ED: Kenyon or Macalester?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I have boiled my ED choices down to two schools: Kenyon and Macalester.. With the following stats, what school do you think I have a better chance getting admitted ED??</p>

<p>I know people say don't play strategy, but I've visited both and LOVE both so this is really a non issue..</p>

<p>I've interviewed at Macalester and thought it went well, and I plan on interviewing at Kenyon within the next month!</p>

<p>my stats/bio.</p>

<p>-Male- Illinois Resident
-first generation college student
-first generation american</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>CLASS RANK: 18/416</p>

<p>GPA Weighed : 3.92 </p>

<p>ACT: 28</p>

<p>FRESHMAN YEAR S1/S2 grade</p>

<p>Honors English A/B
Algebra 1 A/A
Honors Biology A/A
Health A/A
Spanish A/B
Honors World History A/A</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR</p>

<p>Newspaper A/B
Zoology A/A
Honors English A/B
Chemistry A/B
Honors Geometry B/D (KILLER)
Spanish B/A</p>

<p>JUNIOR YEAR</p>

<p>Newspaper A/A
Spanish C/C
AP English L&C A/A
AP Us History A/A
AlgebraII B/A
Anatomy/Physiology A/A</p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR SCHEDULE</p>

<p>AP English Literature
Ap Bio
Ap Chem
Honors Econ/ AP Government
AP Statistics
Pre Calc</p>

<p>COURSES TAKEN AT LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sociology(Summer before sophomore year) -A
Psychology (Summer before junior year)- A
Composition/Creative writing (during junior year) -A
College Algebra (Summer before senior year)- B
Speech currently taking. Anticipate an A</p>

<p>-I know my S2 grades of sophomore year were rocky, and there is a reason for this. This was the semester I "came out of the closet" at my school and it did not go over smoothly with students along with my family.. I know I take full responsibility for my grades, but this will be explained to the schools I apply to..</p>

<p>ECS</p>

<p>-Newspaper- sophomore, reporter; junior, opinion editor
-Student Council- freshman, secretary;sophomore, member;junior, member
-Key Club- freshman, member
-Cross Country- freshman thru senior, runner
-Job- since sophomore year, in fast food. I work about 20 hrs a week
-Volunteer 1-4 hrs a week at the local hospital's emergency room
-NHS- junior, member; senior, vice president
-GSA- sophomore, member</p>

<p>Hook: As I've stated before I think it is to my advantage to be a first generation college student and American. I also think that it helps that I'm gay (not for admissions reasons specifically, but to help "diversify" the student body)</p>

<p>Essay: I have not written it yet, but I anticipate writing about growing up Catholic, to my dismay.</p>

<p>Which school is the better ED choice?</p>

2

<p>bump </p>

<p>10char</p>

3

<p>I'd opt for Macalester, if I were you. I attended Kenyon and my daughter now is at Macalester. Kenyon is very rural and the town of Gambier and surrounding towns are small without a lot to offer in terms of culture. That alone is a huge contrast with St. Paul, MN where there is easy access to an exhaustive variety of culture, restaurants, internships, etc. I may be wrong but I think, too, that as a first generation college student as well as a first generation American you will feel more compatibility with the Macalester student population and community which is diverse and very focused on being part of a global society. You would find Macalester an extremely accepting and affirming campus. The academics are stimulating and the variety of academic majors and concentrations is impressive. All that said, I think you will likely have a sense of where you feel most comfortable after your visit to Kenyon. If you do not have a stronger reaction to one or the other school after visiting both, perhaps you should not apply ED but plan instead on applying to both schools regular decision along with the other schools you are considering, and make your final, binding decision in the spring.</p>

4

<p>^ The OP has said that he(?) already visited both campuses and likes them equally. Logically Mac seems to be the best choice, but there's no way to account for visceral reactions.</p>

5

<p>thanks, that was rather helpful. anybody else?</p>

6

<p>What are you interested in studying?</p>

7

<p>Macalester is in a great, fun St. Paul neighborhood. Easy access by bus to downtown Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul. Interesting students from many states, many countries. Gay friendly. I recommend Macalester. When you are tired of campus culture, there is all of the culture the Twin Cities have to offer, and easy access to the University of Minnesota and everything there, too. Pro sports, shopping, museums, concerts, great festivals. Great ethnic food of every kind is available in the Twin Cities.</p>

<p>Kenyon is remote. The campus culture is it. It is a nice campus culture, but what if you get tired of it and need a break? The Kenyon campus is insular. </p>

<p>The weather at Kenyon will be warmer. Fewer opportunities for snowball fights. :)</p>

<p>(Biographical note: MidwestMom2Kids grew up, did bachelor's and master's degrees in MN, even took a class at Macalester once, spent a lot of time in the Mac neighborhood, and now lives in Ohio.)</p>

8

<p>I'm still very undecided! I'm leaning towards political science and/or biology. With that said, I know Macalester has a community and global healthcare concentration, which I am very interested in!</p>

9

<p>I think you have a good chance at either one. Do you feel you have to go ED? That forces you to decide so early.</p>

10

<p>I feel like my stats are mediocre compared to other applicants at both schools, so I want to give myself the best statistical advantage that I can by applying ED.</p>

11

<p>Think twice about that essay topic. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but "growing up Catholic to my dismay" sounds like a downer topic that could be read as an attack on some people's religious beliefs. (No, I'm not Catholic.) Find a positive message in whatever topic you choose to write about. If you go ahead with your problems with Catholocism, I'd recommend finding something positive to take out of the experience despite the hardships it may have caused. That will rewflect better on you and help prevent the essay from being mistaken as an attack.</p>

12

<p>Macalester is a very politically active community, with a strong Political Science department and many interesting options through that department. The sciences are also strong there, but I know less ablut them. One of the other benefits for freshmen at Mac is the Freshman Seminar Program which this year included several Political Science and science options. Freshmen typically live on a hall with the students in their Freshman Seminar and enjoy that added connection or commonality with their floor mates: all have indicated a share interest in the subject matter.</p>

13

<p>My essay about religion has been changed to something else, but it wasn't an attack-- more of my philosophy about life and how catholicism did shape some of my beliefs..</p>

<p>Seems like this crowd is leaning towards Mac? lol</p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice and information.. Would anyone else like to add?</p>