By Alexandra Gargon (Staff Writer)

It’s all about size and attention.

With enrollment up this year, Wesley College students say they chose the private liberal arts school for its small environment, while others chose it for the sports or because they felt welcomed by the campus community.

“I chose Wesley because I was looking for a school with a small environment,” freshman George Granados said.“I wanted to know my teachers well by having small classes.”

Sophomore Brittany Steele chose Wesley because she liked the size.

“It did not seem overwhelming,” Steele said. “And I had heard positive things about the nursing program.”

Students say Wesley administrators and faculty also help them outside their fields.

“I like the small school experience and small class sizes,” junior Stephanie Sawyer said. “The people are so willing to help you with anything, even if it’s doesn’t relate to the classroom.”

Sophomore Crystalia Hampton also chose Wesley because she was taken aback by how kind the people were during a tour of the campus.

“I chose Wesley because of how I felt when I came to the school for a school tour and information session over the summer before my freshman year,” she said.

Junior Caitlyn Karpinski, a cheerleader, said she felt at home here.

“The girls on the cheerleading team were really welcoming to me,” Karpinski said.

And it’s close to her family home.

“I chose Wesley because it wasn’t too bad of a drive for me,” said Karpinski, who hails from Branchburg, N.J. “[It] gave me the ability to drive home when I wanted, but [it’s] not too close where I could go home all the time.”

About a third of Wesley students are from Delaware, reported Collegeboard.com.

Most other students come from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland.

Some students, however, find Wesley too small or too expensive.

“I transferred from Wesley because it was too much money,” Rozelle Glaze said. “[Wesley] was too small and I was not getting enough of a college experience.”

Glaze transferred to William Patterson University after the spring 2009 semester.

Jordan Johnson, of Maryland, transferred after his freshman year.

“I transferred out of Wesley because the experience was not for me,” Johnson said. “Coming from a big environment to a small school wasn’t as much fun as I thought.”

This year, Wesley welcomed 585 freshmen and 86 transfer students, said William Firman, Dean of Enrollment Management.