Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 14:41     Subject: Re:Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Why apply to Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell ?

Because all 3 schools need students and will give a tuition discount to attend.

Good places for ultra liberal students. All are LGBTQ+ friendly.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 14:38     Subject: Re:Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oberlin won the most Fulbrights in the country this year, and is usually in the top 3 schools for Fulbrights every year.



All but one were ETAs. It's the study program that's prestigious, not ETA.


What does ETA mean


Also curious as it normally means "estimated time of arrival". Maybe "English teaching assistant" ?
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 14:31     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:Merit Aid


+1
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:39     Subject: Re:Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oberlin won the most Fulbrights in the country this year, and is usually in the top 3 schools for Fulbrights every year.



All but one were ETAs. It's the study program that's prestigious, not ETA.


What does ETA mean
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:18     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:DS picked Kenyon over Grinnell. Something just clicked for him. Excellent dorms, food and athletic facilities. The students were friendly and nice. He has been in the ultra competitive east coast world and wants to try something else. I can’t say I blame him. Grinnell was wonderful but in the end too remote.


What? the dorm we saw on the tour was awful. Confirmed by someone whose kid went there that it was not a one off.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:18     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:DD is a recruited athlete for Kenyon. Have you seen the facilities? Great education, beautiful campus. What's not to like.


Yes, I saw a Kenyon dorm and it was the worst I have seen on any tour anywhere.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:17     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.


They are easier to get into because they are not as in demand due to location. Our college consultant pushed them for this reason. One kid was a hard no, they other agreed to look but was not excited. Neither kid is going to them.

Also maybe a little friendlier and lower key student body given midwest?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 17:03     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.


Grinnell/Kenyon/Denison/Oberlin - all give you $100k in merit over 4 years and are just as good if not better than Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.

In addition, the Ohio schools have far nicer campuses and much better weather.

I often ask why anyone would apply to Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.


I took the New England schools off that table. Told my kiddo he needs at least $100k in merit aid. Only want to pay $250k and not $350k. He is fine with it. Likes the Midwest schools better.


Same here!
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 19:02     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.


Grinnell/Kenyon/Denison/Oberlin - all give you $100k in merit over 4 years and are just as good if not better than Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.

In addition, the Ohio schools have far nicer campuses and much better weather.

I often ask why anyone would apply to Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.


I took the New England schools off that table. Told my kiddo he needs at least $100k in merit aid. Only want to pay $250k and not $350k. He is fine with it. Likes the Midwest schools better.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 19:00     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.


Grinnell/Kenyon/Denison/Oberlin - all give you $100k in merit over 4 years and are just as good if not better than Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.

In addition, the Ohio schools have far nicer campuses and much better weather.

I often ask why anyone would apply to Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 16:26     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kenyon has the top DIII swim team -- that's why my kid applied.


Kenyon is without question a back up school for kids who really wanted but got rejected from the Northeast schools. Grinnell and Oberlin are for kids who are not interested in the northeast.


A lot of kids go there as a recruited athlete. Their facilities are spectacular.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 16:00     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
DD is a recruited athlete for Kenyon. Have you seen the facilities? Great education, beautiful campus. What's not to like.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2025 10:01     Subject: Re:Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:Oberlin won the most Fulbrights in the country this year, and is usually in the top 3 schools for Fulbrights every year.



All but one were ETAs. It's the study program that's prestigious, not ETA.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2025 07:03     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.


Easier admissions
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 15:11     Subject: Why apply to an Oberlin/Kenyon/Grinnell
Anonymous wrote:Merit Aid


This. All of these schools are very small and only take a few hundred kids per year. They all also hope to have as many states represented as possible, so kids from outside the region tend to get a closer look and merit money to entice them.