Washington and Lee v Kenyon v Hamilton

[Anonymous]

Compare and contrast, please. We got started on the college search process early. These are the top 3 choices for my rising senior.

[Anonymous]

Better have the stats to even consider these three. Kenyon is probably the most diverse.

[Anonymous]

Kenyon and Hamilton both have really strong writing programs. W&L is very strong in econ; it's also probably the most right-wing of all the "prestigious" colleges in the country.

[Anonymous]

We toured Washington & Lee. In our child's assessment the 85% Greek membership and drinking culture was not acceptable. Very little diversity. It is difficult to get into, although after touring, I'm not quite sure why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured Washington & Lee. In our child's assessment the 85% Greek membership and drinking culture was not acceptable. Very little diversity. It is difficult to get into, although after touring, I'm not quite sure why.

I'm not sure, either. What's the draw and how did they become so selective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We toured Washington & Lee. In our child's assessment the 85% Greek membership and drinking culture was not acceptable. Very little diversity. It is difficult to get into, although after touring, I'm not quite sure why.

I'm not sure, either. What's the draw and how did they become so selective?

I really don't know. We put it on the tour list because it's the no. 1 SLAC in the south. We were doing UVA , Va Tech and VMI during the sweep. Nothing about it was appealing. Maybe because it was a hot and muggy day and few dorms at W & L have AC (turnoff for DC who had just spent a miserable summer in similar dorms at an Ivy). The tour officer was off-putting, going into great detail as to how difficult it was to get in ED1 and ED2 (this was two years ago, so maybe has changed). The buildings looked run-down. Lee's Memorial Chapel was pretty but I could see how minority students might find it uncomfortable there with Traveler's bones in the basement. DS wanted aerospace engineering so it was clear this was not going to be a good fit early on. The drinking culture starts thurs night and runs thru sunday night. I didn't like the fact that so much of the campus was Greek and it was expensive Greek. it was explained to me by someone who actually works there that this creates a "have" and "have nots" caste system on campus because even the minority /scholarship students can't afford to participate in the Greek life because it costs so much to join up. Even if they are full freight scholarship students, they can't afford the Greek fees. Also, the rents off-campus in the immediate down are ridiculously high because the owners know they can charge whatever they want and many are in unsafe condition. So students move even farther off campus Then we were told about the girl who had died flying through a car window when 11 kids were trying to get back to campus, drunk, after an off-campus party. that did it for us. Maybe legacies whose parents were really into Greek life want to go there. I don't see the magic at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kenyon and Hamilton both have really strong writing programs. W&L is very strong in econ; it's also probably the most right-wing of all the "prestigious" colleges in the country.

Lol.....W&L isn't prestigious.....it's fratty and southern and has an unremarkable academic reputation. Hamilton really surprised us with it's lovely campus, serious but outgoing students and what I perceived to be a good balance between academics and social life. Growing up in DC I had never even heard of Hamilton but was very familiar with the rest of the NESCAC schools....which is odd. Maybe they draw more from NY/NE but I was very impressed.

[Anonymous]

We toured both W&L and Hamilton with my rising Senior. We toured W&L spring break of 10th grade as we were in the area and toured Hamilton this past spring break. He initially liked W&L, but its fallen by the way side as he's seen more schools. When pressed as to why, he's a little vague. But, I get the impression that he thinks it's a little too much like his current HS. (Or, at least certain elements of his current HS.) He really liked both Hamilton (and Colgate). My concern with Hamilton and Colgate is that there's a pretty heavy contingent of NYC, LI, CT, NJ kids there who didn't get into Ivy's and have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. That being said, it seemed like a great school and I'd be ecstatic for him to go there.

[Anonymous]

W&L is over 80% greek? WTF?

[Anonymous]

If you want a conservative LAC, I'd look at Hillsdale over W&L.

[Anonymous]

Actually, if you are looking at a Southern SLAC, Davidson is worth looking at. Much less of a Greek presence than W&L, and they have Divison I sports. Also, the town of Davidson is charming and is only 20 miles from Charlotte - whereas Lexington is in the middle of nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better have the stats to even consider these three. Kenyon is probably the most diverse.

Are these all equally hard to get into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better have the stats to even consider these three. Kenyon is probably the most diverse.

Are these all equally hard to get into?

US NEWS sourced acceptance rates:

Kenyon 24%
Hamilton 27%
Wash-Lee 19%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&L is over 80% greek? WTF?

Yes, it varies on who is reporting it: 70 to 86% are the figures. Read this and College confidential: https://www.wlu.edu/student-life/student-activities/greek-life/resources/faq#Percentage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&L is over 80% greek? WTF?

Yes, it varies on who is reporting it: 70 to 86% are the figures. Read this and College confidential: https://www.wlu.edu/student-life/student-activities/greek-life/resources/faq#Percentage.

Ugh.....sounds like a complete nightmare of a place.