Denison has a wide variety of students, being one of the most socioeconomically diverse schools in the country and has a growing population of international students. It is a welcoming and safe community that provides an strong foundation for every student to succeed. It's a place to explore your interests, find your passions and make lifelong friends!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
If you feel like you're not as academically strong, definitely go out and join clubs, sports, community service (as early as you can!), as the school does consider your extracurriculars. Also, work hard on your application essays to really showcase who you are and why you feel like you belong at Denison, showing them that you will be an active participant of the community who has something to offer!
I have found that a lot of my friends came to visit and loved their stay there, so try and visit and get a feel of the school.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Denison is very academically rigorous, the teachers expect a lot from you, and know that you can handle their assignments. That being said, academic honesty is also taken very seriously so it is up to you to try your very best. So far, I have had great professors who are all very accessible and friendly and who care about how you are doing and know you by name! I think thats one of the best things about attending smaller schools, especially ones like Denison, because even though the work is difficult, you have your professors there to help if you are lost and make you want to do well.
Because class sizes are smaller, you are expected to contribute and be actively engaged. You will move through the material quickly and should keep up with the readings to get the most out of the class.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The dorms are all pretty nice, not too small but not particularly big - basically what you'd expect of a college dorm. The largest freshman dorm I've found is really friendly because everyone leaves their doors open (if you want) to interact and make new friends. They are clean, regularly maintained by a cleaning staff, and you have 2 RAs on each floor who are very active and maintain a welcoming and safe community.
Unfortunately, for some dorms, and my room especially, one side of the wall is thin so you can hear everything that goes on in the other room (this does NOT happen for every room/dorm!) If you have loud/sociable neighbours however, this can be a pain in the butt. Overall the dorms are pretty nice and homey!
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The food and dining are possibly Denison's weaker suits, but there are plenty of options to choose from! There are two dining halls as well as a space called Slayter Union that has multiple snack/meal bars where you can order food for on the go, but there is also an area to sit and eat.
The dining services do try hard to provide healthy and a variety of options but it is usually a hit or a miss. They have a great dessert area however as well as lots of drink options and the dining staff are extremely nice!
If you feel like going out to eat, its an easy walk down to Granville, which has multiple restaurants that provide large meals for reasonable prices catered towards college students. The school also provides shuttles to the mall to go out and eat.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Denison, as many liberal arts and private schools, is extremely expensive. That being said, Denison is also extremely generous with their scholarship and financial aid. Most of my friends have received large scholarships that help significantly with tuition costs.
Denison really shapes you into becoming a productive member and autonomous thinker and challenges you to be the best version of yourself. You have a wide variety of classes to choose from, and the school is constantly hosting events, bringing in speakers and performers.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
One of the biggest traditions or superstitions is that students cannot walk on the seal in front of Swasey Chapel, otherwise they will not graduate. Other than that, Denison is on a hill so the view is gorgeous and there's a lot of greenery and little places that you can find to sit and relax or study.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
For anyone who is willing to challenge themselves to try lots of different things and in the process, discover themselves. The faculty, staff, and students are extremely nice and welcoming which makes for a great experience. If you are someone who wants to broaden their experience and perspective and want to meet lots of new, different and exciting people, definitely consider applying!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are a variety of clubs on campus, fit to cater every students wants and needs. From multicultural, to the arts, community service, sports, and more, there's something for everyone.
There are also a lot of unofficial clubs and things to do - many students organize and host a variety of talks, showing how Denison encourages students to be proactive to make a difference. The school also brings in different speakers and performers, and hosts different events such as the Gala for fun, dancing, and good food.
If you want to get away for a little bit, there are shuttles to the mall, where you can shop and eat, you can also rent a car or have a friend drive you to Columbus which is only 30 minutes away, to get the city life or get to the airport.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
The campus is very safe and the campus security is extremely accessible! Almost everyone I know has the campus security number on their phones. You can call them in case of emergencies or even if you were studying late at night at the library and don't want to make the trek back to your room at night - they'll come and pick you up! They are known to be slightly stricter on the party culture, mostly for the first years but everyone knows it is because they care for our safety.
I have had a campus security officer pick my friends and I off, dropped us off at our dorm and even gave us 2 boxes of pizza. Earlier, at finals week, they stood outside in the cold with posters, handing out snacks and cheering us on to give us the energy and motivation we need to finish our exams.
I can walk to different buildings, or back to my dorm at 3AM and still feel completely safe. The dorms can be accessed by your student ID card, but you can only open your own dorm after midnight.
Denison has a wide variety of students, being one of the most socioeconomically diverse schools in the country and has a growing population of international students. It is a welcoming and safe community that provides an strong foundation for every student to succeed. It's a place to explore your interests, find your passions and make lifelong friends!
If you feel like you're not as academically strong, definitely go out and join clubs, sports, community service (as early as you can!), as the school does consider your extracurriculars. Also, work hard on your application essays to really showcase who you are and why you feel like you belong at Denison, showing them that you will be an active participant of the community who has something to offer! I have found that a lot of my friends came to visit and loved their stay there, so try and visit and get a feel of the school.
Denison is very academically rigorous, the teachers expect a lot from you, and know that you can handle their assignments. That being said, academic honesty is also taken very seriously so it is up to you to try your very best. So far, I have had great professors who are all very accessible and friendly and who care about how you are doing and know you by name! I think thats one of the best things about attending smaller schools, especially ones like Denison, because even though the work is difficult, you have your professors there to help if you are lost and make you want to do well. Because class sizes are smaller, you are expected to contribute and be actively engaged. You will move through the material quickly and should keep up with the readings to get the most out of the class.
The dorms are all pretty nice, not too small but not particularly big - basically what you'd expect of a college dorm. The largest freshman dorm I've found is really friendly because everyone leaves their doors open (if you want) to interact and make new friends. They are clean, regularly maintained by a cleaning staff, and you have 2 RAs on each floor who are very active and maintain a welcoming and safe community. Unfortunately, for some dorms, and my room especially, one side of the wall is thin so you can hear everything that goes on in the other room (this does NOT happen for every room/dorm!) If you have loud/sociable neighbours however, this can be a pain in the butt. Overall the dorms are pretty nice and homey!
The food and dining are possibly Denison's weaker suits, but there are plenty of options to choose from! There are two dining halls as well as a space called Slayter Union that has multiple snack/meal bars where you can order food for on the go, but there is also an area to sit and eat. The dining services do try hard to provide healthy and a variety of options but it is usually a hit or a miss. They have a great dessert area however as well as lots of drink options and the dining staff are extremely nice! If you feel like going out to eat, its an easy walk down to Granville, which has multiple restaurants that provide large meals for reasonable prices catered towards college students. The school also provides shuttles to the mall to go out and eat.
Denison, as many liberal arts and private schools, is extremely expensive. That being said, Denison is also extremely generous with their scholarship and financial aid. Most of my friends have received large scholarships that help significantly with tuition costs. Denison really shapes you into becoming a productive member and autonomous thinker and challenges you to be the best version of yourself. You have a wide variety of classes to choose from, and the school is constantly hosting events, bringing in speakers and performers.
One of the biggest traditions or superstitions is that students cannot walk on the seal in front of Swasey Chapel, otherwise they will not graduate. Other than that, Denison is on a hill so the view is gorgeous and there's a lot of greenery and little places that you can find to sit and relax or study.
For anyone who is willing to challenge themselves to try lots of different things and in the process, discover themselves. The faculty, staff, and students are extremely nice and welcoming which makes for a great experience. If you are someone who wants to broaden their experience and perspective and want to meet lots of new, different and exciting people, definitely consider applying!
There are a variety of clubs on campus, fit to cater every students wants and needs. From multicultural, to the arts, community service, sports, and more, there's something for everyone. There are also a lot of unofficial clubs and things to do - many students organize and host a variety of talks, showing how Denison encourages students to be proactive to make a difference. The school also brings in different speakers and performers, and hosts different events such as the Gala for fun, dancing, and good food. If you want to get away for a little bit, there are shuttles to the mall, where you can shop and eat, you can also rent a car or have a friend drive you to Columbus which is only 30 minutes away, to get the city life or get to the airport.
The campus is very safe and the campus security is extremely accessible! Almost everyone I know has the campus security number on their phones. You can call them in case of emergencies or even if you were studying late at night at the library and don't want to make the trek back to your room at night - they'll come and pick you up! They are known to be slightly stricter on the party culture, mostly for the first years but everyone knows it is because they care for our safety. I have had a campus security officer pick my friends and I off, dropped us off at our dorm and even gave us 2 boxes of pizza. Earlier, at finals week, they stood outside in the cold with posters, handing out snacks and cheering us on to give us the energy and motivation we need to finish our exams. I can walk to different buildings, or back to my dorm at 3AM and still feel completely safe. The dorms can be accessed by your student ID card, but you can only open your own dorm after midnight.