Anonymous wrote:The best for rigorous academics and a truly intellectual environment, Swarthmore is the best in the east, and maybe the best anywhere. But it's small and I assume impossible to get into as a transfer student. And pretty intense.
Two other great choices that should be somewhat easier admits. Wesleyan, particularly if she can get into the school of social studies program. And Bryn Mawr .BM is even smaller than Kenyon, but it's certainly not isolated and doesn't have the prepsters and frat boys running around.
I'm sure it will be a relief to leave Kenyon!
Anonymous wrote:DC is looking to transfer from Kenyon, mostly due to the small town environment and is mostly unimpressed by the history department and offerings at Kenyon. She'd prefer a liberal arts college or small universities on the west coast or near Boston, but she prefers the "coastal south" to the north (loves North Carolina, for example). While Kenyon isn't elite, she had an elite-level academic background (4.0 with 10 APs at a nice prep school and great extracurriculars. she still has a 4.0 in college) and is looking for higher quality colleges. Her priorities are quality history faculty, english course variety, and good student outcomes near a "place with more to do than Gambier."
Anonymous wrote:St. Johns might be a good fit.
Anonymous wrote:Has she looked into Pomona? Really tough admit, but they have great history outcomes and they recently spotlighted two seniors in the history department winning their masters fellowship at Cambridge: https://www.pomona.edu/news/2024/06/12-downing-scholarship-funds-leo-alaghband-24-and-zongqi-tim-zhai-24-study-cambridge
Their history faculty looks particularly strong and the department has its own grants and research support for students. Not sure about the english department.
Another good suggestion if she's a very dedicated student is Reed College. The history faculty is robust and the english department is pretty notable and popular. Very strange social culture however.
Anonymous wrote:Duke?