<p>I visited Kenyon recently and loved everything except the lack of student diversity. I saw very few non white students. I looked it up and Kenyon is supposedly 80% white. I was wondering if people had any ideas of similar LACs with more student diversity, but a feel and academics like Kenyon. Thanks :-h ... Please respond I would be SO appreciative. </p>
<p>And just to be clear, Kenyon was great and I most likely will still apply. But, I would like to get more suggestions of schools as well. </p>
<p>Hey! I’m a senior waiting for my Kenyon decision in the mail. The most similar schools I applied to were Colorado College and Occidental. All are very liberal and writing-intensive. I was rejected at CC but got into Oxy; should find out about Kenyon tomorrow. Best of luck! </p>
<p>Thank you so much! I have been looking into CC but would prefer to be in the mid-atlantic or northeast. So anything north of Maryland and east of Wisconsin I would be very interested in. </p>
<p>I think the truth is that what you saw at Kenyon you are going to find at most of the top 50 LACs. Some MAY be a bit more liberal (Oberlin, Wesleyan, Vassar, Reed, Macalester, etc) and a couple of those may have a somewhat higher % of non-whites. In general the New England schools also are going to be a little more overtly “preppy,” including several mentioned above. In short, I think you’d be hard-pressed to not pick Kenyon on this basis, with the possible exceptions of Wesleyan and Vassar.</p>
<p>Thanks for the overwhelming response! @finalchild : what about Colby and Kenyon in particular overlapped? I am very interested in hearing the comparison. </p>
<p>When I visited I got the impression that Kenyon has a great amount of community. Is this true? </p>
<p>They overlap in terms of admissions. Kids who like one tend to like the other. That’s what I meant. They both have beautiful campuses, although I am partial to Kenyon. Kenyon does have great community. What I like the best is that kids don’t have to fit into any mold, even down to things like clothing which can be a big deal at other elite LACs. It is a VERY comfortable place to be whoever you are. So in my view it doesn’t push kids to be artificially out there or radical but if that is who you are then you will be totally accepted, and it certainly doesn’t push kids to be snobby elites. What I’m also trying to tell you, as someone who looked closely at most of these schools with 2 kids, is that on your original diversity question you are not going to find top LACs that are substantially more diverse (in color) than Kenyon. And I disagree about Hamilton…one of the most Brooks Brothersish schools in the country IMHO. And I agree about Haverford…wonderful school.</p>
<p>I have looked at A LOT of LAC’s over the past 3-4 years with my boys. I have to say that Kenyon really has no equal. It seemed to be set apart from all the others IMHO.It was the reason my S applied ED, because he wanted to give it his best shot. In his eyes he didn’t know what school could even compare, so thankfully it worked out well. It is a VERY special place for the right kid, and I think the school sniffs out the “Kenyon Fit” in applicants. When my DS12 was looking at schools, I felt like they all had the same vibe… St Lawrence, Midd, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Colgate, Hamilton,Dartmouth,… he ended up at St Lawrence, but at any of these schools he would most likely of had a similar experience. I think the above posters are correct about the diversity too… all about the same.</p>
<p>Great post^^^^. Kenyon IS different. It’s a school kids love instead of really, really like. And unlike some of the schools mentioned above, it has real character, and even its imperfections enhance the character if that makes sense. If you don’t “feel it” when you’re there than it may not be the right place. But if it is you will have a love affair with the school for the rest of your life. Bottom line…I wish I had gone there.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. I do have to say that now looking back on my experience, Kenyon is unparalleled to any other school I have visited. </p>
<p>I believe that I am now, like many other future applicants, in the situation of worrying about acceptance. This year Kenyon had a huge surge in applicants. Do people think that this level of increase will continue on to next year? Will the acceptance rate stay at 24%?</p>
<p>Honestly, if you show that you love them, they should love you back. I’d re commend applying early if you can, if not, make sure to visit and keep regular contact with the admissions folks and your interviewer</p>