<p>Kelomaa how do you get to Chicago and back? How much having a car is important?
Where is nearest shopping mall if need be?
If you were to repeat your experience again what choices about college you would/ would not do? What will be your advice for first year students?</p>
<p>Visits to Chicago are very easy - an Amtrak train goes through town near the campus on Seminary Street, and it's only about three hours into the city. It's possible to go up to Chicago on an early morning train and return on a dinner hour train;, or spend the weekend. The train unloads in Union Station, in Chicago's Loop.</p>
<p>My spouse is a Knox alum and would visit Chicago regularly for concerts and plays, sometimes going and returning on the same day. Of course, he's hoping our daughter chooses Knox for the fall - we're waiting for her decision among the schools she's been admitted to.</p>
<p>Kelomaa,</p>
<p>Can you give us any scoop on the dorms?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Onward from what I have seen dorms are suites- there usually 8 people/ four double rooms/ coming into one common living room. Living room is about 20X20 feet and double rooms are 15X17 or so. They will have one bathroom to share and two showers. There is kitchen in basement of dorms and laundry room. While most dorms are not newly built/ there is no sprinkles system/ it is pretty comfy and plenty of space as far as dorms go. About 50 % do not have air conditioning but with our weather it could be only problem for about 2 weeks early fall and most students take care of it with fans. Laundry rooms have irons and I think ironing boards, also wires for some clothes that need to be hand washed or dried.
I believe first year students are placed together in the room but they could be spaced among others. There is not much of coed bathrooms but it is allowed if students are ok'd it. Last year about 30-40 upper classmen were allowed to live in apartments nearby mostly as an experiment and because last year class ended up being somewhat bigger that they expected. Usually10-20 kids change their mind over the summer but last year they did not so apartments were allowed. I also know there couple of fraternity houses and no sorority to live in. There also few theme houses which I did not see from inside but from outside they looked as regular residential houses. Right now they have 1205 students and they have no plans to significantly increase students number/ at least thats what their president says/
I do hope that Kelomaa will give us few more pointers.</p>
<p>Sorry about teh delay. Yes, the Amtrak runs directly through Galesburg. It's about a 3 hour ride and usually cost anywhere from $15-$18 per way (if tickets are bought in advance.) I would say that about 40-50% of the student body has a car on campus. I have my car here, yet still get rides with friends to local stores. So, it's not that big of a deal if you don't have one. Plus, all of the stores in our downtown area are within walking distances (coffee shops, bakeries, etc.) There is a mall (about a 5 minute car ride from campus.) There's a bus that runs by campus and goes to the shopping area as well.
As for the dorms, there is a variety of styles, although most are suite-styled. That means that you share a room with one other person and share a common living space (a suite) with the rest of the people on your floor. For first-years especially, it's a great way to make long-lasting friends. All dorms do have sprinkler systems and smoke detectors. And all dorms have access to kitchen and laundry facilities, usually in the basements. There are also on-campus townhouses and apartments that are generally assigned to upper classmen.</p>
<p>Q: If you were to repeat your experience again what choices about college you would/ would not do? What will be your advice for first year students?</p>
<p>A: Well, I transferred to Knox from a large university. When I first started looking at schools as a senior in high school, I didn't even examine the possibility of going to a school out of state (I'm from MI) or a small, liberal arts school, which inevitably ended up being the right choice for me. So if I had to change anything, I would have looked at schools that I necessarily may not have looked at before. And I would have come to Knox from the start. While at Knox, I have taken the opportunity to try as many new things as I can; take advantage of the many different opportunities made avaliable to me like studying abroad, different clubs, courses that I may not have particulary been good at (like singing.)
Advice for first years would be to be to do just this. Try as many things as you can. Experience all of the wonderful things Knox has to offer. Knox is a place that helps you explore and discover the type of person you want to become.</p>
<p>More on dorms:
First-years have the choice of living in the first-year center (what we call the Quads because there are four buildings) or same-sex dorms. The Quads is pretty active. There are always people outside when it's nice, and you can often hear music being played through people's windows. It's just a fun atmosphere to be around. The all males residence hall is Seymour Hall, which is convienently located in the Union (with our dining halls, and 24 hour computer lab.) For females there's Post Hall. Dorms in Post Hall have suites of 16 females. They are two-storied (upper floor has a balcony that overlooks the suite area.) In the Post Lobby is the convienent store called the Out Post, a lounging area as well as a piano and large screen TV. There are also on-campus townhouses and apartments that are generally assigned to upper classmen and are very nice (that's where I live now :) All residential building have a residential advisor (RA.) For the first year halls, there is a RA on every floor. For sophomore, junior and senior residences, there is generally one per building.</p>
<p>Hi, I have been accepted to Knox and am thrilled. Have received a good financial aid package, as well. My mom was able to join the live chat for parents and was also impressed. Ok, with all that said, I am wondering if anyone out there has any firsthand say about the creative writing program, which is what I plan to major in. I am also planning on minoring in art and would appreciate info in that dept., as well. Knox is one of my top 2 schools which I am considering. As I am not able to visit, is there anyone who would share reasons to go there? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I can only say that I met one prof who directs art programs and she is something!
she had all us parents under her influence in a minute and we never knew what hit us ;) Creative writing considered to be one of the strongest programs and students write not only their newspaper/magazine but also fully cooperate with local newspapers. There also several books of poetry published by profs, many profs seems to be quite prolific. I also want to add that 75% of students do independent study/ research which adds to general feeling of creativity among Knox students.
As my D is not interested in creative writing we did not reseach it further. We are very impressed by new programs of garanteed admission to Simon business school/ University of Rochester/ and med school at George Washingon on top of already existing Rush med school.</p>
<p>kelomaa, as a senior, you have nearly four years under your belt at Knox. I just remembered that Knox gives one-year credit for 30 and above on the IB Diploma (I'm pretty sure I can get that) so essentially I can graduate in three years.</p>
<p>Do you think Knox can prepare a student in 3 years for "the real world" and graduate studies, or the 4th year would be extremely helpful in that aspect? Do you also think the social benefits of a fourth year outweighs the financial benefits of 3 years (if the financial situation isn't too severe)?</p>
<p>IzzyJ, Are you any closer to a decision? And Lindalana, how about your daughter? Squabees?</p>
<p>I was seriously considering Knox, but their aid package was a joke! I don't know what they were thinking! FAFSA says our EFC is 7000 and they left us with 13000! Well, I got better offers from "better" schools anyway. I'll be going to Smith, Oberlin, Wellesley, or Grinnell. Yes, I am that indecisive!</p>
<p>Yes, we are Knox, my D sent her housing info and deposit. She is very excited about going to Knox. I am very happy for her too. I recently bought a book about science at Knox through history of college and am surpirsed how many people graduated from Knox, went to get their Ph.D and then returned to Knox as professors teaching students. It is also amazing see amount of collaborative effort teachers were and are sharing.
Flutterbyhigh, did you talk to fin aid office at Knox and discussed better offers from other places? Or you just prefer to go somewhere else anyway? We visited Oberlin and Grinell and my D refused even consider to apply there. Anyway, I found fin aid at Knox to be very helpful and really trying to work with you on your situation.</p>
<p>IzzyJ, I actually transferred into Knox at the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year. So really, i've been at Knox three years. i actually shoudl have graduated last year ('05) but i wanted to study abroad and because of losing some credits when I transferred, that meant I would have to stay an extra year. But honestly, I am so happy that I stayed. I'm just sorry that I didn't get to experience all 4 years at Knox. There are actually a lot of people in your situation, who come into Knox with IB or AP credits. My sister and her best friend, who are both juniors now, can technically graduate at the end of next fall. However, they are both planning on staying the full year. I just think that college is a time to enjoy your life. I mean, Knox has all of the tools to help prepare you for the 'real world' in three years But you have the rest of your life to work, and only a short amount of time to live life freely as a college student...so why rush? Plus, you will most likely become friends with those who enter Knox the same year as you. So if you left in three years, you would miss out on all of the fun senior activities. Senior year is a real special time, kind of like being a senior in HS. You realize that you only have a few more months to see your friends everyday, and you become more appreciative. The entire class bonds.
Again, this is just my opinion on the issue. I hope this helps you some :)</p>
<p>Flutterbyhigh...</p>
<p>I'm sorry that you don't find Knox as good as your other choices. And I'm also sorry that you weren't happy with your financial aid package. All I can say is that if you didn't make an attempt to talk to the Fin. Aid office, then that's your own loss. You can ask anyone on campus and they will tell you that the financial aid office will bend over backwards to help them. They will do all that they can to see that you get the best possible package. And not just for incoming students. They do this for you every year you're a student. I know in my own situation, it would be impossible for me to attend a school like Knox. But somehow, the Fin. Aid office helped make it happen. So again, I'm sorry that you feel that you're package was a 'joke'. But if you feel as though Oberlin or Grinnell are 'better' schools anyways, then why be so upset about your package at Knox?</p>
<p>Visited Knox/Galesburg last weekend, as well as the Amtrak station within walking distance of campus. There are three daily trains to Chicago.</p>
<p>I'd like to thank everybody for their advice and information. Very thorough. </p>
<p>I've decided to attend Beloit, but hopefully I can visit some friends at Knox, after a day in Chicago. Oh, them books... :p </p>
<p>Be well, everybody!</p>
<p>Meth labs surround the Knox campus. People are mugged for money all the time. Its not awful, but its not super safe either.</p>
<p>elleohelle, I am not certain what the reason is for your post. Many colleges have bad areas near them and students should always be aware of their surroundings. I would probably advise my daughter not to wander around Galesburg at night by herself but I wouldn't want her to do that at any campus. I certainly didn't do it twenty-five years ago at Michigan State or at the University of Rochester.</p>
<p>From what I undestand students watch out for one another. Since campus is so small people know each other at least by face and so strangers will attract attention right away. My impression about safety was pretty good- do not be stupid, things happen anywhere but Galesburg is not crime infested.</p>