<p>Hello! I just graduated from Kenyon a few weeks ago and can answer any questions about the school, classes, majors, applying, post-grad employment prospects, etc.</p>
<p>Was it a magical experience? lol. The movie “Liberal Arts” certainly made it seem so. Also, yeah, is Kenyon as good as colleges like Bates, Colby, Williams etc at getting econ graduates into great jobs and stuff?</p>
<p>It’s funny because Josh Radnor came to Kenyon to do a showing of “Liberal Arts,” and nobody seemed to really enjoy the film and instead complained of being “stereotyped.” </p>
<p>The economics department is particularly strong and has one of the largest groups of majors. All of my friends who recently graduated with an Econ major have had jobs lined up since February. Top students were recruited by J.P. Morgan and the FDIC. Also, due to Kenyon’s strong record of producing good writers, many Econ majors end up working for think tanks and research firms like Mathematica and Brookings. </p>
<p>I hope this helps! I worked on campus in Career Services, so I can definitely answer the “should I stomach the cost of Kenyon with the current job market?” questions.</p>
<p>Oh, lol. Do you mean that the movie just reinforced the notion that Kenyon is only a school for poets? Yeah, it did that a bit.</p>
<p>I never took an English class at Kenyon, so I also had a difficult time relating to the film.</p>
<p>I lived with three science majors my senior year. They did not like “Liberal Arts” because it focused so much on Kenyon’s writing/English tradition. The fact is: Kenyon has a very strong math and science curriculum. There is lots of research money available, and the professors are extremely willing to mentor students for years. Of my roommates, one is attending a PHD program at an Ivy, one is going to a top-5 vet school, and one is about to start med school. They chose Kenyon over other colleges and universities because Kenyon is trying to lure strong math and science students with money, research grants, and help to get into prestigious summer research programs. </p>
<p>We had three valedictorians this year, and their respective majors were: physics, math, and economics. Kenyon is changing. It’s not purely an English school anymore.</p>
<p>I doubt it ever was!</p>
<p>Good to hear! My daughter is interested in Math and yet doesn’t want the MIT experience. Kenyon seems like a perfect fit if - as you say - it has a good math department. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi,
I have a son who is very interested in Kenyon. We toured the college together and I was impressed. I think it would be a great fit for him. My only concern is name recognition? We live in California and it doesn’t seem to be a known quantity here. If he is fortunate enough to get in, how do you think the name recognition issue might impact job prospects if he were to return to California?</p>
<p>What is the town and surrounding area like? Do people go into Columbus to get off campus?</p>
<p>Also, what do you like best and least about the school?
Why did you pick Kenyon? Where else could you have gone? Thanks</p>
<p>Kenyon13grad and Vivaciousakrish:</p>
<p>It’s funny, because Josh Radnor had a screening of Liberal Arts in Los Angeles for alumni – I think there’s a nostalgia for Kenyon in that movie that current students and very recent grads can’t appreciate yet because, at the end of four years, you’re ready to start the next chapter of your life, regardless of how fantastic your experience was. But in an audience of alumni, the movie was incredibly well received; every camera shot was laden with memories and emotions. Watch it in a few more years, and you’ll see what I mean. :)</p>
<p>I graduated in 2011 – not too long ago by any means, but this year’s seniors were first-years when I graduated, so it seems like quite a while ago. I’m fanatical about my love for Kenyon in a way that I wasn’t even two years ago; being in the “real world” has opened my eyes to the fact that the student body at Kenyon is unlike any other group of people you will ever be immersed in. The level of intellectual discourse, wide variety of interests, and creativity found in the student population is really mindblowing. </p>
<p>Momison – I’m also from California, and while it’s true that lots of people haven’t heard of Kenyon, you’ll find that all of the people who do recognize the name know that it’s a great school. There’s definitely a lot of respect for Kenyon in academic/post-graduate circles, but many employers will have also heard of it. Still, if I wanted everyone to recognize the name of the college I went to, I could have gone to a large state school, but I value the respect of a few over the recognition of many!</p>
<p>I really can’t recommend Kenyon highly enough. For me, it was magical.</p>
<p>Kenyon is on my daughter’s short list. She likes academics and how beautiful it is. The big concern is that pretty much every source we find where students review the school mentions the robust drinking culture. This does not appeal to her. At All. I know, I know, many students change their minds and wind up really enjoying that aspect of college. I know my kids though. and it’s not a religious or moral thing. It’s just the way they are. My son went to Carleton and didn’t drink a drop. Carleton had a vibrant substance free culture and so many things for non-drinking students to do. My daughter wants that in whatever school she goes to. She’s not into board games or RPGs or that sort of thing though. So, finally, my questions: What sort of things do non-drinking students do for fun at Kenyon? Roughly what percentage of the student population is substance free? Are they social pariahs? Thanks!</p>
<p>I am also interested in Mmomm’s question. It relates to that ever-elusive quality of life topic which actually makes a big difference in the college experience…</p>
<p>Also, could you say something about Studio Art and the Art Dept in general? </p>
<p>S is interested in double majoring in Math and Painting/Sculpting. His stats are high (1400 PSATs CR + M as a sophomore, 100 average W and 10 APs by graduation.) However we are not focusing on the prestige of schools, but rather, academically solid schools with great art departments. It’s kind of along the principle that it is much easier to find high-ranking schools than really well-resourced, well-regarded, exciting art depts. The LACs have been surprisingly disappointing when it comes to studio art. I guess part of it is that kids do have the option of art school – not S’s plan.</p>
<p>So, what can you tell us about art at Kenyon?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Mmomm</p>
<p>I am a current Kenyon parent, my S is a sophomore this year. I had your same concerns as he is not a drinker at all, and I really worried about finding any school where he would find his people. Kenyon has a great wellness hall and wellness program. My son elected to be on wellness and loved it. It was not “nerdy bookish” kids but athletes and health conscious people. He has wonderful circle of friends and describes that there are people there for everyone, but wellness hall was the way to go. My S is the one with kenyon tour video on youtube, and if you want, you can contact him through there. It has been a wonderful, dream come true kind of school…PM me if you have any questions I can help with while you look.</p>
<p>Is there a way to find out how many studio art majors there are? While it is not extremely important to have a large department, it would start to give us an idea…</p>
<p>Not sure how many majors there are, but Kenyon has a gorgeous, brand new (opened in the last year or two) art building. It is really stunning if you haven’t seen it yet. They opened it after D2 and I visited, but it is in the latest brochures and is breathtaking. We made a point to go through the art buildings at every LAC we visited because D2 wanted to minor in studio art, and this looks like a great space. Lots of them at other colleges aren’t as nice…</p>
<p>I assume you have looked at the department web page:</p>
<p>[About</a> the · Kenyon College](<a href=“http://www.kenyon.edu/academics/departments-programs/art/about-the-department/]About”>http://www.kenyon.edu/academics/departments-programs/art/about-the-department/) </p>
<p>According to the Common Data Set, 11% of last year’s graduates were visual or performing arts majors, but they don’t give a breakdown between them. But I am sure you could email the department from the website and ask them.</p>
<p>Thanks – 11% sounds like the artsy kids have a chance at a presence on campus.</p>
<p>momcinco… do you have 5 kids like me:)… My S and I visited Kenyon a few weeks ago. He is going to be a theater major and was definitely looking for the artsy type kids. He spent the day and night on campus, and felt that Kenyon had exactly the type of environment he was looking for. I am not sure about studio art, but the theater facilities and opportunities were fantastic. My S was actually going to apply to BFA theater programs, but after his visit to Kenyon, decided against the BFA. I felt like all the kids looked like super smart, artsy, poets, that you would find in a dark smokey room discussing literature…lol!!</p>
<p>Yes 5boys – though we have three girls in the mix! :)</p>
<p>It is great to hear your S liked Kenyon. S likes the artsy environment too but he also likes prepsters. Intellectualism is high on his list. It has been surprisingly difficult to find colleges whose studio art ptograms aren’t disappointing. Like your S, he is talking about a BA instead of a BFA, since he wants to double major in math. Future plans might be curating or teaching or law. But he was really let down when we got a glimpse of the facilities at a college which is known for art (more performing arts). We hope to see Kenyon, Conn College, possibly Hamilton, Vassar, Oberlin. Also we will tour an art school and see if he loves it. Of course we wouldn
t be able to afford it but it would let us know if we should be looking at universities where he can cross register for art instead of LACs.</p>
<p>Ahhh… nice to have a fellow 5 mom’er on here:). I didn’t see too many prepsters at Kenyon, but I only walked around a few times. My S is also looking for intellectualism, as well as kids who aren’t posers. He liked what he saw at Kenyon. It surprised me how tiny the town is and that is didn’t bother DS. He is a kid who needs constant stimulation. I wasn’t as impressed as DS. I was concerned that they only have the 1 dining hall, really nothing to eat in Gambier, no student center, and the dorms were quite dreary…none of which bothered DS. </p>
<p>My S has Oberlin, Vassar and Conn College on his list as well. I would be surprised if Oberlin didn’t have a fabulous Studio Art dept, but I can’t imagine many prepsters… to me Conn College sounds like a good fit for that.</p>