Ohio LAC pecking order shakeup

[Anonymous]

Where would we put our money? What?

Who do you think cares this much? Will companies be excited to hire a quirky oboe player from Oberlin or a Kenyon graduate who can write short stories?

Come on.

Choose the school that works for your kid and stop worrying about the dumb rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this too. Back in the day, I got into Denison and Wooster, and was rejected from Oberlin. Nowadays, I think I could get into Oberlin but probably not Denison. Denison seems to be doing better than PA liberal arts schools, which seem similar. I think it was eventually pass Kenyon too, in maybe 10 years. Kenyon is attracts a lot of English students and has a pretty low percentage of STEM students, which I think hurts it nowadays. But it’s not falling like Oberlin. I guess we’ll see too if Wooster ever moves past Oberlin too.

That's an interesting observation. Where would you slot Denison in the PA pecking order, as of right now? Clearly it's not at the level of Swat, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, but I think it's just as clearly ahead of Dickinson and Gettysburg. That puts it somewhere in the Bucknell, Lafayette, F&M mix. I'd lean more to the F&M side now, but I also think it may have the highest ceiling of any of those schools.

Omg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ohio has always had amazing choices for kids wanting to attend an LAC, but I've noticed that the pecking order for those schools seems to have shifted in recent years (and might still be shifting).

When I was applying to colleges, back in the prehistoric days of the 1990s, the order was clear cut: Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, with pretty even spacing between them.

A couple of decades and change later, the only two schools that seem to have retained their positions are Wooster and OWU at the bottom (though both are still fabulous schools). Kenyon zoomed past Oberlin years ago, and more recently, so has Denison. Now it looks like Denison is closing the gap with Kenyon and could be considered the top LAC in Ohio in the near future. And could Oberlin eventually fall below Wooster, which seems to be getting more popular with quirky, intellectual kids who don't want crazy woke SJW?

Based on USNWR, the order of the top five at this very moment is Kenyon, Denison, Oberlin, Wooster, OWU. But where would you put your money if you were investing in one of these schools for the long haul? And which would you avoid? It's an easy choice for me. I'm rolling with Denison and avoiding Oberlin at all costs.

In CA, there's a subpoena(s) for US News to produce financial records, if any, that might be related to how it ranks the hospital pecking order in CA. If true, it goes a long way in explaining why certain entities rise or fall in its ranking game. Since OP's kid is of college age, s/he might want to brush up on reading comprehension to learn to read between the lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Hmm. My bright senior daughter’s in her right mind, and so am I. And I understand the historical standing of Oberlin, and also of Kenyon. But she wouldn’t choose Oberlin, ever. And probably not Kenyon. Very possibly Denison, however. Why? Normal mainstream smart kids, a beautiful campus near a thriving city, a negligible quotient of silly woke warrior students and administrators flavoring the soup, and a clear pathway to gainful employment.
Oberlin has long since gone over the line, with Kenyon not far behind.

Denison is a good place to be for Trump's type. Even better is Liberty 🗽 University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Hmm. My bright senior daughter’s in her right mind, and so am I. And I understand the historical standing of Oberlin, and also of Kenyon. But she wouldn’t choose Oberlin, ever. And probably not Kenyon. Very possibly Denison, however. Why? Normal mainstream smart kids, a beautiful campus near a thriving city, a negligible quotient of silly woke warrior students and administrators flavoring the soup, and a clear pathway to gainful employment.
Oberlin has long since gone over the line, with Kenyon not far behind.

Denison is a good place to be for Trump's type. Even better is Liberty 🗽 University.

OMG give it a rest! It is ok for people to think differently! Diversity of thought should be encouraged on college campuses! As a moderate, I'm so over the left's constant categorizing people as MAGA if they have different opinions than some of the crazy things being pushed these days. Please open your mind that people can think differently than you and still be decent people. It's ok to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where would we put our money? What?

Who do you think cares this much? Will companies be excited to hire a quirky oboe player from Oberlin or a Kenyon graduate who can write short stories?

Come on.

Choose the school that works for your kid and stop worrying about the dumb rankings.

+1 I am seriously concerned for some of y'all. My goodness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Oberlin is known outside of Ohio for the conservatory. That's it.

My aunt went there (from outside Ohio) in the early 1960s and MLK Jr was their graduation speaker. It wasn't unknown 75 years ago, it was highly prestigious for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Oberlin's fall was a cautionary tale for many other slacs and an indelible stain on its reputation. Its public conduct was reprehensible. The comportment of the its leaders, countenanced by its trustees, was repugnant. Had this been a single incident involving a rogue DEI administrator you could frame its as a passing forgettable woke fashion statement. What they did was not that. What Oberlin did goes to something much deeper and more profound than than a single incident. Many slacs could have made a similar mistake of going to war with the community in which they reside. None would have taken it to the same despicable level. Has any Oberlin official ever acknowledged or apologized to the community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ohio has always had amazing choices for kids wanting to attend an LAC, but I've noticed that the pecking order for those schools seems to have shifted in recent years (and might still be shifting).

When I was applying to colleges, back in the prehistoric days of the 1990s, the order was clear cut: Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, with pretty even spacing between them.

A couple of decades and change later, the only two schools that seem to have retained their positions are Wooster and OWU at the bottom (though both are still fabulous schools). Kenyon zoomed past Oberlin years ago, and more recently, so has Denison. Now it looks like Denison is closing the gap with Kenyon and could be considered the top LAC in Ohio in the near future. And could Oberlin eventually fall below Wooster, which seems to be getting more popular with quirky, intellectual kids who don't want crazy woke SJW?

Based on USNWR, the order of the top five at this very moment is Kenyon, Denison, Oberlin, Wooster, OWU. But where would you put your money if you were investing in one of these schools for the long haul? And which would you avoid? It's an easy choice for me. I'm rolling with Denison and avoiding Oberlin at all costs.

Kenyon, Oberlin, Wooster still require the COVID vaccine, here in March 2024.

Denison and OWU no longer require it, with Denison dropping the requirement last summer and OWU just recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Oberlin is known outside of Ohio for the conservatory. That's it.

My aunt went there (from outside Ohio) in the early 1960s and MLK Jr was their graduation speaker. It wasn't unknown 75 years ago, it was highly prestigious for a very long time.

It remains very well known for the sciences and claims to send more students to PhD programs than any other college in the country.

[Anonymous]

OP is not just a Denison booster, I believe. OP has a distinct writing style and has posted here a half dozen times in the last year, at least. It could be that OP is a professional advertising firm. I am serious.
No offense to Denison, which I am sure is a good school, but I am not reading any more of this person’s rot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Hmm. My bright senior daughter’s in her right mind, and so am I. And I understand the historical standing of Oberlin, and also of Kenyon. But she wouldn’t choose Oberlin, ever. And probably not Kenyon. Very possibly Denison, however. Why? Normal mainstream smart kids, a beautiful campus near a thriving city, a negligible quotient of silly woke warrior students and administrators flavoring the soup, and a clear pathway to gainful employment.
Oberlin has long since gone over the line, with Kenyon not far behind.

Denison is a good place to be for Trump's type. Even better is Liberty 🗽 University.

OMG give it a rest! It is ok for people to think differently! Diversity of thought should be encouraged on college campuses! As a moderate, I'm so over the left's constant categorizing people as MAGA if they have different opinions than some of the crazy things being pushed these days. Please open your mind that people can think differently than you and still be decent people. It's ok to disagree.

Um, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown’s wife Connie Schultz is a professor of journalism at Denison. She’s very liberal.

I’m an Ohio native who has lived in the DMV for more than 20 years and just kind of roll my eyes at the ranking obsession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Oberlin is known outside of Ohio for the conservatory. That's it.

My aunt went there (from outside Ohio) in the early 1960s and MLK Jr was their graduation speaker. It wasn't unknown 75 years ago, it was highly prestigious for a very long time.

It remains very well known for the sciences and claims to send more students to PhD programs than any other college in the country.

Seriously Oberlin is still a prestigious school. With very strong students. Friend’s son graduated is is at top PhD program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in the right mind outside Ohio will choose Denison over Oberlin. Denison might be known in Ohio. That's about it. Oberlin is studies in the US history classes. A bright senior anywhere in the US knows about Oberlin.

Hmm. My bright senior daughter’s in her right mind, and so am I. And I understand the historical standing of Oberlin, and also of Kenyon. But she wouldn’t choose Oberlin, ever. And probably not Kenyon. Very possibly Denison, however. Why? Normal mainstream smart kids, a beautiful campus near a thriving city, a negligible quotient of silly woke warrior students and administrators flavoring the soup, and a clear pathway to gainful employment.
Oberlin has long since gone over the line, with Kenyon not far behind.

Denison is a good place to be for Trump's type. Even better is Liberty 🗽 University.

OMG give it a rest! It is ok for people to think differently! Diversity of thought should be encouraged on college campuses! As a moderate, I'm so over the left's constant categorizing people as MAGA if they have different opinions than some of the crazy things being pushed these days. Please open your mind that people can think differently than you and still be decent people. It's ok to disagree.

Um, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown’s wife Connie Schultz is a professor of journalism at Denison. She’s very liberal.

I’m an Ohio native who has lived in the DMV for more than 20 years and just kind of roll my eyes at the ranking obsession.

Yes! And Connie Schultz was the 2022 Commencement keynote speaker. I'm pretty progressive (voted for Elizabeth Warren in the primaries) and my DC attends Denison. I think Denison does a good job of trying to encourage open dialogue on campus. Denison is one of the "Braver Angels" schools whose goal is to "bridge the partisan divide through civil discourse." You can read about here: https://denison.edu/magazine/winter-2023/148750.

Also, I think Ohio has a ton of good schools and don't care about the pecking order.

[Anonymous]

Okay, but would anyone here send their kid to Kenyon over Wooster at twice the cost, and if so why, especially if their kid was likely to attend grad school?

Speaking hypothetically, of course.