<p>Okay so I have been accepted at these two schools as a transfer and have about a week to decide between the two. I'm from the East coast but I love the midwest. I wanted to get out of the New England area and explore life. </p>
<p>So whats the major difference between the two; is Grinnell that much better than Kenyon (US News ranks G #18 and K #31.)</p>
<p>I am playing a sport next year, so will that make a big difference?</p>
<p>What type of students are at each college?</p>
<p>Which one is more preppy?</p>
<p>Which one is more respected/more well known nationally?</p>
<p>Two questions, is there a significant cost difference btw. the two? And what sport? My sister went to Kenyon for undergrad and played soccer. Swimming is of course huge and Kenyon, but just wondering what sport you play? More preppy? I don’t think either of these schools are particularly preppy. Kenyon has a fairly intellectual vibe and although there are preps, not dominantly so.</p>
<p>I think Kenyon is known a little more nationally but Grinnell is catching up. And I think Kenyon is very preppy - many monied people from the east.</p>
<p>jkiwmom- Kenyon cost about 56,000 a year without any aid. Grinnell cost about 48,000 a year. I got a 10,000 scholarship to Grinnell so it would be significantly cheaper to attend Grinnell. I will be playing football as well. I visited Kenyon and the campus was really pretty-but almost too nice looking it was all the same gothic architecture building- I am visiting Grinnell this week so maybe that will make my decision easier between the two. I’m just nervous to choice between the two because I’m not sure how easy it will to fit in as a transfer.</p>
<p>ErinsDad- Yes, I met a lot of private school kids that seemed to be very well off when I visited. I also attended a private high school, but I also want to meet different types of people in college; I dont want to go to school with 2/3 of the student body having come from lots of money and private high school.</p>
<p>Is Kenyon really known better than Grinnell? I thought it was vice versa. I know a lot of kids who got into Kenyon but rejected at Grinnell. Both are good schools but its really a tough choice to choose between</p>
<p>My son was very interested in Kenyon. It’s a beautiful campus, but very insular.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Grinnell, so can’t make a personal comparison, but my impression is that while both lean left, the student body at Grinnell is extremely liberal and while that of Kenyon is more mixed, or middle roadish. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that either is well known on a national level (which is true of even the most selective of LACs) but both are well respected by graduate schools. I’d give Grinnell the slight edge academically. </p>
<p>I don’t think of either of being particularly diverse, but, again, that is true of most LACs, especially rural or midwestern LACs. But, on the other hand, I wouldn’t consider either elitist. For the most part, the students are smart, friendly, midwestern kids with a sprinkling of ethnic and geographic diversity to keep things interesting.</p>
<p>Being ranked higher by US News is not being better known. Kenyon has been known historically for its writing program and its magazine, the Kenyon Review (one of the first literary magazines in the US). Kenyon is also well known for some of its alumni - Paul Newman, Bill Watterson, Rutherford Hayes, Allison Janney.</p>
<p>Not only USNWR but also several other college rankings (Washington Monthly, Kiplingers, stateuniversity.com, Newsweek, Revealed Preference) favor Grinnell. They are not necessarily so far apart that Grinnell is a clearly better choice for all applicants. However, with an $18K/year cost difference, I don’t know why this is a difficult decision.</p>
<p>My sister was a transfer student at Kenyon, coming from UC San Diego. She felt very welcomed and playing a sport made the transition easier since the soccer team spent so much time together from the get go. Think you will have the same welcome at either Grinnell or Kenyon though. Both schools are top LAC’s so there’s really no way to conclude that one is stronger academically than the other, and using usnwr ranks would be a mistake . Kenyon is tops for their English dept. (creative writing included). That’s a fairly big cost difference though btw. the two though. Will there be loans for either you or your parents? That would push me to choose Grinnell. I see I have a diff. version of preppy. Our family was upper middle class and we went to public high schools. My sister’s friends were from the east and most had come from private schools, but her best friend had grown up entirely in foster care, so it’s hard for me to think of Kenyon kids as all wealthy preps. I just think of the student body as very smart, intellectual, creative (some hipsters), and actually having a deep desire to learn. Very much a “academia bubble” school. Probably very similar to Grinnell, so yes the visit may help you decide. Both campuses are suppose to be beautiful (and I love Kenyon’s gothic architecture!).</p>
<p>Grinnell is more highly regarded academically and significantly less expensive. The sports facilities are palatial (as are the rest of the facilities for that matter). The class sizes are among the smallest of any top LAC. There are no distribution requirements. The faculty mentoring is among their strongest suits. Seems like no contest unless you are keen on creative writing, which is a Kenyon specialty.</p>
<p>But culture matters too at a small rural school, and no, Grinnell is definitely not preppy. No frats or sororities. Definitely intellectual and quirky, independent and liberal. I can’t speak to the culture with Kenyon as it wasn’t one of the schools we considered. If preppy is what you want, then it’s probably not the best fit.</p>
<p>Both are great schools, but with a very different feel. Grinnell is anything but preppy. According to my PR “Best Colleges” book, 74% of Grinnell’s students came from public high schools, as opposed to 47% at Kenyon. Grinnell also has a significantly higher percent of students of color, as the college has made ethnic and racial diversity a true priority in recruitment. Grinnell also has a higher percent of internationals than most peer LACs.</p>
<p>Academics at both schools will be strong across the board, and both colleges will be well known to grad and professional schools. Based on cost, my choice would be Grinnell, unless you can articulate some strong and specific reason why Kenyon is a better match for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I am a fan of both schools. Kenyon definitely has a more mainstream, less quirky, more preppy feel to it. As for diversity, they are no less diverse than, say, the Bates, Bowdoins and Colbys of the world.</p>
<p>Tallman–I suggest you post your questions about Grinnell on CC’s Grinnell forum (under Colleges). Several Grinnell students and parents post there regularly. The same may be true for the Kenyon forum. This might help you with your decision. As others have indicated, both are good schools.</p>
<p>I am a big Kenyon fan and believe it is slightly underrated, particularly in the sciences. I love the campus, student body, modern facilities and one of the best fitness centers I have ever seen. However, there is a significant price difference and I think you really need to take that into consideration. I have no specific knowledge of Grinnell other than their outstanding academic reputation. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>thanks Bobby yeah the cost is a big factor in choosing between the two. Either school is a good call so I am looking forward to wherever I end up.</p>