VISIT: Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton is one of the top Christian colleges in the country. They work to combine an outstanding liberal arts college experience with a Christian worldview. It’s located in Wheaton, Illinois, which is just a quick commuter-rail ride from downtown Chicago. Wheaton’s historic downtown is just a few blocks away, and the train station is steps from the campus. Wheaton’s campus consists of charming brick buildings and pretty quads, and its centerpiece is the iconic “castle”, Blanchard Hall, whose central turret appears in the school logo. It’s easy to get around and parking is plentiful; I parked for free at the Billy Graham Center (he’s an alumnus) across the street from Blanchard Hall.

My tour guide was bubbly and vivacious, and she emphasized the many traditions and events that make the Wheaton community such a special place to belong. Although the tour was the longest college tour I’ve ever witnessed (two hours for five buildings? Really?), I felt that I got a full sense of campus life at Wheaton. One of the biggest traditions she discussed was chapel, which meets three times a week in the university’s largest auditorium. Chapel is less a consistent prayer service than a sort of thrice-weekly Christian assembly. There are musicians, guest speakers, talks from university administrators, and a variety of other events during this time. Wheaton’s mission is to offer an exceptional liberal arts education grounded in the Christian tradition, and the chapel service seems to embody that mission.

I was impressed by the number of service opportunities Wheaton offers students, both on and off the campus. The college offers ministry opportunities in Chicago on the weekends, and students can also participate in a variety of service missions abroad like the Human Needs and Global Resources program (HNGR, pronounced “hunger”). The school’s commitment to community service is truly outstanding, and it exemplifies twin educational and evangelical missions of the school.
Wheaton may be best known for its exceptional science programs, and its students truly shine in admission to medical school and other competitive post-graduate options. They’re in the process of building a big new science building, which is exciting, and the admissions officer I met with talked at length about the many opportunities for students to participate in research and to present at conferences while undergraduates.

One of the things I loved most about Wheaton is their “Dine With a Mind” program. Twice a semester, you can go to the student activities center and receive a free lunch-for-two coupon for a meal in the university’s award-winning dining hall. Your dining partner is the professor of your choice, and it’s a chance for Wheaton students to spend quality time with professors in an informal setting. Faculty love this program and they participate in droves. I think this is a really special way for students to get involved in and excited about the university community and the relationships they can build while there.