<p>These questions are taken from Looking Beyond the Ivy League by Loren Pope and from College. What You Need to Know Before You Go. by the National Survey of Student Engagement.</p>
<p>Could someone (preferably a student, but a parent is fine) please take a moment to answer as many questions as they’d like? </p>
<li>What are the chief gripes of people around here?</li>
<li>Do the students take an active part in the discussion or is the class lifeless?</li>
<li>After class, do any students hang around to ask questions or continue the discussion, or does everyone leave immediately?</li>
<li>Is there discussion about what went on in class?</li>
<li>Do they stay around after meals arguing?</li>
<li>Why do students leave or transfer out?</li>
<li>What kind of rapport is there between students and faculty?</li>
<li>Does the school have good faculty people all around, or just in some majors?</li>
<li>Are special opportunities like off-campus programs, research with faculty, or independent study readily available?</li>
<li>If you came back here after graduation would you have enough faculty friends that you could spend a night or at least have dinner at one of their homes?</li>
<li>Are there any foreign teachers who are hard to understand?</li>
<li>Is there any TV or programmed instruction where no instructor meets the class?</li>
<li>Do faculty make themselves available after class and keep regular office hours?</li>
<li>Does the faculty advising system really work?</li>
<li>Do the advisers really advise, with knowledge of students’ background and interests, or do they just create and sign class schedules?</li>
<li>Is there intense competition for grades, or is learning the concern?</li>
<li>Is cheating common, or is there an atmosphere that condemns it?</li>
<li>Is it possible to study in the dorm rooms?</li>
<li>What percentage of students leave campus on weekends?</li>
<li>Is it possible to be very active in outside activities?</li>
<li>Is there a variety of campus activities and cultural events?</li>
<li>Do the students take advantage of these activities?</li>
<li>What is the drinking, drug, and sex scene? Would a Christian be comfortable here?</li>
<li>Does everyone know your business? Do you ever get sick of the small class environment?</li>
<li>Does the college have a good career counseling office and placement director who works closely with students throughout college and not just at the end?</li>
<li>In what ways do faculty challenge students to leave their comfort zone in order to excel?</li>
<li>How much time do students spend on hw each week?</li>
<li>What types of assignments are given (papers, exams, problem sets, rehearsals, research projects, etc.)?</li>
<li>How much writing is expected?</li>
<li>How much reading is assigned per class?</li>
<li>What are exams like?</li>
<li>In what ways are students given the opportunity to express themselves creatively in assignments?</li>
<li>What types of tutors or tutoring opportunities exist on campus?</li>
</ol>
<p>I’m quite worried about the lack of diversity in Kalamazoo. I’m Asian, and I think that if I do go to Kalamazoo I’ll feel a sense of isolation, because of the lack of Asian students there. Kalamazoo sounds like it has a great program, but I don’t know if I’ll fit in with the students. Does anyone have any comments about that?</p>