Is Kenyon a good fit for me?

fogtea
Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:21:56 +0000

Hi OP! Current high school senior who applied ED a few days ago here! Figured I’d pitch in my two cents as someone in a similar boat as you. I’m also from a big city, a member of the LGBTQ community, looking for an artsy feel, and wanting some outdoor activity near campus. I looked at most of the schools mentioned on this sub by other commenters (Oberlin, Vassar, Wesleyan, Middlebury, UVM Honors, etc.), but ended up choosing Kenyon for ED! No regrets, haha.
I was lucky enough to be able to tour Kenyon in early 2020 before everything shut down, and found it to be the homey, welcoming community you described wanting in a college. Now, I only had a day on campus, as opposed to having actually attended it as a current student, but I absolutely loved it. Everybody was super friendly and helpful, and were totally willing to gush about all their classes and their positive experiences. Now, unlike you, I’m interested in a writing-intensive major, but I was assured by many a current student that they don’t expect you to be amazing at writing when you come in - that they’re a “writer’s college” because they teach you as you go. A lot of that will come freshman year, apparently, and not to worry if you don’t think of yourself as a writer yet. Also talked to some current students about the farm and hiking nearby, and they only had positive things to say - said that farm can be a lot of work but it’s super fun if you do it with friends. There’s also a nature preserve right next to campus, as well as lots of hikes nearby if you’ve got a car (or a friend with a car). Plus, if I’m remembering right, they’ve got an outdoors/outing club that leads a bunch of nature trips like hikes fairly regularly.