How to Apply to Chemistry at Kenyon College: ACS-Accredited Chemistry Department with an Optional ACS-Certified Degree, Research from the First Year, a Senior Capstone, and Joint Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors, Test-Optional, with Admission Rules and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, is an undergraduate liberal arts college. Undergraduate chemistry is offered by the Department of Chemistry (Natural Sciences Division), based in Tomsich Hall. This guide, based on Kenyon’s website, covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Biology, physics and mathematics are not covered here; the joint biochemistry and molecular biology majors are closely related and are described below. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry degrees are outside this guide, so see the website for them.

1. Degree and requirements

• Chemistry major: the department page and catalog simply describe the “Chemistry major” and do not say whether the degree is a B.A. or a B.S.; this is not published in the pages read, so check the website. The department is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and students may elect to receive an ACS-certified degree. There is also a Chemistry Minor.
• Curriculum structure: the catalog says the curriculum is vertical: introductory and organic chemistry in the first two years, then advanced physical, inorganic, analytical and biochemistry courses; students are advised to begin chemistry as soon as possible. The department also offers courses for non-majors (numbered below 120, no prerequisites).
• Major requirements: at least eight to nine lecture courses and six to seven laboratory courses in the department, including a year of introductory chemistry with lab; one semester of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 231, 233); the required advanced courses Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 243), Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics (CHEM 335), Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 341) and the senior Chemistry Research Seminar (CHEM 475); two advanced electives (from Organic Chemistry II, Quantum Chemistry and the Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar); four advanced labs (organic lab II, computational, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, spectroscopy; 0.5 unit/4 semester hours of Chemical Research, CHEM 375, may replace one); and the Senior Capstone. MATH 112 is highly recommended before CHEM 335 or 336.
• ACS-certified degree: besides the minimum major, students need the equivalent of two semesters of calculus; 1.5 units/12 semester hours of introductory physics; CHEM 256 (Biochemistry); and 1 unit/8 semester hours of research in CHEM 375 including a comprehensive written report (completing honors satisfies the research requirement). Labs and advanced courses must be chosen in specified combinations, set out in the catalog.
• Senior Capstone: in the fall, a review paper on an assigned topic; in the spring, a talk on two research papers related to the senior research topic.
• Honors: students wishing to pursue senior honors research apply to the department chair no later than April 15 of junior year.
• Joint majors: the chemistry and biology departments jointly offer majors in biochemistry and molecular biology; see section 2b below.
• Credit system: the catalog says Kenyon changed from Kenyon units to semester hours for students who start in fall 2024 or later; the AP and IB page says 16.00 units/128 semester hours are required for the degree.

2. First-year courses and labs

• Two starting points in general chemistry: CHEM 121 (Introductory Chemistry, lecture and discussion, priority to first- and second-year students) and CHEM 122 (Chemical Principles, an accelerated course covering a full year of general chemistry in one semester for students with previous study of chemistry). CHEM 123 is the accompanying lab, highly recommended with CHEM 121 and required with CHEM 122. Students who complete CHEM 121 go on to CHEM 124 (with lab CHEM 126); those who complete CHEM 122 can go directly to CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I in the spring.
• Prerequisite for CHEM 122: the catalog says an AP chemistry score of 4 or 5 or equivalent, determined by a placement exam given during Orientation; the major-requirements list says an AP score of 4 or 5 or an IB chemistry score of 5, 6 or 7 at the Higher Level. The department page adds that you may instead enroll in the 9 a.m. section of CHEM 121, whose first assignment serves as a placement assessment for CHEM 122. The registrar’s IB page lists IB Chemistry HL 5–7 placing into CHEM 121 / CHEM 122 (effective fall 2023).
• First-year students considering chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology: the catalog advises CHEM 121 and 123, or CHEM 122 and 123, in the first semester, and CHEM 124 and 126, or CHEM 231 and 233, in the second. Completing one introductory lecture-and-lab sequence is the prerequisite for organic chemistry or any other advanced chemistry course.
• Students preparing for medical school: the catalog advises the traditional sequence (CHEM 121, 123, 124, 126) or the accelerated one (CHEM 122, 123, 231, 233) in the first year and asking your target medical schools about exact chemistry requirements. Medical school applications are outside this guide.
• There is a separate policy on taking Organic Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry II together, on a department page this guide did not read.

2b. Joint biochemistry and molecular biology majors

• The chemistry and biology departments jointly run an interdisciplinary program with two majors, biochemistry and molecular biology. Biochemistry is a chemistry-based curriculum with a significant biology component; molecular biology combines a substantial chemistry background with detailed study of cellular and molecular biology. Both prepare students for postgraduate study.
• Common requirements (about 4.75 units/38 semester hours): BIOL 115 and 116; CHEM 121 plus 124, or CHEM 122; the introductory labs; Organic Chemistry I and II; Organic Chemistry Lab I; CHEM 256 Biochemistry; and BIOL 263 Molecular Biology, completed before senior year. Biochemistry majors add thermodynamics, instrumental analysis and an advanced biochemistry lab, among others; molecular biology majors add experimental biology and gene manipulation labs, among others. The Senior Capstone is done under the chemistry department for biochemistry majors and under the biology department for molecular biology majors.

3. Requirements and prerequisites

• How admission works: Kenyon admits to the college as a whole and you do not apply to a major; the pages read do not describe a separate admission line for chemistry. This is not published. The selection page says Kenyon looks for students who are bright, unafraid to ask questions and well informed, recommends a high school curriculum covering all five core subjects (English, mathematics, history or social science, laboratory science and foreign language), and looks for students who have challenged themselves with honors, AP or IB courses where available; most applicants complete at least 20 academic core courses.
• When to declare a major: the pages read do not say when or under what conditions; this is not published, so check the academic policies in the course catalog or ask the registrar.
• Test-optional: Kenyon is test-optional for all applicants; the site calls it a temporary policy created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You may still submit SAT or ACT results, which Kenyon superscores within each test, and may self-report; official scores are needed only if you are admitted and enroll. SAT Subject Tests, AP and IB results are not required but are considered if submitted.
• AP / IB: an AP chemistry score of 4 or 5 allows direct entry into CHEM 122, and IB Chemistry HL placement is described in section 2. The AP score-to-credit table is on the registrar’s page but was not read, so it is not published here. The registrar’s page says credit from AP or IB cannot satisfy the diversification requirement; it is applied to units outside your major and cannot replace a semester of residence.
• High school math and other sciences: the pages read do not state specific high school prerequisites such as calculus or physics for chemistry majors; this is not published.

4. How and when to apply (2027 entry)

• Application: Common App or Coalition App; the application fee is not stated in the pages read, so check the website.
• Deadlines (no year printed, so check that they apply to fall 2027): Early Decision 1, application due November 15, decision mid-December; Early Decision 2, January 15, decision mid-February; Regular Decision, January 15, decision mid-March. The site describes Early Decision for students whose first choice is Kenyon; its terms are on an Early Decision page this guide did not read.
• Required materials: the Common App or Coalition App, the secondary school report with transcript, a counselor recommendation, a teacher evaluation (preferably from an instructor who taught you in a year-long, traditional college-preparatory course in your junior year; the page does not require a science teacher) and a mid-year report. Optional: a portfolio, up to two additional recommendation letters, and an interview (recommended, not required).
• Science competitions: the pages read do not say how chemistry competitions are viewed in admission.

5. Domestic students

• Cost (2026-27 comprehensive fee): tuition $72,880, housing $9,080 (double room), meals $10,780 and a student activities fee of $350, for a total of $93,090. All students live on campus and use the universal meal plan, so housing and meals are in the fee. The site also gives a 2025-26 estimated cost of attendance of $96,940: direct cost $89,600, books and personal $1,900, and transportation and miscellaneous $1,950.
• Merit scholarships: considered automatically when you apply, regardless of need. The scholarships page says $20,000 to $35,000 a year while the financial aid page says $15,000 to $35,000; the lower figures differ, so check the current pages. Renewable for four years with satisfactory academic progress. Names listed: Kenyon Excellence Award, Kenyon Honors Scholarship, President’s Scholarship and Distinguished Academic Scholarship.
• Regional scholarships: the Ohio Promise Scholarship (living or attending school in Ohio, $100,000 as $25,000 a year over four years); the Ohio Full-Tuition Scholarship (for top applicants from Ohio, 100% of tuition, with a separate application); and the Stateside Promise Scholarship (living or attending school in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania or West Virginia, the same $100,000, with no additional application).
• STEM Scholarship Program: for STEM-interested students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, including first-generation students; applied for separately. It removes the loan and work-study portions of a need-based aid package for four years and includes a $500 annual book and supply allowance, a one-time $1,000 allowance for a laptop and scientific software, and a five-week summer experience (two credit-bearing courses and a $1,000 stipend, with housing, meals and tuition covered by the program).
• Need-based aid: Kenyon commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying students. U.S. citizens file the CSS Profile (Kenyon code 1370) and submit tax documents as directed; the CSS Profile and tax documents are due November 15 for ED1 and January 15 for ED2 and RD, and the FAFSA January 15 (no year printed). The site gives an average net price of about $44,823 after grants and scholarships for 2025-26, and less for students with greater need.
• chemistry department scholarships: the pages read list no scholarship specific to chemistry. This is not published.

6. International students

• English requirement: unless your primary language of instruction in secondary school is English, you must submit an English proficiency exam: Duolingo (130 or above encouraged), IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator (7.0 or above encouraged) or TOEFL, including the Home Edition (100 or above encouraged). The site gives encouraged scores, not hard minimums.
• Interviews: recommended, not required; Kenyon partners with InitialView and Vericant, which post interviews online for the admissions team without evaluating candidates.
• Deadlines: the same as in section 4; international applicants can write to globaladmissions@kenyon.edu.
• Financial aid: international students applying for need-based aid complete either the CSS Profile (code 1370) or Kenyon’s Online International Financial Aid Application (in the admission portal after you apply); international students living in the U.S. or Canada must use the CSS Profile. The site says the family contribution for admitted international students stays constant in future years, and that if you are admitted without financial aid you cannot be considered for aid during your four years.
• Scholarships: merit scholarships are considered automatically; whether international students are eligible for merit or STEM scholarships is not stated in the pages read. This is not published; ask admissions.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation: not described in the pages read; this is not published.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are used or what score is needed. This is not published; check with admissions.
• Transcripts and huikao: the pages read give no China-specific transcript or huikao (academic proficiency test) instructions. This is not published; follow the general secondary school report requirements.
• English and interviews: see the previous section; an interview can be done through InitialView or Vericant but is not required. The admissions-by-region page gives only globaladmissions@kenyon.edu for international applicants and has no China page.
• Tests: test-optional, as above; no A-Level or IB admission scores are published.

8. Transfer students

• Admission: Kenyon accepts a limited number of transfer students each year, depending on class year and housing availability; in most cases successful applicants present grades of B or better in their current courses.
• Materials: the Transfer Common App; official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended (including this year’s courses); testing policy as above; a College Report completed by a registrar or dean; an Academic Evaluation from a professor; and a mid-term report.
• Deadlines (no year printed): fall entry option 1, application due March 15, decision by April 10; option 2, April 15, decision by May 10; option 3, May 15, decision by May 27. The financial aid deadline for transfer option 1 is March 15.
• chemistry transfer credit: the catalog says any transfer credit counted toward the chemistry major or minor must be approved in advance by the department chair; the department also has a chemistry transfer credit policy PDF that this guide did not read.

9. Research, costs and outcomes

• Undergraduate research: the department page says student-faculty collaborative research is the centerpiece of the curriculum; students, even in their first year, can enroll in the Chemical Research course CHEM 375 during the year; in summer, the Summer Science Scholars Program supports research with faculty; and students can build on an established project for Senior Honors research that ends in a thesis and defense. The Summer Science Scholars page says the program is funded by the college and faculty grants, lasts 8 to 10 weeks, is open to students after their first, sophomore or junior year, and ends with a poster session during Family Weekend in October; the last proposal deadline shown was February 13, 2026, so check the next date. Independent research is not required for the chemistry major.
• Department scholarships: the chemistry department pages read list no scholarship specific to chemistry. This is not published.
• Outcomes: the catalog says chemistry majors are prepared for employment or graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry and related fields; the health sciences such as medicine, dentistry and nursing; the veterinary sciences; secondary-school teaching; engineering; the environmental sciences; business and law; and public service. The “After Kenyon” page’s outcome data was not displayed in the pages read, so see the website.
• Other: the chemistry minor requires at least 16 semester hours of chemistry lecture courses at the 200 level or above; courses required by a major cannot count toward both a major and a minor.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Take all five core subjects, including laboratory science; tests are optional; apply by November 15 (ED1) or January 15 (ED2/RD) (check that the dates apply to 2027)
• Merit scholarships are automatic; Ohio and neighboring-state students also look at the regional scholarships
• Plan CHEM 121/123 or CHEM 122/123 for the first semester, as the catalog advises

International students (including applicants from China):

• If your secondary school instruction is not in English, prepare IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 100 or Duolingo 130 (the scores the site encourages)
• If you need aid, file the CSS Profile or the international aid application with your application; ask admissions whether Gaokao results can be used

Transfer students:

• Apply by March 15, April 15 or May 15 (check the year); chemistry transfer credit must be approved in advance by the chair

Sources: Kenyon College, Department of Chemistry; Chemistry academic program and requirements; Course catalog: chemistry requirements; Chemistry research; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program; Course catalog: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology requirements; Summer Science Scholars; Apply to Kenyon; Deadlines and requirements; Selection process; Standardized testing policy; Transfer applicants; Admissions representatives by region; Financial aid and scholarships; Scholarships and grants; Apply for financial aid; Tuition and costs; AP and IB programs. Most deadline pages print no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry; costs are the 2026-27 comprehensive fee. Check Kenyon for the latest details.