<p>I often hear/read that Denison is "preppy." Exactly what does this mean, and how is it manifested in campus life? </p>
<p>My D is applying, but would think of her herself as decidedly non-preppy (whatever THAT means!), so I'm wondering whether she could/would thrive on campus life there.</p>
<p>Preppy makes me think of cheerleaders, IZOD shirts and popped up collars. There is certainly some of that at Denison but much more. DD1 attends and has friends who are not preppy (nor is she). Reed was actually her first choice because it was filled with out of the box individuals who wanted to learn. She loves Denison, where she ended up.</p>
<p>Yep, cheerleaders is what I think of too. That's interesting that your D was interested in Reed, because I definitely think of Reed as quirkier than Denison.. We haven't looked at Reed, but "out of the box individuals who want to learn" describes what we are looking for in college classmates, too. How has she found the academic challenge?</p>
<p>Reed and Denison are most definitely different types of places. Oberlin, Kenyon, and once upon a time Antioch would have been Reed type places. </p>
<p>No doubt Denison might be considered preppy. Girls seem to care how they look, lots of fashionable clothes, loads of geographic diversity (49 states in the frosh class, a bunch of international students including 20 from China), LAX seems to be the main sport on campus, Greek thing used to be a major deal but is much more balanced these days since they discontinued any residential living in houses about 15 seasons back, generally athletics is very "schizophrenic" with several progarms being very competitive (lax, swimming,women's softball, and many others being mediocre to pathetic) (more important is that no one seems to care much ...DU is always competing for the NAC's all sports banner, but that only speaks to the weaknesses @ the other schools, imo).</p>
<p>DU is a MUCH stronger academic institution today than 10, 20 or 30 years ago and that's been highly intentional about that process following what would seem to be a monumental aligning of the planets to enable this change of positioning AND differentiation from many competitors.</p>
<p>Here's how I view this interesting situation that has created the current campus culture and dynamics:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The woman who was president prior to Dr. Knobel was successful in politicizing the votes of the board that would lead to the change via several things. There was sufficient disgust, concern, whatever it might have been that these trustees seemingly said "ok, what's your plan to begin to change this sort of animal house, preppy, playboy, lots of alcohol, etc. mentality and cultures?" And she had a plan, it seems. </p></li>
<li><p>One major step was as noted, discontinuing fraternal living in the on-campus Greek houses, effectively changing them beyond the current club room facilities into DU owned and operated living facilities for residents with NO regard to fraternity/sorority membership. So DU bought them and made them into various types of residential facilities ...non-substance, single sex, etc. They remain that today, it seems.</p></li>
<li><p>The Board and Pres determined that ALL non-commuting students must live on campus all 4 years. That continues and fuels a sense of community in a much larger sense than "my frat" or "my sorority."</p></li>
<li><p>The positive stock market and enhanced fund-raising enabled purchasing frats, constructing new, and renovating old dorms to make it possible and more attractive. </p></li>
<li><p>DU has one of the higher endowment/undergrad student funds and they have seemingly developed an approach to investing that resource inordinately so in targeted student body types. Bright, well rounded, active ...not merely intellectual types ...but those who will make the DU community a more vibrant, residential community of student learners. DU was the only liberal arts I type place among the top 10 institutions awarding substantial financial aid to substantial percentage of the student body.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>One caveat here and it relates to the observation of the "preppy" notion, which of course connotes often negatively with the notion that principally children of upper class socio-economic classes attend. And that is true. As Pres. Knobel noted, "the middle class is rapidly becoming extinct on campuses like DU" Why? The weathy and the low income families can afford places with monumental tuition. And so DU has targeted this niche. btw, Dr. Knobel is right on, all one need do is look at the stats. Wonder why places like Penn State and Michigan have exploded? This is THE major reason. Affordability advantage.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The U has benefited from being strong in areas that in recent history do not require paying incoming faculty $100K salaries plus 2/9 summer research stipends etc., i.e. the going rate for asst prof in accounting at the Michigans, Penn States, etc. Top shelf psych, music, language, Eng, communication, drama, profs don't demand those resources of business, tech fields, engineering, etc. ...a huge competitive advantage.</p></li>
<li><p>In addition, being close to Columbus but a post-card pretty college town has the advantage of being on a residential campus but in close proximity to where a professional spouse can get a very decent position in his/her field. Very different than many other among its competitors. </p></li>
<li><p>Not surprisingly, and like virtually all coed communities of 18-22 year olds, the girls seem notably more mature in virtually every regard. But that's nature, and there are many top shelf, great kids of both sexes. But one caveat is that it does not seem to be the kind of place where kids sit around the SU and pontificate about who might be the next Sec of State, or if/how Congress should bail out the Big 3. Just doesn't seem to be the prevailing wind on the hill.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>What's the point? That DU has had a very specific set of strategies that at this point in time seem to be working spectacularly well. And while Reed is a very outstanding place known for its nerdy community, DU has sought something very different, and is seemingly getting it.</p>
<p>DU is one of the more intriguing cases in the vast world of higher ed ...specifically because they seem to be doing some very specific, very different types of things to transform the environment and who's in it ...</p>
<p>Whistle Pig has much more of the back story for Denison than I do. To answer the OPs additional questions, DD1 does find DU academically challenging (and she attends on a NMF scholarship). To loop back about Reed, DD1 being waitlisted was probably a blessing since they offer NO merit aid (though they do offer some substantial need based aid) - if that makes a difference for you.</p>
<p>Just a more subjective observation ...last p.m. after we'd picked up our dd from DU, I asked her the "preppy" question. Her short answer..."yea". Then came the "but, that's because DU has tons of kids from prep schools all over the country. so I guess you have to say it's preppy..."</p>
<p>She went on to say, "but it's really deceiving 'cause there are way more kids like me who people might THINK are preppy 'cause we choose not to dress in torn jeans all the time, like alot of places. We went to a hockey game @ OSU the other nite and it was so noticeable to me. tons of kids there in PJ pants, wasted jeans, and just about anything you could imagine. aside from the #s and blue jeans, there's just not a huge amount of that kind of look @ Denison. but neither scene says much about any of us it doesn't seem."</p>
<p>What'd I take away from that? That she's learning WAY more important things than bookcovers and outward appearances, and that she has to work @ her on-campus job (which a great many have @ DU ...regardless of financial aid(virtually all register to work and many do) ...another one of those subtle, not-so-subtle strategies DU's implemented ...which also tells you of the nurture and nature of the campus community there. </p>
<p>So, don't want to delude or overstate this beyond what I guess I'd say is that DU has a very specific, notable, and seemingly effective dynamic set of strategies to transform the campus culture into someplace that it most certainly was not 25 years ago. And in the end, it's tough turning a battle ship on top of a hill in a picture-perfect little town in the Heartland.</p>
<p>Hi -- have been traveling and away for Thanksgiving. Thanks, though, for these replies. The various comments above echo what I heard from a friend, whose daughter attends and is very happy.</p>