Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) - Undergraduate Admissions

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McAlister Conservatory Thank you for your interest in Wheaton College. We welcome your application and look forward to working with you throughout the application process. Please select a link below for detailed application instructions and requirements.

Application Requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences

Candidates may apply to the College of Arts and Sciences or to the Conservatory of Music, but not both. The following requirements are for application to the College of Arts and Sciences. Refer to the Conservatory of Music instructions if you wish to pursue a Bachelor of Music or a Bachelor of Music Education at Wheaton College.

Admissions Deadlines – Freshman admission decisions are made at two times during the year. Early Action candidates receive an early, non-binding admission decision by December 31st. Early Action students must apply by November 1st. Regular Action candidates must apply by January 10th and will receive their admission decision by April 1st. Transfer students who wish to enroll for the fall semester must apply by March 1st and will receive an admission decision beginning April 1st. Transfers applying for the spring semester must submit their application by October 1st and will receive an admissions decision beginning November 1st.
Please read the following definitions below to determine if you are a freshman applicant or a transfer applicant:
- Freshmen Applicants are those students who have not yet graduated from high school, regardless of the number of college credits earned. College coursework is evaluated after acceptance. Freshman applicants are also those who, at the time of application, have graduated from high school but have earned less than 15 semester hours of post-high school college credit. Freshmen may only apply for fall semester admission.
- Transfer Applicants are those students who, at the time of application, have graduated from high school and subsequently completed 15 semester hours or more of college credit at an accredited institution and will have completed a full year of college (30 semester hours) before the time of enrollment at Wheaton College. Transfers may apply for the fall or spring semester.
Application Form - Complete the application form online or download the PDF version.
$50 Application Fee – For the online application, payment by credit card or electronic check will be accepted. (Note: Payment by electronic check will delay the submission of your application by a full six business days.) If you send in a paper copy of the application, please include a check or money order payable to Wheaton College. The application fee is non-refundable.
High School Transcript and High School Report – The transcript should include grades earned, class rank (if available), and GPA. The High School Report (available through the online application or the PDF application) must be completed by the high school guidance office and submitted with your official transcript and a school profile. If your high school allows, please send your official transcript and High School Report in a signed and sealed high school letterhead envelope with your application. Otherwise, please request that these items be sent directly to the Admissions Office from your high school. Regular Action applicants do not need to send a 7th semester grade report or 7th semester transcript.
- Homeschool Students: If you were homeschooled for any part of high school, submit the Homeschool Information Form with the provided transcript signed by a homeschool official.
- Post-Secondary Transcripts – Transfer applicants are required to submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, whether or not credit was earned or grades were received. Freshman applicants who have taken or are taking college courses at a post-secondary institution should also submit transcripts. Post-secondary transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to the Wheaton College Admissions Office.
Academic Recommendation Form (available to download through the online application or the PDF application) – A report from an academic teacher (English, science, social science, math, or foreign language) or your guidance counselor is required. This should be someone who knows your classroom performance well. Complete Part I of the form and give it to your reference person. Ask that he/she send the form directly to the Admissions Office or return the form to you in a signed and sealed envelope, which you will submit, unopened, with your application. Homeschool students, please refer to the Homeschool Information Form for further instructions. Transfer students, your recommendation should come from a college professor or advisor. However, if you are currently a college freshman, you may submit a recommendation from either a college professor or a high school teacher.
Pastor’s Recommendation Form (available to download through the online application or the PDF application) – A recommendation from a pastor, youth pastor, former pastor, Bible study leader, Christian school teacher, church official, or other mature Christian is required. This person should be a mature Christian adult who has had opportunity to observe your spiritual life. This person should not be a relative. Complete Part I of the form and give it to your reference person, requesting that he/she send the form directly to the Admissions Office or return it to you in a signed and sealed envelope, which you will submit, unopened, with your application.
Test Scores – Applicants are required to submit either SAT or ACT scores, including the writing section, which must be reported directly from the testing company. Do not send your student copy of the score report. If you have not already done so, request that your scores be sent to Wheaton College. Wheaton's code number for the SAT is 1905; the code number for the ACT is 1160. Wheaton uses the critical reading, math, and writing scores from any sitting of the SAT test and/or the highest composite and writing ACT scores. Please note that if you are applying during the Early Action round, the ACT test must be taken no later than the September test date of your senior year, and the SAT test must be taken no later than the October test date of your senior year. If you are applying during the Regular Action round, the ACT or SAT test must be taken no later than the December test date of your senior year. Transfers: test scores are required unless you have earned at least 60 semester hours of college credit at the time of application.
Prospective Art Majors Only – Students planning to pursue a degree in Art are encouraged to submit a portfolio of 10-20 examples of their work in CD, DVD or slide format. Please label each CD, DVD, or slide image image with the title, date, media, and dimensionsn of the work. For more information, contact the Art Department at 630-752-5050.
The application and all supporting documents are due to Wheaton College by the application deadline dates. We will acknowledge the receipt of your application by mail. When all supporting documents have been received, we will notify you by email or mail that your application is complete. Please contact the Admissions Office if you do not receive notification within three weeks of submitting your application to us. If the application is submitted online, confirmation of receipt should be received in 7-10 business days.

Application Requirements for the Conservatory of Music

Candidates may apply to the Conservatory of Music or to the College of Arts and Sciences, but not both. The following requirements are for students who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Music or a Bachelor of Music Education. If you are unsure of your desire to major in music, it is preferable that you apply to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Please read the following definitions below to determine if you are a freshman applicant or a transfer applicant:
- Freshmen Applicants are those students who have not yet graduated from high school, regardless of the number of college credits earned. College coursework is evaluated after acceptance. Freshman applicants are also those who, at the time of application, have graduated from high school but have earned less than 15 semester hours of post-high school college credit. Freshmen may only apply for fall semester admission.
- Transfer Applicants are those students who, at the time of application, have graduated from high school and subsequently completed 15 semester hours or more of college credit at an accredited institution and will have completed a full year of college (30 semester hours) before the time of enrollment at Wheaton College. Transfers may apply for the fall or spring semester.
Admissions Deadlines – Freshman admission decisions are made at two times during the year. Early Action candidates receive an early, non-binding admission decision by December 31st. They must apply by November 1st and audition by December 6th. Regular Action candidates must apply by January 10th and audition by February 28th; they will receive their admission decision by April 1st. Transfer students who wish to enroll for the fall semester must apply and audition by March 1st; they will receive an admission decision beginning April 1st. Transfers applying for the spring semester must submit their application and audition by October 1st; they will receive an admissions decision beginning November 1st.
Auditions – An audition is required of everyone applying to the Conservatory of Music and is used for scholarship consideration. On-campus auditions are strongly recommended, and are required for applicants who live within 350 miles of campus. Please click on the following links for audition dates and instructions. If you must submit a recorded audition, please refer to page 18 of the PDF version of the Conservatory application for guidelines.
Application Form - Complete the application form online or download the PDF version.
Music Information Profile – This form is available through the online application of the PDF application.
$50 Application Fee – For the onine application, payment by credit card or electronic check will be accepted. (Note: Payment by electronic check will delay the submission of your application by a full six business days.) If you send in a paper copy of the application, please include a check or money order payable to Wheaton College. The application fee is non-refundable.
High School Transcript and High School Report – The transcript should include grades earned, class rank (if available), and GPA. The High School Report (available through the online application or the PDF application) must be completed by the high school guidance office and submitted with your official transcript and a school profile. If your high school allows, please send your official transcript and High School Report in a signed and sealed high school letterhead envelope with your application. Otherwise, please request that these items be sent directly to the Admissions Office from your high school. Regular Action applicants do not need to send a 7th semester grade report or 7th semester transcript.
- Homeschool Students: If you were homeschooled for any part of high school, submit the Homeschool Information Form with the provided transcript signed by a homeschool official.
- Post-Secondary Transcripts – Transfer applicants are required to submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, whether or not credit was earned or grades were received. Freshman applicants who have taken or are taking college courses at a post-secondary institution should also submit transcripts. Post-secondary transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to the Wheaton College Admissions Office.
Academic Recommendation Form (available to download through the online application or the PDF application) – A report from an academic teacher (English, science, social science, math, or foreign language) or your guidance counselor is required. This should be someone who knows your classroom performance well. Complete Part I of the form and give it to your reference person. Ask that he/she send the form directly to the Admissions Office or return the form to you in a signed and sealed envelope, which you will submit, unopened, with your application. Homeschool students, please refer to the Homeschool Information Form for further instructions. Transfer students, your recommendation should come from a college professor or advisor. However, if you are currently a college freshman, you may submit a recommendation from either a college professor or a high school teacher.
Music Recommendation Forms – Applicants must submit two music recommendation forms. One must come from your private lesson instructor. This form is available through the online application or PDF application.
Pastor’s Recommendation Form (available to download through the online application or the PDF application) – A recommendation from a pastor, youth pastor, former pastor, Bible study leader, Christian school teacher, church official, or other mature Christian is required. This person should be a mature Christian adult who has had opportunity to observe your spiritual life. This person should not be a relative. Complete Part I of the form and give it to your reference person, requesting that he/she send the form directly to the Admissions Office or return it to you in a signed and sealed envelope, which you will submit, unopened, with your application.
Test Scores – Applicants are required to submit either SAT or ACT scores, including the writing section, which must be reported directly from the testing company. Do not send your student copy of the score report. If you have not already done so, request that your scores be sent to Wheaton College. Wheaton's code number for the SAT is 1905; the code number for the ACT is 1160. Wheaton uses the critical reading, math, and writing scores from any sitting of the SAT test and/or the highest composite and writing ACT scores. Please note that if you are applying during the Early Action round, the ACT test must be taken no later than the September test date of your senior year, and the SAT test must be taken no later than the October test date of your senior year. If you are applying during the Regular Action round, the ACT or SAT test must be taken no later than the December test date of your senior year. Transfers: test scores are required unless you have earned at least 60 semester hours of college credit at the time of application.
The application and all supporting documents are due to Wheaton College by the application deadline dates. We will acknowledge the receipt of your application by mail. When all supporting documents have been received, we will notify you by email or mail that your application is complete. Please contact the Admissions Office if you do not receive notification within three weeks of submitting your application to us. If the application is submitted online, confirmation of receipt should be received in 7-10 business days.

High School Requirements

Wheaton College selects for admission those candidates who evidence a vital Christian experience, high academic ability, moral character, personal integrity, social concern, and a desire to pursue a liberal arts education. The College seeks to enroll a well-rounded class of about 586 individuals with a wide variety of attributes, accomplishments, backgrounds, and interests.

Applicants should have followed a challenging college preparatory curriculum. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses are encouraged if available. Applicants are expected to meet the unit requirements listed below:

A minimum of 18 units should be earned in high school. (A unit is one full year of a subject.) Only courses taken in grades 9-12 are counted. An applicant should plan to complete at least 14 units by the end of his/her junior year.
Of the 18 units, 15 must be earned in the academic areas of English, mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign language. Applicants are expected to have completed at least two years of one foreign language.
No units are granted for health and activity courses such as physical education, choir, band, driver education, or vocational courses. Only one unit of computer science may be counted toward the 18 units.
Students who are in an accelerated program in high school and who can complete both the requirements for a diploma and Wheaton’s entrance requirements in three years may be considered for admission. They must demonstrate exceptional academic ability as evidenced in grades and standardized test scores as well as display sufficient maturity to perform at the college level.
Courses that meet the unit requirements:
English (4 units recommended) — Examples: grammar, literature, composition, speech, debate, forensics, writing

Mathematics (3-4 units recommended) — Examples: algebra, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, analytic geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, math analysis, functions

Science (3-4 units recommended) — Examples: biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, physical science, geology, astronomy, anatomy

Social Studies (3-4 units recommended) — Examples: world history, global studies, US history, western world/civilization, African, Asian or European history, geography, psychology, economics, political science, government, sociology, philosophy, state or local history

Foreign Language (2-3 units of the same language) — Examples: French, German, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian

Other — Examples: accounting, art history/survey/appreciation, Bible/religion, child development, communications, computer science, consumer education, drama, ESL, family living, general math, journalism, marketing, music history/theory/appreciation, pre-algebra