Denison University Top Questions

Yes and no. There are a number of upper-middle class students, but the vast majority are there on scholarships and don't necessarily come from money. I certainly didn't. Greek Life is pretty influential but there is plenty to do even for those who are not Greek.

For the great majority of the student body I'd say roughly 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} And then there's a small subset population of kids that are more eclectic such as the anime kids, or the people involved in Drama etc.

kind of. there are people like that, and they may be in the majority, but there are also some really awesome poeple there too. plus even though some people seem like theyre spoiled little rich kids, they might not be. i just tried to ignore the stereotypes and have a good time with everyone.

Nope! I'm not any of those things and neither are most all of my friends.

Like any stereotype, you can't categorize anyone into one certain mold. Some students DO have a lot of money, and some DON'T. Either way, you will find more people who are financially secure at Denison. This does not necessarily make them snobby. There are plenty of really nice people at this school. You will find many students that are pretty preppy.

I must say that you will indeed find many students at Denison that fit these stereotypes, but the truth is, Denison is becoming more diverse each year, and in fact, the liberals on campus on more outspoken than the conservatives. There are all kinds of people and many of them are not affiliated with the Greek scene. There are some really great clubs and activities that appeal to people who aren't pumped for the lacrosse game or the kegger. For such a small school Denison has a vast number of students that challenge the stereotypes.

To an extent yes, there is that selected group of individuals who are rich and act like snobs, however a lot of students at Denison who have money do not flaunt their money. Granted they may wear the top Brands in clothing and footwear, but they do not make anyone feel like they are anything less, where as the other group does. There is also the group that is not rich but does not make it known because getting to know people through their personality is more important then the material things they own.

No

yes - for at least 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student body

For the most part, yes they are true. But most students have received substantial finantial aid...for example through various funds and grants and loans (with ridiculously low interest) and scholarships Denison has given me somewhere around $30,000 towards tuition and board. Most students receive around $15,000/year.

All of these stereotypes are completely untrue and very inaccurate. Everyone needs to go into Denison with an open mind and come in with no stereotypes.

They are accurate to some extent. Stereotypes exist because they are often true, but sweeping generalizations cannot be made. Most of the friends I chose to make at Denison exhibited none of these traits. Many people there have a lot of money, but not everyone chooses to accentuate this part of their life. You have to find a good friend group that you are comfortable with and not worry about the people that give the school the negative stereotypes.

They are all true - drugs are common in many groups of people at Denison, but use is kept relatively safe - the students are smart and conscientious. The dorms are dirty, moldy and fungus-ee - the school does not change the carpets enough, which state schools are bound to do, yet they build new alumni attractions, hence the stereotype that they care more for money than students. And 99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students live on campus since they are not allowed to do anything else, thus they have no rights and get bossed around by security and little-pricked Deans (Phlegar, who stole $120 from my desk). And my sophomore year roommate went the hospital for a week (along with other friends) because of the poor conditions of the dorms.

Some are accurate, in a sense, but I personally have come to believe that stereotypes overgeneralize and cannot be taken as fact for every Denison student you will encounter.

Yes they are

In some ways. There are certainly are the rich assholes who look down on everyone, but they're often in the Greek system as well. At the same time, there are far more students who write these types off as the pretentious pricks that they are, and focus instead on the academics at Denison. And within the Greeks (who make up around a quarter of the student population), there are nice people as well. There are undeniable issues surrounding diversity. While it can be argued that Denison is far too homogeneously white, the comparatively large amount of religious, cultural, and socio-economic diversity is rarely addressed in these complaints. The term "diversity" is also a relative one; though the racial percentages at Denison are not the same as the U.S. overall, it is far more diverse that the rural area where I'm from, for example.

Some stereotypes are accurate about kids liking to have a good time and while the studnet body is somewhat preppy and priveliged, there is some underlying diversity which helps the overall studend body.

This stereotype is not accurate at all.

As with all stereotypes, there is some hint of truth. I've come across many people who fit the bill, but there are a lot of people who break from the stereotype.

On some level, they do have truth to them, there is a particular type of student who thrives at Denison, however their economic status or what they wear has nothing to do with it. Denison students are motivated, caring, people.