Tell us about Kenyon...

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Seems to have better name recognition.

AD at Kenyon has worked hard to develop relationships with private school ADs. Kids from GDS, Sidwell and Maret send grads there every year. Even a few from the "more conservative" privates like Landon, Prep and STA/NCS feed there.

I agree. But Kenyon also seems to like the kids at the MoCo publics.

My Landon alum loves Kenyon. Yes, the Bethesda Chevy Chase area both from private schools like Prep, STA/NCS, Sidwell are well represented as is BCC, Whitman etc. Most are recruited athletes I’ve observed and/or top one percenter families.

From Landon to Kenyon. The definition of overrated second tier to overrated second tier. I mean, if you have money to burn why not I guess . . .

Those are the kinds of thoughts I have when thinking about EL Doctorow, Allison Janney, Paul Newman, William Rehnquist, etc.

Oh please. Any college has a handful of well known graduates. Doesn’t mean anything.

So if any college has a handful, then they all must be doing something right.

What I just don't get - why does this matter to you? If you are able to live a life free of the second tier, then why do you even post in a thread about Kenyon (or any similar school in your eyes)? Sadly you live a first tier life devoid of grace. Did you also teach your DCs to punch down?

Sincerely,
Ivy grad married to Ivy grad with DCs @ top LACs

I limit my scorn to expensive second tier. Otherwise I’m fine with it. I can’t stand parents with money who will do whatever they can to limit their kids’ exposure to the real world because they think they’re too good for it, when clearly they’re not or they’d be going to first tier. That’s what schools like Landon and Kenyon are designed for.

Just my opinion.

- somewhat with a lot of money who sent theirs kids to public schools and state colleges

but why? why does this matter to you? if you care about something like this, why not get involved in programs promoting college access or something similarly constructive then punching down.

and how DYK that is what all these parents are doing? one of my closest friends has a kid enrolling at Kenyon. this friend is very involved in equity work (and not the private kind) as was the DC at their school. Kenyon ended up being a good fit for a kid who might have struggled in a university setting. Not every state offers a public college like W+M. And not every kid can get in there.

Yes, there are probably some who want to limit their kids' exposure, but it is certainly not everyone.

It’s not “punching down” when you’re talking about rich people trying to buy a bubble.

So telling a kid their school is second rate is not punching down? You are visiting the "sins" of the parent unto them?

[Anonymous]

No immediate family connection to this school, but I have visited several times & have met several grads.

Beautiful campus, very nice athletic facilities, solid liberal arts academics. Small campus, low number of enrolled students, rural / isolated, lots of alcohol & weed.

Somewhat like an expensive prep boarding school atmosphere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No immediate family connection to this school, but I have visited several times & have met several grads.

Beautiful campus, very nice athletic facilities, solid liberal arts academics. Small campus, low number of enrolled students, rural / isolated, lots of alcohol & weed.

Somewhat like an expensive prep boarding school atmosphere.

Sounds like many of the NESCACs....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No immediate family connection to this school, but I have visited several times & have met several grads.

Beautiful campus, very nice athletic facilities, solid liberal arts academics. Small campus, low number of enrolled students, rural / isolated, lots of alcohol & weed.

Somewhat like an expensive prep boarding school atmosphere.

Sounds like many of the NESCACs....

My kid is at Kenyon and didn’t apply to any of the NESCACs except for Wesleyan. The others felt very different from Kenyon except that they are also small and rural, but that is one of the appeals of LACs. Life revolves around campus, which makes it a good choice for people who want that.

I think Kenyon, like any other college, is not for everyone. And, that’s okay. For the record, we’re a public school family who is receiving generous financial aid from Kenyon. My kid has many friends from different walks of life and backgrounds. I think there’s someone on here with an ax to grind about Kenyon who is trying to create a narrative that just doesn’t exist - except I have heard that there are some kids on campus that smoke weed but I don’t think that should surprise anyone that some kids smoke weed at college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No immediate family connection to this school, but I have visited several times & have met several grads.

Beautiful campus, very nice athletic facilities, solid liberal arts academics. Small campus, low number of enrolled students, rural / isolated, lots of alcohol & weed.

Somewhat like an expensive prep boarding school atmosphere.

Sounds like many of the NESCACs....

My kid is at Kenyon and didn’t apply to any of the NESCACs except for Wesleyan. The others felt very different from Kenyon except that they are also small and rural, but that is one of the appeals of LACs. Life revolves around campus, which makes it a good choice for people who want that.

I think Kenyon, like any other college, is not for everyone. And, that’s okay. For the record, we’re a public school family who is receiving generous financial aid from Kenyon. My kid has many friends from different walks of life and backgrounds. I think there’s someone on here with an ax to grind about Kenyon who is trying to create a narrative that just doesn’t exist - except I have heard that there are some kids on campus that smoke weed but I don’t think that should surprise anyone that some kids smoke weed at college.

You raise another point in Kenyon's favor - aid. Some kids may want a NESCAC but not all are as generous with merit aid for donut hole families - enough to pay in state but not enough to pay for private. So families consider Kenyon and others that offer merit aid for these kinds of families.

And LOL on the weed. From what I can tell - or smell - students smoke it everywhere.

Yes, there is someone(s) with an axe to grind against Kenyon and similar schools. Not everyone is getting into top schools, not everyone is best suited for large universities, not everyone is full pay, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this has already been done. The Kenyon threads ones I saw were asking for specific compare/contrasts with specific other schools. Started this Kenyon-only thread as my DC is only looking at one school in Ohio, and this is it. DC is not artsy, though is musical, but fits more into the preppy, athletic (DC is a recruit), work hard/party hard mode, but is despite that, a really sweet kid. DC eventually wants to work in NYC in finance. That last fact is my only hesitation, as I'm not sure whether Kenyon has the name recognition or alum network in that area. Otherwise, stunning campus, strong student body, quality of education...leave little doubt in my/DH's mind that Kenyon is a great fit.

What do you think? Any alums out there who can share experiences. Any parents out there with kids currently or recently attending?

TIA!

Other websites share lists of target & semi-target schools for Wall Street finance/investment banking. Kenyon College does not make any of the lists for these highly competitive positions so you should ask the career guidance office at this school for any grads who are working in this field and willing to share advice.

The poster's child is a "work hard/party hard" individual so comments regarding social activities seems to be a reasonable response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Kids may look preppy, or artsy or hippie, but they share commone traits - bright and from 1 percenter families.

Spot on.

[Anonymous]

Are the really housing kids in trailers this year due to overenrollment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No immediate family connection to this school, but I have visited several times & have met several grads.

Beautiful campus, very nice athletic facilities, solid liberal arts academics. Small campus, low number of enrolled students, rural / isolated, lots of alcohol & weed.

Somewhat like an expensive prep boarding school atmosphere.

Sounds like many of the NESCACs....

Is there any SLAC that does not fit this description??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to have better name recognition.

AD at Kenyon has worked hard to develop relationships with private school ADs. Kids from GDS, Sidwell and Maret send grads there every year. Even a few from the "more conservative" privates like Landon, Prep and STA/NCS feed there.

I agree. But Kenyon also seems to like the kids at the MoCo publics.

My Landon alum loves Kenyon. Yes, the Bethesda Chevy Chase area both from private schools like Prep, STA/NCS, Sidwell are well represented as is BCC, Whitman etc. Most are recruited athletes I’ve observed and/or top one percenter families.

From Landon to Kenyon. The definition of overrated second tier to overrated second tier. I mean, if you have money to burn why not I guess . . .

Those are the kinds of thoughts I have when thinking about EL Doctorow, Allison Janney, Paul Newman, William Rehnquist, etc.

Oh please. Any college has a handful of well known graduates. Doesn’t mean anything.

So if any college has a handful, then they all must be doing something right.

What I just don't get - why does this matter to you? If you are able to live a life free of the second tier, then why do you even post in a thread about Kenyon (or any similar school in your eyes)? Sadly you live a first tier life devoid of grace. Did you also teach your DCs to punch down?

Sincerely,
Ivy grad married to Ivy grad with DCs @ top LACs

I limit my scorn to expensive second tier. Otherwise I’m fine with it. I can’t stand parents with money who will do whatever they can to limit their kids’ exposure to the real world because they think they’re too good for it, when clearly they’re not or they’d be going to first tier. That’s what schools like Landon and Kenyon are designed for.

Just my opinion.

- somewhat with a lot of money who sent theirs kids to public schools and state colleges

This is one of the rudest posts I’ve ever read on DCUM! So if a kid can’t get into a “first tier” private they should what, give up? Parents should stop doing what is right for that kid because it does not meet your standards?

I have a kid at a lower tier private HS, who will likely go to a second tier private college. She is dyslexic and has ADHD. Public school completely failed her. She needs to be in a smaller environment where she can focus. She will never get into a top tier private school. What do you propose for her? I’m I just buying her a bubble? I think I’m buying her the support she needs to succeed (which has shown to be true since we moved her from public to private in 6th grade). Why are you so threatened by lower tier private schools?

[Anonymous]

Let’s all stop feeding the anti-Kenyon troll. This thread has gone on long enough. Kenyon is a lovely school where your kid can get a great education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s all stop feeding the anti-Kenyon troll. This thread has gone on long enough. Kenyon is a lovely school where your kid can get a great education.

I have no ties to Kenyon: I didn't go there, my child doesn't go there. But I work in higher ed and was involved in a 'writing across the curriculum' project that reviewed practices of different colleges. Kenyon was consistently recommended as a model of a place where every student learns to write well--regardless of their major. And by writing well, I mean they learn to think well--to make cogent, well-supported arguments. This is not true of all liberal arts colleges. And it's most definitely not true of all universities. Even good ones.

[Anonymous]

Kenyon is a small school in a fairly isolated location, but the campus is beautiful and the education is solid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s all stop feeding the anti-Kenyon troll. This thread has gone on long enough. Kenyon is a lovely school where your kid can get a great education.

Don't you wish that there was a censor button so that you could control all information available to readers ?

[Anonymous]

Can learn a lot from a college's most common overlap schools. Kenyon's overlap schools are:

Grinnell College (Iowa), Oberlin, Hamilton College, Vassar College, Macalester, Swarthmore, Williams, Wesleyan University, Middlebury College, & Amherst.

My guesses would have been Hamilton College, Vassar College, Grinnell College, & Grinnell College as being most similar to Kenyon College.

In my opinion, Williams, Amherst, and Middlebury are dream reach SLACs.