I have recently been accepted to Kenyon and Mount Holyoke. Although I’m pretty sure I like Mount Holyoke more, Kenyon College seems more prestigious to me, as it has a much lower acceptance rate and it’s better ranked. Is there a big difference on how they’re regarded?
You can’t compare the acceptance rates for womens’ colleges to coed colleges.
No. Both are respected.
I am a Mount Holyoke alum and my daughter will be going to Kenyon this fall. Both are wonderful schools, equally well respected. Go with the one you feel fits you better, don’t worry about rankings. As OnTheBUbble said, you cannot compare acceptance rates for womens’ colleges to coed colleges.
They are not much different – Kenyon is ranked #25 in US News Liberal Arts colleges, MHC is #35. Kenyon would be considered stronger in English, I think MHC is better in the sciences. My D2 was accepted to both (D1 also was accepted to MHC). Neither attended for various reasons, but both really liked MHC. Both have absolutely lovely campuses. I don’t think you can go wrong between them, go to the one that you like best.
Both are well respected. If you prefer one school over another, go with it. Fit is so important. My D has friends who went to Kenyon and MHC and they both had great experiences.
THIS is your most important criterion?
Three points currently separate the schools in USNWR. This is less than the difference between the 1st and 2nd ranked colleges.
Technically there are more schools between because of ties, but they are certainly close enough that I would have NO concern about the different in how respected they are. Both are great, luck you to have the choice!
Very similar in “prestige” and quality. Both great schools.
Having male students in a classroom is very different from all female. I had been in an all girls high school and altho my dad, many years ago, wanted me at an all female college, I told him I need to hear men’s voices in classroom discussion. And of course, wanted the social life, but really I meant what I said. Something not mentioned above but the elephant in the room! ;o)
People don’t judge the “prestige” of schools by the acceptance rate, because of course the average person has no clue what the acceptance rate is to any school whatsoever, whether it’s East Nowheresville State or Harvard. (Indeed, the average person doesn’t have a clue how low the acceptance rates at Harvard et al even are.)
These are equivalent, very good schools. Pick the one that appeals to you most.
Thank you for your responses, they were very helpful! This is not my most important criterion, I’m an international student and I just wanted to know to know whether there was a big difference on how they were perceived @snarlatron .
Kenyon’s applications soared a few years ago when it changed its application process. I can’t remember if it eliminated the supplemental essay on the common app or eliminated the application fee or both. Regardless, applications went up and so did its selectivity.
I’m not trying to insult Kenyon, just putting those numbers into perspective. Kenyon is an excellent LAC as is MHC. You would do well at either. Is going to a women’s school a + or - for you?
MHC also has a large population of international students.
Is there a significant cost difference between the two?
I think we are all making the same point. Bottom line, both are well respected. If you really like MHC more, DO NOT pick Kenyon simply because of rankings. As mamaedefamilia points out, there is a significant international population at Mt. Holyoke.
@mamaedefamilia yes, it eliminated both (at least this year) so it makes A LOT of sense that more people would apply there, lowering the acceptance rate. I do like the idea of going to women’s college, and the cost difference is not significant. After much soul (and internet!) searching and a chat with my mom I have decided to attend Mount Holyoke. Thanks to everyone who responded, you answers were very helpful!
congratulations and best of luck at MHC.
Good choice. You will LOVE Mount Holyoke.
Congrats! You’ll love Mount Holyoke. I am a women’s college alumna myself and it’s a really wonderful experience 
Just FYI. You cannot compare the lower acceptance rate at a coed institution to the acceptance rate at a women’s college. Those who apply to women’s colleges are, by definition, only half of the available student body prospects. Also, many who apply to women’s colleges “self-select” in that they have decided that that educational setting is best for them and they do not apply anywhere else. Kenyon is a good school but by no ,means superior to Mount Holyoke. Indeed, the Mount Holyoke admissions director left to go to Kenyon. I was not disappointed.