@Avi K
My mother went to Hunter and my father to City College in the 1930s before CUNY existed.
Wesleyan may have been founded by the Methodist Church in 1831, but became an independent secular college in 1937.
I did NOT apply, I had an interview on campus. In my day (which seems concurrent with yours) it was common to visit colleges, tour the campus and have interviews before making application. This let you eliminate some and save application fees, etc.
I visited and had the interview, because the school was in commuting distance (35 minute drive) to my home. I also visited and had interviews at 3 or for other colleges that I did not apply to. I made application to only 3 universities and was accepted and attended University oF Pennsylvania (Wharton) my first choice.