Denison vs. Elon

<p>My son got into both Denison and Elon and they'll end up costing about the same after scholarships. Know that Elon's weather will be better and it's closer to home but what can you tell me about the kids, quality of faculty, atmosphere etc. He's thinks Denison will be too preppy. He has seen both but can't decide, maybe should do an overnight. wants to be political science /international studies major. Interested in politics-young democrats, singing-acapella group, piano, spanish, study abroad, swimming-club level. Any info appreciated. thanks</p>

<p>Definitely take the visit if you can. It is pretty preppy but DD1 loves it there (and she is not preppy). Big democratic feel on campus, great swim team, good accapella groups.</p>

<p>Elon’s an intriguing story, a real johnny-come-lately to competitive higher education. No clue about how they’ve made the transition from a sleepy little football wannabe to a very lovely campus that has become a very viable campus for a lot of yankees. Supposedly there’s a book out on this, explaining how this president has transformed the place from what was a very rundown, dumpy place to a very attractive campus with loads of hands-on internship type programs. The endowment of the place is miniscule. It’s become very popular for good students who can’t quite make it into Richmond, WFU, Duke, UNC, USC, Clemson, Richmond, W*M, and some others. But the applicant pool has had the benefit of an upward sloping demographic picture, good weather, and as noted earlier, a nice campus. </p>

<p>Our dd also goes to DU. Got a lovely scholarship. Indeed, like many campuses, it is (or was) very Obama-friendly, but their is also a campus Repub group. It’s pretty apolitic in that she gets very little sense that kids sit around discussing politics. It’s come from being a very Greek place 20 or 30 years back to a much more academic place with modest Greek presence. All students must live on all 4. Plenty of big name grads here, unlike Elon, which will some day. They’ve a very aggressive plan to enroll a more heady, targeted group of students. Plenty of book/library time for ours. It was recently listed among LAC ! top 10 schools in Peace Corps, Teach for America schools, FA/student. She owns a pair of Uggs, but beyond that, is anything but a prep. btw, and you probly know this, DU has a number of spectacular acapella mens womens groups. Perhaps most interesting is that it is fast becoming a center for students who love bluegrass, C*W music, thanks to a classical violin prof who also loves bluegrass. </p>

<p>DD was also accepted at Elon and her best pal went there and seems quite happy there. But they are really different places, we concluded. For whatever that’s worth. From a visiting parental pov, Granville trumps Elon, but they’re both in nice, decent areas, and I suspect from a student pov, they both suck.</p>

<p>When it’s all said and done, there’s much to be said for “simpler” imo.</p>

<p>An anecdotal addendum …mine told me yesterday that her Elongated girlfriend was warned along w/ her fellow Elongators to “stay in” on Thursday nite as it was “gang initiation nite” in Burlington and one of the rites of passage was to shoot someone. :eek:</p>

<p>At least this week, Granville really DOES trump Elon! </p>

<p>Conversely, with the coming of spring, the buzzards will be returning to Hinckley …and Granville momentarily. In which case, you don’t wanna be roadkill.:confused: :mad:</p>

<p>That e-mail/text message was all over the southeast last week concerning “there will be a gang-related initiated shooting at a Walmart.” Our news reported that authorities believe the rumor was started by someone who wanted to deter shoppers from spending money at Walmart. So I would not decide against Elon because of it–great that the campus was alerted and notified the students, just in case.</p>

<p>I’d concur. no basis for determining that a 9mm Ruger need be part of one’s freshman supplies.</p>

<p>btw, if anyone is interested, the book telling of the transformation of Elon from what is described as “higher education backwater” to a “hot college” was written by George Keller. There’s a review on line by Dr. Robert Bonfiglio. It’s been a roughly 40 year transitioning process.</p>