Looking for thoughts on these schools, which are the top 5 for this student. COA is roughly the same, but Oberlin’s package looks different and we have concerns that their much larger grants may decrease.
Have you visited these campuses? My daughter graduated Beloit a few years ago and loved the school. She transferred from Illinois Wesleyan. I know people at Knox and we visited it also. What is your daughter looking for in a school?,What is her major.?,
Beloit gave my daughter the Presidential scholarship when she transfered as a junior. They funded a trip to Indonesia since she was doing research there. They financially supported her leading a project on campus with the mounds. They gave her opportunities to speak at another university about her research. She loved her experience there.
She also got them to restart the boat house. She would help people with the kayaks and went studying with friends in the kayaks… On the river. No better way to study… Lol.
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She has visited Knox, Beloit, and K, but not Oberlin or L&C.
Major is not decided and could easily change to something not on this list, but right now she is looking at environmental studies/science or psych, possibly English or philosophy. Interested in doing research. Zoology-type bio is also an interest.
She is liberal, enjoys intellectual conversations and things like books and film, also likes outdoorsy stuff. Quality of teaching is important. Frats and sororities not of interest but it’s fine to have if they’re not a big deal. Study abroad is a big interest. We were a little confused about Beloit’s study abroad. It looked a little like they don’t have their own programs?
Also, I think we didn’t know about kayaking at Beloit! She’s been kayaking since she was little. That would be fun for her.
I think if you don’t qualify for need-based aid and the school is giving you grants anyway, it’s a very legitimate concern that those grants may disappear in subsequent years. It was def a concern and consideration when we were looking at LACs last year for my D21 (Oberlin and Kenyon were among them). She ended up choosing a different one that guaranteed her aid through merit rather than grants.
I know kids at Knox who love it. I know kids going to Beloit and Knox next year (one is a baseball recruit). Both of these schools are on my D23’s list! I don’t personally know anyone who attends Kalamazoo but I’ve read lots of good things. They all seem like excellent schools, if your kid is a fit for the LAC environment.
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We qualify for grants at Oberlin, but our income will b much higher this year than last due to a job change. Oberlin knows about this future income because of CSS, but I assume they will increase our contribution next year. This situation also has bearing on the other schools, but most of her aid is merit at the FAFSA schools (just a small amount in grants). She got big merit.
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Also it seems like EVERY comment we hear about Knox is, “I know someone there who loves it.” At this point, it’s really striking.
I’m very close to two kids who went to the admitted student event in Feb, and the feedback I heard was that they loved the school but were meh about galesburg, which… understandable. Central Illinois as a rule is quite meh. Neither has made their final decision yet but Knox is still in the mix for both.
Good luck!
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She actually liked Galesburg. Maybe they hit the right places? IDK. It compared favorably to a few other college towns she visited.
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You might run Oberlin’s NPC with the increased income to estimate COA in coming years. Net Price Calculator
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You just described the typical student at Beloit. The teaching was wonderful. Professors that actually want to engage you and students that actually want to learn. My daughter was anthropology with poli Sci minor. Lots of her friends were Environmental science. Nicely diverse student body compared to lots of Lacs we saw. Frats etc don’t seem to be a thing there. My daughter did live in a coop house there with like all vegetarians that made all their dinners together. Cost was like less then $100 each /semester for food and they paired up to go shopping /cooking /etc. Great way to meet people. Think there were 13 in the house…
There is definitely study abroad. We went to the seminars that when the students came back they reported on their adventures in lecture type format. Very impressive what lots of these students did… My daughters was something she put together and got funding for. She did study abroad before transferring at her other college also in Indonesia but wanted to specifically do a certain project there and they supported her.
Lots of kids go to Beloit for the funding. They give decent money all 4 years. At least all her friends said so…
Kids at Knox also since you can combine different things to gain money.
Beloit was a bit closer living in Chicago. It was great to go up on Sunday and do a farmers market, take her to lunch and get back to the city without having to board the dog… Lol…
Both seem to be good and students tend to like both. I just like the overall community and safety of Beloit.
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The coops are appealing to her for sure. They gave her a good package and guaranteed all of it for all 4 years.
I was unable to visit with her myself (other parent went) so I don’t have too much of an impression of these areas. I know Kalamazoo won on college town. Portland and the area appeal to her, but people have been vaguely muttering things to us about Portland being hard to live in right now, etc. I have no idea whether this is something to take seriously.
I remember now…our NPC for Oberlin didn’t match what they gave us (they gave us less) so I have to assume our NPC for our future income is also wrong 
Lol. My daughter moved last year to Portland Oregon and Loves it there. Not sure what would be tough about it. Maybe I missed which school?
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Lewis and Clark.
(I’ve never been to Portland! Always wanted to go)
Besides some snow this week… My daughter goes hiking a few times a week when she can. I am not familiar with the school or location but things are coming back. Reach out to Facebook college groups and student groups on campus to get a better feel.
Lewis and Clark is on the edge of Portland, very suburban. One can get to downtown Portland on a city bus in about 20 minutes or walk to Lake Oswego’s downtown (but it is uphill on the way back!) for stores and restaurants.