ConnColl or Kenyon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While the Kenyon booster or boosters is/are enthusiastic, it comes off as a touch desperate/overselling.

Kenyon College (just over 1,600 students) has a beautiful campus and offers solid academics, but it is small and isolated.

Connecticut College is a touch larger (closer to 1,700 students), close to the ocean, offers funded internships, and, arguably, has a better location.

Should come down to personal preference.

Per US News: Kenyon College is a private institution that was founded in 1824. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,875 (fall 2021), its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1,000 acres.

A lot of schools are in remote locations, for better or worse. If being on the eastern seaboard is absolutely critical, then CC is the better choice.

[Anonymous]

Our DC is a senior at Kenyon. She's had a great experience -- teaching is excellent and innovative, the students and campus vibe are chill and and supportive, and student participation in athletics and both visual and performing arts is robust. Kenyon has a beautiful new library and a newly renovated dorm; construction of additional student apartments is near completion as well. DC and her friend group have been successful in grad school applications and job search in a range of fields. As other posters have noted, Kenyon is in a rural area, , but for a student who doesn't need to be in a suburb or city, Kenyon has a lot to offer.

[Anonymous]

On admitted students day, we felt the applicants looked like some kind of prep school parody.

We had also read about heavy drinking and casual hook-ups dominating the weekend options.

Having said that, the campus is pretty.

The town is sketchy, but Mystic (nearby) is nice. There is an Amtrak station in town, which makes it easy to come back to the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On admitted students day, we felt the applicants looked like some kind of prep school parody.

We had also read about heavy drinking and casual hook-ups dominating the weekend options.

Having said that, the campus is pretty.

The town is sketchy, but Mystic (nearby) is nice. There is an Amtrak station in town, which makes it easy to come back to the DMV.

Sorry, I should have clarified that these were our impressions of Conn, where my daughter was admitted. We have not been to Kenyon but heard good things.

[Anonymous]

Connecticut is a fine college.

But it’s inarguable that Kenyon has a stronger and more distinguished reputation, is higher ranked, is more competitive to gain admission to, and gets higher marks from its graduates.

DCUM probably attaches too much importance to architecture, but Kenyon gets the nod there too. There’s nothing wrong with Connecticut’s attractive campus, but Kenyon has one of the prettiest SLAC campuses in the country.

As for location, Kenyon is in the middle of the sticks and about an hour from Columbus, and Connecticut is a gritty faded small city about an hour from Hartford or Providence. Notwithstanding the east coast provincialism on DCUM, most would consider that a wash. I don’t think most would consider being within a couple of miles of the Long Island Sound something significant enough to affect one’s choice of college (it certainly hasn’t done anything to reverse New London’s declining fortunes).

[Anonymous]

. While the Kenyon booster or boosters is/are enthusiastic, it comes off as a touch desperate/overselling.

Silly comment. Engage on the merits of Kenyon if you want, but don’t try to dismiss them simply by calling posters un-cool for mentioning them.

Actually I think prospective students and their families should take note of the enthusiasm Kenyon generates in those familiar with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Connecticut is a fine college.

But it’s inarguable that Kenyon has a stronger and more distinguished reputation, is higher ranked, is more competitive to gain admission to, and gets higher marks from its graduates.

DCUM probably attaches too much importance to architecture, but Kenyon gets the nod there too. There’s nothing wrong with Connecticut’s attractive campus, but Kenyon has one of the prettiest SLAC campuses in the country.

As for location, Kenyon is in the middle of the sticks and about an hour from Columbus, and Connecticut is a gritty faded small city about an hour from Hartford or Providence. Notwithstanding the east coast provincialism on DCUM, most would consider that a wash. I don’t think most would consider being within a couple of miles of the Long Island Sound something significant enough to affect one’s choice of college (it certainly hasn’t done anything to reverse New London’s declining fortunes).

Coastal Connecticut is actually an underappreciated region of America but it really shines in the summer (when school is out) and the appeal is perhaps more from a retiree/boating perspective, perhaps similar to the Chesapeake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved CC. It’s gorgeous, the community was awesome. New London is okay but greater places close by. Loved being on the water. It was excellent. I’ve never been to Kenyon so don’t know anything about it.

+1. Loved my time at Conn. stunning campus and fantastic classes.

[Anonymous]

Coastal Connecticut is actually an underappreciated region of America but it really shines in the summer (when school is out) and the appeal is perhaps more from a retiree/boating perspective

So true - why retire to the Carolina coast when you can be by the nuclear submarines of New London?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Coastal Connecticut is actually an underappreciated region of America but it really shines in the summer (when school is out) and the appeal is perhaps more from a retiree/boating perspective

So true - why retire to the Carolina coast when you can be by the nuclear submarines of New London?

You ever been outside of the Thames River? Heard of Mystic, Stonington, Old Lyme. Don’t crap on the whole area because you have a problem with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Coastal Connecticut is actually an underappreciated region of America but it really shines in the summer (when school is out) and the appeal is perhaps more from a retiree/boating perspective

So true - why retire to the Carolina coast when you can be by the nuclear submarines of New London?

You ever been outside of the Thames River? Heard of Mystic, Stonington, Old Lyme. Don’t crap on the whole area because you have a problem with it. [/quot

The Connecticut River is as charming as it is pristine. And those nuclear subs are the reason you are free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

. While the Kenyon booster or boosters is/are enthusiastic, it comes off as a touch desperate/overselling.

Silly comment. Engage on the merits of Kenyon if you want, but don’t try to dismiss them simply by calling posters un-cool for mentioning them.

Actually I think prospective students and their families should take note of the enthusiasm Kenyon generates in those familiar with it.

Odd post since you failed to quote the entire post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

. While the Kenyon booster or boosters is/are enthusiastic, it comes off as a touch desperate/overselling.

Silly comment. Engage on the merits of Kenyon if you want, but don’t try to dismiss them simply by calling posters un-cool for mentioning them.

Actually I think prospective students and their families should take note of the enthusiasm Kenyon generates in those familiar with it.

Odd post since you failed to quote the entire post.

NP, it might have been intentional to just quote that one sentence since it did summarize the gripes that the PP. Anyhow, anyone reading the thread could follow along, so it made sense to me at least. Unless the student has any more details about what they're looking for in a campus or college experience and any difference in cost is a non-issue, either school would be a good option and the kid just has to figure out what they'd like better.

[Anonymous]

Connecticut College looks across the river at a submarine base. And downriver to a gritty shrinking old port city that’s been losing population for half a century. You’re misleading OP if you suggest the fact that some other small towns along the coast attract summer visitors and retirees reflects what it’s like to live in New London.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Connecticut College looks across the river at a submarine base. And downriver to a gritty shrinking old port city that’s been losing population for half a century. You’re misleading OP if you suggest the fact that some other small towns along the coast attract summer visitors and retirees reflects what it’s like to live in New London.

This is true, New London is like the equivalent of Bridgeport in Fairfield County. I do think it’s a more interesting area though vs Hartford (Trinity).

ConnCollege vs Trinity would be the more interesting thread as they are peers academically