Just curious.
My DD applied to Carleton, St. Olaf, Grinnell, Lawrence (accepted with merit), Knox (accepted with merit), Kenyon, WashU, Northwestern, UIUC and Oberlin. Couldn’t decide between small LAC and big research apparently! We toured everywhere, including Beloit (which is close to us). Too many choices for kids these days!
Hi @TytoAlba ! I have twins, so it was impossible to tour all the schools. After our brief tours in April for a few each, it was clear what type of school my D who applied to Beloit wanted. She fell in love with Mount Holyoke college, really liked Clark University as well. However, we are from the West coast, so we started to explore a few here as well that had those characteristics. So she is applying to Pitzer college (close) and Mount Holyoke (far) RD, was accepted EA to her first choice right now Mills, (close by and very much like Mount Holyoke) also, Knox, Beloit and Clark University all with nice scholarships. It was over the summer and fall that we looked into Beloit, Knox and Mills, plus a few more that she decided not to apply to since she already was accepted to these colleges. We both really like Beloit and Knox and plan to visit both just to see how they compare to Mills. The admission officers from both of these schools were wonderful and I only hear fantastic things about both. What is your opinion of Beloit and Knox?
Of the two, my DD liked Beloit better but other LAC’s better than Beloit. Knox felt just plain old. It really really felt caught in the 1960’s. I know they had some money troubles a while back, and I know they are trying to grow enrollment, build a new art center etc. But compared to other LACs which cost just as much, it lacked on facilities honestly. At both schools EVERYONE was nice, kind, helpful, and the students seemed pretty similar between Beloit and Knox.
We’re comparing endowments, average ACT scores, % out of state enrollment, distance, cost after merit, strenght of programs (how many go on to get a Phd in the subject DD is interested in), things like that.
I would encourage you to also read the annual reports of any college you are considering. Particularly their strategic plans.
That’s wonderful advice @TytoAlba thank you so much.
We thought Beloit felt like it was trying too hard to be trendy and hipster when we went to their admitted students day four years ago, but maybe that’s changed. They actually accepted our daughter with a Ceramics major and when we got there told us they switched to Printmaking and eliminated Ceramics from the school entirely!
Never felt like Knox was old, historical maybe what with the Underground Railroad, Lincoln’s chair, and other historical items, but never old. Financially they are doing amazingly well having just completed their Alumni Hall last Fall and being given the large grant to build their new Fine Arts Building. They would love to renovate their Science building but the grant came in for Fine Arts so that is happening first (just as the money came in for the renovation of Alumni Hall). They also give out lots of money for all sorts of aid and extra assistance with study abroad programs. They are not trying to up their enrollment, just trying to prepare for the yearly increase that is happening.
Different strokes, but our experience has been that Knox is an incredible value for an amazing education. A true hidden gem and I could not allow one person’s opinion to stand unopposed.
Good luck!
I suggest you visit.