Liberal Arts Schools in Ohio

[Anonymous]

Lots of talk about Denison on DCUM and at my kid's school. School on the rise? How would you compare it to the other Ohio SLACs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of talk about Denison on DCUM and at my kid's school. School on the rise? How would you compare it to the other Ohio SLACs?

I am one of the previous posters with a freshman at Denison. I can only credibly speak to my experiences and to my mind it is not about a school on the rise as much as it is a school that has some pretty sharp folks running it that are working to thrive in a challenging environment for colleges and universities. Denison had record applications and did fine filling their 2021 class. It is my understanding that both Oberlin and Kenyon did not. Arguably both are "better" schools so that says something.

In researching Denison as my son worked to make his decision, it had the historical reputation of a (party) school that had been a safe harbor for the bottom third of private schools. People that we know that attended 30 years fit that model - offspring of wealthy, highly educated, folks. That's not us as we are self made for lack of a better phrase. I think the administration realizes that model doesn't work and have decided to leverage their healthy balance sheet and endowment to compete wisely. My son had good, not great, stats, 30 ACT, and 3.6 GPA from a decent suburban high school. He was accepted to a couple of "higher" rank schools, including Oberlin. But he lit up when he saw Denison. It's not as intellectual as an Oberlin or a Kenyon but I think for my DS it was a good match. Granville has a great feel to it - it reminded him of home and when we visited and he overnighted the other students were great - they made him feel welcomed. They did a great job with pre-orientation for the parents - you walked away thinking these folks get it. And my sense is that Denison is working hard to provide a good value in education and I think it starting to become known. They offer good merit and as I told my son they are not setting you up to fail by demanding a 3.0 or 3.5 to keep it. He needs to have a 2.0. When I asked about that - the administration said "things happen and college is a transition and we understand that and we want our students to succeed not fail". Why I am not condoning a 2.0, we have all lived enough life to know things do happen. To me it drove home the point that they want him to succeed.

We didn't apply to Wooster but I have heard good things and there was a strong part of me that wanted my son to like Oberlin - I think it's a school of great erudition but it wasn't for my son. Same can be said for Kenyon although I can understand why a young person would find Kenyon isolating. It was like when we went to Colgate - the kids didn't want to get out of the car. It didn't matter how good the school was - it was in the middle of nowhere. I think Denison has pretty broad appeal for young folks. It's a little artsy, it has its jocks, but importantly when we sit in the dining hall it came across as truly diverse, and in a very good way. The student population comes from across the country not just the UMC NE-DC corridor which I know to my son was seen as a big plus. Cute downtown, and Columbus is 1/2 hour away.

I don't think it's about rising as much as it is that Denison is actively working on getting it right and with the merit they offer I think it is seen as a good value, and the public is becoming more aware of that value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of talk about Denison on DCUM and at my kid's school. School on the rise? How would you compare it to the other Ohio SLACs?

I am one of the previous posters with a freshman at Denison. I can only credibly speak to my experiences and to my mind it is not about a school on the rise as much as it is a school that has some pretty sharp folks running it that are working to thrive in a challenging environment for colleges and universities. Denison had record applications and did fine filling their 2021 class. It is my understanding that both Oberlin and Kenyon did not. Arguably both are "better" schools so that says something.

In researching Denison as my son worked to make his decision, it had the historical reputation of a (party) school that had been a safe harbor for the bottom third of private schools. People that we know that attended 30 years fit that model - offspring of wealthy, highly educated, folks. That's not us as we are self made for lack of a better phrase. I think the administration realizes that model doesn't work and have decided to leverage their healthy balance sheet and endowment to compete wisely. My son had good, not great, stats, 30 ACT, and 3.6 GPA from a decent suburban high school. He was accepted to a couple of "higher" rank schools, including Oberlin. But he lit up when he saw Denison. It's not as intellectual as an Oberlin or a Kenyon but I think for my DS it was a good match. Granville has a great feel to it - it reminded him of home and when we visited and he overnighted the other students were great - they made him feel welcomed. They did a great job with pre-orientation for the parents - you walked away thinking these folks get it. And my sense is that Denison is working hard to provide a good value in education and I think it starting to become known. They offer good merit and as I told my son they are not setting you up to fail by demanding a 3.0 or 3.5 to keep it. He needs to have a 2.0. When I asked about that - the administration said "things happen and college is a transition and we understand that and we want our students to succeed not fail". Why I am not condoning a 2.0, we have all lived enough life to know things do happen. To me it drove home the point that they want him to succeed.

We didn't apply to Wooster but I have heard good things and there was a strong part of me that wanted my son to like Oberlin - I think it's a school of great erudition but it wasn't for my son. Same can be said for Kenyon although I can understand why a young person would find Kenyon isolating. It was like when we went to Colgate - the kids didn't want to get out of the car. It didn't matter how good the school was - it was in the middle of nowhere. I think Denison has pretty broad appeal for young folks. It's a little artsy, it has its jocks, but importantly when we sit in the dining hall it came across as truly diverse, and in a very good way. The student population comes from across the country not just the UMC NE-DC corridor which I know to my son was seen as a big plus. Cute downtown, and Columbus is 1/2 hour away.

I don't think it's about rising as much as it is that Denison is actively working on getting it right and with the merit they offer I think it is seen as a good value, and the public is becoming more aware of that value.

Another Denison parent here. This is very accurate. Denison is working very hard to get it right in virtually every way, and continually improving. I think that Adam Weinberg is a fantastic president, and he understands in deep and important ways what students and parents need and care about, and how to shape a college community that will meet those needs. He is a Bowdoin grad, fwiw.

I'm surprised to hear about the 2.0 requirement, as my DC is required to maintain a 3.0 in order to keep her merit scholarship.

She was very happy to leave the UMC NE-DC corridor and go to school in Ohio. DC is working very hard, taking advantage of lots of opportunities, forming close connections with professors and other students, and generally deriving all of the benefits of a SLAC that we want for her.

I have been following Denison since my niece applied six years ago, and it is striking to me how much more competitive admissions have become. I think it is a great value.

I could not be happier with DC's choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of talk about Denison on DCUM and at my kid's school. School on the rise? How would you compare it to the other Ohio SLACs?

I am one of the previous posters with a freshman at Denison. I can only credibly speak to my experiences and to my mind it is not about a school on the rise as much as it is a school that has some pretty sharp folks running it that are working to thrive in a challenging environment for colleges and universities. Denison had record applications and did fine filling their 2021 class. It is my understanding that both Oberlin and Kenyon did not. Arguably both are "better" schools so that says something.

In researching Denison as my son worked to make his decision, it had the historical reputation of a (party) school that had been a safe harbor for the bottom third of private schools. People that we know that attended 30 years fit that model - offspring of wealthy, highly educated, folks. That's not us as we are self made for lack of a better phrase. I think the administration realizes that model doesn't work and have decided to leverage their healthy balance sheet and endowment to compete wisely. My son had good, not great, stats, 30 ACT, and 3.6 GPA from a decent suburban high school. He was accepted to a couple of "higher" rank schools, including Oberlin. But he lit up when he saw Denison. It's not as intellectual as an Oberlin or a Kenyon but I think for my DS it was a good match. Granville has a great feel to it - it reminded him of home and when we visited and he overnighted the other students were great - they made him feel welcomed. They did a great job with pre-orientation for the parents - you walked away thinking these folks get it. And my sense is that Denison is working hard to provide a good value in education and I think it starting to become known. They offer good merit and as I told my son they are not setting you up to fail by demanding a 3.0 or 3.5 to keep it. He needs to have a 2.0. When I asked about that - the administration said "things happen and college is a transition and we understand that and we want our students to succeed not fail". Why I am not condoning a 2.0, we have all lived enough life to know things do happen. To me it drove home the point that they want him to succeed.

We didn't apply to Wooster but I have heard good things and there was a strong part of me that wanted my son to like Oberlin - I think it's a school of great erudition but it wasn't for my son. Same can be said for Kenyon although I can understand why a young person would find Kenyon isolating. It was like when we went to Colgate - the kids didn't want to get out of the car. It didn't matter how good the school was - it was in the middle of nowhere. I think Denison has pretty broad appeal for young folks. It's a little artsy, it has its jocks, but importantly when we sit in the dining hall it came across as truly diverse, and in a very good way. The student population comes from across the country not just the UMC NE-DC corridor which I know to my son was seen as a big plus. Cute downtown, and Columbus is 1/2 hour away.

I don't think it's about rising as much as it is that Denison is actively working on getting it right and with the merit they offer I think it is seen as a good value, and the public is becoming more aware of that value.

Another Denison parent here. This is very accurate. Denison is working very hard to get it right in virtually every way, and continually improving. I think that Adam Weinberg is a fantastic president, and he understands in deep and important ways what students and parents need and care about, and how to shape a college community that will meet those needs. He is a Bowdoin grad, fwiw.

I'm surprised to hear about the 2.0 requirement, as my DC is required to maintain a 3.0 in order to keep her merit scholarship.

She was very happy to leave the UMC NE-DC corridor and go to school in Ohio. DC is working very hard, taking advantage of lots of opportunities, forming close connections with professors and other students, and generally deriving all of the benefits of a SLAC that we want for her.

I have been following Denison since my niece applied six years ago, and it is striking to me how much more competitive admissions have become. I think it is a great value.

I could not be happier with DC's choice.

PP Here - I think the 3.0 requirement means your DD snagged one of the larger merit scholarships so hat tip to you and your daughter.

[Anonymous]

My DD liked Denison but it wasn’t as good a fit as Oberlin so she ended up there and I can’t imagine a better place for my quirky, studious kid. They did have a lower yield than normal last year with a change in their administration but now that the new president has arrived I’m excited to see the changes she’s making.

I think Denison was in her top 5 but she didn’t like Wooster at all and was luke warm on the remoteness of Kenyon. Now that she’s at Oberlin I must say there no way I could see her at Kenyon because she loves the walkable town with mutiple shops, restaurants, coffee places. Granville has some of that too and I think it’s great for students to feel like they can wander the small town that is their new home without the need to have a car or take a shuttle.

[Anonymous]

Otterbein College

[Anonymous]

So Oberlin, Kenyon and Denison as Big 3 of Ohio SLACS? Who are next 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Oberlin, Kenyon and Denison as Big 3 of Ohio SLACS? Who are next 3?

The only other one we looked at was Wooster but it wasn’t in the same league. Nice kids though.

I hear good things about Miami of Ohio but, again, it’s not known for being top academically and I believe it’s quite fratty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Oberlin, Kenyon and Denison as Big 3 of Ohio SLACS? Who are next 3?

The only other one we looked at was Wooster but it wasn’t in the same league. Nice kids though.

I hear good things about Miami of Ohio but, again, it’s not known for being top academically and I believe it’s quite fratty.

Miami's academics are excellent and it is widely reviewed as one of the best "teaching" universities in the nation (as opposed to being a research university).

It's a better value and education than many of the SLACs mentioned here.

It is fratty though, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great new-ish presidents at Denison and Kenyon are helping propel both forward.

Must be a year of change in Ohio because Oberlin has an amazing new president too!

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/12/12/oberlin-faces-budget-crunch-due-missed-enrollment-targets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great new-ish presidents at Denison and Kenyon are helping propel both forward.

Must be a year of change in Ohio because Oberlin has an amazing new president too!

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/12/12/oberlin-faces-budget-crunch-due-missed-enrollment-targets

Yes, and the conclusion says:

"Still, the ratings agency kept Oberlin’s bond rating at Aa3, a high investment-grade level. In doing so, it pointed to Oberlin’s strong reputation as a liberal arts college and conservatory, strong fund-raising, and sizable wealth."

Times change and you adapt. They will get through this and come out stronger.

[Anonymous]

Do you think coming from MD is considered geographically diverse for the top Ohio liberal arts schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think coming from MD is considered geographically diverse for the top Ohio liberal arts schools?

lol....no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that my DD's college search is in full swing, I'm suprised that there are so many great offerings in Ohio. Yes, I'm an East Coast elitist snob, but certainly learning the error of my ways. For those in the know, please let me know of your impressions of Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan...did I miss any? Is there a stereotypical student at each one?

Oberlin, Kenyon, Xavier U., John Carroll -- the latter two are Jesuit universities. Haven't heard much about the others you named.

[Anonymous]

DC picked Miami's honor college over Kenyon. More opportunities for research and study abroad.
Oxford is a great college town.