Interestingly the “Tufts Syndrome” didn’t affect me. I was accepted here (with merit), Oberlin (with merit), Reed, Carleton, and Middlebury…3.69 gpa 2270 SAT
That’s really interesting @Cascadian425. What are your ECs like? any other test scores?
@SoapyMango Those are my only test scores, and my ECs are mostly centered around the environment and history, so I suppose I have a great deal of focus. I also wrote high-quality essays and, according to my college counselor, had very good recommendations written on my behalf. And the school I attend deflates grades a bit, so a ~3.7 there is roughly equivalent to a 3.9 anywhere else.
@SoapyMango two AP scores: 5 on English Language and 4 on US History, my school restricts the number of APs a person can take. Oh, and I’m a white male from Georgia lol, so no hooks there.
Kenyon is need aware, which translates into qualified students being wait listed, or rejected because it is believed that they cannot handle the tuition. While some lucky low income students will be offered some sweet financial aid packages that will enable them to attend without ending up with ghastly debt upon graduation, MOST low income students will be turned away, despite how wonderful and gifted they are! It’s an ugly, ugly reality that is sadly not spoken about enough, if at all. Had we known, my S would have applied to (another) need blind school instead of Kenyon, or at least not set his heart on it. I hope that the pain and frustration of those of you who did not make the cut has lessened over the week. Try to take this ‘redirection’ in stride, and know that curveballs often take you to unexpectedly wonderful places.
^ this explains why I got waitlisted at Kenyon. Thankfully I got a full ride at Columbia so it’s Kenyon’s loss 
I’m not sure that it is true that MOST low income students will be turned away, I believe need is only considered for some of the borderline applicants.
“Some schools are entirely need-blind, and some do take into account ability to pay,” Britz was quoted as saying. “We are primarily need-blind, but for the last 5 or 10 percent of our decisions, we do have to [consider] ability to pay.”
For waitlisted applicants, most likely reason is not showing enough interest. Kenyon is all about kids that are in love with the school and know that it is their top choice (or at least one of their top choices).
It also helps to show that you know the kind of school you want to attend. Large, urban universities like Columbia couldn’t be more different from Kenyon so I imagine that applying to both suggests you are not 100% set on liberal arts colleges, never mind liberal arts colleges in the middle of nowhere.
If Kenyon is your top choice, it is important to let them know. Students with average or even low stats (for Kenyon) that show abnormal interest get in, students with high stats and low interest get waitlisted.
I demonstrated interest by applying and receiving a travel grant and interviewing and visiting so not sure that’s applicable universally.
What are you guys doing who got waitlisted? I sent them a email about my continued interest back then haven’t sent anything till now. Should I send them another email?