<p>Being truly obsessed with Kenyon, I found myself going through the archives of the Kenyon Collegian and stumbled across an article which kind of disturbed me. The article, "Shut out students, shut down learning," went on to describe the increasing difficulty of getting into desired classes because the increasing number of students being admitted. </p>
<p>As with most of you, the small classes and close professor-student relationships were a huge factor in choosing Kenyon. For those of you who are now at Kenyon, is this really the case? Or is this just an editorial that is somewhat blown out of proportion?</p>
<p>Hey Dal! Yep, anyway, I came across that article a few days ago. But I think Kenyon is trying to do something during the winter break by hiring more faculties.</p>
<p>As you can see from the webpage, they are hiring a lot more professors to curb the problem of over-enrolled classes (including one spanish teacher). And if you were to see other articles on the Kenyon collegian, it seems as though the college is trying to shrink the class size each year. Already, the class of 2009 is smaller than her predecessors. </p>
<p>In addition, I remember coming across an article that says that over the past 20 years or something, the percentage of Kenyon's faculty has increased more than the increase in percentage of Kenyon's students.</p>
<p>Yep, but I do share the same concern with you regarding the big classes at Kenyon.</p>
<p>Classes at Kenyon are more crowded than ever this semester. If you look at the list of class size, nearly every class is at it's maximum or past. It was really tough to get all the classes that you want, and it sucks. </p>
<p>HOWEVER, classes at Kenyon are still small! And much smaller than many other schools. Part of the issue was that the numbers of juniors going abroad was different than in previous years (usually there are more abroad in the fall than spring, but very much the opposite this year). They are trying to make admissions classes smaller, but it will take a few years for larger years to work their way out of the school before the effect is felt. For now, most professors are being more flexible with their numbers, and things seem to be working out.</p>
<p>Ack... I kind of wish I had known about this before :-/. I hope it's not too much of a problem. </p>
<p>I have heard of "overcrowding" though. Not enough room in the residence halls etc. I hope they make the class of 2010 significantly smaller! I know 4 people in my school (80 kids in our class) are applying, so I'm assuming their application numbers are only going to rise.</p>
<p>Wow!! I am impressed that it can last for soooo long! :p </p>
<p>Yep anyway, I am looking forward to August, to meet up with all my cc friends, both in Kenyon and other colleges! :)</p>
<p>Oh to detract a bit... are there any ED II/ RD people??? Feel free to post on Kenyon's board yeah? It seems funny because it's usually the regular posters!! </p>
<p>Things usually work out, as long as you have alternates, and the willingness to be patient and flexible. An awesome faculty advisor who pulls strings never hurts either... but that's kind of luck of the draw.</p>
<p>Later in the process (like after all the RD admits... May-ish) you'll get a big long form, telling the college about your interests, yourself, blah blah blah. </p>
<p>They will assign you a faculty member based on your academic interests, but they'll also try to find you a person who has more in common than just academics-- for example, I mentioned I loved animals on mine, and my advisor was active in the "doggy playgroup" that meets biweekly on campus. You also get a voice in whether you'd be more comfortable with a male or female advisor.</p>