We pray for your joyful life transition to our historic Christ-centered liberal arts community. Your time with us begins with Wheaton Passage, our excellent orientation experience for all new students. Passage will help you adapt to your new life through building community and connecting with the students, professors, and staff members who will be part of your new home.
Please remember that on or after Tuesday, February 15, 2022, you will need to log into the Portal (more information to come) to choose your specific Passage site (Wilderness, Northwoods, Equestrian, Urban, Transfer). If you have already confirmed your enrollment: we will send everyone an email reminder. So please check your email regularly!
If you have further questions about Wheaton Passage, please visit our Orientation FAQ page. May every blessing rest upon you and your family as you move into this next phase of life.
After you check in, our team of Thunder Movers will be there to help make your move easy. Then, together with your parents you’ll be welcomed by President Ryken, administrators, faculty and other students at an opening event and learn about the mission and commitment of Wheaton College. The following morning you’ll worship together with your parents and new peers followed by a time of prayer together and an official send off to your site.
Second, you’ll begin your small group experience off campus in a unique place. The locations of each experience vary…you could be on your way to premier wilderness locations to Wheaton's HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development in northern Wisconsin or to the Center for Urban Engagement in Chicago.
Finally, you’ll return to campus to experience radical hospitality as your fellow Wheaties welcome you to your new home. You’ll hang out with your new classmates while sampling Chicago deep dish, attend Residence Hall events, play an epic evening of rec and games under the lights on the soccer field and join the rest of the student body for your first all-campus worship, which Wheaties affectionately call “All-School”.
Through Passage you will gain greater clarity not only about what Wheaton can help you achieve, but who you can become. Passage is your start to the unparalleled journey Wheaton College offers.
— Philip Ryken ’88, President of Wheaton College
Small Group Experience: Four Wheaton Passage Sites
Students choose from one of four sites for the second phase of their Passage Orientation experience.
At Wheaton, 60+ full time faculty participate in our orientation program to help students set a vision for how they can build their faith—not lose it—through the pursuit of rigorous academic study. Through conversation and fun activities, professors become trusted guides to help new students transition to college.
While all students participate in Passage, they have choice in what their experience will entail. From Chicago to the Northwoods of Wisconsin and various locations between, students can choose the location and activities that best fit their interests.
College can be a big place. Instead of throwing students into a massive group, we start small. Once students depart for their site, they begin to form communities within their small group of students, led by an upper-class student.
International (F-1 Visa, MK, TCK) Students attending Passage at the Urban or Northwoods sites are invited to participate in thePassport to Wheatonpre-orientation events on August 9th. International (F-1 Visa, MK, TCK) Students attending Passage at the Wilderness or Transfer sites areinvited to participate in an abbreviated Passport to Wheaton event that coincides with their Passage site schedule.
The Transfer Site is an abbreviated Passage experience designed specifically for Transfer students.
How well you transition into the beginning of your college journey has a significant impact on your future success and your ability to enjoy all that college life has to offer. Therefore, Wheaton College expects all first-year students to participate in Passage.
Wheaton Passage is a 0-credit hour academic course graded on a pass/fail basis. For more information, visit our FAQ Page.
The Passage fee is itemized as a part of your fall bill. Financial Aid for Wheaton Passage will be determined by information provided on a student's FAFSA and aid eligibility. No further application for financial aid is required for Passage.
Spring 2022 Orientation
Passage Information for Staff and Faculty
