Transferring Spring 2015: Grinnell vs Macalester and Beloit vs Kalamazoo

Colleges and Universities A-Z Grinnell College
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I'm looking to transfer from my current school to any one of these schools listed in the title. I haven't visited any of them, just looked up information on the internet. </p>

<p>From what I've heard, these schools are all very similar, so if current students could speak to them, that would be great!</p>

<p>About me:
I came in to college as a natural science major, but I find that this isn't quite for me. I'm really into social justice, specifically racial and gender equity (which I hear Grinnell is very well known for their social activism). Hence, I'm looking into anthropology, sociology, and would like to continue with economics and possibly languages -- Chinese and Spanish. I would like do take some creative writing courses as well. However, I would still like the opportunity to take a few math classes here and there. I'm very much into music; I sing in a chorus and I LOVE going to a capella concerts or just concerts in general. So this leads into what I'm looking for in a school: Aside from those academic and music endeavors, I'd like a school that has lots of jobs available on campus for work-study, etc. NON-pretentious, non cutthroat environment, and not preppy (!!! can't do preppy) (although I understand that there will be all kinds of kids everywhere; just a school where it's less prominent), an environment for learning for the sake of learning, quirky individuals, very small classes, passionate and incredibly knowledgeable professors who truly love students and teaching, preferably a bigger city, but I know I'm at a loss with that for Grinnell and Beloit, and just generally very nice, liberal, accepting students! I'm just a very accepting person and would like others to be the same. Also, diversity is really important to me!
Additionally, I'd like to go to grad school afterward, not sure for what, but possibly for education (professor, teacher, education policy, really anything education related)!</p>

<p>Stats wise:
HS: 1960 SAT superscore (610CR, 660W, 690M), 4.0GPA /valedictorian, good amount of APs/honors, excellent ECs, all that jazz.
College: 3.64 Cumulative/Dean's list both semesters. Good involvement in clubs and have taken on some leadership positions already. </p>

<p>Thanks so much! :) Ideally, I could narrow my pool to one reach and one safety to apply to, but I'm so torn that I think I'll apply to all four, though meaning more individual essays. </p>

<p>And I'll probably start similar threads on each of these schools as well so see what parents and students of those other schools have to say. :) </p>

2

<p>I think you need to execute a road trip and check them out. Academically and in terms of prestige, Grinnell and Mac are stronger than Beloit and Kalamazoo… but B and K are very strong in their own right.</p>

<p>Bear in mind that Beloit is about 45 mins from Madison, about 90 minutes from Chicago and about the same from Milwaukee. Two and a half from Green Bay. :-)</p>

<p>Mac is in the Twin Cities.</p>

<p>Kalamazoo is a couple hours (?) from Detroit.</p>

<p>Grinnell is not near a major metropolis, unless you count Des Moines as such. It’s about 5 hrs from the Twin Cities, Milwaukee and Chicago.</p>

<p>So check them all out and go for the best fit. </p>

3

<p>I really do want to take a trip, but I don’t have the money for it. I’ve talked to a couple friends at Mac and K, and seen what’s online, so that’s all I’ve got for now. </p>

<p>And @prezbucky‌, could you expand on what you mean by B and K being “strong in their own right.” What about them specifically set them apart? </p>

4

<p>I was talking very generally: they’re both easily among the top 100 LACs according to USN&WR.</p>

<p>More vagueness:</p>

<p>In Wisconsin, UW-Madison is generally recognized as the top school in the state. Just below it are Beloit and Lawrence. </p>

5

<p>If you are serious about transferring, I think you should apply to all four. You really need to keep your options open. From my experience as a parent of a Grinnell student, I do think the school has what you are looking for, but I’ll bet the others do as well, so taking the time to write four essays seems worth it to increase your chances of getting an acceptance as a transfer, don’t you? </p>

6

<p>You probably know that Beloit has its own anthropology museum. Grinnell, doesn’t have that, but is a wonderful school, as is Mac. I have no experience of Kalamazoo.</p>