Denison University Top Questions

Denison is a beautiful school. Its in the quaint little town of Granville, just 30 minutes outside Columbus, which is good if you ever get tired of quaint and little. The layout of the school is really nice, and even though it is small, only about 2100 undergrad, its laid out to make it appear and feel larger. The seasons are beautiful. Denison is a very arborous campus, and the trees turn great colors in the fall and spring. It is Ohio, however, and it gets pretty cold in the winter months, especially since Denison is built on a hill. At least the snow is pretty, most of the time. One of the best things about Denison is since the campus has such a gorgeous landscape, during the warm months a lot of people spend time outside on the quads, playing frisbee, laying out, cooking out, drinking, etc. During these times there is a real sense of community, which I think is awesome. Denison is also known for having a strong academic reputation. Class sizes are small, which I like, and the ratio of student to teacher is something like 11:1. Students get a lot more personal attention and help from teachers, but this also means that since class sizes are so small and teachers get to know all of their students, attendance is usually a priority and teachers tend to deduct points for not showing up to class. The living situation at Denison is sort of interesting, since students live on campus all four years. It's like dorm-style living, but every year you upgrade and by the time you're a senior, most students get to live in apartment-style dorms. It doesn't bother me, but some students have problems with not ever really being able to have their own space. It's just something you have to consider in making your decision about college. When I tell people I got to Denison, I usually get one of two reactions. The first is "Where is that?" and the second is "Wow, that's a great school, you must be smart." Even though Denison is small, a lot of people I meet who have heard of Denison know someone who went there and are impressed by the school. Actually, Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner are Denison alums. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Denison is a great school. I had an excellent experience there. It sure isn't perfect, but I'm positive that it is one of the finest institutions out there. The faculty is incredible, the students are great, the campus is wonderful. The most important thing to remember is that my experience at Denison is really what I made of it. Of course there are ups and downs everywhere, but stay focused on the ups and it's great. My biggest disappointment was the winter weather. Central Ohio is greeeeeeey in the winter.

Denison's main perks: the perfect college town, professors who are intimately engaged on campus, and a close community due to the residential requirement.

The best thing about Denison is meeting people and then having the opportunity to get very close with them because of the size of the school. I would change the way students are treated by security- like we're in high school. I never think it's too large, sometimes I think it's too small, but sometimes it's just right. When I tell people I go to Denison, they either have no idea what it is or they say "ahhh" in a way that is supposed to imply "you have a lot of money." I spend most of my time hanging out in various locations with my friends, such as the quad (if it's nice out), or someone's dorm room. What college town? Granville is too small and clearly resents Denison's presence. The administration? Where to begin? I don't feel like opening up that kettle of fish. There isn't really a ton of school pride, probably because our school isn't solely marked by its athletics, like a big ten school might be. However, students definitely show up to football and lacrosse and soccer games when the weather's nice. Denison is extrememly unusual...Denison is it's own world, like a bubble. When I'm at Denison, (and this isn't necessarily a good thing), I have no idea what's going on in the world or even what's playing on the radio because I get so entirely consumed by the Denison bubble. It's fun sometimes, but it sucks you in, and I've found it's very difficult to merely explain this phenomenon to someone who is not a part of the Denison community. One experience I will always remember? Besides just hanging out with the amazing people I've met at Denison, the events this previous fall concerning the forum and the anti-harassment movement will be something that I will absolutely always remember. Frequent complaints: parking (it sucks), the food (it sucks), security (security hates the students), and it's unfair that we have to live in dorms as seniors. There should be some sort of apartments or options to live in houses, (besides the three that are available to the 500-some students).

Denison is a small school, but I really like it that way. I am from a small town and I feel very comfortable in the small group atmosphere. Because it is so small, most people have at least met the majority of the people in the school.

There is very little diversity at Denison. It's a small school, which is nice if you like community... you know people in your classes, your profs know you, and you can get everywhere on campus in 10 minutes or less (usually). Granville is a cute town. Denison is separate from it, on top of a hill, but the town can become like a home away from home as well, if you want it to be. The food is pretty good at Denison, but you definitely get tired of it, especially at the end of the semester. It seems to be better than many other colleges i've visited, but still doesn't seem appealing after eating it all year. Freshman can have cars! :)

Personally, I find the size of the school quite acceptable. My high school was small, and I could never get used to walking around campus and not recognizing anyone. When I walk to dinner, the library, or to class, I always see people I know. It makes you feel much safer than if you walk around and don't see anyone you've met before. I know everyone on campus either first-hand or second-hand. You could pick anyone at Denison, ask me if I knew them, and if I didn't, one of my friends would. When I tell people at home that I go to Denison University, if they are not major upper class, they don't know what I'm talking about because I grew up in an extremely rural area where kids grow up to be farmers and if they go to college, it'll be a state school. However, if I tell someone who knows about Denison that I'm a student there, their reaction is always "Denison? That's such a nice place to go. Very prestigious." If they don't say it out loud, the way they act says it for them. Personally, I find this reaction irritating because even though it's a nice school, it's just a school and it says nothing about me personally. All of the stereotypes (everyone's rich or extremely smart) do not really apply to me. I'm just a normal kid, and I happened to end up at Denison because of the English program. That's enough for me. Granville is actually rather quaint. The people go out of their way to make their yards look gorgeous. Even though there are no real food options in town, and shopping at a department store or mall are out (unless you drive fifteen minutes to Newark or Heath...and Easton is in Columbus only half an hour away), it's BEAUTIFUL. People are really nice, and when you walk into town, they're willing to say hello as they pass you on the sidewalk. Some people find it small, but I find it relaxing, peaceful. In November, there was a school meeting (for some reason I can't remember the proper word) discussing prejudice on campus. There were people who felt as if they were being put down because of race or gender or sexual preference. Acceptance is really important on campus, and if you are prejudice, I suggest you either don't go to Denison or you learn to keep your mouth shut. Some things are over the top, it's true...the way people respond to things as simple as "Your parents won't let you have a car? That's gay!" makes you very cautious. If you were to say that in the wrong company, you'd get several dirty looks, I promise.

In my mind the best thing about Denison is the people. Everyone is very friendly, polite, and willing to help you with anything, and not just the students, some of the staff have become close friends of mine as well. The campus size is just right, walking to class everyday I see at least five of my friends. It is so nice to see familiar faces everyday.

I love the people at Denison more than anything. Everyone is very friendly, eager to learn, and studious while also being fun. I love the small school and the fact that we can know everyone on campus, or no one. Granville (the town that Denison is in) is the cutest and prettiest town ever. The residents of Granville love the Denison students and are very welcoming all the time. Personally, I don't really think Granville would exist without Denison, but with Denison there it has grown and become an amazing village. During the fall of 2007, Denison experienced some serious problems with racism and sexism and had to have an all-campus forum to resolve the issues. Throughout that semester I believe our campus changed a great deal and has become even more welcoming and accepting than ever before.

The best thing about Denison is our sense of community. It's a small school, approximately 2,100 students and completely residential. Everyone is on campus all the time and there is a lot of interaction between students. On the way to class you'll always see people you know. The town of Granville is quaint, but not very active. There are two bars and a really good frozen custard place, but not much else. Even though there is not much to do in town there is always lots going on on campus and Columbus isn't far away either.

Denison is beautiful and Granville looks like a postcard. It may feel a little small by senior year but it really feels like a tight community. In the fall, in reaction to some racial issues, we had a forum which almost every faculty member and student attended. While some were embarrassed about it, I was proud that instead of cover issues up they were discussed openly by everyone.

Denison's too small. Granville has a strict police force that loves to arrest undergraduates. Granville is boring. Denison is like prison, but with a better library.

when i tell people i go to denison, they usually don't know where it is i think its just the right size, it may be too small for some people in november there were racial tensions and there was a forum to discuss them, the administration is now trying to recruit a more diverse student body

Best thing: It's fun even though you go to school there. 1 thing I'd change: Ski-lifts to take you up and down the hill. Too large, too small, or just right: In the beggining it seems bretty big, then maybe a little too small, but you know so many people, and because of that, the school seems just right. The other thing is that, you would think you would meet more people at a larger school, have more netweorks, more opportunities... Well, at a small school, because it's "small", you end up, more like have to, one way or another, meet most of your classmates, that may just add up to a larger number of people you'd know than if you went to a big school. Reaction, when I tell ppl. I go to Denison: (1) Denison? Ok. ...Where is that? (2) Denison??!! I went there!!! [admiration, admiration, admiration] Do you like it? Spend most of the time: swimming, Studying, relaxing, talking with people. College town?: Kinda, not really. People know that denison is just up hill, but Granvillle is Granville, I mean, people live there, so it's jsut a town--So many ppl though! Aministration: Not so friendly to students, strikt, it seems they aren't concerned about students as much--I guess they are, just too many of us! But in the end, you get all the stuff you need--housing, meal plan change, etc. Biggest controvercy: WE had a big anti-racism, anti-discrimination/hatred, movement this year. People spoke their minds a lot. Scool Pride?: Yeah, there is. People wear Denison T-shirts A LOT. Sports teams are really proud. Swimming--we are really devouted to out team and stuff. Anything Unusual?: It's a small school that not many know about, but it seems it opens up so many doors of opportunity for you--so corny--but so true. Will Always Remember: Friends, Swimming, the pretty, cozy, homy campus. Frequent complaint: "Stupid Lottery!" "The Dining Halls Suck!"(They dont BTW) "Too much work." (Sometimes)

Denison has great academics but the campus environment is terrible, the environment is rampant with homophobia, sexism, classims, and racism, the administration also tries to hide incidents that occur on campus

Best thing for Denison, in my opinion, is the size. It attracts the professors who want to teach, the students who want to learn (for the most part), and the community that wants to bond. I like being able to walk to class, or anywhere on campus for that matter, and see many people I know. Needs much (MUCH) more diversity, both in ethnicity, socioeconomic, and lifestyle choices. There doesn't seem to be one main place that everyone spends most of their time aside from their own dorm, though hot spots are Slayter Union (just to stop in and check mail or get food), the library (especially during finals week), and the dining halls. Granville is a cute little town with some nice restaurants and decent bars. If you need more excitement, there's always OSU and Columbus about 45 minutes away. On weekends, almost everyone stays on campus; the parties are plentiful and almost always open to the general student body. The only exception to this rule happen during special weeks devoted to Greek life, like recruitment, initiation, and Greek week. Denison provides plenty of non-alcohol related events to attend as well. For those on the more crunchy side: check out the Homestead. Off-campus, small group of men and women who work to make the place ecologically sustainable. Features really friendly people, no bathrooms, vegetarian/vegan meals, and an experience you'll never forget and likely never regret.

Although no one is really familiar with the small liberal arts Denison University, I have found that attending this small school has been fantastic. First semester of my freshman year was a really interesting transition because I came from a high school that was larger than Denison but after getting to know a lot of kids and especially after joining a sorority, I have found that Denison is full of quality people that you will not find any where else. A kid I know transferred to a big state school after his first semester at Denison because he missed the 'big' college feel. But after only a couple weeks he was back visiting Denison and now he is transferring back because he said that the quality of people at the big state school just didn't match up with the quality of people at Denison.

For me, Denison is the perfect size, not too small and not too large. It is small enough that you really get to know your professors and they get to know you but it is large enough that you don't recognize every student on campus when you walk around. Granville, the town that Denison is in, is very small. If you are the kind of person who likes to hop on the subway around a city Denison is definitely not the right college for you. To get basically anywhere it requires a car. However, I did not have a car on campus for my entire four years and I didn't find that it really hindered me. Most of my friends had cars so I was just able to hitch a ride with them to the grocery store and things like that.

The big picture about Denison is the small picture of Denison. Denison is a beautiful, 20-25 hundred student body liberal arts college. It is in quaint Granville, Ohio and has a couple of great places to eat in town along with a great ice cream shop. You will develop a community here with the students you come to know very well. Your professors give you personal attention if desired and you can be as active in campus life as you choose to be. That is teh experience.

The best thing about Denison is the way it looks. The buildings and the lay out of campus is very pretty. Other than that, Denison is not much but something that looks good on your resume. The school isn't too small for being a small liberal arts school, but being forced to live in dorm rooms all four years makes it seem alot smaller. If I could change one thing I would change 2, I would let fraternities live in their houses again and I would let people live off campus. There is no college town and living off campus might help that. Denison's administration is awful. After an uproar in the fall of 2007 they tried to have a convocation about diversity but even after every student that wanted to speak did, nothing changed. The school is headed down a bad road if the administration refuses to listen to the needs of the students. The only semblance of school spirit is shown at lacrosse games when 15 students show up hammered and immediately get arrested by the Granville Police Dept. also known as the gestapo. The most frequent complaints are about the lack of real food at the dining halls. Again, the administration refuses to do anything about it. The biggest thing that the kids at the rabbit hole are into besides getting drunk is doing an immense amount of drugs. The average greek life member has a cocaine tolerance higher than George Jung (Jonny Depp in Blow). Other than coke, some commonly used drugs are: weed, mushrooms, LSD, molly, and ecstasy.