Chances to Grinnell or Kenyon?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Grinnell College
1

<p>I know that historically Grinnell is the harder school to get into. If you have comments on either Grinnell or Kenyon, please let me know. I apologize about the length!
I have a 4.066 weighted (can't calculate unweighted) which puts me roughly (our school doesn't technically rank us because we're super inflated) in the top 20 or 15%.
Courses: Mostly AP in Senior year one non-honors, Mostly Honors Junior year and 2 AP, Sophmore year 1 AP, mostly weighted. Freshman Year: 1 AP, 1 weighted (most classes are unavailable as weighted Freshman year)
ACT (No SAT because I failed the math section): 30 with a 34 Reading and 27 Math (the others are in the low 30's)
ECs (I try to be as involved in each and every one as possible)</p>

<p>Family Career and Community Leaders of America- Grade 10, 11, 12. First year: Silver Award. Second year: Most Outstanding, Gold Award in Sectionals. Highest score in Sectionals.
Human Rights Club- Grade 10, 11, 12. Secretary for 2009-2010 and co president for 2010-2011
National Honor Society - Grades 11, 12.
Costume Crew - Grades 9, 10 and 11, 12 Co-captain 2010-2011, designer for children’s play 2011
First Class- Peer to peer moral education. Grade 10, 11, 12.
Youth and Government- Mock Trial. Grade 11. Best bench memo for defense team, second best overall for defense.
Spanish National Honor Society – Grade 11, 12
P.E Leader- Grade 11, 12
National Honor Society Events Planner-Grade 11, 12
Key Club- Grade 9, 10, 11,12
Transfer Student Program- First Class sponsored, assist new students adjust. Grades 11,12
Work Experience
Chuck E. Cheese- Grade 12. Party Hostess</p>

<p>Academic Recognition
Distinguished Honor Roll-
Outstanding Spanish Three Student Award
Wellesley Book Award Nominee-
AP Scholar with Honor-
Illinois State Scholar-</p>

<p>Community Activities/Summer Programs
Naper Settlement- Tour guide of Historic Buildings. Grades 3 to 11.
City Council- Grade 11, 12. Student representative on the Historic Preservation Commission
Go and Serve- Church Mission Trips. Summer after grades 8, 10.
Dakota Partnership- Church Mission Trips to Native American Reservation. Grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Loaves and Fishes-Food Pantry. Grades 8, 9, 10.
Interscholastic Athletics
Girl’s Cross Country Team- Grade 9, 10.
Girl’s Track and Field Team- Grades 9
Manager for the Boy’s Wrestling Team-Grade 9, 10
My recs should be pretty strong
My essays should be fairly strong just because I rewrite and rewrite and have some really great teachers.</p>

2

<p>What are you looking for in a college experience? What leads you to consider Grinnell and Kenyon? What do you plan to study? Your professional goals?</p>

<p>At LACs, fit matters, so for us to provide useful information, it helps to know more about what you are looking for.</p>

<p>As for chances, check the Common Data Set for each school (google it) and you can see where your grades, test scores and class rank put you relative to the admitted classes for both schools.</p>

<p>Also, have you interviewed? Visited the campuses? And what is your financial situation? Are you looking for a lot of financial (and merit) aid?</p>

3

<p>I am curious as to why you are focusing on both Kenyon and Grinnell. Our family visited both and at least from our perspective, these are two completely different “fits.” For example, Kenyon has Greek fraternaties. While both might be considered "small town,"Kenyon has no real town to speak of–and many of the Kenyon faculty (due to prior restrictions having been lifted) now live in Columbus, Ohio. I would say Kenyon is more politically conserative Finally, if this is a factor for you–I don’t believe Kenyon has needs-blind admissions while Grinnell (due perhaps in part to its huge endowment) reiews applications without consideration as to whether the student has any financial need. When e began the college search I was convinced Kenyon was going to be the number one choice, but due to issues of “fit” our student didn’t even apply there. Kenyon, indeed, has the the most beautiful campus I have ever seen (it really is like landing in Camelot) and would be absolutely perfect for the right student–yet, for what it’s worth I just think you need to seriously consider who you are and what kind of college experience would be best for you.</p>

4

<p>I’m applying to both because when I visited both I fell in love, and each time I read anything about them, I love them both again. I thought Kenyon was the end all be all, but I am questioning it. But I also question Grinnell, if I’m that kind of student or not. I have two somewhat divergent personalities, the hard core intellectual and the doer. Kenyon fits the intellectual side better than I feel Grinnell does. I have moments where I feel like the quintessential Kenyon student and the perfect Grinnell student. So, at this point I’m just waiting for the rejection/acceptance letters to really decide.
To be more direct (I’m more than a little scatterbrained), I want a small community where cutthroat competition is rare, people can be who they want to be without huge pressure, and not feel like I’m paying to go a cold institution. I want to be able to walk down the street and know not only someone’s name but something about them. Like their favorite color.
I’ve visited both, interviewed at both, did an overnight at Grinnell. I am paying for half of the total cost (so around 25 thousand a year), so merit based aid is huge. I won’t be getting any need based aid because my dad makes out of the range and our EFC is complete tuition.
I guess I know Kenyon is the best emotional choice, but Grinnell may be the best logical choice. But either way, I think I’ll be happy.</p>

5

<p>I think you are creating a false distinction between the schools. I can’t imagine that anyone who has an interest in a vibrant intellectual campus community wouldn’t find Grinnell of interest! You will find doers and thinkers at both schools, and people who are intense thinkers and doers rolled up into one! In terms of the way you describe the community you want, that is precisely Grinnell. Don’t overthink it for now; just wait until the decisions come in and revisit the issue then. Frankly, that was the most stressful part of the whole college application experience: in April not just having to say “yes” to a school, but having to decide which ones to say “no” to! But, my kids wanted to keep their options open, rather than make an ED choice, and they were very happy to have the “stress” in April.</p>

6

<p>I agree wholeheartedly with SDonCC–you will find plenty of hardcore intellectuals at Grinnell, although they are decidedly unpretenious about it. </p>

<p>Since it sounds like finances are a concern, keep in mind that Grinnell is $4000 less per year, despite having a lower student:faculty ratio. (Consider this a $4000 per year scholarship that everyone at Grinnell gets, compliments of a huge endowment) Grinnell is much more generous with merit aid. </p>

<p>Grinnell first year students are integrated into all the dorms, while at Kenyon they are all placed on one part of campus. </p>

<p>The campus at Kenyon is drop dead gorgeous, but to our family, Kenyon was not worth the thousands per years of extra cost. </p>

<p>Good luck clairede!</p>

7

<p>Unpretentious, intellectual, a doer and a thinker… hmmm. You have just described my DS to a tee. I’m thinking over and over again that Grinnell is the school for him. He will just have to get past the fact that there are NO mountains nearby. Oh and one of his desires is that first year students are integrated into all dorms, not segregated. He hated a few of the colleges that he visited where the tour guide pointed to an area far away from the center of campus that was the freshman dorms. It makes sense to me because he has always wanted to be with older kids since he was 2 years old.</p>

8

<p>But I think there are many of these students at Kenyon, too. Yes, there are Greeks at Kenyon, but they don’t dominate the scene.</p>

<p>I can certainly understand preferring Grinnell, but there are many students who could be happy at both. I have a young very leftist friend who is a creative writing major at Kenyon, not into the Greek scene, and is very, very happy there. Would he be happy at Grinnell? I’m sure he would. A ad com person from Kenyon visited his high school and things just clicked for him.</p>

<p>That said, I agree that Oberlin would be closer to Grinnell. But I know many students who would be happy at all three.</p>

9

<p>S is applying to both Grinnell and Kenyon (likely Kenyon ED II if his ED choice. Doesn’t pan out). D is applying to Kenyon as well. We were very favorably impressed by both upon visiting. Kenyon struck us a bit more mainstream than quirky Grinnell, but a difference at the margin – clearly many, many kids could be happy at both.</p>

10

<p>I really appreciate all the help in what Kenyon and Grinnell are as colleges, but I am really wondering if with the statistics I have a possibility for admission at Grinnell or Kenyon. I love them both and would be happy to be at either.</p>

11

<p>Google the Common Data Set for each school (preferably last year’s if available) and then check out where your stats fall compared to those of admitted students.</p>

12

<p>HEre is some information, from the class of 2013:</p>

<p>Kenyon: 39% of applicants admitted
Grinnell: 34% of applicants admitted</p>

<p>Grinnell:<br>
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.:
1.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native
6.4% African-American
8.5% Asian/Pacific Islander
7.5% Hispanic
64.4% White
12.0% Unknown
International Students 10.5% from 54 countries
First-Year Students Returning 95.0%</p>

<p>Kenyon:
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.:
0.7% American Indian/Alaskan Native
3.7% African-American
6.5% Asian/Pacific Islander
3.6% Hispanic
82.5% White
3.0% Unknown
International Students 4.2% from 35 countries
First-Year Students Returning 91.0%</p>

<p>Grinnell SAT scores of enrolled freshmen (2013):
SAT Math 620-730 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 38%
Score of 600 - 700 43%
Score of 500 - 600 15%
Score of 400 - 500 4%
Score of 300 - 400 1%
Score of 200 - 300 0%
SAT Critical Reading 600-730 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 42%
Score of 600 - 700 36%
Score of 500 - 600 15%
Score of 400 - 500 7%
Score of 300 - 400 1%
Score of 200 - 300 0%</p>

<p>Kenyon SAT scores of enrolled freshmen (2013):
SAT Math 600-680 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 18%
Score of 600 - 700 62%
Score of 500 - 600 19%
Score of 400 - 500 1%
Score of 300 - 400 0%
Score of 200 - 300 0%</p>

<p>SAT Critical Reading 630-720 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 39%
Score of 600 - 700 47%
Score of 500 - 600 13%
Score of 400 - 500 1%
Score of 300 - 400 0%
Score of 200 - 300 0%</p>

<p>Grinnell:
High School Class Rank
Top tenth: 65%
Top quarter: 93%
Top half: 98%</p>

<p>Kenyon:
High School Class Rank Top tenth: 56%
Top quarter: 87%
Top half: 99%</p>

<p>Grinnell, to its credit, does seem to be more racially diverse than Kenyon. Even small frat participation has an effect on campus culture. Whether the effect is good or bad is a matter of opinion.</p>