reid House, 70 Wyllys Avenue in Middletown. Click here to view daily schedules.
Transportation: Bradley International Airport is the closest airport to campus, 40 miles from Middletown. Amtrak arrives and departs from Meriden train station just 7 miles from the school. If you are traveling from NYC take Metro-North to New Haven, which is approximately 35 minutes from campus. For a full list of car rental companies, local car services and taxi’s click here.
Stay: The Inn at Middletown is the only hotel within walking distance to campus, located on Main Street in Middletown. The Marriott and Hampton Inn are a ten-minute drive from campus, convenient but not as “boutique” as the Inn. One student’s tip for prospective students families: "Book way in advance at the Inn — I know Sophomores whose families already have their room reservations for graduation!"
Coffee: Brew Bakers on Main Street has everything from coffee to breakfast items to lunchtime salads and sandwiches– it’s a popular spot for students to hang out and do their work. One student coffee lover told us “Klekolo is a cool place for coffee and probably has the best tasting drip coffee in town. The baristas know what they're doing. I love the hazelnut coffee at Emporium on Main Street; if you’re visiting in the winter they make pumpkin milk that is soooo good and aromatic. You can get it in your lattes, or in their excellent milkshakes.” On campus, Pi Café is located in the Exley Science Center lobby, a good place to grab a coffee before the tour.
Breakfast: O’Rourkes Diner is a landmark in Middletown, featured in Diners, Drive-in and Dives, it’s been serving students and locals alike since 1941. Weswings, right on campus, is a student favorite for all meals and especially popular on the weekends for brunch. One foodie student told us: “Brew Bakers has one of my favorite breakfasts - the sweet potato hash browns are the best. ( the falafel wrap is a favorite at lunchtime) Also, Athenian Diner is one of our go-to spots for great hangover food (it's also open 24/7). People also really like Cafe 56."
Lunch: Café 56 bills itself as food of “the Americas” and is popular for their sandwiches—a combination of a taco and a sandwich. On a cold day, nothing beats a hot bowl of soup at Pho 170, dig into the vegetable pho, drunken noodles, and steamed chicken dumplings. Brew Bakers and Emporium both offer good wraps at lunchtime. The new, year old Wesleyan R J Julia Bookstore, located in town on Main Street opened to rave reviews from locals and students alike. Their restaurant Grown, is an organic fast food café serving healthy, personalized items such as wraps, salads, and bowls. Grown opens at 9 am and is also an excellent choice for a quick breakfast of smoothies, acai bowls, or other morning items.
Dinner
Casual: If you’re tired and want something quick: one student told us, “Tibetan Kitchen has the best fried rice I’ve ever had--it’s very casual and cash only, just go!” Krust and Mondo both serve stellar wood-fired pizzas, but we’re partial to Mondo’s, as were big fans also of their baked chicken penne. Mikado has the best sushi in Middletown. Thai Gardens is a good choice for a group dishing up Thai classics on Main Street. In the mood for tandoori chicken or a spicy vindaloo, head to Haveli, well known for outstanding Indian food. If you’re visiting on the weekend there is an all you can eat $10.00 buffet--not only a great deal, but you get to sample an array of dishes.
Late Night Snack and Sweets: We hear that the Whey Station may be the “most amazing food truck ever” serving gourmet grilled cheese’s Thursday-Saturday nights from 10pm-2am. Nora Cupcakes on Main Street is open till 10 pm on the weekends for cupcakes; vegan and gluten free options are available. 0 Degree is a new Thai ice cream spot in town that’s got students talking. Try this new trend of rolled ice cream where you can add your own toppings.
Worth the Drive: Chester, Connecticut is a charming and quaint small New England town with an excellent farm to table restaurant, the River Tavern. If you’re visiting a current student go for lunch or dinner and leave some time to visit the few small shops and galleries on Main Street. Chester is approximately a 20-minute drive from Wesleyan.
Local Attractions: Students hang out and swim at Millers Pond in the fall and spring, a gorgeous nature reserve just 10 minutes from campus. Stoll the gardens and hiking trails of Wadsworth Mansion and don’t miss the falls at Wadsworth Falls State Park, adjacent to the Mansion. Adventure Rooms CT is a fun activity for the whole family. The one-hour live action game encourages teamwork and is Middleton’s top attraction. On campus, stop by the Center for the Arts to see their latest exhibit.
— QUOTES FROM CAMPUS —
“Wesleyan is the most diverse, creative, intelligent, interesting, welcoming, and inclusive community. There are no boundaries – from what you can achieve academically (open curriculum: wooo!) and socially (so easy to become involved in anything, everyone is so caring and inclusive, nothing is restricted to specific groups, everyone is involved in different things.) There is a place for everyone to find/create a home at Wes. Even after only just one year, Wes truly does feel like home and I couldn’t be happier.”
“The community by far—everyone is so eclectic and welcoming and talented!
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“Its fun being a part of NESCAC, students show up to support our sports teams—and especially to the parties at the sports houses.”
WESLEYAN FAST FACTS
Established
1831
Mascot
Cardinal
School Colors
Black & Cardinal
Acceptance Rate
16.1%
Common Application
Yes
Supplement Essays
Yes
Early Action/Decision
ED1, ED2
SAT - AVG
1400
ACT - AVG
31
Type
Private
Size
Small - 2,900 Undergraduates
Website
Region
Admissions Office
70 Wyllys Avenue
Middletown, CT 06459-0260
(p) (860) 685-3000
(f) (860) 685-3001
admissions@wesleyan.edu
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division III
Greek Life
Yes
Noteworthy Alumni
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Joss Whedon
Bill Belichick
Paul Weitz
SHOP
WESLEYAN
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