<p>Pattykk, same for you. Now you know how to find me. I think it will be fun to network these while our kid's explore.</p>
<p>It would be fun but D is driving herself, we are in Illinois and she's made the trip before. We've never gone along on the accepted student visits. I think it makes it easier for the kid to imagine themselves as a student but we never had the kind of distance you do. I'd be interested to hear your reactions though, the versions I get are limited to the highlights.</p>
<p>I'm expecting D to get off the plane next Weds after the Kenyon visit and say, "I'm going to ??????????" Right now she won't even discuss it, want's to wait and get a feel for who her peers would be at each school. The third one in her mix is Denison, honors program. She visited there last week.</p>
<p>Well, I'll have to get together with my friend who is a drama prof at Grinnell. Let's compare notes when I get back. My D wanted me along, but I think she will cut me loose pretty quickly. She just went to France with her boyfriend for spring break, so she is used to going places without me. I'm glad that I can go, tho. Since I haven't been to either school.</p>
<p>miasic: I would love to meet you and your D, but my D is flying in alone. We'll definitely keep comparing notes.</p>
<p>your first message mentioned water polo. We visited Kenyon in November - they have a fabulous swim team but no water polo at present (not even club) -- but they are building a gorgeous athletic facility. (The caliber of the swim team combined with the current pool facilities basically means no pool time for activities like water polo.) They enthusiastically suggested to my daughter "you could start a club! It would be a student activity, not an athletic activity!!" BTW my D was accepted at both schools, too, as well as some others and is now working thru her decision...</p>
<p>Juana
How is your daughter comparing the schools? Do you know what her criteria are?</p>
<p>She's looking at Oxy as well as Carleton (in addition to Kenyon & Grinnell) so comparing things like climate, availability of water polo, proximity to home, + a close friend is attending Grinnell but they decided months ago they wouldn't attend the same school but she really likes Grinnell. She re-visited Carleton over the weekend & will re-visit Grinnell next week, had second visit at Oxy 2 weeks ago, and has visited Kenyon twice. Her/Our out of pocket cost is comparable for all of them. We are trying to encourage her to make a decision that's best for her, not stamp our feelings all over it...should be an interesting next two weeks.</p>
<p>P.S. she hipped me to this site a couple of weeks ago and correctly predicted it would be addictive.</p>
<p>Hey all... I just wanted to make myself known if you have any questions about Kenyon. I'm finishing up my sophomore year here, and I love it, so I'm biased, but I'll try my best to answer any questions honestly.</p>
<p>I think the visits to Kenyon and Grinnell will result in a clear choice. </p>
<p>For the Kenyon visitors, my nephew is a first-year student there and would be happy to chat with a prospective student on a visit, or via e-mail. He visited Occidental and Carleton and a few similarly selective schools in his application process. Send me a PM if your S/D would like an e-mail address for him.</p>
<p>What other schools did you apply to? What is your major? Where did you come from, private or public school? What 3 adjectives would you say describes Kenyon best? How are the winters? Would you say it is "preppy?" what about the caliber of students? Are there many activities to keep young minds occupied?</p>
<p>Juana;
Did you or your D talk to the club water polo at Grinnell? My d just loves the game. She doesn't care if it division III or just for fun, as long as she can play. I know there is none at Kenyon, and my d thinks swimming is boring. I also think she might like to try afro Caribbean dance or yoga or some of the other fun stuff available at Grinnell. Do you know if Kenyon has as many offerings in this regard?</p>
<p>I applied to Kenyon ED, but other schools I looked at were Middlebury, Emerson, Dickinson, Hamilton, Connecticut College, Skidmore, Ithaca and Wheaton (MA). I also looked some at Macalester, Colby and Wesleyan, but never toured or looked too seriously into them.</p>
<p>I actually officially declared my major yesterday- dance. I came to Kenyon thinking I'd major in neuroscience, and I went through phases of biology, psychology, drama and most recently sociology. </p>
<p>I came from a rural public school, the typical underfunded, falling apart terrible school. Kenyon is pretty evenly split, and I don't sense any tension between prep school types and those like myself.</p>
<p>Three adjectives is so difficult! I feel like there are definitely a lot of different types at Kenyon... I'll go with liberal, friendly, and intelligent. Recently there has been an influx of preppier students. This years freshman class is much preppier than upperclassmen. For the most part there is a very good mix of hippie types and preppy types, with most people falling somewhere in between. I said on a post on the Kenyon board "most people right in the middle with old Birkenstocks torn up pants from Salvo, but a cashmere sweater" and I think that's very true. Kenyon students work hard and play hard. Most everyone is very smart and opinionated, but it may be difficult to see that right off the bat. Kenyon students are laid back and like to have fun on the weekends, but come Sunday night, everyone is hunkered in the library, slaving over hours of homework.</p>
<p>Winters can be tough. I've struggled with depression for much of my life, and winters have always been hard for me, but it's really bad here. There isn't a huge amount of snow or anything, but it gets really gray. There is very little sunshine over the winter months. Another winter issue is that the paths on campus have so much traffic that they turn into solid sheets of ice. Good boots are a necessity! And prepare to fall at least once a year.</p>
<p>There is quite a bit of complaining among students that there is nothing to do, and a lot of times that boredom leads kids to drinking. I have a very busy schedule and rarely feel bored. If you look for activities, there are a ton, but I think many people just wait for something to come to them. Activity leads to activity. Lethargy leads to boredom. It's that simple.</p>
<p>Kc thanks for your insider's view of Kenyon. All that makes me think tha tactivity -wise , my D is better off at Grinnell or in the honors program at UCSB. The one ofers so much in terms of activity and the other is on the beach! Thanks for your efforts. Tomorrow will be here soon enough!</p>
<p>While she's back from the first leg. Liked it alot. Classes were interesting people were friendly, weather was good. We'll see how Kenyon goes next week. She did decide that she likes Grinnell more than Dennison, said at Grinnell she could decide what her style, might be preppy might be funky, was where as at Dennison preppy was the only way to go. She thought one of you might have been behind her in a line, she read this conversation before she left, said there was a mom with her D from Calif who played water polo????</p>
<p>What did your Ds think?</p>
<p>kcLady: It is so kind of you to share your views with us. I think you have the right attitude about boredom and reaching out to be involved. I agree with your adjectives. Do you find that some students are a little lazy intellectually, or do you think most people work hard? You know, it seems like that path thing would be easy to fix with a couple loads of gravel for the Middle Path and salt for the concrete walks. I have heard lots of people complain about the mud. Maybe you can get the Student Government to raise the point.
Isn't it funny that SRMom's D bumped into Juana and D?</p>
<p>I, for one, can't wait to hear what all of your kids decide after their visits. I am on pins and needles with anticipation --- which ever school they pick, I will be so excited so PLEASE keep posting when those decisions finally are made!</p>
<p>There are definitely some lazy-intellectuals at Kenyon, but I think you'd find them anywhere. Most people are certainly hard working. I work very hard and get pretty good grades... I have no idea how people who slack off manage to get by.
Gravel is dumped on Middle Path a couple of times over the winter, but it tends to get stamped into the ground after a day or so... they try, but it just doesn't work. I don't really have an issue with mud. It's mostly just in puddle form and easy to walk around.</p>
<p>D is a sophomore at Grinnell and loves it. She also applied and was accepted to Kenyon - but she never really was very enthusiastic about it. It was one of the first colleges we visited and I made the mistake of getting there on a Saturday morning. The place was DEAD - all the students were sleeping. Also, unfortunately, our tour guide was a theatre person who emphasized this to exclusion of everything else. I've heard great things about Kenyon, especially the English Dept, of course. I think it's important not to think of Gambier as a real town -- I think all but 2 buildings in Gambier are owned by Kenyon. It has sort of a Disney quality about it. In reality, the nearby town of Mt Vernon is where kids will go for Walmart runs.
Grinnell isn't much of a town either -- there are two coffee shops and a few fast food restaurants, but after just two years, we've eaten at just about every place in town. I'd say Grinnell and Gambier/Mt Vernon are equal in terms of what they have to offer -- which is nothing.
D is incredibly happy at Grinnell - she's very busy - involved in sports, primarily. She's also done some theatre tech crew and even took guitar lessons last semester. She also has a job and she works very hard - this year harder than last. She goes to parties all the time - and they have some party traditions at Grinnell that are really fun, like the Disco Ball and Winter Waltz.
The new athletic facility at Grinnell will be nice - but it's only part of an athletic facilities makeover that will take years to complete. The new facility at Kenyon is amazing. Facilities-wise they don't seem that far apart.
In terms of academic challenge, I'd have to say based on a teeny tiny bit of data that Grinnell is more rigorous. Students from my daughter's high school said that Kenyon wasn't that much more difficult than high school (rigorous private school) - Grinnell this year is definitely more work and expectations are high.</p>
<p>Dear Moms and students;
Thank you for all your insights.
We will see how D feels about Kenyon next week. One downside to Kenyon is they have incredible swimming and diving , but no water polo! At Grinnell, my D was "ambushed' by the water polo team, who were on the lookout for her. She loved that! I also have the impression that at Grinnell she will have more opportunity to explore herself and her options, but I could be mistaken about that.
Does anyone know how large Kenyon's endowment is? We loved the wealth of activity at Grinnell and the emphasis on world citizenry!
I had the feeling that not only would she come out of Grinnell a better thinker and writer, but also a better person.
Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks! Mizsic</p>