Written by Debbie Knubley
Walking among the Wheaton student body may feel like walking side-by-side with the most talented and scholarly students in the country. As this is actually true, Wheaton College can be an intimidating place to learn. In spite of this, students are generally extremely friendly and academically non-competitive with one another. But the students aren’t the only brilliant minds on campus; the professors are some of the finest scholars in their respective fields. While many colleges can make this same boast, the truly distinctive quality of Wheaton professors is their sincere devotion to the development of the whole student, both intellectually and spiritually. In this, the professors demonstrate the integration of faith and learning, which has become the school’s catchphrase. Also unique to Wheaton is the fact that many students enter into mentoring relationships with their professors that last much longer than a semester-long class. The passion that professors exhibit for their students truly is Wheaton’s hallmark in the world of education.
Wheaton College, “The Harvard of Evangelicals,” stands up against the finest academic institutions in the country and does so while still upholding its core Christian principles. The workload is often heavy, especially assigned readings, and the professors will really challenge you to think, but all the hard work is worth it when you finish the semester a smarter, wiser, and stronger person than when you began. Classes are small—the average class size is 23—which means you’ll receive an interactive learning experience with specialized feedback. Classes are never taught by TAs, and professors remain accessible during their office hours. At Wheaton, you should expect to participate in your classes, get to know your professors as people as well as scholars, and come away with a wealth of usable knowledge after a lot of hard work.