<p>Considering schools in Ohio - Kenyon, Wooster, Oberlin, Denison. </p>
<p>I am starting to get a grasp on the differences in school personalities; I am also looking for practical info.</p>
<p>Coming from Philly, which would have easiest route, whether driving or flying?</p>
<p>Do some have milder winter weather than the others? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Kenyon and Denison are fairly close and have very similar weather. Kenyon would be about 45 mins longer drive (Denison is pretty close to straight west from Philly - I76 to I70). Oberlin and Wooster probably get a little more snow since they are farther north.</p>
<p>They’re all within about 100 miles of each other, in a stretch between Cleveland and Columbus. Oberlin is just a few miles southwest of Cleveland and the closest to a major airport. Wooster is a few miles further south but still closer to Cleveland/Akron than to Columbus. Kenyon is a few miles southwest of Wooster but closer to Columbus than to Cleveland. Denison is just a few miles east of Columbus.</p>
<p>Because they’re so close together, the weather is going to be pretty similar, but the winters might be ever so slightly shorter and less snowy at the southern end, i.e., Denison and Kenyon—but not so different that it should affect your decision.</p>
<p>Driving time from Philly to any of these schools is going to be pretty similar, about 7.5 to 8 hours, freeways/tollways almost the entire trip. I’d guess Oberlin is the easiest to get to by air, but others may have better information.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. Exactly what I wanted to know!</p>
<p>I wonder which of the schools provide easy/cheap shuttles to the airport…</p>
<p>I hope your college decision is based on something besides easy access to the airport.</p>
<p>Oberlin is northernmost but they are all going to get heavy snow and cold, maybe Wooster and Oberlin slightly more but not a huge difference.</p>
<p>Oberlin is very eclectic and difficult to get into. I would describe this school as ultra ultra liberal with many out of state students. Strong lgbtq support. Amazing academics. Close to Cleveland hopkins airport</p>
<p>Kenyon is also hard to get into but not quite as hard as Oberlin. I would classify the students here as more traditional intellectual, certainly not a conservative school and definitely leans left but less activism and really into their swim team. Generally more preppy but all facets of people will be ok. They have an amazingly beautiful and extremely rural campus. Closer to Columbus airport but not close. The most isolated of the bunch for sure.</p>
<p>Denison, next on the order of prestige has about a 50% accept rate. A lot more greek and also big on swim team and some other sports. Kids here definitely more preppy but still liberal campus in general. They give amazing merit scholarships. Very close to Port Columbus airport, less than an hour.</p>
<p>College of Wooster, in my opinion better than Denison but not according to USNews rankings. Independent study program for senior year is ranked 2nd only to Princeton. Very laid back student body. My cousin attends. There is a greek presence but not quite as prominent as Denison. Attracts a lot of asian and middle easterners. Also attracts midatlantic, New York, New England and California but majority is Ohio and Pennsylvania. In a town but area is rural. A little less than an hour from Akron Canton Airport but Cleveland Hopkins is also about an hour and really easy to get to. SR 83 to I71, thats it. </p>
<p>They are all easy to get to by air with Wooster and Kenyon being the more isolated of the two.</p>
<p>If you are looking at these schools check our Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg too. Wesleyan is on north end of Columbus, Wittenberg is about 30 miles from Dayton which has an airport and maybe 1 1/2 hours from Cincinnati. I would say, Ohio Wesleyan is the most conservative of the bunch.</p>
<p>None of them will have mild weather. lol. It’s Ohio and the winter weather is depressing. :)</p>
<p>Born and raised in Ohio. Still here. For me, an hour drive to an airport is considered close but I kind of live in the sticks on top of a hill. lol</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, I knew someone would ask me that. No - certainly not making a decision based on easy access to airport! Considering schools in the midwest is new to us. Just trying to cover all angles to make an informed decision. We will soon plan visits and, if the school is very difficult to get to, then, yes, I assume it may color our opinion.</p>
<p>Otherwise, it sounds like these Ohio schools have different flavors. Our visit will seal or break the deal. </p>
<p>mspearl, your information is wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to write all of that. It was very helpful! We also consider ourselves close to an airport, being only an hour away. That is nothing compared to the delays we experience just waiting for flights these days. </p>
<p>If I had to make a guess, I think S will prefer Kenyon and Wooster. Wooster especially…</p>
<p>Thank you again.</p>
<p>My son was very interested in Kenyon (though he didn’t ultimately attend) and I think mspearl summed up the ambience and personality very well. We didn’t visit any others in Ohio, so can’t compare.</p>
<p>At the time (this was 8 years ago) it was quite difficult to arrange transportation from the airport to Kenyon. The expectation was that you’d rent a car and drive.</p>
<p>The Kenyon Inn, which is right on campus, is a wonderful place to stay while visiting Kenyon and other colleges in the area. We were sorry not to have the opportunity to return.</p>
<p>MsPearl, the greek influence at Denison is much decreased from some years ago. There are no greek houses on campus any longer.</p>