I’ve visited both and currently I have a freshman at Wooster. I do see differences between the schools, although they are more similar than different. Here are the most notable (in my opinion).
Physical: Denison is built on a hill. If you are heading to and from the athletic fields or the art studio, you will have great legs and a terrific cardio workout. (Stairs!). As an out of shape middle aged woman I was definitely huffing and puffing. Could be an issue for some students. Both campuses are beautiful. Wooster feels like it has more trees. The town of Granville is picture perfect - feels like a New England college town - but it is tiny. The town of Wooster is bigger but not as picturesque.
Student body: Denison feels a little preppier than Wooster, and it FEELS less diverse (but it may not be more diverse in actuality…I would have to go back and check the numbers). A current Denison freshman (who graduated from high school with my child) noted that Denison is a very friendly place BUT it can be a little “clique-ish.” Wooster is friendly AND inclusive. I get the sense that the Wooster community has a lot more quirky, unique individuals and that they are welcomed (not just tolerated). Apparently one Wooster student (who graduated last year) wore a cape every day; this year there is a student who blows bubbles at Kauke arch every day. I’m not sure that type of creative individuality would be as typical of Denison.
Academics: similar programs except, of course, the signature undergraduate mentored research that every studen completes at Wooster.
Overall, I think both schools deliver an excellent education. If I had a child deciding between the two, I would encourage an overnight visit at each, with time to attend classes at both. I would think that experience would make it clear which was the better “fit.” They are both great choices!
To those who have received an EA decision. When were your applications marked complete? Where did the change of status show in the application portal and/or what did it look like?
D16 finished app on October 1 and had all supporting material marked received by Oct 13. We are long distance out of state so wondering if portal is going to show a change before she would receive a snail mail notification, especially because it is the holiday season and mail is slower. She is very eager to hear a result soon!
My kid’s application was submitted in late October, and I don’t recall how soon it was marked complete, but at that time or soon thereafter.
I hate to add to any kind of speculation about anything, since I have no inside knowledge, but it looks as if folks who have reported back here have also reported back on significant merit aid (I think all Dean’s scholorships?). Maybe those announcements are going out first? (Someone correct me if that’s not the case with the notifications so far.)
The official notification date is 12/31, so there’s still time for those who haven’t heard yet.
@janjmom: Thanks for the report. That conforms to my general impression, though mine is based only on a visit to Wooster and checking Denison (where my kid chose not to apply) out from a distance.
@labegg – my son had status update on the portal first – his was Dec 4, and then clicked on the link for his acceptance letter. The hard copy arrived three days later. Good luck to your student!
And @janjmom Thank you for that comparison with Denison, my student has visited both Wooster and Denison several times, and I struggled to put a finger on the what seems the be the difference in terms of the communities – your student’s friend’s characterization makes sense.
So a question: Kid got his email notification over a week ago 12/4. But still nothing by snail mail, though I see several people have reported receiving actual letters a few days out. Anybody else still waiting for hard copy of the notification? (Trying to figure out if I should inquire with the admissions office or just stay patient.)
Hmm, @porcupine98 – I would call! My son received electronic notice on 12/4 as well, and hard copy on Monday 12/7, though we are in the midwest. 5 days though? That seems like the hard copy has gone missing rather than just delayed. With holiday shipping etc., maybe give it through Monday mail and contact them.
The whole package included the printed acceptance letter, handwritten note from his admissions counselor, and various brochures and admitted student visit day info.
Good point about the student making the inquiry, though that will require some arm-twisting since he doesn’t like making waves. Our post office CAN be catastrophically bad this time of year, so I’ll give it another business day or two then work him over.
So glad to hear your students are enjoying Wooster! As another parent, I’d be interested in your, and their, perceptions about a few things:
gen eds – an obstacle in my son’s mind is the math and science ged eds – are they hard to meet, are there “easier” science classes for non-science kids, are they hard to get into or do they fill up? I realize STEM type kids feel the same way about humanities and social science requirements . . . .
internships/portability of the Wooster name: even though we are in the midwest, we still get a lot of blank looks when we mention COW. My kid wants to return to the east coast, where we are originally from, after graduation. What has been your student’s experience, or their friends’ experience, in job and internship search, how does the Wooster name, and degree, travel?
transportation: when we have traveled to campus, no matter which interstate we use, it seems like the last 60 miles to town is done on 2 lane roads surrounded by farm land. Are there transportation options to get to Indy, Cleveland etc. Do kids ride share for holiday travel?
So I can answer some of these questions, but not all. Regarding the gen eds - placement test in math administered during pre-orientation in June determined the level of math class for my student (not yet enrolled in math, however!). There is a “Calculus for Social Science Majors” course offered which counts toward some majors. There is also a statistics class that meets the quantitative requirement for the gen ed courses. There are science classes for non-majors in some areas, like Biology. In others (for example, geology), the intro course will meet the science gen ed (but the science gen ed is grouped with math so, in theory, you could take two math courses and no natural science courses and still fulfill the requirement for that area).
The Wooster name is not as well known here in the Northeast, but when I do find people who know the name they only have positive things to say. I just learned that the Deputy Director of the FBI is a College of Wooster alum (for what that’s worth).
For the holidays, the college runs a shuttle to Cleveland Airport and to Canton-Akron Airport. We have already used the shuttle for transportation at October break and for Thanksgiving (and have reservations for later this week and to return in January). Students can also share taxis (not cheap) and/or ask friends for rides (no restrictions for cars on campus so many of the Ohio students - even freshman - have cars). A student who lives near us recently offered a ride home for winter break but we already had the plane ticket, so there was no point in changing to a 10 hour drive home!
Regarding music - can you be more specific about your question, @porcupine98?
I’m just trying to get a sense of the depth/breadth/accessibility of the music ensembles. My kid has thrived in his very good HS band and orchestra, and would very much like to continue to be part of an instrumental group, but needs a sort of happy medium – strong enough musically to be worthwhile, but not so competitive that he’d be unable to participate. Just any sense you have of what’s out there beyond the little I can glean from the website.
I have a client who was just accepted at CoW for the class of 2020. He’s a talented musician but not planning to major in music. He intends to play in the marching band and the jazz ensemble wherever he ends up going to college. He was very impressed with the options at Wooster and the quality - for whatever that’s worth… I may have a video clip of the marching band. If so, I will pm it to you, but I may have deleted it after sending it to my client!
Thanks @HeavyLidded. It all sounds good to me so far. And reassuring. We were really impressed by our experience when we visited, but I’ll confess a tiny part of me has worried how much of that was careful marketing, so it’s great to have first hand reports. And I’m from the Northeast as well, so it’s mostly blank stares, but those who really know the college landscape are always very enthusiastic.
Just have to add that here in New England, when people hear me say College of Wooster, they often believe I’m talking about Worcester, Mass. I’ve learned to say “a small, liberal arts college in Ohio” in order to avoid the misunderstanding!
Anyone else receive an admissions decision after the initial round of notifications? DS submitted his EA application in early November and has not heard anything yet.