<p>I agree that you should work from south to north. I was also going to suggest adding Ohio Wesleyan to your list as its not that far from Denison. It’s northwest of Columbus in Delaware, OH. My older D graduated from OWU and had a great experience there.</p>
<p>The suggestion to stay in Westlake after you see Oberlin is a good idea. Crocker Park (just south of the Crocker exit on I-90) has hotels, restaurants and the best retail on the west side of Cleveland.</p>
<p>In addition to the Rock Hall, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, Ohio, about an hour southeast of Cleveland on I-77.</p>
<p>Quick suggestion: You might want to make hotel reservations as early as possible, as it is move-in week/weekend for many schools over the next week or two. I know that everything in Mount Vernon (by Kenyon) is already full for move-in days because of all of the parents. I wouldn’t want you to get stuck without somewhere to stay!</p>
<p>OP–DS#1 looked at those same schools if you swap OWU for Oberlin. I like a chain hotel (love that free breakfast!), so usually opt for those. Stayed at one in Mt. Vernon when we visited Kenyon (my favorite campus of all we looked at). Stayed at another in Delaware (directions included how many Bob Evans to count north of the Columbus beltway). I think a Best Western in Wooster. DS ended up at Denison. I don’t stay in Granville when I visit–cute B and Bs, but, again, I like the chains. My favorite is the Courtyard Marriott in Newark (which they were renovating in May and I think <em>finally</em> added a free breakfast although there’s a McDs across the parking lot). Second favorite is the HI Express in Heath–one exit farther east than Newark (Newark is, like five minutes away; Heath like 10). I do remember being surprised at how close Kenyon is to DU.</p>
<p>Quick-and-dirties on the schools: DU is a little on the preppy side, although DH said at the time that’s not the worst thing you can say about a place. DS is a rising senior there and has been very happy. Kenyon kids looked like those cool, artsy kids in high school–a few more piercings and harlequin tights and cigarettes. Very interesting place but not really what DS was looking for. My sense is that Oberlin is more Kenyon than Kenyon. Wooster was my #1 choice for DS–I’ve heard amazing things about what they do for their students in four years. I’d say kids a little more “regular” than at DU? And DS also really liked OWU–also really nice, regular kids. Particularly strong in sciences, I think–very good med school placement rate. It came down to DU and OWU for my kid.</p>
<p>lisabees, I also endorse Wittenberg. D1 went there and had a great experience with great aid (albeit almost 20 years ago). D2 is applying there this year. We visited this summer and found that the friendliness of the campus had not changed since 1995.</p>
<p>Just tagging on to agree that Ohio Wesleyan was one of the most generous with merit aid and probably worth looking at too. They offered S1 the Schubert and Founders awards bringing total cost to less than our instate schools. Have only heard good feedback from OWU alum. Tops for sciences if that applies to your kid.</p>
<p>Don’t overshoot or you may end up in Toledo. You probably want to start slowing down around Pittsburgh to avoid any chance of that. Just be careful, is all I’m saying.</p>
<p>Or, take 'em in the opposite order: Oberlin, Wooster, Kenyon, Denison. It’s actually a slightly shorter/easier drive if you take the Pa Turnpike Northeast Extension out of Philadelphia up to Interstate 80, and then shoot straight west on 80 into the Cleveland area and Oberlin. It’s a better engineered road than the Pa Turnpike (70-76), less winding and gentler grades on the hills. In driving time Oberlin is actually a little closer to Philadelphia than Denison is, because the road is better. But I suppose in the end it doesn’t much matter as you’ll likely take 80 in one direction and 70 in the other direction.</p>
<p>D and I stayed at the Fraley House (a bed and breakfast) in Granville when we visited Dennison–great place. Owners are very familiar with Dennison and gave us some great insights. We stayed at the Mayor Lord’s Bed and Breakfast by Allegheny College. Met another parent there who had a child at Allegheny and owner very familiar w/ Allegheny. Would recommend both of them highly!</p>
<p>If you are visiting Wittenberg, you might consider Earlham in Indiana. They are very close together. It will feel rushed, but it is possible if you cut the visit to Earlham short (ie: cutting out lunch there perhaps) to visit both on the same day.</p>
<p>I highly suggest you visit Allegheny. It was one of my daughter’s favorite schools. They were very friendly and of all of the many schools we visited, they gave the best and most informative tour. The student guide was wonderful, a very smart and personable young man.</p>
<p>^^I agree! Allegheny is a very good school. I would recommend that one makes sure that one is okay with the distance from the school to a major airport and what the situation would be if one were unable to meet the shuttle on time at the airport because of inclement weather.</p>
<p>Just an update (I’m the OP). We ended up at Dickinson today for “Discover Dickinson Day”. We had never before toured a school on a day like this. I was very unsure if S would like Dickinson, as it has a more preppy, Greek vibe. But he liked it a lot! He said he could himself there. Not his top choice, but a match. Finally!</p>
<p>The admissions staff and students went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Instead of going to the Financial Aid discussion, we ended up talking to the tour guides for over an hour. The four of them were involved in Greek life. But, they said it was more of an afterthought, because of their involvement in other things. One called herself a nerd after discussing her senior thesis in depth - she said her favorite spot on campus was the library. S asked about the activism on campus. They said it was quite strong and interestingly enough, the President of College Democrats is best friends and roommates with the President of College Republicans.</p>
<p>There was also a “forum” in which a small group of kids gathered for a discussion/interview. S said it was wonderful - lots of really interesting kids. The leader of the discussion called S up after to further discuss his interests.</p>
<p>No hate for Toledo. I was trying to be funny - mantori suzuki is from near there, I think. Both Cleveland and Toledo are like Rodney Dangerfield and Don’t get no respect. Plus, it would be pretty easy to miss Granville or Gambier. </p>
<p>What with Betty White and “Hot in Cleveland,” maybe those of us in the northern half of Ohio will find our hometowns in the limelight or at least in a good light. (Hollywood types have been working The Avengers in downtown Cleveland all week; there have been movie star sightings in town.)</p>
<p>lisabees, thanks for the update. I hope the rest of your trip is great. The Ohio weather forecast is looking good.</p>
<p>I don’t want to highjack the thread, so I’ll just say that I grew up there, left as soon as I finished at BG, and have never missed it for a moment. I go back to see family, and it looks worse every time I go. Instead of spending those millions upon millions of dollars from the state on renovating the existing, beautiful, stately school buildings, they tore them down and built new ones that they now can’t keep full. The insane and belligerent Carty Finkbeiner was elected mayor three times, for God’s sake. The East Side and South End are looking like ghettos, with more houses boarded up than occupied. The art museum, one of the best in the nation, now looks like it’s set in some kind of barren, post-apocalyptic wasteland. And so on. I hope Toledo has a bright future, but it ain’t happening anytime soon. A whole generation of voters, maybe two, has to die off first.</p>
<p>P.S. I still love the Mud Hens and Tony Packo’s. Some things are sacred.</p>
<p>lisabees, my D applied to both Oberlin and Dickinson (and some other LACs) two years ago and was accepted at both. She also had repeat visits to both. While she could see herself at Dickinson, she liked Oberlin more. No Greek life, almost no Republicans, and a world-class music conservatory right on campus. Oberlin also came across with more of an intellectual vibe than Dickinson. Finally, the dining facilities at Oberlin were vastly superior (we ate at both schools during our visits). I’m not saying Oberlin food tastes better or is healthier than Dickinson. I’m talking about the number and variety of on-campus eateries and eating options. It’s no contest. My D felt the dining hall at Dickinson would get old real fast. The one thing she (and we) liked more about Dickinson two years ago were the dorms. But in the last two years, Oberlin has caught up in that department with last year’s opening of a brand new “green” freshman dorm, the third all-frosh dorm on campus. </p>
<p>By the way, I disagree with an earlier poster who said it takes about 20 minutes to get to Elyria and 30 to 40 minutes to get to hotels out near the airport (North Olmsted). No offense intended but that person has to be the world’s slowest driver. Elyria is maybe 12 -14 minutes and North Olmsted, which is a little further away than the airport, can be done in 20 - 22. I know. I’ve done it repeatedly.</p>
<p>Plainsman, this has definitely been such an interesting process. It’s a bit stressful, but it is absolutely fascinating watching my son grow up before my eyes, as he reflects on his values, his standards, his prejudices, his passions. He constantly asks himself what he’s willing to give up and what he will not give up. </p>
<p>I am glad you shared your experiences at Dickinson and Oberlin. It is why I am so excited to see what my son thinks of the five schools we are about to visit. All so different. Dickinson is only 2 1/2 hours away from our house, so I would love that!</p>
<p>On paper, Oberlin is the perfect fit for S, but we’ll see. He’s a little concerned about the social life/drug scene. What is your D’s experience with this? It is difficult to gauge the student body in the summer. But, like I have said, he wants a school with a very clear mission and philosophy and personality. That has usually been quite clear even in our summer visits.</p>
<p>Ok, while I can’t disagree with you Mantori on some of your statement, I just had to ask for clarification - wasn’t sure if you meant the “University” or the city. </p>
<p>Well, of course I’m required to be anti-UT, too, since I went to BG, but I was talking about the city. I do proudly wear my brown-and-orange t-shirt with “BEAT TOLEDO” across the front but have nothing against the university in particular. :)</p>
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