<p>Hey guys-</p>
<p>congrats to everyone who got in, and condolences to those who didnt... im sure everyone has wonderful options.</p>
<p>Well...I got into Kenyon, and on top of that its paid for (!!!). BUT, thing is, Kenyon is like, 10 minutes from my house. Yeah.</p>
<p>So, my question is, would you still go to Kenyon if it were this close to where you currently live?</p>
<p>rhunter,</p>
<p>In response to your question: I would not let the fact that Kenyon's ten minutes away from your house stop you from matriculating if it's a school you feel may be right for you. I live in southern California, and I never imagined that I'd be the kid who went away to college--it just turned out that the schools nearby weren't right for me. If Kenyon's viable for you, I say go for it. My sister goes to Claremont McKenna (about twenty minutes away from our house), and she has the amazing choice of being able to come home as often as she wants. When life's fine and dandy, she can pretend like she's two thousand miles away, but, in the case of an emergency (ie: a quarter-life crisis), she has the option of coming home. In the past three years, she's probably come home twice, excluding summers and breaks. </p>
<p>Where else are you considering?</p>
<p>rhunter,</p>
<p>p.s. i got wait-listed at bowdoin too. (solidarity!)</p>
<p>My daughter is weighing a similar question -- she is accepted at Carleton, which is in our hometown, as well as Kenyon and three other good schools that are no longer in the running. She could of course have a completely wonderful experience at Carleton, but not the experience of living in a different community. We've heard from other local families whose kids have gone to Carleton or St. Olaf (also in our town) that when they are on campus they are in a world that is entirely separate from their home lives -- they feel just as "away" as if they were 100 or 1000 miles from home. I think if my daughter felt that Carleton was "the" one best school for her, she'd go there, with just a few regrets about missing the experience of going further away -- and perhaps more determined to spend time abroad during the college years. But she loves Kenyon too, even more, in fact, and I think the added plus of going further away is going to help tip the balance toward Kenyon. So part of it really comes down to how important a part of the college experience is going away, for you. If you want to come out of your college years having experienced a new place, and having grown in your ability to survive without the lifeline of a family who could be there for you in 10 minutes, then that is an important factor to consider. All in all, I think it's a small but significant piece of the decision puzzle. The quality of the school and the rightness of the fit should probably count for 80% of the decision or more. </p>
<p>Good luck in reaching your decision!</p>
<p>rhunter2007 -- You might try spending a night on campus, if you haven't already. Most residential colleges tend to be in "bubbles," so you may find yourself--as other posters have suggested--feeling farther away than you actually are.</p>
<p>Though there are tough points to going to college close to home, there are definite up-sides, as well:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Probably easy access to a car, even if you don't bring one to campus.</p></li>
<li><p>You can bring your friends home occasionally, because sometimes you just need to get off campus.</p></li>
<li><p>If you get totally sick of the dining hall, you already know the good restaurants, and also have the home option.</p></li>
<li><p>If anything important happens at home, you can be there for it (not necessarily emergency-related stuff. I'm a cheap flight from home, and with long weekends, I've gone home once to go to a big concert with my family, three times to see my sister in annual school musicals, and once to see my mom and sister in a big show).</p></li>
<li><p>Experiencing your hometown with a lot of out-of-towners can be a good opportunity for you to see it in a new light. You might finally get to explore.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>If you're worried about being "overly accessible" to your parents, then perhaps you could talk to them, explain that you love Kenyon but really want the "going away to college" feeling, and lay down some loose guidelines. If your parents are going to want you home for dinner every night, home to babysit your little sister every weekend, home to wash the car on Tuesdays, available to run family errands, etc....i.e. basically thinking of you as still being at home, then you might end up feelingly differently about being nearby. You know yourself and you know your family, so if this isn't a concern, then nevermind :)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I am a Kenyon alum and I don't quite know how I fell into this site but I have been interesting in all the news about low admissions rates and I wondered how Kenyon prospectives were faring. I noticed your posted about living so close to Gambier and wanted to say I knew several people who lived nearby and it was not an issue whatsoever. </p>
<p>In fact, I found the biggest draw back of Kenyon for some people (not me - it was a perfect fit) was the isolated nature of the Hill. If you are already used to that and not bothered by it, then you are 95% of the way to it being one of the best experiences of your life.</p>
<p>I had a fantastic experience at Kenyon, learned to /think/, got a top notch education and made friends that will remain so for the rest of my life. My group of friends is so close knit that our husbands and wives just don't get our bond. But I wouldn't have it any other way. </p>
<p>Good luck to all with the big decision. At least the application phase is over. If any one has any questions for an alum, I'd be happy to answer them!</p>
<p>2 errors in the first para..., you trying to kill Kenyon's rep? ;)</p>
<p>My, my, we're unforgving. I wrote that late, and quickly, admist my 60 hour a week job so I apologize for not proofing. You'll learn to write at Kenyon, but there isn't exactly a proof reading class... ;)</p>
<p>you know i go to Kenyon. you have to live on campus so it's not that bad. it is nice having the option to go home on weekends and short breaks though. it has it's ups and downs. </p>
<p>where'd you pick??</p>
<p>Kenyon 2011!!!!!</p>
<p>good choice rhunter :)</p>
<p>no doubt...Im sooooo excited. I got accepted for the writing and thinking pre-o, so ill be out of the house and at kenyon 10 days earlier!!!</p>