How to Apply to Biology at Kenyon College: A Biology Major with Lab Courses, Six Upper-Level Lectures and a Senior Capstone Review, Joint Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors with Chemistry, Summer Research, 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 biology is offered by the Department of Biology (Natural Sciences Division), whose labs are in Higley Hall. This guide, based on Kenyon’s website, covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Chemistry, physics and mathematics are not covered here; the joint biochemistry and molecular biology majors are closely related and are described below, and neuroscience is a separate program not covered here. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and veterinary degrees are outside this guide, so see the website for them.

1. Degree and requirements

• Biology major: the pages read simply describe the “Biology major” and do not say whether the degree is a B.A. or a B.S.; this is not published, so check the website. There is also a biology minor. The department page says biology students are engaged in laboratory and research projects from the first year, and the labs of Higley Hall fill with Summer Science Scholars after the academic year ends.
• Curriculum structure: the catalog says the curriculum follows the scientific process of discovery (observation, interpretation, experimentation, analysis and new hypotheses). The 100 level holds introductory and foundation courses: BIOL 109Y–110Y (Introduction to Experimental Biology, a year-long lab sequence), BIOL 115 (Energy in Living Systems) and BIOL 116 (Information in Living Systems). The 200 level is for sophomores and juniors; the 300 level is for juniors and seniors who have completed the introductory curriculum and at least one 200-level course; senior biology and molecular biology majors take a 400-level senior seminar as part of the Senior Capstone. Courses for non-majors (BIOL 105, 106, 107) also exist.
• Major requirements: BIOL 109Y–110Y (by the end of sophomore year); BIOL 115 and 116 (or equivalent with AP or IB credit, within the first four semesters); six upper-division lecture courses including at least one at the 300 level and one at the 400 level (CHEM 256 Biochemistry and ENVS 342 Disease Ecology each count as one); four upper-division laboratory courses (0.5 unit/4 semester hours of BIOL 385 Research in Biology or the senior honors courses can serve as one lab course); and one year of introductory chemistry lecture work (or equivalent).
• Diversification: majors take at least one upper-level lecture course in each of three categories: environmental biology (for example ecology, evolution, paleobiology, animal behavior, restoration ecology), organismal biology/physiology (for example microbiology, animal, plant and human physiology) and cellular and molecular biology (for example genomics, genetic analysis, molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, virology, biochemistry). Many advanced courses are offered in alternating years, so plan carefully.
• Recommendations: the catalog strongly encourages majors to take at least one year of mathematics and physics, and says students planning graduate studies in any area of biology should also take organic chemistry.
• Senior Capstone: a mini-review that critically evaluates a current research topic for an audience of other scientists, synthesizes relevant research, describes its significance, points out gaps and suggests future work.
• Honors: the honors program (BIOL 497 and 498) is a long-term research opportunity in collaboration with a biology faculty member.
• Joint majors: the biology and chemistry departments jointly offer majors in biochemistry and molecular biology; see section 2b.

2. First-year courses and labs

• Introductory sequence: for the biology major it is BIOL 109Y–110Y plus BIOL 115 and BIOL 116; the department page says advanced lecture courses can begin after BIOL 115 and 116 are completed, while 109Y–110Y are still being finished.
• AP / IB and the introductory courses: the catalog says BIOL 115 and 116 can be met with equivalent AP or IB credit; the registrar’s IB page lists IB Biology HL 5, 6 or 7 placing into BIOL 115 / BIOL 116 (effective fall 2020).
• Introductory chemistry: the major needs one year of introductory chemistry lecture work (or equivalent). Which starting course to take (CHEM 121 or CHEM 122) and its prerequisites are in the chemistry department’s catalog entry; the biology pages read do not say which to choose.
• Students preparing for medical, dental, nursing or veterinary postgraduate programs: the catalog says these usually require at least two semesters of biology with laboratory work, which BIOL 115 and 116 plus the BIOL 109Y–110Y lab sequence satisfy. Those graduate applications are outside this guide.

2b. Joint biochemistry and molecular biology majors

• The chemistry and biology departments jointly run an interdisciplinary program offering two majors, biochemistry and molecular biology, each combining courses from both departments. 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 majors share BIOL 115 and 116, introductory chemistry and labs, Organic Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry Lab I, CHEM 256 Biochemistry and BIOL 263 Molecular Biology (completed before senior year). Molecular biology majors add BIOL 109Y–110Y, BIOL 264 Gene Manipulation, two advanced labs and the senior seminar BIOL 475 (honors students take BIOL 497 and 498), among others, and do their Senior Capstone under the biology department. Students studying off campus can count one upper-level lecture course and one upper-level lab course toward the major.

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 biology. 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: the catalog says BIOL 115 and 116 can be met with equivalent AP or IB credit, and the IB Biology 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 biology 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 biology 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.
• biology department scholarships: the pages read list no scholarship specific to biology. 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.
• biology transfer credit: the biology catalog entry has a Transfer Credit Policy section whose wording this guide did not check line by line; the details are not published in the pages read, so ask the biology department. For the molecular biology and biochemistry majors, the catalog says transfer students must consult the registrar and a program co-director to assess course equivalency.

9. Research, costs and outcomes

• Undergraduate research: biology majors are encouraged to do independent research through BIOL 385 (Research in Biology), honors research and the Summer Science Scholars Program; students interested in research fill out the Research in Biology Mentor Approval Form. 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.
• Department scholarships: the biology department pages read list no scholarship specific to biology. This is not published.
• Outcomes: the department page says its research leads to breakthroughs in fields ranging from health care to the environment to agriculture; the “After Kenyon” page’s outcome data was not displayed in the pages read, so see the website.
• Other: the biology minor requires at least 2.75 units/22 semester hours in the major curriculum, including BIOL 109Y and 110Y, among others; see the catalog.

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
• After enrolling, plan BIOL 109Y–110Y, BIOL 115 and 116 and introductory chemistry as the catalog describes

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); ask the biology department how transfer credit counts toward the major

Sources: Kenyon College, Department of Biology; Biology academic program and requirements; Course catalog: biology requirements; 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.