My son has been accepted to Brandeis, Kenyon and Oberlin and is waiting for NYU. We’re from the DC area but he would like to go away for college.
He is a quirky (straight) kid, very intellectual and open-minded but liberal in his politics, and likes to sit around discussing and debating current events, politics, religion, books, culture, music, world affairs. He wants to major in either History (Asia focus), English literature, International Affairs, or some combination. His pals are goofy kids, singers, actors, musicians, writers, and debaters. He’s Jewish but he sings for $$ in a church choir, so he’s comfortable around all kinds of people. His passion is improvisational comedy and I know Oberlin has 3 groups. He’s worried he might be isolated at Kenyon even though these students seem a lot like him. He is not at all intimated by the social justice bent at Oberlin.
I’d love to hear from folks on the forum about the pros and cons of each of these schools for my son. Thanks!
I vote no to NYU. That doesn’t sound like him at all.
Not an expert on Brandeis. @porcupine98 , thoughts?
D was accepted to both Kenyon and Oberlin and nearly went to Kenyon. I think people unduly worry about the isolation of Kenyon. It’s an hour to Columbus which is a pretty cool city, and the town is only ten minutes away. Oberlin is quite politically active. My D ultimately thought she wouldn’t fit it because it was too “in your face” for her. Kenyon is probably a little more intellectual, but very creative too. Certainly it has an excellent English department and good art facilities. Kenyon’s profs are very well regarded. All are good choices, but if he is feeling drawn to Kenyon, I suspect he will get over his isolationism worries very quickly. Automobiles are a thing:-)
Great schools! I don’t think he can go wrong academically here.
While he would find friends at any of the schools, some may be a better overall fit. I think he will find students who enjoy intellectual conversations at all of these excellent schools, as well as actors and musicians, etc.
What does he like? NYU is urban, no campus,giant school, independent students. The other three colleges will have a more cozy community feel to them. Kenyon is the polar opposite of NYU in environment- small, rural, isolated. What does he prefer? And does class size or proximity to a city matter to him? Does beauty of campus matter? (NYU and Brandeis have more modern buildings; Kenyon is gorgeous Gothic.)
Different priorities will give different schools an edge.
Your post sounds like he is (or you are) leaning towards Oberlin, so if that is the case, go for it!
One other thing to consider at Oberlin is how he feels about Israel. It seems like the anti-Israel bent at Oberlin is stronger than at most other places. Oberlin did finally manage, however, to dismiss a virulently anti-Semitic professor, so that’s good. He might want to speak with some Jewish students currently at Oberlin to see what it is like to be Jewish there. I do not know anyone at Oberlin; my only source of info is this website, ones like it, and news reports. News accounts can be different from the experience of actual students, and social media can attract postings by people who are unhappy and want to vent, so the majority of Jewish students might say it is fine…
Thanks for your thoughts so far, TheGreyKing and Lindagaf! Aesthetics of a campus don’t matter at all right now nor does urban, rural, or suburban. I though Brandeis campus was extremely ugly and he didn’t notice. He doesn’t notice his surroundings, just people. He could walk past the gorgeous cherry blossoms and not notice them. Also, he has a very nuanced view of Israel and he would love to debate the topic with anyone and everyone. He probably won’t be a political activist.
He thinks he will have a tough time navigating around NYC and NYU but he’s very intrigued by their strong History Department.
And yes, my husband and I are (silently) rooting for Oberlin. He’s going to do overnights at Kenyon and Oberlin, so we’ll see. I’ll keep you posted!
I actually say yes to NYU. My daughter is a senior at NYU and has met exactly the people that you say your son would like to surround himself with. She finds the other students to be intellectually stimulating, cultured, talented, and fun! Good luck wherever he chooses!
Thanks so much, jbtcat. I was wondering if the students from the different schools at NYU are housed together and do any socializing together. It seems the theater and music students are in their own school at NYU, and it would be great for him to meet them, too. At Oberlin, the conservatory students live with the liberal arts students.
@gamesetmatch62 my daughter actually is a drama major at Tisch and she she has never lived with another theater student! LOL. Housing is random at NYU freshman year and it seems that they definitely try to mix up the majors. This was another reason why she loves it there – her friends are pre-med, business, hospitality, design, music, theater, etc. She is also in a sorority which she loves. Tisch students are also required to carry a regular academic load so they meet other students in these classes and your son would have a chance to get to meet them too.
@gamesetmatch62 not to go on, lol, but I also wanted to mention that there are a number of choir, chorus and accapella groups that are open to all NYU students so your son could definitely try out for one of those!