okay... so this place worked its innitial magic on me, like it does with a lot of its students. This place shows pics of a lot of people and the admissions people... well... they are the tops! Totally friendly and promise a lot and give you tons of personal attention... but of corse since you don't deal with them after you are admitted, you don't get that personal attention later.

Classes look good, but there is no real class availability, and to get a major in, say, political science, my major, you begin your first two years with no other classes than those that envolve classical greek studies. Although Kenyon has a reputation as a great poly sci school it only really extends into careers like law... if you want to be a politican don't come. But see... these are the kind of things you don't see till you are here!

Well... the dorms are okay, and the meals are some of the best college has to offer... and the scenery... well... it is one of the most beautiful spots in the country.

The people, they are the nicest too... the put my Minnesota (nice) friends and family to shame... but there is nothing around to do! This in tern moves a lot of kids in the direction of alcohol and casual sex... and lots of sex... I know a lot of students are probably looking for that, but I am not seeing as I have a girlfriend that was not attending there with me. Along this line, and to show you how serious this problem is, the school sponsors a program for new students that takes three weeks called "Beer and Sex"... need I say more? Well... I can! Kenyon was rated in the 1980's by Playboy to be the 3rd most promiscous college in the Unites States.

There is a lot wrong, and not that much right... the bookstore is over priced because there is no competition... the town charter for Gambier where the college is located will not allow chain stores or fast food in the city limits, so social life is rather boring, and unless you have a car, the only real way to get to a 'decent' town is on a shuttle that starts going too late in the weekday for there to be anything but a WalMark and a K-mart to be open for you to visit because Mt. Vernon (that town I mentioned) closes more or less at 5pm.

Class scheduals are hard because you have tons of requirements, and A.P. tests, invented by Kenyon and originally called the Kenyon Plan are not accepted here anymore. Other college credit, too, will not transfer in, and if you take advantage of the 'loads of opertunities to study abroad' (only 26% of the kids are even looked at for the chance at all) all you can get for the time is pass/d/fail.

So... there it is... a lot to look at, not a lot when you gere there... a lot of hype, large intro classes for a provate school, and teachers that are a lot more pomp than value.

finally... fin aid might look good the first year... maybe the second, but after that they don't give you ANYTHING! If you look... this school has a high freshman retention rate, but a low sophomore retention rate!

Make sure you know what you are getting into! Most students are not as happy with the school as they look or as people will tell you they are!

Recommended: No