I really liked Rhodes when I visited there but hated Sewanee because of the surrounding environment. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with Kenyon just from what I’ve seen online and from the alum who interviewed me said about it, but now I’m scared that it’s very similar to Sewanee and I just don’t know it because I haven’t visited yet.
Has anyone visited these schools who could offer some insight into their differences?
I was also wondering about internships at Kenyon and whether or not the school is good at leading its students down successful career paths. The lady who interviewed me told me that when she went to school there, she and her classmates didn’t receive much guidance and they suffered later for it.
Thanks for any help you can give me!
In terms of surrounding environment, Kenyon is more similar to Sewanee than Rhodes. Without Kenyon, there would really be nothing in Gambier. It’s small, rural and somewhat isolated…closest large city is Columbus at 1 hr and 15 mins away…but it is not as blatantly remote as Sewanee.
I really like Rhodes as well! I know Kenyon and Sewanee somewhat and think a lot of both but think someone else can probably answer your Kenyon v. Sewanee with more insight about the school cultures and career/grad school guidance than me. I know a current Kenyon student who is having an amazing experience. I do think students do well coming out of Kenyon.
If you like Rhodes, maybe Richmond. Also an outstanding LAC, more or less (bordering on a mid-size national university, at least to me), with a beautiful campus in a southern city. It does have law and business schools too, and I think does have a pretty strong track record in helping students launch toward their next step.
Would you go north? Maybe Holy Cross? Also outstanding LAC in an urban environment.
Good luck!
In my opinion, The University of the South at Sewanee & Kenyon College are similar schools. Rhodes College is in a fairly big city, safe campus, but in not-so-safe Memphis. Rhodes should offer great internships in medically related fields.
What do you plan to study ? Any career goals ? Have you applied to an in-state university ?
I’ve thought about Holy Cross, but I have gone to Catholic schools my whole life, so I wanted to move away from that. I’ve heard it’s a great school though, and I would be willing to go North! @TTG
I am considering either pre-law or something in politics! I have applied to my in-state school but I’m definitely not going there.
My major concern is going to a school that helps me find good career opportunities @Publisher
Getting admitted to law school is all about one’s LSAT score & one’s undergraduate GPA.
Doing well in one’s first year of law school is all about one’s critical reading & analytical skills as demonstrated in written exams. Therefore, taking a rigorous undergraduate course of study that requires critical thought expressed in analytical writings is great preparation for one’s first year of law school.
First year grades tend to be the most important as they will be the only grades available when applying for clerkships during the summer between one’s second & third year of law school.
In my opinion, Kenyon College is among the most beautiful college campuses in the country, but it is small, rural & isolated–even more so than Sewanee although both qualify as being isolated. I would not attend either school unless willing to do at least one full academic year abroad or in an exchange program with another domestic school.
With early career earnings considered as an indication of career placement services and opportunities, Kenyon easily leads in this group, followed by, after a gap, Sewanee and Rhodes.
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/kenyon-college-3065
That’s super helpful! Thanks so much!!! @merc81
^
Note that PayScale data is self-reported and has several other deficiencies that make it nearly worthless. The salaries do not account for cost-of-living in different areas, the relative distributions of majors are not accounted for (e.g. colleges with high percentages of engineering and business majors will have high salaries), and all graduates with advanced degrees are excluded from the data, which means you’re looking at only a small fraction of the student bodies at most colleges.
It makes a nice bragging point if your college does well, I suppose, but it’s certainly nothing to base a decision on.
Which is an example that does not apply to these curricularly comparable schools, nor to the OP’s stated concerns regarding outcomes.
It’s the OP’s future. If data support a decision she might be inclined toward as she researches further, let her weight it appropriately.
Can @homerdog chime in about experience at Kenyon visit? I thought I recalled something about the student panel and career guidance? The OP might also go to the Kenyon board here and search for posts on career services etc.
Kenyon has a gorgeous, gothic architecture which would be similar to what I understand of Rhodes. In terms of location, while Kenyon is not on a mountaintop like Sewanee, it is a community which relies on itself for activity and engagement because it is not close to urban areas. Gambier is a village of under 3000 people with a (very hip and delicious) coffee shop, post office, bank, real estate office, and a few restaurants. Mt. Vernon is a larger town (about 15,000 people) about 10-15 drive, with Subway, CVS, chipotle, and a Walmart, but is still not someplace one would go for entertainment.
So, a student who loved Rhodes but not Sewanee would want to consider further what it was about each that turned them on/off in order to figure out whether Kenyon would be a good fit.
Well one thing is for certain - youll get a first rate education at any of them - all fantastic. And each has a stunningly beautiful campus. If you want something more urban - less isolated - then Rhodes it is. They have a robust community service program and the community is very connected to the city of Memphis - which is a really interesting city, actually. It has an impressive law school placement rat, too, from what I have gathered. .
I have been to Rhodes once (2018) and Kenyon twice (2018), but not Sewanee.
- Rhodes was gorgeous the buildings, the gated surroundings, the hammocks, the rock quarry exterior they tried to match, students were smart, engaged, and real. Daughter broke off with a pack of kids they talked about the partying (very real), how the sciences can be hard, Memphis is fun and there is always something to do. Daughter's biggest negative is the pre-med population is every other student it seemed and some parts of Memphis are dodgy like most decent size cities are. The community service was a huge perk tso many kids serve there Kenyon does not have those options Gambier is so small. She still talks to one girl from Rhodes even though she has no intention of going there. She did like the school a lot.
- Kenyon is NOTHING like Rhodes in terms of locale or feel imo! I could see anyone getting bored at Kenyon especially when you are talking years of living there. Kenyon had a very strong partying vibe with the students we hung out with and even more so once I left and my daughter just hung out with students. I would name drop the kids (all googable) who talked about the "safe yet very Kenyon parties" they have what seemed like every weekend because what else do you do (unless in sports). Partying was talked about the most then the next most popular topic was lack of diversity. Every non Caucasian student brought up the lack of diversity and the need for more diversity of all kinds ethic/lgbtq specifically, Kenyon needing to do more to attract and retain a more diverse student body, and change is slow, but they are seeing it each year.
With that said the students were ALL extremely engaging, talkative, clearly smart, some a tad quirky, and my daughter loved the school even to this day. Kenyon felt and per our conversations with students was more academic in feel even if it also did feel as if they partied more too.
Good luck!
I think given the option my daughter would have picked Rhodes strictly due to locale, but liked the feel of the students/professors better at Kenyon.
Kenyon students having a party every weekend sound kind of normal to me.
Definitely visit Kenyon before making your decision. As a Rhodes alum, I can say the main difference is the location. All are excellent liberal arts schools with beautiful campuses. Rhodes is in a large city while Sewanee and Kenyon are in very small towns/remote locations. You can fly into Memphis and take a short Uber ride to campus while the others are far from large cities and require a car ride for access.There are lots of things to do in Memphis off campus. There are good restaurants, a lively downtown featuring Beale Street clubs, a professional basketball team, the Civil Rights Museum, etc. Rhodes is located in midtown Memphis, very close to the art museum, zoo etc. Like any large city, Memphis has some sketchy areas, but they are not near the campus. The campus has good security also. Many students at Rhodes are premed and prelaw, but this is likely true at the other 2 schools as well. Rhodes has a very good medical and law school placement rate. I was admitted to an excellent law school right out of Rhodes. The Greek scene is pretty prevalent at Rhodes, but that is likely true at the other schools too. Rhodes has a relationship with nearby St. Jude’s Hospital which provides students with many internships.