Kenyon is a bit of a reach for me as it is: 3.97W GPA (with very strong upward progression, 4.6 junior year) at a competitive hs, 1370 SAT, 800 US History SAT II, okay ECs, recs should be good, and my english teacher feels my essay is well-written and will be helpful to me getting in.
The problem is I can’t get to campus for a tour and I didn’t even know I wanted to apply until fairly recently so it’s too late to interview. I know they strongly recommend you interview, do I have a shot at all??
hey, homie! honestly, i wouldn’t worry. you still have until january 19th to submit a request for an alumni interview. i’m not able to visit campus to have an on-campus interview, and there are no kenyon events near me to have an off-campus interview, so i believe it’s like that for many applicants!
Hi. FWIW, my D was admitted RD, with merit aid, and is now a (very happy) first-year student at K. She applied in fall 2016 and did an alumni interview in early 2017; we did not visit the campus until after she was accepted.
When we were researching schools a few years ago, Kenyon announced it was removing its supplemental “why Kenyon” essay, and told us that they would look at other ways to gauge demonstrated interest from the student. So, take the other steps to demonstrate interest – request an alumni interview, sign up for the mailing list to receive information, follow Kenyon on social media. If Admissions staff visits your vicinity as part of a college fair, show up. They don’t expect students to make on campus visits if you are outside a broad enough geographic range – if you live in Columbus, Ohio, you should visit campus. If you live in Florida, Maine, or Colorado, you aren’t expected to be able to visit before applying.
thanks for the replies! I now have an alumni interview coming up. Although, I’m pretty upset because I actually just saw a NY times op ed where the dean of admissions said girls with a C on their transcript basically get automatically waitlisted…I was an idiot who didn’t try freshman year so despite very strong upward progression with my GPA I don’t know how likely Kenyon really is for me. I’ll still try my best in the interview though, I’m just feeling very pessimistic at this point. (sorry to deviate from the original topic of this thread, I’m mostly ranting)
@zmpdun I think a freshman year C will not affect an otherwise strong transcript. Schools really do focus on 10th and 11th year grades–plus by going RD they will see your 1st semester senior grades–combined with the rigor of the courses you took. Good luck!
My daughter only visited Kenyon after being accepted, and she did interview. She is very shy and really felt nervous about the interview, but it obviously went well because she got in. You have requested an interview, so that is in your favor. Drop the pessimism about your grades. I suggest you not bring it up at all during your interview. I definitely remember my daughter was asked about books and tv shows at that interview. Think of a few things you enjoy talking about: concerts, a day hiking, singing in the shower, whatever.
I commented on your other post. I say this kindly, but you need to be positive. Your negativity will not help you at any of the schools you have applied to. If you really want to get into Kenyon, or GWU Honors program, yes, do whatever optional things you can to show that you are very interested in the school. Put it this way: not submitting optional essays for an honors program definitely won’t help you get in, because almost certainly, everyone else will be submitting them.
If you are freaking out about things, it’s probably because you are perhaps aware that you need to be positive and do your best to make your application as strong as possible. Stop freaking and be proactive. If that means writing extra essays for a school you are very interested in, or interviewing despite nerves, then you do it and you make your best effort. What you don’t do is question if things are worth the effort, or reconcile yourself to doom because you got a few low grades as a freshman. Holistic admissions is all about looking at an individual. Hopefully you applied to other colleges you like, where you have a good chance of getting in.
@Lindagaf thank you - I appreciate your help on this thread and the others! I think my problem is that I got way too invested in schools like Kenyon and Bates which are reaches for me, so I want to be realistic about my chances rather than overconfident. I am interviewing for both of those schools, which are my top choices, and I completed one for W&M a little while ago, as well as writing the optional essays for all my schools that asked for them. I think I need to try to get more excited about my targets and safeties. thanks for the advice!
Good, it’s better to be positive. Go on niche and see what real students have to say about the match and safety schools you applied to. Ignore negative reviews.