Tell us about Kenyon...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The knock against Kenyon is that it is in the middle of nowhere.

That is actually its greatest strength and the true beauty of the place (breathtaking campus aside). If forces opposites to interact, and often attract.

It's there that jocks (a third of the student body are recruited athletes), eloquent hipster navel gazers (they have a reknowned writing program), and boarding school party kids all converge and...wait for it...talk, engage and even hook up cross-species...

I don't understand the middle of nowhere knock. Most SLACs are in the "middle of nowhere." That's part of the recipe.

Small, rural, isolated schools have fewer social options/alternatives. Often leads to excessive drinking or substance abuse. Kenyon College has had significant difficulties & a few tragedies as a result.

The campus is beautiful & the education is solid, but for most it would be a tough place to spend four years.

Yeah I went to a big urban school, and drinking and substance abuse never occurred there. Much safer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would a "normal" non-athlete, non-Granola, non-artsy, non-writer person be happy at Kenyon?

Sure. My DD is a senior at Kenyon; she's is an athlete who has friends who would fit this description. Not surprising to me because the vibe there is accepting and friendly. I think the big question with Kenyon is how the prospective students feels about being at a small school in a rural area. You have to be the kind of person who doesn't need to have shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. That's probably why there are so many Kenyon students play sports or participate in the arts -- they're busy doing with those activities and don't have a ton of down time anyway. My guess is that most Kenyon students figure that they're unlikely to be living in a rural area forever, so why not spend four years in a place where the students are happy and the teachers are excellent and actually care about teaching.

This is my kid. She's a drama student and she and her friends spend quite a few weekends over the semester seeing each other's plays. She's super busy with this. There's a ton of theater on campus for those who are interested. As PP said this is not the school for you if you want to go clubbing, bar hopping, etc. But, this is not unique to Kenyon. Most LACs are pretty isolated with campus being the center of social activities.

Minimizing alternative activities at other larger, less isolated schools to "clubbing [and] bar hopping" is ridiculous and very transparent. Many enjoy internships, off campus dining, and cultural activities. better than passing out drunk in a cornfield during freezing weather as has occurred at Kenyon College resulting in at least one student's death.

This is the rural school version of the low IQ take that if your kid goes to Chicago or Columbia she’ll be stabbed to death.

[Anonymous]

The point is that larger, less remote schools offer more options than just gathering in the same old basement or dorm room week after week to indulge.

Less isolated locations offer a far better opportunity to engage in internships, volunteer work, cultural activities, and dining out, shopping, and coffee houses. More student means more meaningful diversity.

The content & tone of the above responses speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

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

They are building new dorms.

[Anonymous]

How long will the temporary housing be in effect?

[Anonymous]

Other than preferences around location/isolation, why would someone prefer schools like Hamilton, Bates, Richmond, Colby or Vassar over Kenyon? Academically they all seem on par - average test scores higher than some of those, or just slightly lower, so student quality is totally in line. Acceptance rate is higher, I guess because of location, but there seems to be a consistently positive energy around Kenyon whereas the others seem to get mixed reviews. Is it just that US News ranks it lower? What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than preferences around location/isolation, why would someone prefer schools like Hamilton, Bates, Richmond, Colby or Vassar over Kenyon? Academically they all seem on par - average test scores higher than some of those, or just slightly lower, so student quality is totally in line. Acceptance rate is higher, I guess because of location, but there seems to be a consistently positive energy around Kenyon whereas the others seem to get mixed reviews. Is it just that US News ranks it lower? What am I missing?

You're not missing anything. Except that I would not include Richmond on that list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point is that larger, less remote schools offer more options than just gathering in the same old basement or dorm room week after week to indulge.

Less isolated locations offer a far better opportunity to engage in internships, volunteer work, cultural activities, and dining out, shopping, and coffee houses. More student means more meaningful diversity.

The content & tone of the above responses speaks volumes.

the point or your point? both our dcs are at slacs and have great opportunities in small towns to do pretty much all that you've outlined here. shopping may be limited for one, but there's always online. neither are big clubs folks save seeing bands.

neither one wanted a mid or big school, so there they are enjoying themselves. I think different settings work for different kids. there's not just one formula.

[Anonymous]

Friend's daughter is in first year at Kenyon and is loving it. There was a little trepidation of being off East coast, but so far, better than all good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friend's daughter is in first year at Kenyon and is loving it. There was a little trepidation of being off East coast, but so far, better than all good.

DD loves the school. But I'm a bit dismayed that all of her friends are from the East Coast!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The knock against Kenyon is that it is in the middle of nowhere.

That is actually its greatest strength and the true beauty of the place (breathtaking campus aside). If forces opposites to interact, and often attract.

It's there that jocks (a third of the student body are recruited athletes), eloquent hipster navel gazers (they have a reknowned writing program), and boarding school party kids all converge and...wait for it...talk, engage and even hook up cross-species...

I don't understand the middle of nowhere knock. Most SLACs are in the "middle of nowhere." That's part of the recipe.

Small, rural, isolated schools have fewer social options/alternatives. Often leads to excessive drinking or substance abuse. Kenyon College has had significant difficulties & a few tragedies as a result.

The campus is beautiful & the education is solid, but for most it would be a tough place to spend four years.

Yeah I went to a big urban school, and drinking and substance abuse never occurred there. Much safer!

Word.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experiences with Kenyon merit aid (how much for what stats)? From what I've heard, Oberlin is often more generous for high achieving students but I have pretty limited experience knowing kids attending Kenyon (or elsewhere instead) where Kenyon merit aid was a factor that led them to enroll or decide otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experiences with Kenyon merit aid (how much for what stats)? From what I've heard, Oberlin is often more generous for high achieving students but I have pretty limited experience knowing kids attending Kenyon (or elsewhere instead) where Kenyon merit aid was a factor that led them to enroll or decide otherwise.

My understanding is about 25 pct of class gets merit aid of 10k to 25k (or maybe higher). DC got in ED with a 33 but not straight As and received goose egg. ED is supposed to be just as eligible for merit but some speculate it’s not since they already have you.

I believe Oberlin automatically gives 10k to everyone (so it’s not really merit aid but tuition is just lower). Oberlin has a reasonably large endowment as does Grinnell which they seem to use to incentivize families to come to the Midwest. Denison has a large endowment and throws merit aid around too. So Kenyon has to compete with all that.

From what I’ve seen on chat boards high stat RD students (maybe scores above median and strong transcript), if admitted (demonstrated interest is a factor there), will normally get decent merit aid at Kenyon.

Very happy DC is Kenyon bound. Acceptance rate is not as low as some other LACs but the caliber of students is higher than many of the schools USNWR places above it (just compare the CDS to a Bates, Richmond or Colorado). Culturally and academically, it’s as appealing as any other LAC in my opinion, and the alumni seem fanatical. The only issue is location if not from Midwest. Very pleased DC will be attending (though merit aid would have been nice!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experiences with Kenyon merit aid (how much for what stats)? From what I've heard, Oberlin is often more generous for high achieving students but I have pretty limited experience knowing kids attending Kenyon (or elsewhere instead) where Kenyon merit aid was a factor that led them to enroll or decide otherwise.

My understanding is about 25 pct of class gets merit aid of 10k to 25k (or maybe higher). DC got in ED with a 33 but not straight As and received goose egg. ED is supposed to be just as eligible for merit but some speculate it’s not since they already have you.

I believe Oberlin automatically gives 10k to everyone (so it’s not really merit aid but tuition is just lower). Oberlin has a reasonably large endowment as does Grinnell which they seem to use to incentivize families to come to the Midwest. Denison has a large endowment and throws merit aid around too. So Kenyon has to compete with all that.

From what I’ve seen on chat boards high stat RD students (maybe scores above median and strong transcript), if admitted (demonstrated interest is a factor there), will normally get decent merit aid at Kenyon.

Very happy DC is Kenyon bound. Acceptance rate is not as low as some other LACs but the caliber of students is higher than many of the schools USNWR places above it (just compare the CDS to a Bates, Richmond or Colorado). Culturally and academically, it’s as appealing as any other LAC in my opinion, and the alumni seem fanatical. The only issue is location if not from Midwest. Very pleased DC will be attending (though merit aid would have been nice!)

NP also interested - Thank you. Did you fill out FAFSA? I’m wondering if they consider likelihood money would impact decision. Not applicable, I understand to ED, but a family in RD who doesn’t fill it out probably less persuaded by money than a $175,000/year donut hole family?

[Anonymous]

Always wise to check first year retention rate for any school being given serious consideration.

First year retention rates: (Data for period 0f 2017 through Fall 2020)

Kenyon 90%
Grinnell 90%
Oberlin 89%
Denison 88%

According to US News, there are 41 LACs with retention rates above 90%.

90% is very good, but not excellent.