can anyone help please? kenyon vs. pomona...

stressed out! · 10-19-2008, 05:22 PM

i'm trying to pick an early decision school to apply to by the november 1 deadline. Obviously, i'm running out of time! Problem is ,I'm pretty indecisive and I'm having a really hard time eliminating schools. here are my top choices of schools right now ...

Pomona: Basically a perfect college. amazing campus, top notch academics, very smart but fun students (i did an overnight there so i got to meet a lot of people). weather is a plus (I hate winter). No greek life, which i see as fine. Has the benefits of a small school while at the same time having the resources of the other Claremont colleges as well.

Kenyon: Cute campus, great new art buildings being constructed. Town is pretty small, though, and the weather does get cold there. Some greek life, but that's ok too. Had a great interview, but I didnt get to do an overnight and see what life is like. Though i'm able to name a few downsides, it's the only school i've ever visited where i got the gut feeling of "wow. i could really see myself here". But maybe that's just because I was having a good day or something, not linked to the school?

Kenyon/pomona are my top choices, but i also still can't completely rule out Occidental (Good, small, fun LAC) and Pitzer (artsy, environmental, liberal)

I know I've written a lot but I'm really having trouble here. This is my 2nd time going through the college application process so i really don't want to mess it up.

any advice?

teenage_cliche · 10-19-2008, 06:43 PM

If you don't have a clear-cut first choice, don't apply ED.

stressed out! · 10-20-2008, 08:25 PM

It's really just between kenyon + pomona
i know i could be happy at either and want to apply ED to find out sooner and maybe have a better chance at getting in than I would for regular decision.
also my parents are really pressuring me to just make up my mind and choose one.

cbreeze · 10-21-2008, 02:25 AM

If you hate winter, then Kenyon is out. Winters are bleak and cold.

theendusputrid · 10-21-2008, 02:36 AM

i'd choose kenyon.

if you really love both schools and can see that you'll be happy at either one, you should choose the one that you have a better chance of getting into, kenyon's ed acceptance rate is over 50 percent and its 75 th percentile sat score is 2150, while Pomona is practically impossible to get into and its MEDIAN is 2240.
Also, Kenyon has a great English program, and I'm gonna apply there.

I loved Rice and Penn and Brown and Yale but decided on Rice because I'd actually have a great shot of getting in, not so much the other places.

Puzzled88 · 10-21-2008, 10:55 AM

Does Kenyon have second round ED? If so, you could apply to Pomona first round ED and then Kenyon second if you don't get into Pomona. And have your applications for Occidental and Pitzer ready to go as well. Good luck.

ColdWind · 10-21-2008, 11:15 AM

Pomona is better for you based on your posts. Too much relevant info. is missing from your posts, however. Consider applying ED to Pomona, and, if unsuccessful, apply ED II to Davidson College in North Carolina. Great weather, very close to Lake Norman--which is enormous & gorgeous--demanding academics although the studentbody tilts conservative. You should definitely apply ED to Pomona as the ED advantage is too much to pass up. I do not think that Kenyon is an appropriate ED choice for you based on your reservations concerning cold weather & your gut feelings.

kenf1234 · 10-21-2008, 11:32 AM

It depends on your stats. If you are borderline for Kenyon, it would be a mistake to apply ED for Pomona. If you are a good candidate for Kenyon, better to apply ED to Pomona and then if that doesn't work out you can apply Kenyon RD. But you have to judge your own strengths. Wasting your ED on Pomona, if you aren't really a match, would be a mistake.