<p>I am an international student. I had applied to several colleges in the US and have finally shortlisted two of them- Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Denison University.</p>
<p>Which do you think I should go for? They cost about the same,after deducting the respective financial aid packages from each (though I've appealed to HWS for some more aid. As for DU, that's the maximum an international student can get).</p>
<p>Which is the more reputed of the two? Which would you personally prefer, and why?</p>
<p>Tell us something about your expected major and what you think you might like to do after college. Might help with our input.</p>
<p>Both are regionally well known LAC’s. Used to be lots of east coast prep school kids and lots of Chicago area kids at Denison. Not sure if that’s true anymore.</p>
<p>Neither is particularly easy to get to…but…I think that Columbus and Dayton might have more flight options than upstate NY.</p>
<p>Actually, I intend to design my own major, or may be I could go for a double-major. I’m basically interested in economics, English, communication, cinema and theatre.</p>
<p>Denison did have a reputation for being academically respectable, but a school full of well-to-do kids who were perhaps a bit spoiled: fancy cars in the parking lots more likely to belong to students than profs, according to a retired prof from another Ohio school whom I know, once selected for Spy Magazine’s “Colleges of the Dumb Rich” and so forth. </p>
<p>On the other hand, the people I know who graduated from the school are all both intelligent and creative: a poet, a professor, a physician/musician, an ad exec. (And yes, mostly from well-to-do families. )</p>
<p>Seriously, it is my impression that Denison has made a successful effort to leave the negative aspects of its image behind in recent years. I agree that Denison has a stronger reputation in the US.</p>
<p>Thanks Hanna and Consolation !
Yup, I thought so.
Could you name a few colleges that can be compared to DU? That way I’ll know where the school actually stands.</p>
<p>This has been the past opinion of some about Denison, and for some it is still the current opinion about Denison, but it is also the past and/or current opinion of HWS. Additionally, many other private schools can fit into this same type of description of a lot of rich kids, fancy cars, private prep school prior to college, etc… I can think of many other schools that could easily fit this description, but I seem to read it mosly about Denison, HWS, and Babson. I wonder really, why I have read these kinds of descriptions mostly about those 3 schools.</p>
<p>To the OP, they are both fine schools, so go for the one that you feel is the best fit for yourself.</p>
<p>Which is the more reputed of the two? I have a feeling I should go for DU. Could you name a few colleges that can be compared to DU (in terms of prestige)?</p>
<p>Desert.Mirage, I’d have to pick DU as well between the two regarding academic reputation, but both are truly fine schools. I do know a couple of HWS grads who went to grad school and are very successful. I honestly do not think that you would be making some “horrible” mistake if you were to choose HWS over DU. They are both going to offer a fine education. If you are into “prestige” as a primary consideration, I’d pick DU. I don’t know which schools you can compare really. Just look at USNEWS where you will find their rankings. Honestly, I don’t find rankings important, so I don’t follow them much.</p>
<p>We took our high school students to visit schools in Ohio over fall break last year. Denison was a pretty school on a hill outside town. The facilities (science labs etc.) looked very modern and the dorms looked nice. However, my two sophomores and their younger brother didn’t like it at all. Maybe there was a nicer dining hall but all we found was a pretty crumby basement food court with three food lines. We were there on a Thursday and kids acted like they were done with classes and ready to party for the weekend by 11am. My kids are pretty serious students and they were not impressed. I was sorry they didn’t get a good first impression because Denison is very generous with merit aid. For comparison, the school two out of the three loved was Kenyon, a tiny, seriously academic school with a gorgeous dining room with healthy food and new athletic facilities that awed my kids, especially sporty little brother. The classrooms we saw were decidedly not techy - just wood paneled seminar rooms, not the wired mini-auditoriums that we saw at Denison. Good luck with your choice! I’m sure Denison could use some diversity. You could help liven up the place.</p>
<p>Thanks ! I’m still having a tough time deciding. Actually, the main problem with DU (at least in my opinion) is the fact that they have community restrooms for first year students. I know it’s common for colleges to have such arrangements, but I just won’t be comfortable. I need a lot of privacy.</p>
<p>I’m still waiting to hear from one more college. If I don’t get accepted there, I’d really have no idea which one to choose between DU n HWS.</p>
<p>Community restrooms? Are you saying that you would only feel comfortable if there is a private bathroom attached to your single room for your use alone?</p>
<p>In that case, good luck finding a school. I’ve never heard of a school with that level of accommodations for anyone. Certainly there are suites/apartments at some schools with their own bathroom, but even then it is shared by suitemates.</p>
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