I think your kid would benefit from leaving the DC bubble. I would say that to anyone who has only ever lived in a East or West coast major metropolitan area.

I graduated from a nationally ranked tiny college in the middle of NOWHERE.

Anyone who I talk to about my college experience says something along the lines of "You must have gone to a great university. I have never heard someone describe their experience the way you have."

Truly great and made life-long friendships that still survive 25 years later.

The thing about going to college in a small town is that it’s a completely immersive experience. My small town rural college didn’t allow freshmen to have cars on campus and you had to live on campus. Typically small town schools have very active campus activities departments to keep you from getting bored on weekends. It’s somewhat isolating but also can be great for socializing with other students and academics.

My kid looked at Kenyon, Wooster, Denison and Oberlin this system. And ranked them as:

1.Kenyon first for the overall package (science, writing, and campus feel)
2.Oberlin for the specialized academic program (science and music combo, and liked the winter term)
3. Wooster for the atmosphere and science research emphasis
4. Denison— did not appeal to my kid, but her dad and I
were impressed.

Have not looked at Grinnell yet, but Grinnell and Macalaster (and maybe St. Olaf’s) are an upcoming trip. Separate trip to Skidmore, Union, St. Lawrence, Latfette and maybe F & M. Side trip to Davidson.

Lots of travel in our future.

But akenyon is throughly impressive. If my kid had to choose today (with quite a few visits outstanding), it would probably be Kenyon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why pay big bucks for Kenyon when Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin are all better and similarly located in small midwestern towns? Kenyon is a backup school.

Not sure why you have to knock Kenyon. They are all great peer schools.

Checkout the movie, Liberal Arts. It's setting is Kenyon College.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqIuv_JX5wM

+1. I have a kid applying to Kenyon, Oberlin and Grinnell (Carleton has no merit aid for donut hole families, or my kid would definately apply there). I grew up in a small town, and see no problem with my kid getting outside of the DC bubble for 4 years. If you grow up in the DMV, you miss out on the fact most of American is not like the DMV. They have wonderful, diverse, motivated peer groups at the schools. But they can also understand what we mean when we say that the DMV is much more affluent and much more educated than most of the country. You need to get along with all sorts of people to succeed.

As to Kenyon, by the numbers it’s is harder to get into than Oberlin or Grinnell. My kid should be able to get decent merit aid out of Oberlin and Grinnell. She may get into Kenyon, but significant merit aid seems unlikely. It’s a great school. Especially the writing program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why pay big bucks for Kenyon when Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin are all better and similarly located in small midwestern towns? Kenyon is a backup school.

Not sure why you have to knock Kenyon. They are all great peer schools.

Checkout the movie, Liberal Arts. It's setting is Kenyon College.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqIuv_JX5wM

Kenyon is not a peer of these schools.

Whoa. I have a kid in one of these schools, not Kenyon. Kenyon is absolutely not a backup school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why pay big bucks for Kenyon when Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin are all better and similarly located in small midwestern towns? Kenyon is a backup school.

Not sure why you have to knock Kenyon. They are all great peer schools.

Checkout the movie, Liberal Arts. It's setting is Kenyon College.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqIuv_JX5wM

Kenyon is not a peer of these schools.

Anonymous wrote:Why pay big bucks for Kenyon when Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin are all better and similarly located in small midwestern towns? Kenyon is a backup school.

Not sure why you have to knock Kenyon. They are all great peer schools.

Checkout the movie, Liberal Arts. It's setting is Kenyon College.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqIuv_JX5wM

I went to Carleton (from DC) which is in a small town (but a little bigger than Gambier) and for a college student it was totally fine. The social life at SLACs is all based on the college so the fact we were in a small town wasn’t really an issue. And while you could go to Minneapolis that wasn’t common. I visited Kenyon with my DC and we both loved it.

Why pay big bucks for Kenyon when Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin are all better and similarly located in small midwestern towns? Kenyon is a backup school.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go to Kenyon, but went to a very small college in a very small town (in a fairly remote area). I am so glad I did. It is a wildly different experience from living in the DC area. It gave me experiences that I wouldn't have gotten elsewhere, gave me a deeper understanding of rural communities and the challenges they face, and generally opened my eyes to life outside of the comfortable suburbs of the manor metro areas.

Small colleges and small towns aren't for everyone, but I wouldn't trade my time there for anything. I consider those years to have been critical in shaping the adult that I am today.

My sister went to Kenyon and I went to Colgate, and PP describes my experience perfectly.

I didn't go to Kenyon, but went to a very small college in a very small town (in a fairly remote area). I am so glad I did. It is a wildly different experience from living in the DC area. It gave me experiences that I wouldn't have gotten elsewhere, gave me a deeper understanding of rural communities and the challenges they face, and generally opened my eyes to life outside of the comfortable suburbs of the manor metro areas.

Small colleges and small towns aren't for everyone, but I wouldn't trade my time there for anything. I consider those years to have been critical in shaping the adult that I am today.

Halfway between Columbus and nothing. There was a Pizza Hut there back in the day. Not sure if it’s still there.

My D doesn't go to Kenyon, but to Oberlin. It's got same issues. She is from one of the most gorgeous cities in Cali. I say this only by way of saying she moved from one of the top 1% places to live in the USA to the middle of nowhere in the middle of farming communities in OH. It hasn't been easy. However, she realized NY, Cali, and DC areas are top feeder states for her classmates, so she's not alone.

From everything I've heard, Kenyon is gorgeous with top-notch programs. Kenyon must have parents' group in Facebook. I'd reach out to this group.

Kenyon sounds perfect for my DD, who's looking for a small school where she can get to know her profs, explore the liberal arts, and befriend a mix of kids -- some jocks, some preppies, some hipsters, etc. We've talked to a bunch of current students, alums and parents; they're all very enthusiastic . . . until -- cue the John Cougar Mellencamp here -- they look you in the eye and ask, "You do know it's in a verrrry small town, right?"

So, for those of you who have kids who are current students or recent alums, of if you yourself are an alum -- how did you make your peace with livin' the small town life?