<p>My daughter was accepted to both Vassar and Kenyon and wait-listed at Northwestern. She attended the same private school in Chicago jk-12. The supportive community of students and faculty provided an education that was not dominated by academics and conformity. She is interested in psychology (cognitive science).</p>
<p>I am confused by this post…is it simply to inform us about your daughter’s educational background and potential path moving forward, or did you want us to decide where she should spend the next four years of her life?</p>
<p>Kenyon Vassar or Northwestern? Where should she spend the next four years of her life?</p>
<p>Sounds like the question is actually Vassar or Kenyon. </p>
<p>Kenyon is dead broke, but Vassar has money. I’d pick Vassar.</p>
<p>Riceward -</p>
<p>My son was offered just about exactly the same amount of FA from Vassar and Kenyon - Mostly what they call grant/scholarship. Do you think things will change in years to come as far as FA awards? Is Kenyon really “broke?”</p>
<p>Kenyon is NOT broke. I think what riceward meant is that Kenyon’s endowment is smaller.</p>
<p>Personally, I think all three are great schools. I’d make sure to visit all three and then your son should decide which is the best “fit” for him.</p>
<p>And Kenyon’s financial aid will only change if your income changes. It stays consistent all four years.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Kenyon is having money problems as well…I’m not sure if it’s true, but it makes me a little nervous…does anyone else have any insight on this?</p>
<p><a href=“%5Burl=http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062219931-post4.html]#4[/url]”>quote</a>…Kenyon is dead broke…
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<p>[Kenyon</a> College: A Five-Year Perspective](<a href=“http://www.kenyon.edu/x44994.xml]Kenyon”>http://www.kenyon.edu/x44994.xml):</p>
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<p>Riceward! is a bitter ex-Kenyonite with a slanted mind. Kenyon is not swimming in money, but far from being “dead broke”. Kenyon makes sound investments and doesn’t take risks that allow for total disaster, hence the endowment didn’t grow to the extent of some colleges, but has not shrunk as much % wise either during this global downturn.</p>
<p>Also, a good number of Kenyon grads don’t pursue money grubbing careers out of choice, so in turn large donations lag behind other schools that have more graduates entering careers that may potentially be very lucrative, but don’t necessarily better society or benefit the arts.</p>
<p>The college has some issues. The endowment has taken a hit and there’s some concern about how Kenyon’s cost will effect the number of accepted students who choose to attend, but this isn’t just a Kenyon thing. Almost all private college’s are going through the same thing.</p>
<p>([Board</a> approves budget, considers related matters, at meeting - Kenyon College](<a href=“http://www.kenyon.edu/x45416.xml]Board”>http://www.kenyon.edu/x45416.xml))</p>
<p>Quote:
“Thursday also saw a three-hour meeting of the Investment Committee, which heard from Vice President for Finance Joseph Nelson that the College’s funds are performing comparatively well. While Kenyon has experienced an overall decline of 18 percent in its portfolio, a number of wealthier institutions have seen drops of 30 percent or more. Nelson noted that an external analysis of about thirteen hundred endowments shows that the performance of the College’s funds consistently ranks from the second to the fifteenth percentile. Some trustees had raised concerns about liquidity (or easy conversion to cash) of Kenyon’s investments. Nelson reported that the liquidity of the College’s assets is quite high—and documented that information extensively for the committee. While he is confident of sufficient liquidity in the endowment, he said Kenyon will take some steps in its investment strategy to increase that liquidity even more.”</p>
<p>“Slanted mind” aside, truth is, Kenyon has always been dicey financially. Any of the college histories will confirm this; check out Bruce Haywood’s <em>The Essential College</em> and P.F. Kluge’s <em>Alma Mater</em>. The college nearly went bankrupt in the 60s, so they let in women. Again, in the eighties the college was at the brink of collapse. Its credit was frozen. As I understood it, the college had taken out loans for the new constructions that <em>equaled</em> its endowment. Now, with the delays, I don’t know that that’s still the case. It’s not as if Kenyon is going to collapse, but it’s nice having smaller classes, better facilities, more fellowships, etc, etc.</p>
<p>I would add: I’m not “bitter.” I think Kenyon can be a wonderful place–magical, even. Whether it is or it isn’t depends almost entirely on personal preference. I think the college wrongly markets itself as a place that’s just great, something for everybody and the like. It’s a very particular sort of person for whom Kenyon is THE right choice. I’d recommend that anyone considering Kenyon read this article:</p>
<p>[The</a> Kenyon Collegian](<a href=“http://www.kenyoncollegian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=eac4f562-bbdf-40f7-9649-71d2d33fcfab&page=3]The”>http://www.kenyoncollegian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=eac4f562-bbdf-40f7-9649-71d2d33fcfab&page=3)</p>
<p>Sigh…anyone else find that article sort of depressing?</p>
<p>Thanks to Riceward! and parent99 for the lively exchange. It is no surprise that top colleges are becoming more preoccupied with financial issues these days–necessity is the mother of invention. The letter from Catherine Hill ([Welcome</a> - President’s Office - Vassar College](<a href=“http://president.vassar.edu/index.html]Welcome”>http://president.vassar.edu/index.html)) described the impact of financial issues on their hiring, facilities improvement and financial aid at Vassar. I think the financial challenges faced by these venerable institutions will broaden the awareness of current and future students with respect to life after college. I am grateful that sites like CC allow students to get up to the minute information from current students that go beyond the color glossy brochures. Thanks to all.</p>
<p>I received the Newman’s Own Foundation scholarship to Kenyon, along with a 3k federal pell grant, and id be paying less than 4k to go there.
I sent colby what they are offering me and I think they’re going to match it, but my counselor told me that in these times, grants to colby will change year by year, while Kenyon is offering an academic scholarship* which is guaranteed to be maintained as long as I maintain a 3.0
what do you think? if they are matched, can i safely choose one over the other or should i trust kenyon’s academic scholarship more?</p>
<p>No respectable institution, particularly a small liberal arts college, will allow itself to lose students by inadequately funding them. Your award should not fluctuate over your four years (unless, of course, your family income changes). Do check on the academic requirements, if any, for renewing the Newman. You may have to maintain a certain GPA.</p>
<p>It helps to actually read the post…see note of 3.0 GPA req.</p>
<p>Well yeah, that was the point of my post. I know I can trust kenyon’s scholarship because its guaranteed with a minimum gpa of 3.0
Colby is the one I’m wondering about, because financial aid grants can change from year to year, and I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of my undergraduate years, attending first year paying 3k and then 2 years later financial aid dropping and having to take out loans</p>
<p>My question, if it wasn’t clear, was if you think I can safely choose Colby over Kenyon if I decide that I like it better and they offer me the same amount?</p>