<p>Haven’t seen the answer to the question about how many kids are in the college pipeline. This is an improtant factor too.</p>
<p>I like both schools, for different reasons, so can’t be much help there. Will look forward to hearing about the other options. Have you asked WashU for a FA reconsideration in light of what you got from Kenyon?</p>
<p>Where are you, OP?</p>
<p>Dollars-and-sense conversation with the grandparents might be a good thing to do before dismissing WUSTL. Since our S was a baby, MIL has been saying that if he got into her alma mater, “grandma would pay.” Suddenly, she is silent on the subject. Why? When S applied last fall, she took note of the cost – tuition ALONE is $42,500 now. She was thinking a couple thousand a year. Luckily, S has been accepted into several other schools he likes very much with good merit money. He’ll find out about grandma’s alma mater April 1. She’s probably praying he won’t be accepted so the “hey grandma, you said you’d pay” issue doesn’t come up. But maybe you’ll find the grandparents in your case DO know the cost and want their grandson to go to his dream school.</p>
<p>call fa office and explain other offer. It worked for us</p>
<p>It’s not like artists are making the big bucks. If he could swing it with an absolute maximum of $23k in loans for himself (and then you feel comfortable paying the rest), then you can let him decide.</p>
<p>But you don’t want his future career crippled by debt (and if he goes for an MFA, he’s got more future costs that have to be considered.)</p>
<p>I’d take Kenyon over WashU, even up. Feelings based on college visits are often the result of superficial things - a gregarious tour guide one will never see again, architectural styles, a random conversation that could just as easily occurred on another campus, etc.</p>
<p>We visited Kenyon. WashU was not on our list so can’t compare. I agree Kenyon is very isolated…town is less than 1000, bit bigger town about 30 minutes away, major city is a haul. We live near a small town with about 1000 people in it but really wanted daughter to experience something different in college than what she grew up with. Did dollars play a role in our decision? Yes. I would encourage you to visit with your son. I know when we were there there were some students there that had $ help from Kenyon with a repeat visit and the costs of getting there.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all this amazingly helpful input. Grandparents do know what the costs are, and H and I have about 40% of the total tuition stashed in college funds, so they wouldn’t be funding the entire cost. I agree that burdening an art student with large loans is a bad plan. Just got a yes from Oberlin, too, (with a small amount of aid) which he hasn’t visited at all, so that’s something to think about, too. Will keep you all posted.</p>
<p>If Wash U is truly his “dream school” then have him go there. Kids do best where they are happy and comfortable, and it sounds like Wash U is that for him. </p>
<p>If not his dream school, I would suggest Oberlin as a happy medium between Kenyon and Wash U. Oberlin has a very good fine arts program, will provide a terrific liberal arts education, and is not as isolated as Kenyon (less than 45 minutes from Cleveland and a decent small college town).</p>
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<p>However, a dream school should not be a financial nightmare for the family. Parents have already stated that The money is an issue and they would have to take out loans and get help from grandparents.</p>
<p>Is there a State school in the picture? That has a fine arts program and could be a financial safety?</p>
<p>It might be a happy medium between big city WUSTL and tiny rural Kenyon.</p>
<p>Kenyon seems like a no-brainer in my opinion.</p>
<p>What GPA does he have to keep in order to keep the aid?</p>
<p>(I’m assuming it’s merit.)</p>
<p>I’ve heard of some scholarships which require keeping as high as a 3.5. GPA in college is a little bit different.</p>
<p>You don’t have to answer, just thought I’d raise a question you might want to ask.</p>